Like I said to you in the lineup earlier today, you have to slow it down.
The pace of the wave is slower on smaller waves, even if it seems like it breaking as fast, its not, so your moves have to be paced and your rhythm in control. With the slower moves you can cut through chop easier.
Remember, each wave is a song, a painting, a dance or a concerto, whichever way you see it; but YOU are the artist. So feel the tempo and play with it. But god forbid that anything of this becomes an equation where someone declares a swell an allegro event....
Anyway, my mantra is "...a good surfer will make bad waves look good."
Slop, chop or abysmal as it can be, pick your weapon and do your best job.