currently riding a 5’8" fishcuit in the small stuff and a 5’10"x 20 1/4 x 2 1/2 custom dumpster diver’ish board in everything else. the 5’10" is similar to a round nose fish/pod but with a more pulled in squash tail. I like the 5’10" but I feel its a bit to wide to really move it around like I want… I am looking to get a standard shortboard for when I want to get a little more radical and for when it gets bigger and I want a more rockered board. I am 5’7" 175 lbs average surfer surf 2-3X a week when we have swell (new england surfer) and swim everyday so I never really have issues paddling/catching waves. I would like to stay at 5’10" or maybe even drop down to 5’9"; I feel thatt 5’8" to 5’10" boards really allow me to be on the sweet spot once I pop up.I surf mostly beach breaks.
dimension suggestions? probably goign to stick with PU construction.
My rule of thumb for hpsb is as tall as you are. So 5’7 or 5’8 is good for length. For your daily driver. 18 3/4 - 19.5 depends how good your are and thin rails prob around 2 3/8. Single to double with vee out the tail. For new englad like jersey I like a little extra width to make it easier. But that’s just me.
If your riding a 5’10" dumpser diverish board right now and want to switch to a high performance shortboard (assuming your 5’10" is not too big for you) I highly recommend going a bit longer…in the 6’0-6’1" range. A high performance shortboard will, in simplest terms, decrease the volume and increase the rocker compared to the dumpster diver. To compensate for this, you want to go a bit longer and a bit less wide and thick. The increased rocker will compensate for the increased length so the board shouldn’t feel too big (and may actually fit better in little pockets ext.).
Of course what works for you is what you should go with, but I have seen a lot of people order a high performance short board using the same lenth as their ‘small wave’ short board and end up not having the best experience.