SpokeyDoke said..
At 3:50 in this video on the topic of board sizing from Apple Tree, Wieger says that being right at your weight in liters makes the effect of chop more noticeable, and that it is easier to deal with if you are just over or under:

What is your experience, and/or thoughts???

I'm looking at my second board for all around winging and thinking something close to my weight, but trying to dial in my choice

Is getting going in choppy conditions something that you struggle with?

If it is, I think there are many variables to consider, the board volume being down the list. I reckon -10 to +10l isn't gonna make that much of a difference.

What do you mean with 'second' board? Will you have a 2 board quiver or are you progressing and looking for a new board that ' does it all' ?what type of board and what volume suits you is pretty dependent on what you want to do, you typical conditions and your ability.

volume does matter a lot, in some circumstances. Once flying you don't need volume. Having some board to leverage is helpful while riding large wingspan wings.

volume matters most with slogging and starts (in my experience, but I dont't jump). A board with your body weight in volume can slog, but it requires a bit of effort and a bit of wing pressure. If there's just not enough wind in your wing a board with your weight in volume will sink about ankle deep, because of weight of all the equipment.
With some chop hovering at the waterline isn't easy. If you have +10/15 liters you will float and slogging will require less effort.
I tried starting on boards with -40, -30 and -20 liters. I think with a bit of practice I could take a -30 or -40 liter and push it down to stand on it under water and then grab my wing and get going. The -20 liters would float to much for that or would be a lot harder. But all of these require some wind power in your wing. There's no slogging back to shore, imho.

Jeroen, thanks for pointing out volume vs. length. Comparing your KT (5'-6" x 90L) to my Fanatic Sky Wing (5'-8" x 125L) is striking. That is probably why my Fanatic feels so corky. It's my first wing board and it was very difficult to balance at first. I will keep this in mind when it comes time for me to size down.

Without trying a board out first it is always going to be a guessing game. In my area I don't mind the chop IF there is enough of a gust to PULL the wing, then it's not so hard to get up, but if the wind is gusty and has holes left balancing on the board in chop with little to no pull in the wing is tiring. I have a 65l board and was 67.5kgs (plus full winter gear), I just dropped to 63.5kgs through my summer fitness training and everything feels much easier - so if the board is a little on the low volume side you could always eat less doughnuts, or more if you want a sinker !