So is everyone else out there these days. Was talking to the guy who runs Aqua (not sure what his name is) and we were talking about how 5 years ago the biggest board out at OB was an 8'6 and now guys are on 10'0s when it's tripple overhead. Ended up sliding a 9'0 into an order they have placed with Lyle. My Christenson Sicario's (8'4 and 9'0) just landed at Proof Lab. Going to pick them up tomorrow. Winter is looking like it might be pretty chill work-wise. Thinking about picking up a 10'0 and seeing if I can't work my way into the crowded Mavs lineup.You will definitely want more than a chippy 7'0 if you intend to surf the better days ... unless you stick to the VFW> Kelly's Cove Zone. Given that this is your first season, I'd say don't paddle out at Noriega when it's 6 @ 18 or 10 @16 etc...
This is the start of my 7th season, and pretty much year I've bought a bigger board. First year, I had a 6'4 Ghost before ordering a 6'8 Blackbird that spring. After a couple of swells the following fall, I ordered a 7'6 Blackbird and swore I would be overgunned and never go out on days requiring anything bigger. That summer, Rusty made me an 8'3. The following spring, I went to Danny Hess and told him I needed something for maxing OB, the 8'3 didn't give me enough confidence on the biggest day of the season.Now double overhead barely gets my heart rate up. I train for winter and have anxiety all season long thinking about what the next day/ swell will bring.
Am I over-gunned at times? Probably, but it's because I finally have my priorities straight out there. Catch bombs and stay safe. As someone said a while back on this thread, you're not hitting the lip anyway when it's 2x overhead +.
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