Been looking at a few boards, (lost couch potato, firewire sweet potato/baked potato etc)
And my question is from anyone who owns these or has tried them, are they a worthwhile addition for those really crap days, or should I just not bother and go do something else that day?

I had a SP for over 4 years and loved it. On knee high days you could have a ball on it. I used to ride it up to 4ft. Most fun board I have ever owned. Probably the best board I ever owned actually given the amount of use it got and how well it lasted. Make sure you go the FST if you get one. Worth the extra dollars. Would still have one in the quiver if I lived in Aust still.

Shaddup Ted

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smicko said...
Shaddup Ted

i wouldn't bother with a fibreglass if i were you. unless you're at getting a longboard. i got myself a tc softech board. brilliantly sturdy for a foam board and i have just as much fun as the longboarders do. quad fins for the win! if you're looking to surf waves that we all started on, why not go to a board design that most of us will have started on?

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sparki said..
if you're looking to surf waves that we all started on, why not go to a board design that most of us will have started on?

Because technology and design has moved on - lots of good small wave options out there these days. Do you still use the same mobile phone you brought five yrs ago?

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chrispy said..

smicko said...
Shaddup Ted

I bought a 6'10" egg for that problem while on the Goldy. Similar outline to the Mctavish Sumo. I reckon grovel boards are gold. You gotta have an all rounder and a good grovellor in your quiver. A gun is optional. But grovellors get you in the water way more often.

I haven't surfed any of them but I wanted the Couch Potato when I got the 6'10" but it was twice what I wanted to spend.

My other go to grovellors are a 5'10" six channel double flyer twin fin and a 6' twin fin. And I have just added a 9' longboard.

My point is it doesn't matter which one - they all work - but dedicated grovellors get you in the water way more, and are heaps of fun in waves your normal board doesn't work in.

i had woody baked spud
(lost off trailer somewhere between kalbarri and canarvon in black and white soft cover in case someone has it)
excellent alround, good in gnaraloo full tide small full waves
on shore crap, easy paddle and catch

would buy again

^^^^^^Can sell you one if you like.
Found one just laying on the side of the road.
I wish

It's been said many times "volume is your friend" and that's not meaning buying a mal.
speed in mush is so much fun,
I reckon if you can stretch to a few boards in 'ya quiver it's well worth the $$.

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Ted the Kiwi said..

chrispy said..

smicko said...
Shaddup Ted

Cheers for the feedback.

I have decided I will add one to the quiver,
After lots of research I want the baked potato, but looks like I can pickup a sweet potato cheaper. Is there really that much difference between the two of them?

Also which construction is the most durable, never had a firewire before.

Been considering the same. HOwever, gets a bit confusing. For example.. check out the Lost/Mayhem range of grovel boards... I think they call them the "Domesticated Series".. you find about five different models that seem so very similar, but they tell you that one is better for sub three footers.. others got more glide... etc etc... and then they tell you one model is the best "all rounder" in that series....so I wonder why some are getting so damn specialized? Its bad enough as it is with three or four boards to choose from..but when its small and mushy.. then you have to break it down even further? I think the Lazy Boy was the most versatile, supposedly having the ability in bigger conditions... which, for hells sake.. we dont want to get caught out in such, with only a pure groveller at hand! :P (Lost:Bottom Feeder - which I like the name of..)
Anyway.. good question and hope there is some more feedback coming.
Cheers!

I've got a FW baked potato and it's the best board I've ever owned. Not the best performing by any measure, but it's range and amount of use it gets is phenomenal.

I surf it from knee high up to head high, it does it all. I could surf a normal shortboard, but I wouldn't catch as many waves or have as much fun.

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yabbin said..
Cheers for the feedback.

I have decided I will add one to the quiver,
After lots of research I want the baked potato, but looks like I can pickup a sweet potato cheaper. Is there really that much difference between the two of them?

Also which construction is the most durable, never had a firewire before.

Go either FST or Timbertek. They are both equally as durable. Rapidfire and LFT are about the same as a standard PU board.

Sweet at potato is for the really crap waves, the crappest of the crap where as th BP will go a little better. Ideal in waist to shoulder high. More pulled in nose and tail

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justo82 said...
I've got a FW baked potato and it's the best board I've ever owned. Not the best performing by any measure, but it's range and amount of use it gets is phenomenal.

I surf it from knee high up to head high, it does it all. I could surf a normal shortboard, but I wouldn't catch as many waves or have as much fun.

Hey justo,
Out of curiosity as I prob won't be able to demo one, what size BP do you have/weight/height/fitness/skill level

My stats:
I'm thinking 5'5 maybe 5'7/88kgs or so/6'1 height/high fitness level/intermediate skill level. And obviously to ride in crappy conditions.

And yes I have look at FW's volume calculator but think they are pretty vague at best, maybe a bit more beginner based.

Currently ride 6'2 shortboard JS monsta3.

Any thoughts/or others experience with the sizes is appreciated before I part with my $$$.
Thanks

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LordKuz said...
Been considering the same. HOwever, gets a bit confusing. For example.. check out the Lost/Mayhem range of grovel boards... I think they call them the "Domesticated Series".. you find about five different models that seem so very similar, but they tell you that one is better for sub three footers.. others got more glide... etc etc... and then they tell you one model is the best "all rounder" in that series....so I wonder why some are getting so damn specialized? Its bad enough as it is with three or four boards to choose from..but when its small and mushy.. then you have to break it down even further? I think the Lazy Boy was the most versatile, supposedly having the ability in bigger conditions... which, for hells sake.. we dont want to get caught out in such, with only a pure groveller at hand! :P (Lost:Bottom Feeder - which I like the name of..)
Anyway.. good question and hope there is some more feedback coming.
Cheers!

I have a 5'10" twin fin that I have surfed from knee to double head and half. That is a versatile grovellor. If you don't get that, then a dedicated grovellor doesn't necesarily bring more to a dodgy wave, but can be limiting in better waves. My board was copied from a mates and I asked for more edge in the rails, less 50/50 rails up the nose and slightly deeper channels. The result? His is useless in anything over head high whereas mine will surf anything so long as the take off isn't too sucky. And mine goes as well as his in the slop.

Get a versatile one.

PS: his board was a copy of my original 81 twin fin.

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thedrip said...

LordKuz said...
Been considering the same. HOwever, gets a bit confusing. For example.. check out the Lost/Mayhem range of grovel boards... I think they call them the "Domesticated Series".. you find about five different models that seem so very similar, but they tell you that one is better for sub three footers.. others got more glide... etc etc... and then they tell you one model is the best "all rounder" in that series....so I wonder why some are getting so damn specialized? Its bad enough as it is with three or four boards to choose from..but when its small and mushy.. then you have to break it down even further? I think the Lazy Boy was the most versatile, supposedly having the ability in bigger conditions... which, for hells sake.. we dont want to get caught out in such, with only a pure groveller at hand! :P (Lost:Bottom Feeder - which I like the name of..)
Anyway.. good question and hope there is some more feedback coming.
Cheers!

I have a 5'10" twin fin that I have surfed from knee to double head and half. That is a versatile grovellor. If you don't get that, then a dedicated grovellor doesn't necesarily bring more to a dodgy wave, but can be limiting in better waves. My board was copied from a mates and I asked for more edge in the rails, less 50/50 rails up the nose and slightly deeper channels. The result? His is useless in anything over head high whereas mine will surf anything so long as the take off isn't too sucky. And mine goes as well as his in the slop.

Get a versatile one.

PS: his board was a copy of my original 81 twin fin.

Yep, can't have a board that does everything, but I want one that can do a hell of a lot.

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yabbin said..

justo82 said...
I've got a FW baked potato and it's the best board I've ever owned. Not the best performing by any measure, but it's range and amount of use it gets is phenomenal.

I surf it from knee high up to head high, it does it all. I could surf a normal shortboard, but I wouldn't catch as many waves or have as much fun.

Hey justo,
Out of curiosity as I prob won't be able to demo one, what size BP do you have/weight/height/fitness/skill level

My stats:
I'm thinking 5'5 maybe 5'7/88kgs or so/6'1 height/high fitness level/intermediate skill level. And obviously to ride in crappy conditions.

And yes I have look at FW's volume calculator but think they are pretty vague at best, maybe a bit more beginner based.

Currently ride 6'2 shortboard JS monsta3.

Any thoughts/or others experience with the sizes is appreciated before I part with my $$$.
Thanks

I'm 6'3 and a tad over 100kg. I ride a 509 baked. I could ride a 511 And sometimes hoped I got one when it's crowded, but the 509 goes very well. I run the ...lost MB2 quad set.

Sorry. Forgot skill etc.

im an intermediate skill level. Far from a ripper. Average fitness, 32 years old, get out a couple of times a week, but sometimes extended periods out of the water.

Its ts a really easy board to ride. I have it in the White rapid fire.

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justo82 said..

yabbin said..

justo82 said...
I've got a FW baked potato and it's the best board I've ever owned. Not the best performing by any measure, but it's range and amount of use it gets is phenomenal.

I surf it from knee high up to head high, it does it all. I could surf a normal shortboard, but I wouldn't catch as many waves or have as much fun.

Hey justo,
Out of curiosity as I prob won't be able to demo one, what size BP do you have/weight/height/fitness/skill level

My stats:
I'm thinking 5'5 maybe 5'7/88kgs or so/6'1 height/high fitness level/intermediate skill level. And obviously to ride in crappy conditions.

And yes I have look at FW's volume calculator but think they are pretty vague at best, maybe a bit more beginner based.

Currently ride 6'2 shortboard JS monsta3.

Any thoughts/or others experience with the sizes is appreciated before I part with my $$$.
Thanks

I'm 6'3 and a tad over 100kg. I ride a 509 baked. I could ride a 511 And sometimes hoped I got one when it's crowded, but the 509 goes very well. I run the ...lost MB2 quad set.

I'm a similar size, tiny bit taller and heavier (6'4 105kg) i consider myself pretty fit, I run, ride, gym. Intermediate surf level.
I have a 5'11 BP and I absolutely love the thing. Its my go to board whenever its 3 foot and under.
When its real small i used to take out my old mans 9'6 but i haven't ridden that board since i bought the BP, it paddles so easily and glides over flat sections.
One thing I would say negatively about the board, which however also is a lot due to my skill level, but i find it pretty hard to get on rail, intact I struggle, but a better surfer could probably do much better than me.
So in answer to your initial question, yes I believe the hype is is well worthwhile. The other thing is these are extremely popular boards ATM so you wouldn't loose much if you didn't like it and wanted to sell it.

Ive got a few FW's and on the weekend just gone my wife decided she'd come out in the water so she used my SP to float around on. I took out my Vanguard and near the end of the wave would actually just start to sink. Eventually she went in and i got my SP back. The fun started and once again i had a ball. Its so much fun in small waves and if you surf in them (i do a lot as my kids surf with me) it makes it possible to catch waves and still enjoy yourself. I don't like mine when its bumpy conditions as it is too buoyant and i start to feel slightly sea sick

I wouldn't be with out it, but after a few surfs in a row it starts to feel like its cheating and i crave to get of it and into quality waves

Im 5'10 and 95 kilos and surf the SP at 5'10" which is a massive 46 litres. My normal short boards are around 34 l

Micko you still riding those boards that look like they came from IKEA?

i recon if you ride your standard shorty enough you can ride it in anything (as long as it hasnt got too much rocker)

I used to ride a little 5'10 x 18 x 2 in everything up to head and a half - then i got a groveler and found it impossible to go back it was so much easier.

the flipside is i recon i surfed better on the standard shorty.

Grovelers make small surf more fun because if you bog or blow a takeoff you havent always wasted the wave

edit** the best groveler of all is a 9 foot mal

the best board for the conditions is a good board, all the time your out in the water is productive time.

this really is the movement in surfing , i would have to agree the soft tech boards are great and you haven't got to worry about dinging it up so bad in smaller beach conditions, any fatter board around 5,10 dependent on your weight will be a great addition to your quiver if yo don't already own one,

Also i have found if you have been tiring, out in the water for a few hours, on your standard shortboard, if you have a groveler in the car its a great speed booster for good condition's again jumping back in with a little more speed under your chest

Cheers for the feedback, gonna get a 5'5 timbertek BP. Can't wait to go test it.