Firewire Sweet Potato Surfboard Review

[@BE-ic1if]

Great review and love your insight and perspective in your reviews. I’m 6 ft 1 and 210 lbs so great to see another big guy out there and helping all of us while having fun. Keep up the amazing work.

[@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop]

Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@paulsmith5167]

Yes he is back , great video 👍

[@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop]

Thanks. Got a couple more lined up if I can find time to film them.

[@wikidslippers]

Loved this review, had a sweet potato and loved it, I went onto a chumlee which I love.

[@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop]

I'd like to try a chumlee

[@taradavies5239]

Great video

[@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop]

Thanks for the visit

[@yankou4412]

great rewiew, waiting for the fins in france 😉

[@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop]

Thanks. They'll be ready in next few weeks. Keep an eye on my social media.

[@yankou4412]

Cool, if you have opportunity to test aipa big boy , Will be great 😊

[@jamesetal7088]

Amazing review.

[@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop]

Thanks

[@paulcattran1276]

Great review always been intrigued about the new sweet potato as I had the old round tail version. Was wondering if you’ve ever tried a McCoy nugget as there design is to be ridden with higher volume

[@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop]

I haven't tried the nugget, but have heard good things about it

[@DavidJones-yl9kk]

I got a 6’2 at 52 liters and wow is it a big boy. I bought it to replace my long board in tiny sloppy conditions. I only got to ride it once and it blew me away. The surf was chest to head , hollow and thumping. I was getting in early and speed was amazing. I couldn’t believe how maneuverable the board was and how well it locked into hollow waves. The Glenn Pang FCS twin plus one fines are amazing fins and worked excellent with this board. The hold drive and maneuverability was spot on with this set up.
I am 5’9 and 205 (53 years old) and I have been surfing a long time. I am guessing that the 5’10 or 5’8 might end up being the perfect size for me. Only time will tell.

[@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop]

Yes, I'd love to try a smaller one. I've also just got a dominator 2 so excited to see how that goes

[@DavidJones-yl9kk]

@@BigGuyBoardsSurfshopwhat size is the Dominator 2? I have been wanting to try that board. I hope you are going to be doing a review soon.

[@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop]

@DavidJones-yl9kk 6'4. Just got it so need to surf it a bit but there will be a review

[@thebluewren]

Sounds like the 6'4 is just as maneuverable

[@adamcumbers232]

Great vid mate, that board looks so small?!

[@hooverbaglegs]

Great review with some good surfing too! Have you tried it as a thruster?

[@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop]

Thanks. I always ride my grovel boards as a quad. And the keel fins that ove developed work really well.

[@anthonymay8840]

Hey mate, great review. Followed the link about the calculations, wondering how big a 400nm wave would be? Like waist height?

[@anthonymay8840]

More broadly, how would you work out wave height to newton meters?

[@anthonymay8840]

Looks like Surfline just added wave energy in kj 😮

[@theseb1979]

Wave height and energy are not linear proportions. A tall wave could be gutless. A small wave could be very powerful.

[@tomster0202]

What are your thoughts on surfing it with keel fins vs say a 2 + 1 setup? I’d assume they’d be pretty similar, but the steepness of the 2 + 1 fins might help with maneuvers.

[@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop]

2+1 would probably help with turns but the keel set is good for speed which is what I want in a grovel board

[@tomster0202]

@@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop surfed it today with twin keels, it’s muuuuuch better than the 2 + 1. For sure gonna stick with that setup

[@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop]

@tomster0202 excellent. Glad it worked for you

[@samleary5657]

this versus the hydra? thanks

[@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop]

I owned very different volume for both boards so hard to comment. I would own smaller or bigger versions of both boards as they were both great. I expect the Hydra is more fun in lower volume and the Sweet Potato is better as it gets to the top end of stock volume options.

[@peacepuffz]

The mightly P-land!

[@mickhanson9607]

Hi Scott, nice board review with the combination footage of conditions thrown in .
I'm 6.3 100kg and ride the 5.8 and for what it's worth I'd definitely recommend trying out some smaller sizes like the 5 10 or 6.0 .
I tried a friend's 6.0 SP and found that there was no advantage over the 5.8 in wave catching ability, but the performance downgrade was considerable plus the extra volume was a bit problematic in comparison.
Seen a few minters on second hand surfboards for sale in your area , would definitely recommend going smaller , you wouldnt regret it .

[@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop]

Thanks for the feedback. The initial idea was to use this board as an alternative to a longboard. On small days my recommended volume doesn't provide enough lift and speed. After surfing it a bit I was surprised how well it goes in better conditions. But I would definitely like to try a smaller one.

[@DavidJones-yl9kk]

I have the 6’2 and was thinking that might be true after looking at the 5’10 and 5’8. But I got an absolutely unreal deal on a used 6’2 so I definitely cannot complain. On the 6’2 you just need to make sure you are on the back of the stomp pad.

[@dairecurran6960]

Do you reckon it would suit small ish 2-4ft, but quite fast and steep waves?
Another big guy not sure what I should get to suit my local break

[@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop]

I wouldn't take my 6'4 out in steep waves any bigger then chest high. A shorter one might fit in the pocket more but it's definitely a dedicated groveler so any decent size or steep waves shoulder - head high + are no good in my experience.

[@dairecurran6960]

@@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop thanks so much for replying, I reallly appreciate it! I suppose my follow up is there anything you could recommend for that type of wave for a bigger guy?

[@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop]

​@@dairecurran6960I generally ride hybrid shortboards in better waves. Check my review of the Matta 2825 and Lost Uber XL for the kind of board I step up from a grovel board

[@dairecurran6960]

@@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop thanks so much man!

[@sebastiaanvankampen]

So can you duckdive it?

[@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop]

Hi. Yes, I didn't have any trouble duck diving

[@user-id8rs3ei3e]

As a guy that’s only about 20lbs lighter than you I can’t believe you are riding this big of a sweet potato. I have ridden the 5’2 and 5’4 with no issues.

[@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop]

It is intended as an alternative to a mal. I find it hard to ride anything below chest high on my usual volume.

[@hooverbaglegs]

@@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop I personally think you're doing well riding such a small volume board. In general, people underestimate the impact of increasing weight on things like wave-catching

[@thebluewren]

When will people realise big boys needs big boards

[@user-id8rs3ei3e]

@@thebluewren I’m all for more volume. That size board is essentially the same as a fun shape type board. The problem with that shape is the larger boards do NOT surf as well as the smaller ones. You can actually feel the board rock on the center where the double concave meets. It ends up feeling like you’re catching a rail and threw off your surfing big time. I own a 5’3 baked potato and at 225 it rides amazing. I’ve ridden it in 5’5 and 5’7 and it’s the same thing. You feel the board rocking and it’s a very awkward feeling that hinders your surfing not help it.

[@jonbutt7321]

So much hatred for puts

[@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop]

Terrible wave

[@wikidslippers]

Lovely beach tho, has shelter when other spots don’t . Puts is puts.

[@BigGuyBoardsSurfshop]

@@wikidslippers I have a hate hate relationship with that wave. Maybe 2 in 10 surfs there are good for me

[@theseb1979]

It is a horrible wave. Sure, it’s cross / off shore when the rest of that coast is onshore, but it’s either fat and lazy waves with close out sets on the high tide, or one foot once the tide goes low. It’s a shapeless close out. Maybe it actually peels 3 times a year, but I’ve never seen that happen.