501 Baked Potato Technograin is one sweet ride!

[megsy]

Hi guys,

Just a report on the performance of my new 5'1" Baked Potato Technograin.

Surfed it in 2-2.5ft waves, slightly onshore winds in the morning. Had FCS K2.1 quads set up. This board flies!

It paddles as good as the sweet potato but definitely has better response in the critical part of the wave by holding it's rail line in the face of the wave (not sliding out like the SP does).

Later in the afternoon, I surfed it in 2.5-3ft waves, light offshore winds. Added the FCS knubster to the quad set up to give me a bit more control through the tail. The boards rail to rail transition is so smooth. I was surprised at how hard you can drive off the bottom of the wave. It performs round house cutbacks like a breeze without losing any speed & no problems putting it up late into the lip of the wave.

The board is surprising light. I think it is lighter than the 5'0" sweet potato I once owned.

The board turns plenty of heads out in the line up (& on the land), mainly due to how amazing it looks with the Paulownia deck skin.

I know i'm going to have some great & memorable sessions on this board....Firewire, two thumbs-up!!!

[prjwebb]

man i want one

[FW - Fan]

Hey Megsy...where did you buy yours from? PM me if you prefer. Also how does it feel in terms of durability? As for weight...lighter than your SP? What type of SP did you have ? RF or FST? Thanks.

[gringogrom23]

Megsy, could you help me out with choosing a right size TGBP?? por favor, i am 6'4 170lbs and i stuck between deciding 5.1 or 5.3??? im a good average surfer, but ive never been on a board so short before! im reading that the shorter the better, but im not completely sure how i feel about that due to lack of experience~~ im currently in ecuador, riding nice sized waves on my f1stub mayhem 6.1x18.75x2.32, and when i head back to the states i want something that i can have fun on the small east coast swells?? any suggestions??? also do you know if the techograins come with futures?? gracias familia, God Bless :)

[megsy]

Hey FW-Fan, I ordered mine from the lads at the Rip Curl Store Narrabeen. It feels strong & durable, not afraid to hit some close outs, that's for sure. Yeah, my 5'0" SP was in RF.
Hey Megsy...where did you buy yours from? PM me if you prefer. Also how does it feel in terms of durability? As for weight...lighter than your SP? What type of SP did you have ? RF or FST? Thanks.

[megsy]

Hey gringogrom23, I'd say the 5'3" BPTG would be your size but just to be certain, try using the volume calculator on the firewire website. It should give you a good idea of the volume that best suits your stats. In regards to the shortness of these boards, yes it does take a bit for the brain to comprehend that something this short can still be a good board (in the right conditions of course). It will take a few surfs to get used too, but once you get a wave with you feet in the sweet spot, man, you'll have the biggest grin on your face & everyone out in the line-up will be super envious...hahaha!
So go ahead & take the plunge, you won't regret it.
I certainly haven't!

Megsy, could you help me out with choosing a right size TGBP?? por favor, i am 6'4 170lbs and i stuck between deciding 5.1 or 5.3??? im a good average surfer, but ive never been on a board so short before! im reading that the shorter the better, but im not completely sure how i feel about that due to lack of experience~~ im currently in ecuador, riding nice sized waves on my f1stub mayhem 6.1x18.75x2.32, and when i head back to the states i want something that i can have fun on the small east coast swells?? any suggestions??? also do you know if the techograins come with futures?? gracias familia, God Bless :)

[hawaii_boi]

Megsy, could you help me out with choosing a right size TGBP?? por favor, i am 6'4 170lbs and i stuck between deciding 5.1 or 5.3??? im a good average surfer, but ive never been on a board so short before! im reading that the shorter the better, but im not completely sure how i feel about that due to lack of experience~~ im currently in ecuador, riding nice sized waves on my f1stub mayhem 6.1x18.75x2.32, and when i head back to the states i want something that i can have fun on the small east coast swells?? any suggestions??? also do you know if the techograins come with futures?? gracias familia, God Bless :)

Because of your height you might want to consider a different board like the Potatonator. The volume is not as drastic as the BP when increasing size of board but will still allow you to grovel waves. BUT if you are set on the BP, maybe a 5'5 to 5'7.

ALOHA!!

[nn66]

Megsy is Technograin more expensive than RF I have my 5'11" BP on evil bay after riding my mates 5"9" BP on Sunday at Garie so I after a 5'9" however FW Australia has the BP in RF on back order maybe the Technograin could be the way to go if I can get one.

[suncoastslop]

Hey all, checked out the baked/spit technograin today, all i can say is if you have not seen one in the flesh get out from behind the screen and go check one out, they look so sick and i cannot believe how light they are, they almost feel hollow, cannot wait to ride one, if they are as durable a fst, these things are gunna be epic.

suncoast

[csarqui]

Are the Technograins special order only?

[nn66]

Suncoastslop where did you see it and are they priced more than RF, in need of a new 5'9" BP.

[prjwebb]

Pretty sure pricing is the same as FST.

[megsy]

nn66, RRP$920 for TG, same price as FST.

[FW - Fan]

Megsy ....any thoughts about the durability? How does the deck look after a couple of surfs now?

[suncoastslop]

nn66 local shop had em, but i seen them in a few stores on the coast, same price as fst

suncoast

[megsy]

FW - fan, after a couple of surfs the deck looks brand new, no impressions from feet placement. I think TG might be the child of RF & FST. It's as light as RF but as strong as FST, perfect blend of them both!!

[Brazos]

Hello, new to the forum here,

I demoed a 5'1 Baked Potato in Rapidfire, loved the board and ordered one immediately. The one I ordered is in Rapidfire but I have the option of waiting a week or two more for a Technograin version.

Questions for anyone who's ridden both Rapidfire and Technograin:

- The Rapifire BP I demoed felt really “slippery” and fast through the water. Does Technograin match the speed through the water and overall feel that I was liking in the Rapidfire?
- I hear Technograin is super light. Does it lose drive in bumpier conditions – at least any more than Rapidfire would?
- Any other thoughts on comparison of feel and performance characteristics?

Thanks!

[megsy]

Update on 501 BP TG: Two hour session in 2-2.5ft east swell with light cross shore winds, had quad & knubster set up. The first hour the board felt pretty average & I was just about to change to my 504 Potatonator. Then I caught a wave that I was able to fade off the bottom, drive hard up the face & do an arcing top turn that allowed me to be in the pocket when I came out of the turn then race across the face to an oncoming close out lip, threw the board up through the lip, kicking the tail out the back of the wave & releasing the fins, landing sideways to the beach, then riding out ahead of the foam. After that wave for the next hour, every wave I was able to execute similar manoeuvres with full completion, it was as if I found the sweet spot on the BP. After that session, it confirmed my decision to have sold my 504 SP for the 501 BP.

[Matt_s]

thats another "want" on my list after reading this thread, glad technograin BPs arnt coming out till Q3 in the UK so I have a chance to save a bit of cash

Megsy im pretty much the same weight height as you, how would you say it compared to your 5'2 SP (i am right in thinking you had a 5'2?) its one of the most fun boards iv ever tried, Iv never gone so fast on a board, I swore id never replace it but this 5'1 techno BP just looks and sounds so unreal!

Is it as easy to ride as the SP was? if it is im sold.

[megsy]

Matt_s, I originally had a 5'0" RF SP when they were first released. It was both the shortest board I'd ever ridden & the most fun board I'd ever ridden, fast & light. After about 8 months, I decided to get the 5'2" SP in FST. Two reasons, firstly the deck on the RF was pretty damaged with feet impressions & it had had so many dings due to people dropping in on me way down the line thinking there was no way I was going to make the wave from where I was taking off right at the start of the wave....this board is fast! Secondly, I wanted to compete with the longboarders on the really small days & catch the waves before they were up & riding, so I thought more volume would help me achieve this. I found the difference I. The volume from the 5'0" to the 5'2" was just too much & subsequently affected the overall performance of the 5'2". It was harder to throw the board around in the wave & almost felt to stiff & not connected to the wave like the 5'0". So I decided I needed something in between, durable & strong enough to withstand the weight of my body (feet) but light enough to be able to execute more performance based manouveres. Great news is, I have found such a board. It is the 501 Baked Potato in Technograin!!!!

[kdropin]

megsy do you fell like the technograin is too light?? hurts momentum and drive? would like to hear more about the feel of the board while riding? how does it handle chop/wind? i normally don't bother with side chop but a stiff offshore i give it a go

[surferireland]

1557

A little comp session on the BP this weekend - was the perfect board for the conditions.

[megsy]

Hey guys, I've been up at Noosa for a couple of days & my wonderful better half has filmed me surfing a couple of sessions on my BP TG. If I get enough people interested, I may post it up. What do you think?

[FW - Fan]

Hey guys, I've been up at Noosa for a couple of days & my wonderful better half has filmed me surfing a couple of sessions on my BP TG. If I get enough people interested, I may post it up. What do you think?

Dont be shy now Megsy...get it up

[Goanna]

Hey guys, I've been up at Noosa for a couple of days & my wonderful better half has filmed me surfing a couple of sessions on my BP TG. If I get enough people interested, I may post it up. What do you think?

Do it!
(but make sure its the right video lol)

[iggy]

Hey guys, I've been up at Noosa for a couple of days & my wonderful better half has filmed me surfing a couple of sessions on my BP TG. If I get enough people interested, I may post it up. What do you think?
Is not up yet??? We are all waiting to see!!!!

[yandy]

Looking forward to seeing the vid mate!
Just wondering if anyone one can provide direct comparisons between rapidfire and technograin technology on the BP. They are the same price so what are the positives and negatives of each?

[FW - Fan]

Looking forward to seeing the vid mate!
Just wondering if anyone one can provide direct comparisons between rapidfire and technograin technology on the BP. They are the same price so what are the positives and negatives of each?

Not the same price. Technograin is the same price as FST.

[yandy]

Ok. I didn't realise BP were available in FST. Can anyone explain differences in things like weight/durability etc for BP construction. Thanks

[kdropin]

they're not available in fst

[yandy]

I thought that was the case. Can anyone comment on differences - Technograin and rapidfire

[prjwebb]

Build wise TG is closer to FST, but lighter weight. RF is closer to a standard EPS/Epoxy build but with the added strength of the deck skin.

Performance wise, RF has a more lively, instant flex response. I think TG will be more like FST with a little more dampening and smoother response.

[Chris]

yeah for the most part that is right on. The flex response of the the TG though is probably in between RF and FST. The reduction in weight increases the rate of return and sensation of responsiveness.

[prjwebb]

Makes me want a TG-BP503 even more!

[Chris]

yeah that board blew me away!! highly highly durable too...

[prjwebb]

I can't justify moving on my sweet potato though, it's too fun and serves it's purpose just fine. The TG BP will be there when the time comes!

[Jleon]

Saw a BP in Technograin that took quite a bit of damage on the deck from the heels. Not just the standard pressure dings. As strong as FST? Not sure at this point.

[hawaii_boi]

Saw a BP in Technograin that took quite a bit of damage on the deck from the heels. Not just the standard pressure dings. As strong as FST? Not sure at this point.

Jleon, did you get a chance to take a pic of the dings? Please post.

ALOHA!!

[hawaii_boi]

yeah that board blew me away!! highly highly durable too...

Chris, i still really really really want an FST Baked Potato!! Please make it! haha!

ALOHA!!

[Goanna]

C'mon Megzy where's ya bloody video???

[megsy]

Ok fellow firewire frothers, here it is.

My surfing standards ain't great by any means but at least it will show how lively this board goes in very, very, average to poor conditions...enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-iz8mCgtsk

[Goanna]

Nice work Megzy - perfect waves for the BP!

[FW - Fan]

I just want to know what 70's porno you got the music from??? Was that Ron Burgundy on the flute??

[megsy]

FW - Fan, you know that no one plays the flute better than Ron Burgandy. Looking forward to the sequel to Anchorman!

[FW - Fan]

FW - Fan, you know that no one plays the flute better than Ron Burgandy. Looking forward to the sequel to Anchorman!

One of the best movies ever made....I love Ron Burgundy....and his "flute" work.

[suncoastslop]

Don't you mean jazz flute?, nice work megsy you must of jagged one on the only non rainy, non onshore days in the last 3 months

[megsy]

suncoastslop, i was up there for about five days & it really only rained on one of those days. Most of the wind was onshore while i was there but it was the last day in the morning (video day) that was probably the cleanest.

[Slowman]

Nice work Megsy. That thing really gets over the flat full sections well.

[Matt_s]

nice work megsy, really appreciate you posting up the reviews and videos, you being the same height and weight as me is really helpful with my board choices.
5'1 timbertek BP is now on the list (when avaliable in the uk) will sell up my 5'2sp the thing goes like a rocket but I agree its probably a bit big at 70kgs

[csarqui]

Nice video. You have a great style megsy.

[megsy]

Matt_s, always happy to help out a fellow firewire forum member.

[megsy]

csarqui, glad you liked the video & thanks for the positive comments.

[Matt_s]

Could you answer me a couple other questions megsy as I'm going down 3L i have a few worries...

1) is the 5'1 BP as fast as the 5'2 sp

2) is the 5'1 BP as easy to ride as the 5'2(Or close to)

3) does it surf the really weak stuff as good as the oversized sp?

4) does it feel a little bigger than the 5'0 sp ? (Which I always thought would be a little small)

Thanks

[surferireland]

I have a 5'9 BP and my bro has the 5'10 SP - The SP is better in the really weak stuff it, the BP is better in more powerful stuff, the BP is more versatile as it will surf tiny waves but is less prone to catching the nose on take off and turning. I find it catches waves as easily as the SP, cant go wrong with either really.

[megsy]

Matt_s,
Here are my answers to your four questions:
1) The 5'1"BP is just as fast as the 5'2"SP
2) For me & my statistics, I believe the volume of the 5'1" BP makes it as easy to ride as the 5'2" SP & definitely allows a better performance from the 5'1" BP
3) It definitely surfs the weak surf as good as the larger volume 5'2" SP (as evident in the my video)
4) Since the 5'2" SP was the the board I had right before I got the 5'1" BP it's hard to say if I remember exactly just how small the 5'0" SP felt in comparison to the 5'1" BP. I will say that the 5'1" BP feels smaller & lighter than the 5'2" SP. I do remember when I first got the 5'0" SP it felt really small compared to any other board I'd had or ridden but after a few months of surfing the 5'0" SP, it didn't feel small any more, if that makes any sense?

Anyway, I hope this feedback is of some help to you!


Could you answer me a couple other questions megsy as I'm going down 3L i have a few worries...

1) is the 5'1 BP as fast as the 5'2 sp

2) is the 5'1 BP as easy to ride as the 5'2(Or close to)

3) does it surf the really weak stuff as good as the oversized sp?

4) does it feel a little bigger than the 5'0 sp ? (Which I always thought would be a little small)

Thanks

[hawaii_boi]

@Matt_s, from what the FW website and what Chris says, the 5'0 Sweet is equivalent to 5'1 Baked and 5'2" Sweet is the 5'3" Baked. They added an inch to the Baked because the nose is pulled in more than the Sweet.

Sweet Volume:
5'0 = 28.9L
5'2 = 32.2L

Baked Volume:
5'1 = 29.3L
5'3 = 32.4L

Speed will only diminish if you undersize and/or if you are using the wrong fins. Since you are 70kg, 5'1 Baked should not be a problem.

ALOHA!!

[Matt_s]

Megsy,
Thanks a lot for that, it's really invaluable to helping me make a good decision ! I'm going to put in my order for a 5'1 its going to be quite a wait but looking forward to getting that stoke your getting from yours.
Hawaii boy cheers that makes good sense iv always felt the 5'2 was a little big and wondered what the 5'0 would be like, I recon it will be a good call as you say weight vs vol

[caio.picanco]

Hello everybody !
Im from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Im going to US and im planning to buy a TimberTek Baked Potato.

Im 6'1 and 210 lbs. The volume calculator is saying i should buy a 5'9 or a 5´11. whats your opinion about getting the 5´9 or getting a 5´11? Pros ands cons ?

Thanks everybody ! ! !