Go short or not go short?

[hotisland]

I picked up surfing a couple of months ago (at an age of 43). Found it's the most difficult sport I've ever tried, and the most fun one of course. I really wanted to improve but was so frustrated during my outings because making any little progress seemed so hard! Anyway, today I discovered the forum and also the "later starter" post! After reading that post, I felt so much better now : like feel 20 years younger and no longer have the "lousiest surf learner" feeling any more.

Anyway, when I started in this January, I spent a few weeks in white wash and after a lot of frustrated sessions, finally can pop up most of time. Then I moved on to green waves. After 5 or 6 totally clueless sessions, this week I managed to caught a few green ones in a session and cruise along the face (each time just 10 to 20metres maximum because I took off a bit far from the peak I guess). I did this by angled take off and if I did a late take off or straight take off, I found it's impossible to do the bottom turn and go back to the face. This was mostly due to lack of skills of course but I am wondering if my board can be blamed too. It's a 7S Superfish II, 7'3", 53 litres. And I'm 5'7" tall and weighted 150 lbs. The 7S served me well in white washes but do you guys think it's too big and too floaty now? I did feel its clumsy when I tried to turn it, even in white washes. Again, my techniques were the main reason I suppose. But will it help if I can use something a little shorter? My goal is to be able to do top and bottom turns, reentry and cutbacks this year (if I'm not day dreaming)! I have to admit that if I go a bit shorter I may not catch any wave for sometime again.

Btw, I got a Bourton Shape's Fat Bullet 6'2, about 38 litres I guess. But it seems so short compares to my 7S and I dear not to try it now.

[drowningbitbybit]

But will it help if I can use something a little shorter?

Nope. A shorter board never improves your skills.

If you can't do, for example, a decent bottom turn on your 7'3, you won't be able to do a bottom turn on a shortboard either. If you could do a decent bottom turn, then a short board might help you do it tighter, but you need to be able to do it in the first place.

It's a common question - newbies asking whether a shorter board will improve their surfing and the answer is almost always no.

[jaffa1949]

It has to be you
It has to be you,
It really is true
That it really is you.
(Chorus)
Be really assured
That your 7S board
Can do all that you wish,
Much more than the fish.
And there hangs the tale,
You're more likely to fail
You'll be hurten
On the bourton
You can do a turn
You just have to learn
Insert chorus here!
I know it's poor verse
For shorter is worse.

Get your skills up then go short!
Read this answer seriously, it is the same question every learner of every age asks.
Answer not hidden in rhyme, if you can't turn a 7S of that size, it's you! watch the guys at your break who can radically turn real long boards, it is about skill!

[hotisland]

Thanks a lot guys. Jaffa you definitely have more talents other than surfing.

Yesterday I had an instructor giving me the first lesson and he instantly pointed out a few mistakes I've been making. And he taught me how to do the carving turn too - I think this is the technique long boarders are using to do sharp turns. It's very hard to do this turn but I think I'll get there one day. Self taught was always fun for me but now I realised that I need an instructor advice now and then since I don't have any surfing friend here yet - I'm new to this beach town.