Hi,
I am fairly new to standup and looking to get into a Starboard 11' 2" as a first board. I am in WA and want it as a general board for paddling in flat or choppy water and small to medium surf - I am 6' 2" and about 93kg.
Whaddya reckon about the choice of board. Make sense? I have tried the whopper and while stable just dont like the shape. The blend glides better.
Also do the 11' 2" boards ever come up second hand? I have been looking and havent seen one.
Appreciate any feedback.
cheers,
look at the fanatic allwave 9.6 or 9.2 same volume as the glide, but much better for surfing and more stable. the 11.2 blend is a big older style board. i suppose they're ok for paddling but the newer style boards are way more versatile and much better in a variety of waves. The cabrinha 10.2 is a great board and if you want to paddle more than surf, the 10.2 psh hull paddler paddles like a much longer board and surfs really well. youre spoiled for choice at the moment so try out a variety of boards before handing over your hard earned cash.
The 11'2" Blend is a really good first board for the purposes you describe. They come up for sale every now and again. Another, similar but better performing board in the Starboard range is the 10'5" Drive. There's one in the Buy & Sell in WA. I have no connection to that board or the seller, I'm just pointing it out for you.
Yes thanks for the heads up. I have used the Drive a fair bit and it is a good board but I am looking for a board that will be able to take my young kid on the bow when exploring at Rotto as well as being half decent in small surf.
At 93 kgs (on a good day) the Drive seems a bit less bouyant and stable for flat water distance work.
Hi Leeeee,
I bought a blend 11'2 for my first board, initially bought it for flat water paddling as had never surfed before but before long was hitting the small waves around cott. Absolutely loved it, couldn't get enough! Was really easy to handle and have since surfed everything from 1-6foot waves. Unfortunatly it's been hanging in my garage for the last 2 years due to other commitments I just havn't had a chance to get out, was thinking of keeping it til my daughter is old enough to come out with me but to be honest it'll prob just sit there for a few more years so I might consider selling if I had a reasonable offer. I'll get it out later to check but I'm pretty confident it's in perfect condition as I always look after all my toys, its always been washed with fresh water after every use, dried and stored back in its bag.
Cheers
Ringo
Well I've decided my board is officially "for sale", it is listed on gumtree and will be listed on seabreeze later today. Open to reasonable offers.
There is a reason these boards don't come up for sale very often and it is because they are a great all round board. I bought one as my second board a couple of years ago and love playing around on it in small surf and even did the Dr race on it two years ago, it has now become the "wifes" board and one we will hold onto as anyone of our friends who want a go a paddling, this is the go to board.
I have actually been thinking about this for a while, with all the new guys asking what board to look for I almost think you have to look for the ones that don't come up that often as they are the ones worht keeping. The Starboard 11'2 Blend being one of them.
The blend was my first SUP board too, it makes a perfect choice for metro WA conditions. I've used it from Margarets to Gnaraloo and it performs great in all. If you are looking fir more of a " surfing" board I would go shorter like the 10'6 or even 9'8 but in your case we fished off our blend in Bunbury with two kids on board with no dramas. Only negative I found it liked to nosedive when it was lent to people with less expirence. But that comes with time.
Thanks for all the feedback.
Appreciate the photo, Ringo. Probably not interested at that price level for an older model, but thanks anyway.
I got rid of a mana to change over to an 11'2 Blend all I can say is that it was truthfully awesome board, great on flat water, great in the surf and a wicked windSUP board as well. Have changed over to a 9'5 wide point which is every bit as good as the Blend.
