I'm 62, 5'10" and 165-lbs. Ride a 9'0" Harbour Diamond Tail in overhead, winter surf and it works great. In smaller stuff, I mostly ride a 9'6" Banana, 9'6" H3 or sometimes a 9'6" Diamond Tail. My shortboard days are done: still in decent shape for my age, but I can't out-hustle 20-year-olds on my 7'4" anymore. If you're younger, maybe you can still pull it off (and more power to ya).

I don't use the paddling/early entry advantage provided by more volume to make a total pig of myself, but I DO still want my fair share...