So now the obvious question is Wedge 8.7 x 32" (143l), or Pro 8.7 x 29.5" (135l) or Spice 8.8 x 32" (140l)
No, wait. I see that there is a 2023 Pro now, despite the fact that I haven't been able to get hold of the 2022 Pro locally. So the new Pro is now 8.7 x 29.5" (130l)
Logic dictates that the pro will be the most nimble, but least comfortable. How do the Wedge and the Spice compare? So many questions.
Select to expand quotecolas said..Slab said..
I can't help feeling these are going to be slightly corky..maybe not.
It is hard to say beforehand.
Some board shapes can tolerate extra volume and still be nimble, some other shapes need to be sized to the absolute minimal volume for your weight+abilities otherwise they feel like barges. It is hard to guess, it depends a lot on plenty of shape features...
Tomos generally are in the "don't oversize" category, but hybrids like the Karmen (and I guess the Spice with its beveled rails) often stay surprisingly nimble with some extra volume.
It has a slight dome so you can keep volume and keeps rails thinner..only time will tell if it is a winner.
Select to expand quotetheSeb said..
So now the obvious question is Wedge 8.7 x 32" (143l), or Pro 8.7 x 29.5" (135l) or Spice 8.8 x 32" (140l)
No, wait. I see that there is a 2023 Pro now, despite the fact that I haven't been able to get hold of the 2022 Pro locally. So the new Pro is now 8.7 x 29.5" (130l)
Logic dictates that the pro will be the most nimble, but least comfortable. How do the Wedge and the Spice compare? So many questions.
Probably a good thing you missed the 2022 8'7 Pro. Great board on the wave but CORKY !!! It's the highest volume board I have in my quiver by a fair margin but the least stable by far (I have got used to it though, everything else I ride now is just comfort plus compared to it). The 2023 8'7 Pro model says it has 5 less litres (still @29.5" wide) but a flatter deck to help eliminate the corkiness. The 8'8 Spice would have an enormous amount more stability in my opinion. I know this is a 'Spice' thread but geez the new 8'0 x 32" Wedge @123Litres looks like a cracker!! Me want !!
Select to expand quotetheSeb said..
So now the obvious question is Wedge 8.7 x 32" (143l), or Pro 8.7 x 29.5" (135l) or Spice 8.8 x 32" (140l)
No, wait. I see that there is a 2023 Pro now, despite the fact that I haven't been able to get hold of the 2022 Pro locally. So the new Pro is now 8.7 x 29.5" (130l)
Logic dictates that the pro will be the most nimble, but least comfortable. How do the Wedge and the Spice compare? So many questions.
Hi Seb, just found this on the Starboard YouTube channel.
Select to expand quoteDakine said..theSeb said..
So now the obvious question is Wedge 8.7 x 32" (143l), or Pro 8.7 x 29.5" (135l) or Spice 8.8 x 32" (140l)
No, wait. I see that there is a 2023 Pro now, despite the fact that I haven't been able to get hold of the 2022 Pro locally. So the new Pro is now 8.7 x 29.5" (130l)
Logic dictates that the pro will be the most nimble, but least comfortable. How do the Wedge and the Spice compare? So many questions.
Probably a good thing you missed the 2022 8'7 Pro. Great board on the wave but CORKY !!! It's the highest volume board I have in my quiver by a fair margin but the least stable by far (I have got used to it though, everything else I ride now is just comfort plus compared to it). The 2023 8'7 Pro model says it has 5 less litres (still @29.5" wide) but a flatter deck to help eliminate the corkiness. The 8'8 Spice would have an enormous amount more stability in my opinion. I know this is a 'Spice' thread but geez the new 8'0 x 32" Wedge @123Litres looks like a cracker!! Me want !!
Hi Dakine, yes I noticed the new 8'x32" Wedge that's got me thing about board choice again
Also the new 9' PRO would be a great board for some of the more punchy waves around here, choice is a good thing right
And the new GO SURF 9'6"x31" is a board that would find a home in any quiver.
It will be interesting to see what stock arrives down here in OZ and the prices.
Have a great weekend all and I hope you score a few waves.
Spice looks good but are those weights right? Starboard website says over 9.5 kilos for an 8'8 blue carbon. That can't be right. My carbon 8'8 Smik weighs 2 kg less and only slightly less volume.
Select to expand quotedrivethebus said..theSeb said..
So now the obvious question is Wedge 8.7 x 32" (143l), or Pro 8.7 x 29.5" (135l) or Spice 8.8 x 32" (140l)
No, wait. I see that there is a 2023 Pro now, despite the fact that I haven't been able to get hold of the 2022 Pro locally. So the new Pro is now 8.7 x 29.5" (130l)
Logic dictates that the pro will be the most nimble, but least comfortable. How do the Wedge and the Spice compare? So many questions.
Hi Seb, just found this on the Starboard YouTube channel.
Thanks for that mate. I totally missed this. The latest board's volume that I bought is 1.21x my current weight + wetsuit it turns out and I can cope with it quite comfortably. Clearly, by conventional wisdom, I am now pro level and hence will buy the 7' pro and paddle around with knees underwater while I wait for one of the brands to get in touch to discuss the sponsorship contract.
On a more serious note, I am starting to think that I should get an 8.7 Spice for every day comfort and a 9' Pro for the bigger / cleaner days. My 10'2" Wedge has handled everything from ankle biter to solid 4, but it would be nice to have something smaller and lighter to throw around, but can still paddle into small waves comfortably.
I've had the Hypernut in 2-3, but it's a bit of an anvil (tm Colas) to paddle for anything smaller, which is not unusual conditions for me. I think the 8'7" Spice will fill in the everyday 1-4 foot in comfort and style and will be more exciting than the 10'2". The Hypernut is fun, but it's a different type of surf experience.
Select to expand quoteMickMc said..
Spice looks good but are those weights right? Starboard website says over 9.5 kilos for an 8'8 blue carbon. That can't be right. My carbon 8'8 Smik weighs 2 kg less and only slightly less volume.
The weights don't make sense compared to nearly the same size Wedge in carbon, so something has gone wrong on the site, hopefully.
Hi everyone, this video popped up in my YouTube feed last night and has some more footage of Benoit Carpentier riding what looks to be one of the prototype Spices.
Not surprising he is ripping on it, but also has some mere mortals like us riding nicely on some Smik Hipster Twins. A board very much in the idea of the Spice, and one of the boards I am looking at.
I remember way back around ten years ago we had the PSH bevelled rail bottom which made it a fairly tippy board, so I reckon the extra width will be needed.
Select to expand quotebigman said..
I remember way back around ten years ago we had the PSH bevelled rail bottom which made it a fairly tippy board, so I reckon the extra width will be needed.
+1
I had the same experience on a custom F-One Papenoo 7'11 x 30" like shape, pumped up to 130 liters.
The bevelled rails shaved the rail thickness significantly and let this Tomo shape turn real nice.
Stabililtiy was ok for my 92 kgs, but when the first wind/chop/moving water appeared it was hell for my balance.
I saw the 8-8 Spice today, friend borrowed it from rep, looked pretty cool and he was enjoying it
Select to expand quotebigman said..
I remember way back around ten years ago we had the PSH bevelled rail bottom which made it a fairly tippy board, so I reckon the extra width will be needed.
And the extra width will also have the benefit of spreading the volume on a bigger surface, sllowing thinner rails.
Select to expand quote32Sixteen said..
Very interested in this as well, Had a 8'Starboard pro in this construction and hated it. It was smaller and higher volume than the board it replaced (8'0"by 29" 121L vs 8'3"29.5 107L(YOB SP)) and was both less stable and more corky, had very little drive from the middle, the good folk at stand up surf shop let me trade it (with a little cash) for an ex demo fanatic pro (8'3"29.5 by 106L) which goes awesome in good waves but Ive always loved surfing slightly fishy surfboards with straighter rails and the video for the spice just gets me excited. Let us know how it goes!!!
Hi there. I love my 2019 Fanatic Pro 8'5" (bought new a year ago ). I like the thinner rails and have got used to the dome deck. Previous board (except for local Peruvian board 8'3" whilst there) was 2015 Starboard Pro 8'5" which I loved for many years. I am concerned that it might be compressed in front of the deck pad and likely to snap so looking for something to have as back up. What effect does straighter rails have? I like the way the Fanatic hangs in on a steep drop with bottom turn. I also like that it is light and notice Starboard getting heavier. Any thoughts?
Select to expand quoteRossall said..drivethebus said..
Wait you are allowed to have boards in the house, I will just get my wife
Yes I am surprised they are sticking with FCS1 fins, surely FCSii is not that much expensive to use. Most likely they want a point of difference with the carbon models.
I think it's something to do with patent running out so anyone can knock ''em out on a 3d printer and not pay royalties to FCS. Anyways that my guess, I prefer Futures to be honest but that's another debate
Looks like the 2023 pro has FCS 2
I've preordered the 8'8" spice in carbon and put down a deposit. Sadly, it's only launching in March 2023 in this part of the world. 
Select to expand quote32Sixteen said..
Very interested in this as well, Had a 8'Starboard pro in this construction and hated it. It was smaller and higher volume than the board it replaced (8'0"by 29" 121L vs 8'3"29.5 107L(YOB SP)) and was both less stable and more corky, had very little drive from the middle, the good folk at stand up surf shop let me trade it (with a little cash) for an ex demo fanatic pro (8'3"29.5 by 106L) which goes awesome in good waves but Ive always loved surfing slightly fishy surfboards with straighter rails and the video for the spice just gets me excited. Let us know how it goes!!!
If you like fishy, get a Smik Hipster.I do love the way most Starboards surf, but the Hipster is a gem.
Select to expand quoteJeroensurf said..32Sixteen said..
Very interested in this as well, Had a 8'Starboard pro in this construction and hated it. It was smaller and higher volume than the board it replaced (8'0"by 29" 121L vs 8'3"29.5 107L(YOB SP)) and was both less stable and more corky, had very little drive from the middle, the good folk at stand up surf shop let me trade it (with a little cash) for an ex demo fanatic pro (8'3"29.5 by 106L) which goes awesome in good waves but Ive always loved surfing slightly fishy surfboards with straighter rails and the video for the spice just gets me excited. Let us know how it goes!!!
If you like fishy, get a Smik Hipster.I do love the way most Starboards surf, but the Hipster is a gem.
Well went into the shop saw the boards and walked out with 8'2". Was mind debating 7'11" but none in stock so will report how I go. In response to Jeroensurf tried a V1 Hipster Twin years ago and to be fair probably didn't surf it enough to really form an opinion but even the 7'11" felt bulky not sure if I used the term fishy properly but I've decided after a lot of different sups that I like straighter rails better, I have a V1 JP slate that is far too small but on the right day is awesome, obviously with limitations on turning and hopeless back hand. Hopefully the spice is the magic board!!!
isasurf.org/event/2022-isa-world-standup-paddle-and-paddleboard-championship/
Watching Zane surf the smallest Spice in the ISA event. He looks like he's sunk way less than other guys
For what it's worth I had an F1 with bevelled rails on the bottom, didn't like it much, hard to engage the rail on the bottom turn and the board felt way tippier than it needed to be. I have a Sunova flow 8.4, much lower volume and shorter than the F1, but it has thin, stepped, rails and is much more stable and it's no problem to engage the rail in hollow surf.
I loved my SMIK hipster 8 ft, a design classic, only sold because I'm now riding boards about 110 ltr. In the market sometime for a 7.10 hipster.
Don't know if the Spice suffers with the same problem as the F1, but it's something I'd be looking at?
I like the look of this board but I would want the 8'8" for its glide and wave catching in small surf. Problem is it's 140 L. I'm looking to progress to a smaller board from my 10' Stylemaster which is 145 L. It seems that none of the manufacturers are interested in intermediate boards for smaller surfers. I'm 65kg and 170cm. The JL Super Frank Lean 8'6" comes closer but even that board is 130 L. Fanatic Allwave 8'6" is 135 L. And so on.
Select to expand quotegrgd said..
I like the look of this board but I would want the 8'8" for its glide and wave catching in small surf. Problem is it's 140 L. I'm looking to progress to a smaller board from my 10' Stylemaster which is 145 L. It seems that none of the manufacturers are interested in intermediate boards for smaller surfers. I'm 65kg and 170cm. The JL Super Frank Lean 8'6" comes closer but even that board is 130 L. Fanatic Allwave 8'6" is 135 L. And so on.
I have to agree. This has been a problem for me .
Best bet is something like a 711 Speeed . Has glide , and is around 92L. Also a small Shroom 7'3 is at around 86 L and catches everything . I have a 109L 75 ECS slab which seems high in volume but it pretty stable in chop.
Yesterday i took out a 8 ft Starby Pro 101L. Very tippy with backwash. I am about same weight
Select to expand quotegrgd said..
It seems that none of the manufacturers are interested in intermediate boards for smaller surfers.
Most of the US manufacturers, I guess due to the average weight of the US customers.
Try to look at non US brands.
Select to expand quotecolas said..grgd said..
It seems that none of the manufacturers are interested in intermediate boards for smaller surfers.
Most of the US manufacturers, I guess due to the average weight of the US customers.
Try to look at non US brands.
Gong Karmen 8'9" 140 litres.
Smik Hipster Twin 8'6" 134 litres.
For my weight at 65kgs (add board, paddle and wetsuit and call it 75kgs) a Guild factor of 1.5 would be 112 litres. In the Spicey range the 8'2" would put me at 1.6, same with the Gong
A readily available board where I live is the Allwave, new or used. The 8'7" comes in at 135 Litres. That is only 10 less than my 10' longboard. I'm afraid that it would feel really corky for my weight at a generously calculated factor of 1.8. The way most people seem to work it out without board weight it would be GF 2.0.
When I first saw the Spicey I thought it might bridge the gap between their pro board and the Wedge. It does to some extent but the volumes are just too high for smaller intermediate surfers who want a smaller board but still not not much under 9'.
Select to expand quotegrgd said..
Gong Karmen 8'9" 140 litres.
Smik Hipster Twin 8'6" 134 litres.
For my weight at 65kgs (add board, paddle and wetsuit and call it 75kgs) a Guild factor of 1.5 would be 112 litres. In the Spicey
A Karmen 8'9" would be way oversized for 65 kg!
In the Karmen line, for 110 liters this means the Karmen 7'11"
And you even have 3 smaller Karmens in the line.
But you were saying you wanted glide. Thus you want a longboard shape, something with a fast rocker.
The Karmen is a shortboard shape, with more rocker. Getting a Karmen (or any shortboard shape, in any brand), too big for your weight will not provide you glide (it will have even more rocker, and be wider), it will just make it unnecessarily heavy and hard to turn.
If you want glide, get a shape with glide, but properly sized to your weight.
For instance you want a NFA 9'0" XS (110L) or 8'5" (100L), or the Zero 9'0" (115L) or 8'5" (100L)
The 8'5" longboard SUPs are especially nice: suprizing glide, but still able to tackle Hossegor hollow waves.
Select to expand quotegrgd said..colas said..grgd said..
It seems that none of the manufacturers are interested in intermediate boards for smaller surfers.
Most of the US manufacturers, I guess due to the average weight of the US customers.
Try to look at non US brands.
Gong Karmen 8'9" 140 litres.
Smik Hipster Twin 8'6" 134 litres.
For my weight at 65kgs (add board, paddle and wetsuit and call it 75kgs) a Guild factor of 1.5 would be 112 litres. In the Spicey range the 8'2" would put me at 1.6, same with the Gong
A readily available board where I live is the Allwave, new or used. The 8'7" comes in at 135 Litres. That is only 10 less than my 10' longboard. I'm afraid that it would feel really corky for my weight at a generously calculated factor of 1.8. The way most people seem to work it out without board weight it would be GF 2.0.
When I first saw the Spicey I thought it might bridge the gap between their pro board and the Wedge. It does to some extent but the volumes are just too high for smaller intermediate surfers who want a smaller board but still not not much under 9'.
Maybe something like an Infinity New Deal? 8'6x29@114L or Infinity B-Line 8'5x30@114.5L
Select to expand quoteSurfKiteSup said..
Maybe something like an Infinity New Deal? 8'6x29@114L or Infinity B-Line 8'5x30@114.5L
Yes, exactly.
I was mentioning Gong but this is of course not brand-specific.
Select to expand quotegrgd said..colas said..grgd said..
It seems that none of the manufacturers are interested in intermediate boards for smaller surfers.
Most of the US manufacturers, I guess due to the average weight of the US customers.
Try to look at non US brands.
Gong Karmen 8'9" 140 litres.
Smik Hipster Twin 8'6" 134 litres.
For my weight at 65kgs (add board, paddle and wetsuit and call it 75kgs) a Guild factor of 1.5 would be 112 litres. In the Spicey range the 8'2" would put me at 1.6, same with the Gong
A readily available board where I live is the Allwave, new or used. The 8'7" comes in at 135 Litres. That is only 10 less than my 10' longboard. I'm afraid that it would feel really corky for my weight at a generously calculated factor of 1.8. The way most people seem to work it out without board weight it would be GF 2.0.
When I first saw the Spicey I thought it might bridge the gap between their pro board and the Wedge. It does to some extent but the volumes are just too high for smaller intermediate surfers who want a smaller board but still not not much under 9'.
I have the 8'2"Spice and weigh 76kg, no problems with the volume, turns absolutely fine, more stable than my 8'5"Fanatc pro and catches waves easier. Less grippy/drivey than the fanatic pro but easier to adjust your line off the bottom, even managed to get myself a small barrel on it the other day. Best SUP I've had so far and I've had a few.
Select to expand quote32Sixteen said..grgd said..colas said..grgd said..
It seems that none of the manufacturers are interested in intermediate boards for smaller surfers.
Most of the US manufacturers, I guess due to the average weight of the US customers.
Try to look at non US brands.
Gong Karmen 8'9" 140 litres.
Smik Hipster Twin 8'6" 134 litres.
For my weight at 65kgs (add board, paddle and wetsuit and call it 75kgs) a Guild factor of 1.5 would be 112 litres. In the Spicey range the 8'2" would put me at 1.6, same with the Gong
A readily available board where I live is the Allwave, new or used. The 8'7" comes in at 135 Litres. That is only 10 less than my 10' longboard. I'm afraid that it would feel really corky for my weight at a generously calculated factor of 1.8. The way most people seem to work it out without board weight it would be GF 2.0.
When I first saw the Spicey I thought it might bridge the gap between their pro board and the Wedge. It does to some extent but the volumes are just too high for smaller intermediate surfers who want a smaller board but still not not much under 9'.
I have the 8'2"Spice and weigh 76kg, no problems with the volume, turns absolutely fine, more stable than my 8'5"Fanatc pro and catches waves easier. Less grippy/drivey than the fanatic pro but easier to adjust your line off the bottom, even managed to get myself a small barrel on it the other day. Best SUP I've had so far and I've had a few.
Good to get some feedback on the spice. Not many people riding them yet. Don't suppose you've ever surfed a Smik Spitfire or Hipster Twin and could make a comparison with regard to the stability.
