Sweet Potato Help? No speed

[lycokayaker]

Hey Gang


I recently purchased s 5'6 Sweet Potato and have controller fins on it. I have had it out about 5 times. Just recently in a smaller size waves 2-3 and I can't seem to find the gas pedal on this board. I have surfed it on a 4-5 ft day and it flew but anything smaller and I can't seem to get the board moving down the line. Especially in the mush waves I was on yesterday..... I kept getting stuck after take off not having enough speed to stay ahead of the white water. Any advice or idea would greatly be appreciated!


Bill

[prjwebb]

Make sure you're weight is back and you back foot is over the fins.
Other than that have you gone too small? If any thing I find them too fast

[lycokayaker]

Thanks for the reply.... I am only 165 lbs if anything I was afraid I went to big on this board. Should my back foot be back further than normal? I seem to have it in front of the front ones or does it need to be smack in the middle of them or on the very back... Thanks for the help


Bill

[pagey]

A little bit of aggression goes a long way. Get up fast and really get on it. Don't go to the bottom of the wave. Turn immediately after standing up. The SP should take right off after the first pump. Yes, foot placement is pretty crucial too. You have the right fins for the board, so that's not the problem. Don't give up. You'll get it figured out soon.

[kdropin]

u went too big.. but u just have to find the sweet spot..

[kdropin]

those fins at 165 might b too much fin.. i hated em at 170.. like the stretches a lot

[iggy]

Hey Gang


I recently purchased s 5'6 Sweet Potato and have controller fins on it. I have had it out about 5 times. Just recently in a smaller size waves 2-3 and I can't seem to find the gas pedal on this board. I have surfed it on a 4-5 ft day and it flew but anything smaller and I can't seem to get the board moving down the line. Especially in the mush waves I was on yesterday..... I kept getting stuck after take off not having enough speed to stay ahead of the white water. Any advice or idea would greatly be appreciated!


Bill
At 165lbs the 5'6" has tons of foam.Putting that aside, the potato is a board which needs to be driven from the back foot. Your back foot right against the very kick of the tail pad.as soon as the rail engages that thing just shoots off. Controllers are pretty good fins for this board. As pagei said, that's the approach you should take with yor little starch friend

[aurfalien]

Don't worry about it being big, my BP is 5'7" and I'm only 150!!!

Dude, the boards; SP and BP, fly, extremely back foot is all.

[lycokayaker]

Ok good to know guys! Next time out I will really keep in mind to be aggressive with my back foot..... Are you guys running tail pads on your potatoes? I couldn' t seem to find one that fit right as the tail is so wide and look right.


Bill

[prjwebb]

Yeah I put one on for the very purpose of knowing my back foot was right back.
I find if you spread a pad right out it doesn't look too bad. Would rather not have one on it to be honest.
You could put just a tail kick on rather than a whole pad. I think gorilla make one.

[pagey]

http://www.mdsurfstore.com/product/wide-tail

Call Sean Mattison. The website says they are sold out, but I bet he has some. These pads have great coverage for wide tails. They are all I use.

[iggy]

Can't surf without a pad on my boards!! useless without it. I have a Creatures Mick fanning on my 5'2" potato a bit spread out

[hawaii_boi]

stomp pad definitely helps a lot...and also cuts down on wax! :D

[surferireland]

Hate Pads - eco wax - what size (in relation to your height are you talking about)

The SP is a board that can be propelled down the line by fast top to bottom rollercoasting if you will - it wont just generate its own speed, I found it slow to begin with then one your drive of the bottom turn good and hard - BOOM......

[lycokayaker]

Thanks everyone for the replies, got out yesterday in small really small mushy waves and made sure to pay attention on my back foot and work off it more and wow. What a difference.....

Thanks again!

[Chris]

yeah forum surf coaching!! Glad it helped.

thanks for all the insight folks

[SvenBoogert]

Hi, would it be a hard transition from surfing the frontfoot to being able to surf a backfooted board such as a sp?
Has anyone experience with it?

[prjwebb]

Yeah I'm pretty front footed. It took a while to adjust with plenty of hit and miss moments but I really enjoy the SP now.

[pmorgan]

I think this is the tail pad Prj is talking about. Looks the ticket for BP and SP style boards.

1574

[pmorgan]

I think this is the tail pad Prj is talking about. Looks the ticket for BP and SP style boards.

1574

[prjwebb]

Yeah, handy for knowing you back foot is in the spot and a good anchor for the knee to protect the board when duck diving!
I do like the arch bar on full sized tail pads though, i feel like you get more leverage rail to rail having your foot elevated on the arch, kind of like a domed deck.

[SvenBoogert]

Yeah I'm pretty front footed. It took a while to adjust with plenty of hit and miss moments but I really enjoy the SP now.

I kinda have to get with the program since i recently bought a sp and a pn. Both need to be surfed from the backfoot. Is there a difference in backfoot pressure between the both, i mean does the pn need a similar approach when it comes to backfoot surfing?
Plus, i was wondering whether the transition to backfoot surfing improved your overal surfing performance.
Perhaps even on boards which you normally surf frontfooted?

Safe, Sven

[pmorgan]

I kinda have to get with the program since i recently bought a sp and a pn. Both need to be surfed from the backfoot. Is there a difference in backfoot pressure between the both, i mean does the pn need a similar approach when it comes to backfoot surfing?
Plus, i was wondering whether the transition to backfoot surfing improved your overal surfing performance.
Perhaps even on boards which you normally surf frontfooted?

Safe, Sven

I would say surfing is more Blackfoot orientated I sometimes struggle after been on my snowboard for a season you drop to the bottom a bog a rail due to too much front for pressure.
I would say you need to be more dynamic when surfing shifting body weight forward and back to sute different manovers.

[SvenBoogert]

Ha yeh very recognisable.
Every winter i wonder why my snowboard isn't turning how it is supposed to and in the summer vica versa on my surfboard.
Little thick i suppose.
I think i can gain progress being more conscious about my surfing, it's mainly going with the flow at the moment.
Thanks !

Safe Sven

[SvenBoogert]

Had a decent surf this morning on the sp. I used the Simon Anderson large set to try something new. It actually worked really well i found it to have loads of drive while still being manoeuvrable for my skill level. I need the great way it holds instead of being real loose.
You gatto love the sp it's such a likeable person to be with.