Hi Chris, cheers for the input. I was surfing yesterday in fun waist high beachy surf on a mates Lost Black Sheep which was a 508 with 27.4cl volume. Different design etc to the Spitty but good to get a feel of a much smaller board. The smallest I have ever ridden...sketchily! With that in mind I am now looking back at yours, prj's and another mates comments about board size v local conditions. Listening to everyone's views, it is not so much about will I be able to surf either one, it is how quickly I will be able to get the board wired based on my experience and the type of waves we surf. The 510 will stroke into waves a little easier than the 508 and there will be a marginal differences in riding between the two once up. If the trade off is getting into waves then I think it has to be the 510, particularly if it's weak and mushy. Whilst I am itching to surf something smaller I don't want to hinder progress and so errrring on the side of caution! Hey I'm sure you are both right...cheers mate. T.