Board advice

something like RRD FSW 75L sounds like it would be about right - www.robertoriccidesigns.com/

I have an 85L and I'm about 80kgs. It's a super friendly style of board that is plenty quick and gives me heaps of confidence to push it.

I guess I need to try some smaller volume boards and see what feels handleable.
So if a lady comes up to you on the beach and asks if she can try out your board...

How about a starboard Pro Kids Flare, there was a used one in perth somewhere.. or like most have said a freestyle wave even if it's a bit bigger than your weight it should be all good..

Starboard had a board a while ago called the Diva (not sure if they still make it) that was a small wave board specifically designed for women, with a narrower stance and reduced dimensions. I have no idea if any were sold in Australia but if you could find one of those it would probably be just what you're after.

Have you considered a custom? I don't know what prices are like these days but the last one I bought was half the price of production boards at the time so that's another plus on top of getting exactly what you want.

I have seen one somewhere. The Diva boards and sails were a wonderful concept for women but they spoiled them by putting those hibiscus flowers all over them. I think they would have done a lot better without the hibiscus. Too girly for sailboarders. Even feminine sailboarders. I like bright colours and great graphics and those iridescent reflective panels were awesome, but the hibiscus? Absolutely not.
Yuck..definitely not cool..
( probably suit my daggy image though..)

Have just been through the similar decision.

I'm 68kg and have a Fanatic Bee 104 as my light wind board. Wanted to get a wave board and hopefully replace an 87L freeride. As I live in Auckland, waves are a little hard to find so went for FSW as it will get more use in high wind and harbour chop.

Ended up with a 2006 Fanatic Freewave 78. Enough of a step down from 87L to open up another level of sailing for me but still keep the fun in it. It also compliments 104L well in a 2 board quiver.

One thing that helped with the decision making was to look sails and masts as well. Trying to minimise gear so have 4 sails from 6.3 to 4.3 on two masts. The 78L FSW became my main board and allows 3 sail options. A smaller wave board would have cut down the options to the two smallest sails (FSW can carry larger sails) meaning I would have gotten much less use out of it.

Hope that gives you a few ideas.

Easty I have had similar experience. The EVO was perfect (better than perfect ) in down the line waves. When I moved to another spot that was very choppy it was a pain in the arse. This was a place with a long choppy run out to the reef break and very windy.

At one stage I was using 4.0 and 80L EVO (and I'm 100kg so it was damn windy!). My knees and ankles hurt from the pounding over chop. I thought it was a dumb idea cos it was so windy but I went for my new RRD 101FSW just to see how it felt. Too keen to use it. Seriously what wavesailor uses 100L on a 30-35kn day? Well it was better, I was really confused. I tried my old old 74L Acid. Again, better.

Then I realised it was all in the vee.

Real world waves and EVO's etc have funny concave things going on, they are absolutely awesome in the waves but if it is 800m of chop to get to the wave they are very hard to handle.
I'd still take the EVO any day on crossshore head hi beach break, but not on the insane B&J days with a bit of wave riding.
Interesting, another case of old school shaping may be better for most people most of the time?.