Starboard test

Ok - had another chance to attack the starboard demo trailer this morning (thanks scotty) and thought I/We would post a couple of our thoughts on the boards I/We tried.

Conditions: 2ft+ relatively clean but slightly full beachy with numerous right and left options and a very very quick and slightly sketchy (but makeable) shorey.

Me: 70kg/intermediate sup'er/everyday ride - 9x30 starby.

I started on an 8.5 pro (bluetouch deck) paddled out through the shorey and broken waves with ease and suprisingly quick for a little board. Very stable - ever so slight wobble standing still but nowhere near falling off it. Turning for waves took maybe two small strokes to get it round and a couple of strokes and into the wave - fast in and didn't pull sideways on the takeoff like so many small boards tend to do if you are paddling very hard as you drop into the wave. The board was very very quick on the wave and had tons of drive and turned exactly where and when you wanted and held in like the proverbial sh#t to a blanket when pushed hard. I found the bluetouch deck a tad slippery and disconcerting but as I got more confident on the board I tended to forget about it.

I headed in and grabbed the new pocket rocket and even though I wasn't a huge fan of it last time I tried it I thought I'd give it another shot.
Paddling out I found it slower than the pro to paddle and actually a tad tippier (maybe corkier tippy I think)
I caught a handful of waves on it but just like the last time I rode this board I couldn't for the life of me get it to go - I am obviously just way too light for the board and was getting really frustrated with it, so I took it back in and jumped back on the 8.5 pro. Back out through the shorey and I felt instantly at home on the pro - sh#t this is a funtastic board and for the next hour I just couldn't get the smile of my face. I reckon anyone up to about 80kg that can surf a bit and wants a small board without all the small board paddling/stability issues would absolutely love this board (and its new model version as well)

Scotty paddled up on the new 8 x 28 and offered it up for me to try (he just wanted to laugh at me I think) so not to be intimidated I took up the challenge and climbed on - OMFG !!!!! this thing is small and I was looking decidedly uncomfortable until I could get some momentum happening. I must admit I didn't stop paddling at all cos I would have fallen in for sure. I paddled into the first wave (still dry) and bugger me I'm on - wooh hooh - actually I'm off - lost control fell back on the board and rode the wave sitting on the back of the board out of control with scotty laughing his tits off at me - very fkn funny NOT. He screams at me "stop surfing like an old lady and be aggressive with it or it will kill you" - righto, lets give that a shot !!!
Back out - nice big one rolls in and I paddle in, take the drop and see boofy paddling back out towards me and I just think, "OMG I'm gunna kill him" - I remember what scott told me and just muscled the little beast off the bottom and I'm off down the line and it's on - jeezus what a board, its so fast and soooo responsive and the cutties are done and dusted before you even decide you are gunna do one - I just love it - never ever ridden a board this small and so much like a big shortboard or fish perhaps in its feel on the wave. I managed another 3 really nice waves on the board and then my knees and back start telling me to hand it back. In all seriousness if I was ten years younger and fitter this board would be very high on my most wanted list. I really really liked this board and was so stoked that I could surf an 8ft sup and kinda did ok on it BUT it's just that little bit too much for me at my age and ability and would much prefer to stay with either an 8.2WP or 8.5Pro because they are not significantly less performancy (it is noticable though) but they are so much more comfortable and no trouble to stand on in any conditions for a couple of hours if necessary.

An awesome morning - look forward to hearing boofys review on the 9.5x32 which he hogged for the entire sesh (and every damn wave as well )

Thanks for sharing BB , good to see Scotty still out there doing it . I found Blue touch is not the one if wearing boots marks pretty easy . It also gave the roof of my Rental car a good scrach up too