hi guys
time to look for a new board and I'm looking at either the new dc14 x 26 or a new starboard all-star hybrid 14 x 25 or 27 and i was just wondering if anyone has any feedback on them . Its going to be used as an all-round board with may be 50% flat water and 50% bumps/downwind. Its going to do races in flatish bay water but probably not bop stuff, my main wonder is what their stability is like as I'm coming down from a 28 and also if they are any good in the flat(obviously they wont be as quick as a strict flat water board but maybe compared to my 2015 14x28 javelin)
thanks for any feed back
To make things more complicated, there are also other possible boards of interest for similar purpose Bark Vapor (14x26+) or Jimmy Lewis Sidewinder (14x27 or 14x25) that are described as very stable or SIC FX14 (14x25) still a little bit of an unknown regarding volume and width . Plus likely other less mainstream brands like Infinity and Rogue. not sure about distribution in OZ.
The new exaggerated concave hull on the 2016 Starboard All Stars definitely make them more stable than previous years. I don't know how, but they work. If you can get to the ZU in StKilda, they have a demo of the 27". I think Core Boardsports in Geelong may have a demo model too.
which DC14 x 26?
as there's a couple of news ones - the OCEAN RACE (allrounder) and DOWNWIND OCEAN RACE (dedicated ocean)
Nalu Surf in Torquay I believe have DC demo boards
im 80kgs and about 5'11 tall, currently I'm paddling a 14x 28 2015 javelin gx, as far as the all-around vs pure ocean is the mush difference in the rockers and also the performance of the two other than dugout v flat deck
cheers
Hi Mate
I got a 2015 14ft x 25 inch allstar as my first SUP 6 months ago. I weigh 71kg's, 178cm tall, 40ish. I was told by experts that the 25 inch was as stable as the 26 inch wide version from the year before due to design improvements. No doubt similar advancements with the 2016 version over my 2015 version. I found it tricky to balance in choppy water to begin with, but that was due to me having no paddling experience (I opted for trickier to begin with vs having to get another board too soon). I practiced a lot in choppy water and can now balance it quite well, and have caught quite a few runners and small waves on it. Have used it in the lake for time trials, but mainly in the ocean. It glides nicely on flat water.
Will let you draw your own conclusions on balance from that 
cheers
