Sweet Potato - Need Advises

[iggy]

You're quite tall (well to my standings jejeje). I had a 5'6" potato and sold it and got a 5'2". The main reason is that that board had TONS of flotation for my weight (165lbs). I don't know what's your skill level but if you are somewhere between intermediate and advance I would go for a 5'4".
I was skeptic of going too small at the begging but once I got the board I realized how much foam this board packed.
At the end it's all a matter of preferences.
Something to remember also is that that board was designed to ride the small stuff, so going too small will in some sort defeat the original purpose of the board. I remember back on the 5'6" I was seating in the lineup at the same level as the long boarders and catching all sorts of waves

[Fritzkat]

Just curious, is the Sweet Potatoe only for small weak mushy stuff undesireable by the Dominator?.. I thought the Dom would be the Easiest board to ride with performance.

[iggy]

Not at all. This board, due to its design,excells in small mushy surf where other boards will simply stay out of the water.
There is people in this forum who have taken it into over head surf with minor to no complains. It's all in the eyes of the beholder!!!.

[jsurfer]

Thanks Iggy! Yeah I'm somewhere in between intermediate-advanced but paddle into waves pretty well. I'm almost leaning toward the 5'6'' sweet potato because I would love the board to paddle into anything (like a longboard). If there is any size or power to a wave (waist high and up) then I'll be on my 5'8'' Hellfire. Another question though- would the 5'8'' Sweet Potato just be overkill for me? I'm not really looking for the board to whip around like my Hellfire- just get up and cruise around. You think the 5'8'' would get me up on more waves than even the 5'6''?

[iggy]

I think that the 5'8" will be tons o foam. The 5'6" was feeling like a longboard for me. So from that perspective I would tell you to stay on the 5'6". Believe me you can't imagine how much foam that board packs. Although I think the 5'4" will fill your needs, I would not recommend to go for the 5'8".

[Fritzkat]

Merry Christmas..
I am thinking a 6-0 SP,
My biggest problem I have with selecting boards is that I am 6'-6" tall at 200 pds and have 37 inch legs (giraffe like) so I have a wider stance than most, I can adapt to boards a couple inches shorter than me, and have had good luck selecting off the rack what works best for me, hence I seen the 6-4 Hellfire, 6-4 dominator and 6-6 Quadra-five models before I bought them. However, a board at 6-0 I think I am pushing it... I just want the board for the super mush 1' days so I dont have to carry a long board in my short bed truck. ( I dont own a longboard yet ) I can ride the 6-4 dominator on almost anything other than 1 foot mush.

I have been surfing over 35 years, with intermediate/advanced ability depending on my sore back and knees.
Any other lankey (long legged, giraffe like) super tall surfers out there on a Sweet Potato?

[Andy]

Iggy, I'm 5'11 and weigh around 70kg. I've been surfing for over 25 years and would consider myself at a competent intermediate level. I'm keen on the sweet potato but unsure whether I should go the 5'4 or 5'2. I'm like jhoyjr in the fact that I don't want the sp to throw around, more, just to cruise and float over sections on those really small days. Where I live the waves are really quick and lack a lot of shape. I kind of feel like the 5'4 may be too big but the 5'2 will be too small. I would love your thoughts?

[iggy]

Hey Andy!!!.If you want to have the board as a cruiser then the 5'4" could be an option, although you will find excessive volume on it. On the other hand, if you want to throw a little spicing in the mix, the 5'2" will have you skateboarding in the water but might be too short given your height.
When I had my 5'6", I was sitting in the lineup along with long boarders and catching waves galore. For the small stuff was just perfect, the feeling was that of a groveller but with a little twst. Incredibly maneuverable considering the magnitude of the tail... is just BIG.
So to summarize, if you want the board as a pure groveller to just cruise around and relax, go for the 5'4". The 5'2" might feel a bit too short given your height

[Andy]

Thanks Iggy, that's what I kind of thought. Now to get my hands on one asap!

[iggy]

no problem buddy, keep us posted!!