Here's a potential line suggestion that might give you more speed. Hit the far right bank in the middle, hit the bottom bank in the middle, left bank in the middle, top turn in the far right corner. (And maybe another one after that in the bottom left). It's what I do in my local oblong shaped bowl. So basically three pumps for speed and then a carve. Or you could even do multiple laps pumping and then hit the left bank in the middle and then hit the far right corner. Hope that makes some sense to you. Can share a video of my bowl if that helps but maybe the picture will be enough.

Not the UK but similar conditions. I use a hooded 5/4 in winter with 5 mm boots and 5 mm gloves. Most people over here do. I prefer chest zip over back zip. It seems warmer. Have never tried zipperless.

Well twins have a habit of sliding out if you don't surf them on rail. I'm assuming your fish would be a twin. So that could help your rail game.

A shorter board would probably also be easier to surf more vertical lines. Which also require surfing in rail.

On top of that a shorter board will give you less speed by simply cruising down the line. You would have to manufacture the speed yourself. Now of course getting it on rail is the best way to do that if the waves allow that kind of surfing. (Pumping would also work but that might put you too far out of the pocket).

Downside to a fish compared to a shortboard is that it might allow you to get away with certain things that a shortboard would not allow. But as you're coming from a 7'0 this might be an appropriate step.

Do you have access to the get the right board course? That would help you answer these kind of questions.

Hope that helps!

Ah it does only one photo and a time

Feast your eyes

Ah man that sucks. If I remember correctly this is not the first time? Get well soon.

On a side note the video seems to cut of mid sentence. (For me anyways)

John Kuras may I ask about your line of sight? I may be wrong but you seem to be looking somewhat down (diagonally). I think you might open up your body a bit more and get your hands higher if you move your line of sight up.

Maybe something to try is to out beercans on the coping at various points and to try to look at those to bring your line of sight up. Also, you could have beer after.

Yeah that's my basic thinking too. This one is a 4'10 though. Which sounds pretty crazy.