Had an emergency board replacement due some complications with what was going to be my winter board, ended up going as small as I've ever attempted to ride: 7'4" x 27" x 4". After a few really fun days trying to figure it out I learned that there are some cool side effects to going small:

1) You are super sore (in a good way) after every session, so you actually feel like you were working hard.

2) You learn how to take off a lot deeper and a lot later, which is a really good skill to have. On bigger boards I've found that I kind of cruise in on the shoulder and thus miss a lot of the excitement of "making the drop".

3) After a long session on the small board, I come home and take absolutely epic naps.

4) Sometimes short board surfer guys give you props for paddling the little board.

5) Most importantly, and I am absolutely stoked on this: It got me out of a skill plateau that I didn't realize I was in for the last couple
years. It seems like the little board opens up a whole new realm of possibilities. Very cool to be taking different lines, and feeling
different feelings.

All in all, this has been a really cool experience. Anyone else have similar stories about dropping down in board size? I also want to give big mahalos to the guy who recommended the right board, I think he's a pretty famous countryman of yours, said his name was Kealoha Del Aboiturques or something like that. Nice guy.

My son is paddling here to go right, such an happiness to live this moment much more than this lip covered on my favorite 6'5"








I made it