I've been looking forward to trying out this paddle as it seems to make sense as a long distance paddle given its design similarities to a C1 paddle - long and slim.
I had two paddles to try out the 550cm2 and 600cm2. Starboard say the 550 is 85.3in2 and the 600 is 93in2. I have two Quick Blade Kanaha Paddles (which I love) - 100in2 and 110in2. I race with the 100in2 and train occasionally with the 110in2 (as well as DWs). I'm a bigger bloke so I find I like the feel of greater cross sectional area, with minimal slip. Small blades don't work for me, leverage and height and low cadence seem to suit me better at this stage. So the question for me and for quite a few others interested in these paddles is how do you compare the size of these paddles against the QBs?
Firstly, I checked the conversion - Starboard are spot on, 550cm2 does equal 85.3in2 (I didn't think that would be wrong). The Blades certainly look bigger than the QB however when you see them side by side:
I decided to trace the blades out on the same sheet of paper, including the area of the blade up to the collar:
I roughly worked out the difference in blade size and found the following:
550 = 40cm2 bigger than 100in2 QB
600 = 30cm2 bigger than 550 Starboard
As you can see both High Aspects are the same width and significantly longer and thiner than the QB.
I set the shaft length on the 2 Starboards the same as my QB. I find this works for me as I try to work hard on covering the entire blade up to the collar so blade length is more a factor of a better catch than trimming the shaft to accommodate.
The next morning I tested all 3 blades back to back:
First the 550 High Aspect - right away I felt the extra blade length, not so much at the finish or recovery which I expected, but on extra reach at the catch. What was interesting was the slimmer blade allowed for a low effort connection once the blade was inserted - in kind of slid straight in and forward. There wasn't a big grab of load on the blade, compared to the tear drop QB. This allowed me to 'squeeze' the stroke and as the blade got deeper and more 'covered' in engaged nicely at the last third of the stroke.
The recovery was what blew me away however. I was really expecting the blade to be difficult to exit as it was longer, the opposite was true. The slimmer blade seemed to slip out sideways with very little effort. I'm usually keeping an eye out for a little arc of water droplets coming off my blade at the finish so I know I'm finishing fluidly, the High Aspect didn't give me any droplets to watch - it was slipping out with minimal resistance....really very cool!
I really liked the oval shaft. I've always though this was a good idea on the Kialoa Blades, but have never tried one. It's great to know where the blade face is, especially when you choke down into a headwind (at 6'3" I need to reduce all the windage I can!). I miss the Dihedral on the face that the QB has, however with the oval shaft and getting used to it, there was minimal wandering of the blade if any (just felt different). The shaft itself is good, medium flex, but doesn't seem as even as the QB.
Blade Area?
The 550 feels very similar to my 100in2 QB. The slim blade and extra length seem to offset the overall larger area size. The 600 then felt similar to my 110in2 QB. It was interesting finishing off with my QB after a morning of paddling with both Starboards. I felt the positive catch of the QB, which makes sense for getting a power on from a standing start, sprinting and a faster vessel. It made me think that perhaps the tear drop design borrowed from Outrigging is good for surfing - sprint onto wave, but the longer slender blades of C1 are more suited to distance SUP paddling - increasing load and thus drive through the stroke. The finish on the QB was of course familiar, but I felt I had experienced 'the force' with the High Aspect, and wanted that fluidity back.
Summary
It is a new design on the right track. The High Aspect is the Blade I didn't realise I've been searching for. It won't be everyones cup of tea, but it is certainly worth trying out if you are a serious racer.
I've got the high aspect 600 and it rocks. Also havethe QB Kahana 100. The 600 is definately smaller than the qb and the power it generates is awesome imo.
I got my new Starboard high aspect a few days ago and have had a couple of paddles with it. I have down sized from the QB Kanaha 100 and opted for the 500 in the Starboard. You can definitely feel the difference in size and it helps me to get a higher cadence than I could with the QB. I also feel like I can get a cleaner catch with the new paddle.
Overall very happy with it, but think I will still stick to the standard shape for surfing.
I checked out the new Starbie paddle today with the new oval shaft.. It felt a bit flexy (it was labled medium flex shaft) but it was also very light in both shaft and blade.
It was not the high aspect blade but they look very good in the pics.. I like the 7 1/2" blade width.
DJ
I might be a little slow on the uptake with this but with each of the 3 sizes of High Aspect paddle being the exact same width, why would you get the small one? Wouldn't you just keep the top of the blade out of the water on the biggest one and effectively you're paddling the smallest blade? What am I missing here?
Okay I bit the bullet and ordered the 500 - the smallest of the range, which is consistent with my previous paddles, the Kialoa Pipes and the Ke Nalu Wiki. Got it wet for the first time over the weekend and again this morning.
First session was in the surf - a bit of BOP training on the 12'6". I liked the feel of the paddle but it really didn't seem to work any better in that situation than my previous paddle. Not surprising as Starboard isn't marketing it as a surf paddle.
I then took it into flat water and noticed it come alive in my hands. Wow! This blade and shaft combo is awesome for high cadence paddling. The oval shaft is ideal for choking, which I find myself doing a lot. In fact, I was so comfortable with gripping the oval shaft, I was a little reluctant to use the handle at all. The flex on the oval shaft is also surprisingly good - if you like flex. That was one thing about going from Kialoa to Ke Nalu - I gave up an oval shaft in order to get something a little loose with a decent springy release which is so much kinder on my shoulders. This new Starboard combo gives me back an oval shaft but with flex, and it's also lighter overall than either Kialoa or Ke Nalu.
Disclosure - Auswind/Starboard team rider but I still love KeNalu (sorry Deano) 
this might be a bit off-topic but today I heard that for long distance people make the shaft shorter... you would think they would use a longer paddle so they can reach further. is this so they can change sides faster?
I have never heard of people cutting their shafts short for a long distance paddle. Surfing, sure, but long distance seems crazy to go short. With this High Aspect / oval shaft combination, I am finding I can comfortably choke stroke if I need a low gear or to get onto a runner, whereas in cruise mode, I can take the long handle. Have I mentioned, I'm really loving this paddle?
(and do I need to re-submit my status as an Auswind team rider?)
snapped my foil carbon high aspect starboard paddle 
but is was a great paddle while it was in one piece
I have snapped two they break easy but thankfully jas at west oz keeps replacing them coz they are a hot paddle you just seem to get more power out of every stroke then over paddles ive used
I'm 75kg.
Is the sb high aspect 500 too small for me or are there other things that depend on the choice of blade size ?
Select to expand quoteSupCharlie said...
I'm 75kg.
Is the sb high aspect 500 too small for me or are there other things that depend on the choice of blade size ?
I'm 75/76kg and have just got my second 500 high aspect paddle. Have one for flat water racing and a shorter one to use in the ocean. I have come down from the Quickblade Kanaha Elite 100 sq inches and find these incredibly comfortable.
note: I am a starboard rider
thanks surf4fun!
just received the HA 500.
It looks very small!
will cut the shaft now and go to the beach.
