2015 Starboard All Star vs Sprint vs Ace - Review

I've now had a fair bit of time on all 3 of these boards. I own the 2015 Sprint 14x23 and the 2013 Ace 14x23.5 and have had the 2012 14x25 Ace. The Ace hasn't changed much since 2013. I used to own the 2015 All Star 14x25 but traded it in for the Sprint.

Here are my impressions of these boards:

Sprint 14x23:
On Sunday, I did a flatwater paddle of about 12km on my Sprint. I had my fastest average speed of any paddle over 7km in distance. I've been paddling my 14x23.5 Ace for 3 years now but the Sprint was faster than any of my previous sessions on my Ace. Plus, I'm not in great shape right now since I'm recovering from a shoulder injury. This is only my 6th paddle on the Sprint.

Sprint vs Ace:
In flat water, I found the Sprint accelerates effortlessly and faster compared to my Ace and I can maintain a higher speed with less work.

Last time I tested the Sprint vs the Ace in a very controlled test, the boards were identical in speed upwind and downwind. I think that was because there was some wind and chop - not much, maybe 10-12mph. Maybe that amount of wind and chop is the dividing line between the Sprint and the Ace. The Sprint would be faster in conditions flatter than that while the Ace would be faster in conditions rougher than that. If you're on the 25" wide Ace, the Sprint's speed advantage may extend into windier conditions.

I've also tried the Sprint on a mild downwinder. The Ace is quite a bit better at catching bumps and gliding than the Sprint is. The Ace is also quite a bit more stable in the bumps, even the 23.5" wide Ace.

The Sprint is tricky to pivot turn since your back foot gets squeezed between the narrowing side walls. To turn it quickly, my back foot was jammed in as far back as it could go. It also gets a bit tippy since there's not much volume in the back half of the board. However, with some practice, it can be learned. The cross-bow draw which works well on the Ace is much slower on the Sprint. You have to sink the tail and stroke on the outside to turn the Sprint fast.

In summary, the Sprint is the flatwater speed champ (for paddlers below a certain weight - not sure what that but likely at least 180lbs) while the Ace remains the downwinder and chop champ for winds 12-25mph.

All Star:
The All Star would be best for most people if you could have just 1 board. It downwinds better than the Sprint but not as well as the Ace. I think the 14x25 2015 All Star is a bit faster than the 14x25 Ace in flat water based on some user reports with GPS results (although I'm pretty sure the Ace would be faster in chop). The All Star is also the easiest to pivot turn and surf by far.

My ratings ranked in order:
Flat water speed: Sprint, All Star just a touch faster than 25" wide Ace
BOP style races (pivot turns and surfing): All Star, Ace/Sprint
Downwind speed: Ace, All Star, Sprint
Mixed chop: Ace, All Star, Sprint
Stability: All Star, Ace, Sprint

Personally, if I had to choose just 1 board, it would be the 14x23.5 Ace hands down. I love that board.

What I find interesting is how each board excels in specific areas. Makes sense as one board can't be the best in all conditions. My one board quiver would be the Ace. For a lot of others, it could be the All Star. A 2 board quiver would add the Sprint to the Ace/All Star.

How wide are your Aces if you measure them? I've got a 2014 14ft 14 carbon that says on it that it is 25" wide, but when I measure it, it is actually closer to 24" wide than 25".

Thanks for that suggestion. It is indeed cold where I am. So I tried rubbing my Ace but it didn't get any bigger. Perhaps you have had more practice at that sort of thing? :)