Thinking of purchasing a Starboard Airborne, I'm 87 kg & just concerned about the volume. Currently surfing a 9' x 28 1/2" custom board.
At 87kg, the 7'10x30" would be do-able... but depending on your experience, balance and how hard you want to work, it may also be quite challenging.
I was a few kg lighter than you when I got mine and enjoyed it from the first surf, but definitely thought the board felt more alive once I dropped some weight, and the stability also seemed to be markedly better for around 78kg and below - which makes sense as Starboard indicates that it's designed for riders up to 80kg.
I haven't tried the 31.5" wide Airborn, but even though it's only got 1L more foam, the increased width should make it a bit more stable, and the recommended (max) rider weight is increased to 85kg. As the Airborn could be close to your comfort limit, I'd recommend tying to get hold of a demo board or two (preferably one of each width) to see how you go. I haven't been to Adelaide since I was 2 years old, so not sure about shops, but if no-one has a demo board on offer, maybe try to contact your local SA starboard sup team rider, Scotty Mac, and see if you can tee up a go.
Hi Ali,
Having tried both the 30" and 31 1/2" versions and being 100 kg I felt that it was actually harder for me to paddle on the wider board. In fact, i feel that it's harder for me to paddle on either airbornes than on the 8'0 Pro, which goes against everything we believe and think we know about volume, width and stability.
Having thought a lot about this and about what I felt while paddling (the wider boards would "skim" in every directions except vertically) what I conclude is that if the volume of the board is inferior to the weight of water being dislocated (rider + board + paddle + wetsuit is bigger than board volume), then the board will obviously sink completely. Not to the bottom of the ocean, but just getting the whole board under water.
This means that there would be a "film" or "layer" of water on top of the board which would also offer resistance at the boards attempt to rise all the way to the surface, causing the board to skim underwater like I described it, making it feel really weird.
On the narrower board, this doesn't happen as much, so you just have to deal with with the normal tippyness, which at least feels normal!!!So I believe that it takes us back to the already old thing of trying out all the boards before buying, to see on which we feel a bit more natural.
Specially on these boards that have similar volumes.
I'm 85-87 & had no problem with the 31 version in beach breaks up to head high on the face. Like surfing one board won't do everything it's a question of what sort of waves ? I wouldn't choose it for waves that require serious bottom turns or hard to paddle into. Fast rippy waves it's fun
I've got the 31.5 Airborn for the crappy on-shore beach break windy conditions I often surf in. In small waves even at my weight of 68kg 150lbs it is heaps of fun. Also have a 7'7 x 27 for cleaner days.
Think the Airborn needs a slightly different way of thinking, its not just about going as narrow as possible, the shorter length and greater width combined with fine rails gives it a super curved outline that turns fast and effortlessly.
Have a look at the videos of Colas surfing on a short wide Gong Sup, gives you a really good idea of the way these boards can perform.
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/Some-fun-waves-in-Hossegor/
To get a similar 'feel' to the 9' x 28.5 custom you currently have the 8 x 28 Pro would be my pick as well. Awesome board, almost as good as the 7'7 
I was a bit hesitant about buying the airborn. Just got my 31.5 airborn yesterday and surfed 2' to 3' waves this morning with a 15 knot southerly wind. I weigh 82 kg and 5' 7" short. I have been riding Starboard 8' 5 carbon pro with a quad set up for 3 years. Right from the start I found the airborn very stable, more stable than the 8'5 pro. It took a while to get use to the width, but the board is very responsive and drives hard thru bottom turns and off the lip, while feeling very smooth. It generates more than enough speed down the line while keeping high on the wave face. Took a couple of nose dives on late take offs. Great board and looking forward to surfing it a whole lot more.
Hi all, thanks for the feedback, always good to hear others ideas. Think Ill chase around for a demo board & see how I go. Sounds like the ideal board for summer mush in SA.
