Sorry also if you go too short when you go to get up the board may not be there eg on 7fter I can get my toes on the board which makes the step up easy go to a much shorter board and adapting the step up might be quite tiring initially

Hi Paloma

18 months ago I was riding one of 2 shortboards 5’8 29L or 5’10 37L

After a week with Clayton I realised I had missed a lot of the early work having never had any tuition before and Clayton questioned why I rode such a small board

Took me 5 months to accept I needed a bigger board so bought a 7’ 64L

The big board is fun but I couldn’t duck dive or get it on rail. Asked Clayton to make me a board he made me a 6’6 42L

I am still a beginner and have to say have not had the opportunity to use the Clay board as much as I hoped yet

I was surprised at 42L the first time I tried to dive under a wave I couldn’t but have since found a way. This board is designed to help me learn to get on rail and turn

If the big board is preventing you from getting on rail and turning then smaller may work for you When I first asked Clayton to make a board for me he asked me what did I want to do. I didn’t know so I waited till I knew exactly what I want to do but couldn’t. If you buy a smaller board I really recommend being able to answer this question and then research

Now l look at the surf and let it decide which of the two I should go out on My one regret of getting a big board is I seem to have slowed down Maybe it’s age, a slowing metabolism I’m not sure but my pop up is slower and I will have to speed it back up if I am going to get back to my small boards

I’m sure I haven’t helped you at all here but I thought I would just share my experience

Lastly if you go for a smaller board don’t expect miracles of yourself or the board keep your moves slow as Clayton says slow is smooth smooth is fast

Ps I’m 59 and my weight fluctuates between 55-60kg

You or Clayton?

That's so lovely Hadyn I could stand and watch him all day

Thanks Graham, Martin and Clayton. This is not an old habit so shouldn't be too hard to rectify. Clayton, I'm too cold to smile. Will this do 😀?

Hi JJC I would watch from the very beginning  the Surf Start video that Graham talks about. You might be a Line 4 surfer but your pop up might be way different to what Clayton teaches which is stepping up rather than jumping up. You might paddle and kick like crazy to get on a wave which is completely unnecessary and uses a lot of energy.

Even if you find the beginner stuff boring, there may be a snippet of wisdom in there that you didn't know