G'day guys,
Looking at getting a firewire potatonator FST 5'8", read some reviews but still bit indecisive. I am looking for something tough enough i can travel with and not have the ever so delicate baggage handlers destroy my board before i do it myself yet a shortboard easy to paddle and get more wave count on small stuff and not have to revert to a ever so reliable fish.

The board is really expensive but just wanting to see your thoughts weather it is worth it or not??

cheers Rico

what's your weight and ability?

Do you want it just for small waves?
I would think that the P/N would be fine for waves under 3ft, but would struggle on even a 3ft wave with some shape.
For something with more range,but still be able to grovel i would look at a hypto krypto by hayden shapes.

or a straight dominator.

great board for all-round

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JOYRIDER said...
or a straight dominator.

great board for all-round

Yeah this is a tough one. The Potatonator is a nice looking board. I looked at replacing my sweet-potato with one about a month ago - I had similar thoughts to yourself. I was after that magic one board travel companion but decided against it as although it would be a great board up until about 3 to 4ft it would really struggle after that. The Dominator will not be as good a board at 2ft but will handle a lot more size on the top side so its probably a much better all-rounder I reckon. Having said that when my SP passes away I will be getting myself a Potatonator as its replacement - not as a one board travel quiver though.

have you surfed a firewire board at all? i ask as a few people have sworn blind to them..yet i did not like them at all. they felt really boxy and not so,they just seemed really far away in the comfort. board did not fit like a glove so to speak,i felt very separated from it not together like my current shorty. my longboard felt more personal in fact than a firewire

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chrispychru said...
have you surfed a firewire board at all? i ask as a few people have sworn blind to them..yet i did not like them at all. they felt really boxy and not so,they just seemed really far away in the comfort. board did not fit like a glove so to speak,i felt very separated from it not together like my current shorty. my longboard felt more personal in fact than a firewire

Agree, I recon PU boards just have that feel to them. I had a Taj and the shape was a bit hifi to my lowfi style of surfing. The construction just felt stiff to me as well. At the same time I would like to try a another model down the track.
Im loving my new board tho its a keeper

If you want to just get a fun board for small stuff Ron Goddard makes some super nice small wave boards - check his website out - look for the pygmy or the free range egg.

I've got a Potatonator in FST construction. It is easily tougher than any PU board i have owned but the shape is not a one board quiver and I couldn't recommend it as a travel board. What Chrispy says is right, I like my Firewires but many don't. They are very corky/floaty which I like for small waves, makes me feel much lighter than I actually am. In saying that I am just about to order a new PU board. Thinking of selling my 6'6 Pnator if anyone is interested.

Its such a personal thing...in the 80's had this insane 5? channel thruster Dick Van Straalen...I could do anything on it...roundhouse 360's were possible for me back then (too old now for airs)...never had a board like it...got him to shape another one in mid 200's but he wouldnt touch Channels....it went o.k..but I couldnt get that synergy so mostly went back to longboarding...then got on a 6'4"dominator...loving it...but again its not the be all and end all...in slower, mushy waves it seems to dig rails but in solid 5-6' Garie (which is a heavier wave for a beach break) it rips....also got a 6'8" Alternator and in the 7'-8' solid waves (if I can make it out at Garie) it also flys.

Personally, I think every board is a compromise unless you are Kelly Slater who can ride a door (Seen the photo)....so its really up to the individual.

Until recently I just stuck with the old FCS G5's but a mate was trying all these different fins and so I thought I would give it a go....funnily enough they do make a difference but again it can be an expensive lesson...but some shops like Cronulla Surf Design have test fins to make it a little easier. I have a few different set and muck around with them when I could be bothered


Went to Java (Panaitan) for 2 weeks a few months ago..surf wasnt that big but was consistently nice waves....it was here that you could jump off the boat and try different fin combos and boards in the one session...that was a real learning curve for an old dog like me.