www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/88-Airbourne-Photos/
A couple of guys reviewed it here. Myself included.
Thanks mate, good read and info.Apparently only one 88 left This would be a step down board for me from a 8'10"wide point. Ive just left the 100kg club to 98kg so thnking about a few less litres. Also interested in what the 2017 starboard line up will look like!!
cheers
Robbo
The WP8.10 is a rreally nice board. stability wise there isnt much difference imo and i,m right now 92kg an most of the tima paddling in a 5mm wetsuit+boots On a wave the difference is huge! the 8.10 surfs a bit like a longboard easy cruising style compared with how turny the AB is. I paddled the AB in solid 3m wavefaces and although it isnt the boards forte it is surely manageable if you step back enough. It prevers the slower waves and more turny surfstyle over DTL speeding but hey, I popped (accidently) 2 confirmed aireals with it so it isnt slow either and I barely use my 8.5 Pro anymore.
Yep I rode it, owned it, surfed it in heaps of different conditions, and loved every moment of having it. I have now bought a hypernut and although I truthfully love that board, in my opinion the 8'8 Airborne was a better board for a lot of reasons.
Can you tell Something about it Greg?
I was serious considering trading the AB8.8 for a HN7.8...
Thanks for your input brothers. I was thinking about the hypernut, but know they are prone to grabbing that nose edge coming out of the roof. Yeah I love the widepoint 810 as well Ive gone from whopper, hero wide point 810, so 88airborne seem like the natural progression,
Cheers people
I was on the Hypernut 7'8 and decided to go up in size to the 8 footer. An absolutely wonderful board to surf and I was out on it this morning in less than ideal conditions. Having said that I actually think that the AB was a better board. The extra bit of glide is noticeable and is welcomed when you need to paddle for any distance. The volume distribution was (for me anyway) a bit better (the hyper is 134litres and the AB is 124 and felt more stable).
If I had a bigger garage and was closer to the surf I would probably have both in the quiver, but alas it was not to be. I would be really really careful about going to the smaller HN as the drop of a couple of inches of length really mucks about with the boards sea keeping ability. The back half of the HN 8 footer and the 7'8 HN are all the same measurements, so when you are surfing the slightly bigger board turns just as well and accelerates the same as the shorter board. When you are standing there and its lumpy and choppy you appreciate the extra few inches (now there is something I didnt think I would say on the internet)
Thanx!I will try to resist the wanna buy reflex and stay with the AB as enough glide to get into a wave is a serious thing at my spots
I have the 8'8" Airborn and still have my Starby 8'10" wide point. I have ridden the Airborn from 106Kgs down to my current 96Kgs, and it has been instrumental in my weight loss (as has giving up grog, chocolates and ice creams!) as it is a bit more challenging to paddle than the WP, but you will get use to it. It is a stable board.
I did not like the Airborn when I first got it (typical of all my new boards!!), but have grown to love it and it is my go to board, although it is time to go shorter/narrower.
I have had the Airborn in double overhead (Uluwatu, Snapper, Green Island, Northern Beaches of NSW) and it has not let me down.
At 100Kgs, I would do what I did and put on a set of Von Piros V8's on the outside to maximise the grip - they are awesome fins!!
have fun!
Select to expand quote
Jeroensurf said..
The WP8.10 is a rreally nice board. stability wise there isnt much difference imo and i,m right now 92kg an most of the tima paddling in a 5mm wetsuit+boots On a wave the difference is huge! the 8.10 surfs a bit like a longboard easy cruising style compared with how turny the AB is. I paddled the AB in solid 3m wavefaces and although it isnt the boards forte it is surely manageable if you step back enough. It prevers the slower waves and more turny surfstyle over DTL speeding but hey, I popped (accidently) 2 confirmed aireals with it so it isnt slow either and I barely use my 8.5 Pro anymore.
Sorry Jeroen, but as regards the WP 8:10 I do not agree with you. You might mean the model 2014 and earlier, but 2015/16 is a very different model. The railoutline is the widest point quite different has been brought back, and the rocker is of 2 inches gone to almost 4 inches. This makes it somewhat less stable but a lot more agile. (bit like a longboard ha ha! 
, you must realy try the new WP 8.10 2015/16)
Robbo,
AB is a great board. I went from the WP 8'10 to the AB 8'8 ×32 and still surf both; conditions depending.
As discussed earlier there are differences between both boards and you will find that it isn't as stable. But as smash1 said, it will be your go to board.
I find it great for sucky waves found on south coast breaks and alot forgiving on takeoffs due to fine rails.
With bigger or bumpier surf try find a knubster fin. It will tighten it up and stop it reverse sliding on waves and make it handle alot better. In smaller waves take it out as then you can slide the rear out on a reo or when smashing lip.
If your down south coast region your welcome to give the board a go.
goodonyaburra.....again more weight to buy one, bummer only one left in WA so may have to wait for the 2017 stock to arrive,
cheers mate
Hey mybrosweeper, I've got a 2015 Airborne, unmarked like brand new that I'm going to get rid of if your interested.
Select to expand quote2KiteBurra said..
Robbo,
AB is a great board. I went from the WP 8'10 to the AB 8'8 ×32 and still surf both; conditions depending.
As discussed earlier there are differences between both boards and you will find that it isn't as stable. But as smash1 said, it will be your go to board.
I find it great for sucky waves found on south coast breaks and alot forgiving on takeoffs due to fine rails.
With bigger or bumpier surf try find a knubster fin. It will tighten it up and stop it reverse sliding on waves and make it handle alot better. In smaller waves take it out as then you can slide the rear out on a reo or when smashing lip.
If your down south coast region your welcome to give the board a go.
Agree with the Burra - I put in the knubster on the big days, but have found that the V8's have a serious bite to them.....................
I use my 8'10" WP on the very lumpy/bumpy days
After two sessions, one head high and fairly clean, i can say i love this board.
I bought it for a downtick from my 8"11" allwave ltd. Thought the drop from 150l to 124l would be a challenge, but barely noticed it.
I will be back with more if ever the eastern us has fing waves again!
Select to expand quoteboundeast said..
After two sessions, one head high and fairly clean, i can say i love this board.
I bought it for a downtick from my 8"11" allwave ltd. Thought the drop from 150l to 124l would be a challenge, but barely noticed it.
I will be back with more if ever the eastern us has fing waves again!
Just got back from 4 smokin hot surfing/SUP'ing days at Bendalong/Green Island. Incredible weather conditions and perfect surf. Took the 8'8" Airborn and my new 12' Atlantis Venom with me and my 11 fellow surfing mates on prone boards.
The Airborn, as usual, was a shred machine, but at 185cms/96Kgs, is now a little too big for me (my biggest challenge now is trying to find the next size down replacement with so much to choose from!!).
The surprise of the trip was the Venom.................I purchased it just for a bit of fun for me on small wave days and for my wife to flat water paddle with. Well.............this board absolutely RIPS!! I had so much fun with it out in seriously decent size surf at the island. 2 sessions on day one - total of 68 waves and there was plenty to go around.
yewwww..... I have just put the hard earnt down on a pre-loved 88 airborne.....stoked n froffin!!! 
@ Myro: enjoy, you are gonna love here. I did a lot of thinking about what I like and need in SUP and stayed with the AB8.8 instead of buying a Hypernut.There is a lot to like in the HN, but a foot of extra length is hard to beat in glide when you are paddling most of the time in very unpredictable, choppy, strong current , very short period (6sec max), slow but steep waves at beachbreaks without a channel (AKA Home: there is a reason why Holland is NOT famous for it's surf conditions 
) And in my conditions the board simply rules by making the most fun out of what often crap seems to be.
@Smash, try an Surf pro 9.0 from 2013-2015 or a 8.5 2015/2016. I,m 93kg but with my 5mm wintersuit, boots etc etc i,m aprox your weight.
I have an AB8.8, the Pro8.5 and an Gong 9.4x29x135l Longboard shape.
All I can say is that the 8.5 is a LOT smaller as the AB and awesome in good conditions. With good I mean clean Ocean swell without much current or chop and organised waves with a decent period (10sec+)...stuff that I had 2 weeks ago on our Ireland trip. 
Before such trip I always doubt if I can paddle it, the usability etc etc....But when i,m there the board rules and is just perfect...just not at home in my crappy condtions. The combo with the Gong was perfect as well.
When it wasnt clean I took my Gong Freak Longboard shape sup to make the most of it :)
Reason to serious considder the Pro9.0 is that it turns almost almost as tight as the 8.5 but is more forgiving. The 8.5 I can,t use in crap while the 9.0 is perfectly usable.If I should need to go back to a 2 board waveboard quiver I would keep the longboard sup for the really crap and noserides and trade the 8.8AB and the 8.5Pro for the 9.0 as it sits in the middle and does most of both boards pretty well.
Hi Jeroen,
Just to say that the HN type of board (slate,...) is getting more popular down here on our coast (Belgium) which may not too different from yours. I have myself the 8' in wood (imported from your country ;-)
But I would not recommend it too short (below 8') because lack of glide (and stability in our conditions) if you are a big guy. You have to develop more "short board" techniques with this type of board (getting closer to the peak in the steep section, pumping in smaller waves). But it is very stable on the wave and turning on a dime. This is the type of board you need if like more "skateboard" style rather than longboard". There is also the 8'6" which may be more stable when messy down here and still ripping.
I haven't tried the AB but in general SB SUPs are quite good.
Olivier
110kgs here...
For maximum fun / ripping... don't be afraid to spread your stance a bit and get your back foot on the tail block...
finally got my airborne 88. I was a bit dubious about dropping 17 lts from my 8'10"widy but the 88 paddles just as well as far as stability goes. Waves were pussy so only had a few were Ive been able to wind it up and happy with that.Big shout out to Mattress for good deal on a pre loved stick and Brad from Surf Freight for getting it to me in a couple of days for a great price!!
Happy camper here!!!
On the broader subject of Widepoints does anyone know what changed from the 2015 8ft 2” widepoint to the 2016 8ft 2" apart from the colour ?
I'm pretty sure they have phased out the 8'2 wide point in favour of the hypernut, the smallest wide point is now the 8'8 which is actually the airborn ( please someone correct me if I'm wrong)
Select to expand quoteI'm pretty sure they have phased out the 8'2 wide point in favour of the hypernut, the smallest wide point is now the 8'8 which is actually the airborn ( please someone correct me if I'm wrong)
Yep your wrong 
And it is still in the range for 2017
Select to expand quoteRossall said..
On the broader subject of Widepoints does anyone know what changed from the 2015 8ft 2” widepoint to the 2016 8ft 2" apart from the colour ?
No changes to shape or outline from 2015 - 2016
Only changes are finishing of Carbon from Brushed to Blue, handle from soft rubber insert to moulded plastic, tail pad arch and deck pad.
Cheers,
Marco
Must admit just swapped from a Naish x32 7/11 to a 8/2 Widepoint 2015 and loving it
