Beginners Potatonator review. First try out on my PN 5'8" today.

[aurfalien]

Well, I certainly understand the $$$ perspective.

Few things to help;

1) Stretch 2x day for 20-30 at a time. Focus on the back and legs.
2) Drink lots of spring water.
3) Pick a great multi vitamin, I love Tangy Tangerine.
4) Confidence.

Good luck man, I too struggle and think of surfing each and every day, many times a day.

- aurf

[50young]

Hey Notty

hang in there man. I'm quite a bit heavier than you at 91kg and ride a 6.0. I'm older and only get to surf each weekend. by no means an advanced surfer, probably very average. I can't see the 5' 8 could be too small. Your first post you said that the 5' 8 seemed "corky" and you would have to work on your duckdive, so you would have heaps of probs with a 6'.0. Last week I had a sucky session when I just could not do a thing right, where as Saturday was a pretty good session, takes a while to dial in a new board, paddle position feet position etc

[rahsoul]

Notty is thinking about a 6'0" Potatonator, and has a 5'8". Hyper has a 6'0" and is looking for a 5'8". Coincidence? :)

[FW - Fan]

Notty I actually think the issue is not volume but the type of board you are riding. I dont see the PN to be a particularly easy board to ride for beginners. It is also very far removed from a regular board so if you improve on this board you will struggle when you make the transition to a regular board. For me you would be better off on a Dom, Spit or maybe a Stealth. If you were thinking of changing boards then I would be considering a different model. I have a PN and love it but it has a unique ride that is not what a relative beginner needs in my view.

[nottyR6]

Thanks for the help everyone, very much appreciated. I know the main issue is my own ability, fitness and probably confidence at the moment. I actually like the board but prob didnt realise how advanced it was pre purchase. Small dimensions are still small even if it is thick and wide, for a beginner. The word beginner is relative in surfing, I have had a few enforced breaks in the last year. I'm just going to hang in there, I have other boards I can turn back to for a comfort blanket if the going gets tough.

Rahsoul - Yeah that had occured to me as well :)

FW-Fan - Thanks, thats kind of where I had got to as well. I may just hang on to the PN I'm not rushing at the moment. I've got a 6'3" custom hybrid superfish as well that might be a good idea to jump back to for a while to get my confidence up. Then again that Spitfire looks very nice....