sizing the sweet

[Chris]

good stuff cuttle. I too agree that when in the position of buying a one board quiver, the Potatonator is likely a better option. Good advice!!

[suncoastslop]

Thks for all the replys. Have decided to go with the sp as i have other shortboards for the larger days, just hung up on size....i know what a shock. At 6'2 95kg's all idications point to 5"10 5'8, but as everyone suggests dropping a size is the go, cuttle, im going to need this board to work at moffats, bluff and noosa, in your expert sun coast sp/pn opinion, would dropping to 5'6 be a wise idea? or is 5'8 or 5"10 a better idea? with regard to paddlepower v ripability

cheers

[iggy]

Hi Suncoast,
I wouldn't want to have a sp as a one board quiver.
It's loose allright. The thing about the sp is the effortless speed you can get on even flat faced waves due to it's width and especially because of it's wide tail.
But it will go vertical with ease though the flat rocker can mean you need to be careful coming back down the face if the wave is hollow. Cutbacks are a joy on it.
The p'nator definitely has more scope in how you can ride it and will handle a much wider range of conditions. I'd happily ride it at Yaroomba, Pitta and Wurtulla but I wouldn't want to trying to make drops like you can get there with the sp.
The big thing in the p'nator's favour for my pick as a more versatile board is it's 5 fin options.
Quad, quad + knubster, twin + trailer, thruster. Different set ups for different wave types and sizes.
The sp is quad only.
Really like to have them both.
I could have happily been riding the p'nator only but curiousity got the better of me and once I worked the sp out it was a two board quiver for the car.
Trying to squeeze all those boards you've listed into one board is a brutal task and I'd be looking at both the p'nator and the sp.
As far as the baked potato goes I still think it would not be a great weapon of choice in the more hollow beachbreaks we know.

Well I think is pretty clear!!!.Great post

[suncoastslop]

cuttle? any thoughts?

[cuttlefish]

Sorry,
hadn't noticed the posts on this thread.
You could go for either the 5'6" or the 5'8" with no problems.
All depends upon how much foam you're comfortable with.
There's a 5'6" fst on Ebay at the moment btw which could be worth bidding on.
If it was a 5'8" I'd be all over it. Take into account though I'm 49 and highly adapted to plenty of foam hence my 6'er.
That way you can see if it works without the extra expense of buying a new one.
If it doesn't have enough float then sell it off and move up a size.
The overwhelming trend for sweet potatoes is to downsize though.
My 6'er is brilliant out at the corner and the bluff in the 3-4' waves we've had these last two weeks. Haven't surfed Noosa on it yet.
I've got my eye out for a 5'8" to try because I reckon the 6'er has more foam than necessary to tap into weaker smaller waves and I'm pretty sure getting more of my board and body in the water (within reason) will help me tap into smaller waves energy better.
Ilike to keep my smaller wave boards around 42-44 litres so I'm floating around lower rib area with board level in the water.
Sitting too deep in the water does my head in...but that's just me.
The shorter length will of course be better in whipping it around faster too.
Have you contacted the beachbeat crew about riding the 5'10" of Hingy's yet?
That really should help you decide.

[Danga]

I'm bidding on that, you leave it alone. :( Please.

[A.Vern]

Suncoastslop,

I just went through the sizing dilema with the Sweet Potato. I'm 6 feet, 195 lbs and 36 years old. I was able to demo a 6'2" Rapid Fire. I knew it would be too big, but figured it would help with the size part of it. As luck would have it, the few days I had to try the SP had a good 6-7 foot South swell running. I paddled out on the 6'2" expecting it to slide out and chatter along in the bigger surf. I took off on the first wave and to my amazement the 6'2" was perfect for head high waves. It felt a little big going straight up the face and doing quick snaps, but the speed it had allowed me to do big round house cutbacks. I ordered a 5'8" thinking it would be the perfect size. As the swell dropped to 4-5 feet, I was able to try out the 5'8". The thing ran like a freight train down the line, paddled well, and on a rail felt pretty good, but the board felt too small. When I was not on a rail, the board had a nervous feeling and I slid out on more than one occasion if I was completely on rail (although the slide outs were controllable).

I settled on a 5'10". The 6'0" felt more like the 6'2", too big... the 5'8" felt more like the 5'6"...

I surfed the 5'10" yesterday in 2-3 foot true wind slop (What the SP is made for). It paddled great into most waves and I think even the longboarders were wondering how I was catching the crap I did. It had good drive, and seemed to have a new personality in the crappy surf. In the good surf, the board screamed down the line and went rail to rail. In this small powerless surf, the board still had drive, but would pivot more off the lip than carve up to it. I think the 5'8" would of been perfect for the size yesterday, but we tend to get a lot of 5' wind slop here, and the 5'10" will hold it's own better in the larger waves.

Hope this info helps. If you truely want it only for 2-3 foot waves, the 5'8" may be the call.

[iggy]

Good stuff Vern

[cuttlefish]

I'm bidding on that, you leave it alone. :( Please.

I wouldn't dream of spoiling your party.
Good luck with the bidding.
Interesting stuff Vern, thanks for sharing.

[suncoastslop]

Good info vern, im am going to demo a 5'6 fst shortly, so that will give me a starting point, what you are describing is exactly what im trying to avoid.

cheers