step down question and advice

[dodger805]

Hi all,

Lurked this forum for a couple of months and figured I'd make an account and get some feedback. I'm a newer surfer and live in SoCal. A few months ago I was able to camp at a beach spot for a month and surfed almost everyday during that time. Wasn't my first time surfing, but the first time getting back out in 20 years. Spent most of my youth skating and snowboarding. I surfed a 9' foamie for a few weeks at Mondo's until it started to feel bland on that board then dropped down to an 8'6 x 22 5/8 x 3 3/16 thruster funboard with medium rails. I've been riding that for the last few months at C street and Ventura Harbor. I'm only 20-30 minutes from the beach and go out 3-5 times a week. I'd say roughly 80% of the waves I go for at C street I am catching and riding down the line. Can go up and down the wave face with longer arcing turns, no hard cutbacks or anything like that. I am also able to shuffle my feet on the board to slow down or speed up, make harder turns, etc. Beach breaks are another story and when the waves jack up quick or get steep I don't usually catch them. I am considering getting a 7'8" x 22" x 3" twinzer mid-length to get a more deep carving and flowy feeling board. Similar to what I'm used to with short cruising skateboards and snowboards. Here are my questions:

1. Is this drop down in size too quick?
2. Will a twinzer feel entirely different than a thruster?
3. Will the midlength achieve the desired effect of creating more carving and flow sensation?
4. How much more difficult is it to catch slow rolling, weak waves off a point with a midlength vs an 8'6" funboard?
5. Are midlengths easier to handle pitchy steeper beach breaks?

My stats:
6'3"
185lbs/84kg

Sorry for the wall of text and thanks in advance for any comments.

[oldmansurfer]

Most surfers will tell you the more surfboards the better. I have always had boards made for me by shapers instead of off the assembly line boards. That might be an option. The shorter the board the less easier it will be to takeoff. I don't know the design of you current board but maybe go down to 8 foot and get board with lots of rocker in the tail. Rocker in the tail will smooth out the drops on steep waves and make it easier to perform turns for the length. If you get a much shorter board with tail rocker it might be too challenging. You could even get a longer board with tail rocker as it will be easier to turn than a board with minimal tail rocker. Not sure if your board has tail rocker or not.

[waikikikichan]

1. Is this drop down in size too quick? I think it is a nice paced progression.
2. Will a twinzer feel entirely different than a thruster? It depends, but YES. If you don't know how to ride the "tail" and are a glue foot, it won't work.
3. Will the midlength achieve the desired effect of creating more carving and flow sensation? It's not the Bat, but the Batter, right ? Carving and Flow depends on RAIL Control and Rolling from inside to outside rail transitions smoothly. Watch Mikey February if you want to see smooth.

4. How much more difficult is it to catch slow rolling, weak waves off a point with a midlength vs an 8'6" funboard? The smaller the board, the closer you need to be where the wave breaks, where it is more steep. Question: how many paddles are you taking to get on the wave with your current 8'6" ? ( and you will need to sit inside of the greedy surfers on their long(er) boards )
5. Are midlengths easier to handle pitchy steeper beach breaks? Yes, but if you get "in late" because of the lack of volume / paddle power, then you'll take off in the lip and ultimately get pitched.