Hi SUP'ers. Had no response to my last post so I'll try again. I'm wondering if anyone has any personal experience with the Starboard Widepoint 9'5". My Speeed is a bit tippy in chop and not that easy to pick up smaller waves, say, below hip height. I was wondering if the Widepoint would be more stable and catch those smaller waves more easily. There is a dealer nearby but there will be no Widepoints for demo until September so any advice would be helpful. [If it's negative I can start looking at other SUPs.] Cheers!
Hi Jimbo
I had a 9'5" widepoint (wood veneer) for about 6 months. Yes very stable in chop. Reasonable glide for picking up small waves. Good outline and carved well from the middle. It was too much volume for me at 70kg. Replaced it with an 8'10" Sunova Skate. The Skate at 32" wide has similar stability and is better at picking up small waves. Both are good boards. The Skate a bit more refined with better durability and construction. There are both widepoints and Skates used on the buy and sell of this website.
Hope this helps.
bob
CaptainJimbo,
I have the WP 8.10 and is very stable and good on small waves, have good volume if you can demo both the WP 8'10' and the WP 9'5'. The good of the WP 8'10' is more performance and if you do not need all the volume to the WP 9'5'. Regards
Hello
I owned a 8,10 wide-point very stable and good to surf and glide into waves. I sold it and moved onto a 9,2 speed and loved it so much i bought a 8,10 speed. The 8,10 speed is more work stability wise but the 9,2 speed and 8,10 wide point are as stable as each other but the speeds surf much better in my opinion. The rails are much more refined in the sunova speeds. 
The 9'5"widepoint is a very stable, fast and manoeuvrable board for its size.
I really had heaps of fun on mine. I've downsized a few times since but would recommend you demo one for yourself.
I'm got one for sale because I really don't use it anymore if you are interested.
Demo is the only way to go!
Thanks for all the advice. I'll now wait to demo a board in September. Happy Supping all!
Have had 2 9'5" wp.......learned on them and loved them....stable as a table and good glide....still have the carbon model for friends who want to learn or just cruise on the flats.......also have 2 airborne 8'8"s wp's....love them too....been a lot of fun improving wave riding legs......then needed more speed & performance without sacrificing stability.......achieved via a Smik custom 8'8" 31 1/4"........demo a Smik if you feel like stepping out of programmed comfort zone, there maybe a pleasant surprise
first sup i surfed was a 9'5" WP ast candy--great, durable board
easy to catch waves, and not bad on the wave
way too big for any fun for me now--and i weigh 87kg at 6'2"
i keep it for proner friends to try--they always get waves immediately on it, whether they've ever held a paddle before or not
unless you are aheavy guy it will very quickly feel like too much board
my go to is a blue carbon airborn 8'8"--love the board on all waves from small to a couple ft OH
recently bot an acid 9'1"--jury's still out on it--much harder to paddle around on and catch waves than the airborn, that's for sure--not clear yet if its ride is any better, even in steeper surf, than the airborn--i tend to try itt for an hour, then happily switch to my airborn to see the fun factor/wave count improve markedly--could be the acid isnt for me--or could be i need to keep trying it--plan to keep trying for a bit more--if still disappointed, will sell
Thanks again for the replies. I should stress that I'm after something for days [and days] of small surf. My 8'10" Speeed is just not up to easily catching waves under about 3'. I'm getting on and my paddle strength probably has something to do with that, but I'm sick of bobbing around catching not much at all on those small days. Over 3' and clean and the Speeed is fantastic, but down the south NSW those days seem to be almost a memory.
Maybe a Waterborne Evoke 9'2 (great value) or a Sunova "One" can also be considered. There is great video below on the 11'2 widepoint
Jimbo I would be interested to know your weight and height as I am considering an 8'10 Speeed or 8'10 Flow or 3 foot surf.
The Speeed I though would have been awesome for those conditions.
I am 65kg max and a very average sup surfer . I just sold my 7'11 32 wide Evoke (130L) as I found it very hard to get a high wave count on small waves without being right where it breaks.
I prefer to glide onto a wave
Gboots, I'm 72Kg and about 5'9" [whatever that is in centimetres]. The Speeed is great in clean conditions and over about 3'. I find it tippy in a bit of wind or any sort of chop. Mind you, this might be my fault, but had I demo'd one before buying I might have thought again. Having said that I'm more than stoked with it in clean, fairly powerful waves. It turns magically from the tail and has speed to burn. I'm just after a much more stable board that I can take out in all sorts of conditions and which will catch waves easily. I find I have to take off a bit late on the Speeed if the waves are small. It does not catch small waves easily at all. [Once again, it might be me!]
I tried a friends 9'5'' widepoint last year when i was learning to sup in surf, Felt very stable, much more so than my 9'6" Blue Planet Nalu at 30" wide. Not as stable as another friends Whopper Junior ofcourse at 33" wide.
That's an interesting analysis Jimbo. It seems that the bigger you are the more stable the Speeed is. 72kg is relatively light for an 8'10. I have read a lot of people say that the Speed is more stable when the rails are underwater.
The problem is with a smaller Speeed you get less board length and that counters the ease of catching a wave
Apparently the 2018 widepoints have been revamped and are more aggressive.
will wait to see...
Carbine, I was talking to the local Starboard distributor and he said the same. He'll have some in September which when I'll have a demo. Meanwhile I'll keep eyes open and talk to as many owners as I can. Cheers!
Im 73kgs and i used the 9/5 then the 8/10 and now the 8/2 loved all of them at the time,, I still don't mind using my mates 9/5
with the right fins its still good fun and super stable but fast along the face, He's a bigger guy(100 plus kgs ) and I've seen him ridding some great waves on it .
Hope this helps
I'm 110 kg with a older epoxy 9'5 Widepoint . Its my out the back big wave single fin , medium waves twin. my 2nd board and has roadie'd , Bali'd and is currently chasing watertime out from Alice (till Bali again).
For me its a solid long-time keeper. In a 10'2 - 8'6 mix
And like others said change fins to the wave/day
Select to expand quoteAdventure Sports Noosa said..
Im 73kgs and i used the 9/5 then the 8/10 and now the 8/2 loved all of them at the time,, I still don't mind using my mates 9/5
with the right fins its still good fun and super stable but fast along the face, He's a bigger guy(100 plus kgs ) and I've seen him ridding some great waves on it .
Hope this helps
Thanks guys. Gives me more food for thought.
Select to expand quoteBighugg said..
I'm 110 kg with a older epoxy 9'5 Widepoint . Its my out the back big wave single fin , medium waves twin. my 2nd board and has roadie'd , Bali'd and is currently chasing watertime out from Alice (till Bali again).
For me its a solid long-time keeper. In a 10'2 - 8'6 mix
And like others said change fins to the wave/day
Ta Bighugg. I'm keener than ever to demo one!
If you r chaseing stability ..... b cruel to b kind to yourself for later !
I don't come from surfing more from white water kayak so happy with a paddle when I started Sup.
My kayak instructor would make us work the narlyest section of lump n bump n pressure waves Before we set off. Warms u up Sykes u to flow.
Took this worst things first approach to SUP, every other day regardless of weather went to river mouth or rip washing machine for lump n bump ,wind what ever. 
I got balanced. N kept paddle always moving in water, just wrist rolling paddle give surprisingly resistance n stability. 
Also found twin n extra cutaway cutaways singles let your board flex or squiggle with the chop. 
Still learning what to do with the waves I get 
Select to expand quoteBighugg said..
If you r chaseing stability ..... b cruel to b kind to yourself for later !
I don't come from surfing more from white water kayak so happy with a paddle when I started Sup.
My kayak instructor would make us work the narlyest section of lump n bump n pressure waves Before we set off. Warms u up Sykes u to flow.
Took this worst things first approach to SUP, every other day regardless of weather went to river mouth or rip washing machine for lump n bump ,wind what ever.
I got balanced. N kept paddle always moving in water, just wrist rolling paddle give surprisingly resistance n stability.
Also found twin n extra cutaway cutaways singles let your board flex or squiggle with the chop.
Still learning what to do with the waves I get
Thanks Bighugg. I understand where you're coming from but, although I'm fit and pretty strong, I'm also 69 and not getting any younger. I really want a sup that is stable and doesn't make me wobble while waiting for waves. I don't shred or rip waves or smash any lips. I like to get on waves easily and then cruise, much like on my mal. The widepoint looks like it would fit the bill nicely. Cheers!
Select to expand quoteCaptainJimbo said..Bighugg said..
If you r chaseing stability ..... b cruel to b kind to yourself for later !
I don't come from surfing more from white water kayak so happy with a paddle when I started Sup.
My kayak instructor would make us work the narlyest section of lump n bump n pressure waves Before we set off. Warms u up Sykes u to flow.
Took this worst things first approach to SUP, every other day regardless of weather went to river mouth or rip washing machine for lump n bump ,wind what ever.
I got balanced. N kept paddle always moving in water, just wrist rolling paddle give surprisingly resistance n stability.
Also found twin n extra cutaway cutaways singles let your board flex or squiggle with the chop.
Still learning what to do with the waves I get
Thanks Bighugg. I understand where you're coming from but, although I'm fit and pretty strong, I'm also 69 and not getting any younger. I really want a sup that is stable and doesn't make me wobble while waiting for waves. I don't shred or rip waves or smash any lips. I like to get on waves easily and then cruise, much like on my mal. The widepoint looks like it would fit the bill nicely. Cheers!
At 69.....you are a legend for SUP surfing . I want to be like this at your age. I also understand ....even in my mid 40s that time is worth much more than money . You have to make the most of the time you have left. I fully understand where the Captain is coming from
Select to expand quoteGboots said..CaptainJimbo said..Bighugg said..
If you r chaseing stability ..... b cruel to b kind to yourself for later !
I don't come from surfing more from white water kayak so happy with a paddle when I started Sup.
My kayak instructor would make us work the narlyest section of lump n bump n pressure waves Before we set off. Warms u up Sykes u to flow.
Took this worst things first approach to SUP, every other day regardless of weather went to river mouth or rip washing machine for lump n bump ,wind what ever.
I got balanced. N kept paddle always moving in water, just wrist rolling paddle give surprisingly resistance n stability.
Also found twin n extra cutaway cutaways singles let your board flex or squiggle with the chop.
Still learning what to do with the waves I get
Thanks Bighugg. I understand where you're coming from but, although I'm fit and pretty strong, I'm also 69 and not getting any younger. I really want a sup that is stable and doesn't make me wobble while waiting for waves. I don't shred or rip waves or smash any lips. I like to get on waves easily and then cruise, much like on my mal. The widepoint looks like it would fit the bill nicely. Cheers!
At 69.....you are a legend for SUP surfing . I want to be like this at your age. I also understand ....even in my mid 40s that time is worth much more than money . You have to make the most of the time you have left. I fully understand where the Captain is coming from
Bighugg, my mal and Sup mates are 68, 71, and 80! All going strong but, like me, don't bother on big days anymore. We leave that to the young guys...like you.
Go the 9'5" Starlite construction Widepoint. It will do everything you are after and they weigh bugger all. My friend has a great carbon version for sale. In A1 condition. Demo first then look for the same board in the for sale adds. I'm not selling mine any time soon. There are guy's getting boards all the time that they either struggle with or upgrading to boards that they'll struggle with. ( a man's gotta know his limitations - these guys don't ) They're the ones that post all the time and when you see them in the water struggle to turn a board. They spend most of their time running over kids or hassling everyone in the lineup and then spend the rest of the time on here complaining about the kooks in the water. Every brand for sale has had its champions and they all drop off. Starboard SUPS are a consistently good design, the carbons and Starlites should hold their price well and the construction is bulletproof. DEMO,DEMO,DEMO. you might find a board not mentioned in here. Blue Planet funstick, ECS wideboy Fanatic Allwave. They are all boards that are easy to handle, surf well and are relatively inexpensive,all wide and stable. Cheers and have fun!
Select to expand quoteLeroy13 said..
Go the 9'5" Starlite construction Widepoint. It will do everything you are after and they weigh bugger all. My friend has a great carbon version for sale. In A1 condition. Demo first then look for the same board in the for sale adds. I'm not selling mine any time soon. There are guy's getting boards all the time that they either struggle with or upgrading to boards that they'll struggle with. ( a man's gotta know his limitations - these guys don't ) They're the ones that post all the time and when you see them in the water struggle to turn a board. They spend most of their time running over kids or hassling everyone in the lineup and then spend the rest of the time on here complaining about the kooks in the water. Every brand for sale has had its champions and they all drop off. Starboard SUPS are a consistently good design, the carbons and Starlites should hold their price well and the construction is bulletproof. DEMO,DEMO,DEMO. you might find a board not mentioned in here. Blue Planet funstick, ECS wideboy Fanatic Allwave. They are all boards that are easy to handle, surf well and are relatively inexpensive,all wide and stable. Cheers and have fun!
Leroy, thanks for the good advice. I've been surfing with those guys you write about. Just dangerous! I checked my favourite break yesterday. Waist-high and peeling left. Only 5 guys out on mals. I knew 4 of them but didn't venture in. The right wasn't working and I didn't feel comfortable enough at this stage to safely manoeuvre around them. We all need to choose when to surf and when to sit and watch. [I just wish I'd had my mal with me though.] Cheers.
Hi Jimbo,
I have been riding a 9'5 widepoint for about a year.I weigh 105 kg.They are a great allround board.Very loose if you get right back on the tail and you can surf the board much further forward,which I tend to do.The board is very forgiving with the soft rolled edges.
I am currently riding a starlite consruction which is a good weight and very durable,compared to other brands
I have ridden a carbon model,beautiful and light ,but wave chop and wind have much more affect with size.
Also ,changing the fin set up really changes the feel of the board.A small back fin creates a whole new feel to the board.
I cant fault the board for a good all-round surf..
Select to expand quotethord said..
Hi Jimbo,
I have been riding a 9'5 widepoint for about a year.I weigh 105 kg.They are a great allround board.Very loose if you get right back on the tail and you can surf the board much further forward,which I tend to do.The board is very forgiving with the soft rolled edges.
I am currently riding a starlite consruction which is a good weight and very durable,compared to other brands
I have ridden a carbon model,beautiful and light ,but wave chop and wind have much more affect with size.
Also ,changing the fin set up really changes the feel of the board.A small back fin creates a whole new feel to the board.
I cant fault the board for a good all-round surf..
Thanks Thord. I'm currently waiting on the local dealer to convert on of his 9-fives into a demo model. Should happen in Sept. Unfortunately I'm having cataract surgery at the end of Aug so all of Sept is out for me. Hope it's worth the wait.
