Maria Molè the Machado Cado is honestly my favorite. Now that I have it I probably don't need the Sweet Potato anymore. There are reviews on YouTube of people riding the Cado in ankle high waves.

I was between the Cado and the Too Fish (also Machado board) glad I went with the Cado.

Once I stepped down from the 8'0" fun board I learned on to the sweet potato I never really wanted to go back.

I've taken out my longboard maybe 2 to 3 times in 2 years just to use it, but my goal was always to ride a shortboard so I try not ride it if I can avoid it. Plus it's a PIA to get to the beach, doesn't fit in my Jeep, hate taking it and not using it for fear someone may steal it while it's strapped to the roof.

Really only bought it so I could convince my girls to go out and paddle around with me and try to get them interested in surfing.

Highly recommend the Cado. You can catch anything on it, even ankle high junk, but it has the performance of a standard short board. Definitely my best buy ever board wise.

Current Quiver:

9'3" Log ( bought to take my kids out with me) rarely ride solo.

5'8" Firewire Sweet Potato (41L) - SUPER small wave board.

5'10" Firewire Machado Cado (38L) - Every day Board

5'9" Firewire Mashup (34L) - When it actually gets decent in South Carolina (rarely!)

Also have:

Catch Surf Retro Fish (45L) - my leave in the car board, cause if it gets ruined I don't mind too much but I can surf before work board.

Catch Surf 54" Beater- my there no waves and my kids wanna go to the beach board. My daughters ride it more than I do though.

In the future I will be buying the Firewire S-Boss Volcanic 6'0 or 6'2" (probably), this will serve as my travel board for Barbados, Hawaii, California, and if I get to go next time around the OMBE camp in Nicaragua.

According to the calendar there was supposed to be one last night... did that happen that you know of?

Can't wait to go to one. Unfortunately this year's trips happen to be the same time frame I'm closing on my new home so the trip will have to wait till next time around.

So just has Graham said would happen I am going to make a recommendation. Check out the Firewire sweet potato. It packs in a lot of volume but its much shorter than a long board.

I only recommend this board cause it is what I transitioned from a long board to. I can still catch everything, even on days only the people with logs are out, but I can turn more efficiently and get that short board feel.

Also Firewire has a "Fleets" system where you can rent the board and basically try it out for the day or two before purchasing. I am also an East coast surfer, NJ and now SC, so mushy weak is the standard and the sweet potato has helped with my progression. I've since upgraded to the Machado Cado model which is still a small wave board but more performance oriented. But I still ride the sweet potato on those really small mushy days.

Hope this helps a little.

Got a few good ones today. The wife was actually around to take some videos and after watching them I realize I still have A LOT to work on. My arms are still failing around, still too back foot heavy, still taking that intermediate line. In my defense the board I had was a rental cause I didn't wanna travel with one of mine, so volume was about 10L too much for me. But I'm still stoked that I got a few. Mixture of disappointment (in how much I still have to improve) and stoke (cause a few months ago I probably wouldn't have even paddled out). Anyways, just wanted to share. Just happy to be here. Any recommendations for my next family surf trip?

SCORE!

Rocky point might be the spot. I'm as giddy as a schoolgirl. Letsss goooooo

Tuesday late and Wednesday looking promising. Board waxed and ready. Just give me a few decent waves while I'm here and I swear I'll be grateful. Totally not trying Pipe at my skill, but Turtle Bay, Rockies, and a few other spots looking promising. Again, if anyone else happens to be here and wants a surf buddy let me know. My wife and kiddos don't surf so I'll be flying solo.

Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday this week are looking decent. I get what I get. Trip has been planned for over a year so hard to predict conditions, BUT I took the wife and kiddos to all the tourist stuff already. My last duty as a husband is the photo session the wife wants Monday sunset, that means Tuesday through Saturday are mine to surf. Yeeeewwww.