Thanks everyone - sorry for the delayed response, busy with work and surfing!
Yes, I am new (2 months in), and I am not trying to be narcissistic, but I am not your typical newbie. Though I believe that I am picking it up quickly, I am inexperienced with what works and what I should go for...
Here's the diatribe - haha! First I study waves and the surf zone for a living, actually teach linear wave theory and written a lot papers on surf zone waves and circulations patterns. I am able to read the waves and understand the mechanics behind surfing. I understand wave groups, directional spreading, frequency spreading, etc. Most of my studies are in the surf zone, I spend a lot of time in the ocean, on a wave runner, etc. FYI, I turned it down but I did get a Fulbright Scholarship to study artificial surfing reefs in New Zealand during my PhD.
I surfed some 20 years ago, but mostly on longish or longboards. Never really put much thought into it other surfing the waves, and going to the beach with the family. It came relatively easy to me. I got out of it because of my career, family, and sticking with one sport to get at it, and long boarding was just so so (sorry to offend those who love it).
My primary sport has been mountain biking. I am above average mountain biker - I hit 20 foot gap jumps, build jumps. I am very calculated in my extreme biking. I typically head to Whistler and Canada every summer. I commute 20 miles round trip to work. I am mountain bike 3-4 times a week.
With COVID, I wasn't going to Whistler, not eating out, etc. I need a new challenge - a local escape. I had some funds to invest in something different. My neighbor surfs so I dusted off and fixed the old boards. First session back in water was up in Santa Cruz - July 4ht which was great waves. No problem surfing the long board.
I bought a new board - based on friends that surf and the internet - I got a high volume (60L), 7 ft Torq with into two sessions. I knew this board was too big - blah, big mistake. However, all you read is volume, volume, volume, beginner start with this. Not all beginners are the same.
After 2 weeks, still staying conversative, but trying something smaller, I bought a 6' 8" 41L Seaside & Beyond. Yeah, I could paddle a smaller volume board. I like the SS&B, I like the glide, wave catching etc. It is a long board on the waves.
After 4 weeks, I bought 5' 9" 37L Seaside. I figured the SS&B worked, why not stay the path. I can easily paddle this board, but it doesn't catch waves that easy and it feels like a boat. The Seaside is a weird board for me. I like it in the punchy waves, but I wish it was less boaty and more narrow. I would almost prefer less volume, but worried that this would make wave catching even harder or maybe it would be easier. Even though it is easy to paddle the SS, you notice the width and volume. It is super stable on the waves, you really have to get your feet in position to work this board or at least this size and volume.
From my experience with the SS and SS&B, I like the width of the SS&B and the shortness of the SS. I bought 6' 2" Hydroshort. Again being a bit conservative with volume. The Hydroshort has been super fun, and it is an easy board to surf!!! Surprisingly, I don't really notice the 38L volume like I notice the 37L volume of the SS. I was surprised that I didn't notice the 38L with the Hydroshort. With the Hydroshort, I am surfing the waves very well and the last few days have been awesome. However the waves were easy and fun, had a little roll to them before breaking so easy to get into. I am surfing the wave - staying high in wave, turning bottom and top. I notice the length a bit at first, but getting my feet far back quickly and consistently. This definitely is a great DD for me.
I am looking for a board to replace the SS for the punchy, steep beach breaks and that has bit more edge to it relative to the Hydroshort. Hence the Cymatic seemed like right board, and who knows it might replace the Hydroshort. Everyone seems to love the Cymatic and states that their surfing improves with the Cymatic across various volumes. The people that overvolume the Cymatic say the hard rails work and they don't notice the volume. The ones that under volume or right size say it paddles great. Because of my inexperience, volume remains a bit of an unknown. I am 48 years old, 185 lbs (naked) and really confused about volume and size for this board.
Yes, I am novice, but either from years of biking and pushing the envelope, was semi-pro skateboarder (360 over a van) when I was young. I am constantly self-evaluating and adjusting, learning from what works and what didn't work. By no means am I an expert, I am still learning and learning a lot. I catch most of my waves (90-95%), I still go after some of the wrong waves ( as I get bored waiting) and should have gone for some that passed by me. My neighbor and his surfer friend, who have been surfing for 2 plus years, I am passed them and explaining stuff to them, asking them did you notice what did wrong, why that happened, their feet position for turning or braking, when to catch the wave, looking to see which direction to surf down the wave, etc. These are things I am correcting for as I am surfing each wave and improving.
Thanks for taking the time and sorry the spew...