not get that much power if you take some rings of the cassete. I ride 32t and 6speed cassete and it´s just fine for all. Some WC riders thing it too. But yes, get a bigger chainring is cheeper
personaly wouldnt run anything under 38 for downhill and if you run a good ranged 9spd cassete then when you hit the flat sections you can shift to easyer gears instead of being over the front giving it all to get your cranks round a turn
but hes taco so its not going to make a difference and you dont get much smaller than 11 on the rear normally also ive not bashed my taco much and my bb height is 13'2