For interests sake please, short replies on specifically 11'2'' owners that have gone to shorter boards.
1 Have you persevered with the shorter board or returned to the 11'2''
2 If you use both is the majority of your surfing on the longer or shorter board.
Thanks

Had a breakthrough easter on the 9'6" Naish and will be using it in surf much more than my 11'2" Starie from now on. (it was the other way round before) I'm only 68kg and reckon I could go thinner/smaller than the 9'6" pretty easily, that thin nose that I had trouble with early on is suddenly my new best friend!

If I had another board it would be the 9'8" x 28.5" and I would ride it in anything with no wind, clean, sucky and over head high just for that shortboard sensation
Im guessing I would use them both equally. The 11'2 in summer and the 9'8 x 28.5 in winter

never owned anything over 10'4

Rod

11' > 9'8" (same width as 11-footer, i.e. 30"), won't go back to 11-footer unless the surf gets too crowded & have to migrate to the river. Next board will probably go shorter, e.g. 9'3". I'm 174 cm, 73 kg.

I think you will get a strong bias in favour of using short boards because those that are keen on surfing short boards will buy them and get used to them and love them.

I demoed a 9'6" and didn't love it so I did not pursue getting a short board. I am happy with my 11'2" in the surf and I'm not doing enough surfing to justify a dedicated surf SUP ... yet. :-) Maybe this winter will change things.

I have a dream of having a sub-10' surf SUP and a 12'+ flat water SUP but I don't think the currently available products are so compelling that I need to buy more boards just yet.

started with 11'6

then got 10'6

then 11'

then 9'6

then 9'3

then 12'

now just ride the 9'3 in all conditions under 8 foot

over 8 foot 10'6 until i get a purpose gun

and ride the 12' for distance and fun slow waves (like it the most)

still own all of them

12 ft > 10ft > 8'9 ft

Ride the 8'9" all the time

Still have the 12 footer.