(Monday 25k southerly wind)
Swanie and myself took the 14' x 30 Starboard Coast Runner and 14' x 25 Ace out yesterday. "Thank you Johno from SupFun Cotton tree"
It was fantastic downwind conditions from Moffats to Mooloolaba. One of the best downwind runs we have ever done. Thanks Wind Gods.
1. The Coast Runner is a fantastic downwind board. It wanted to grab every bump the ocean had and run with it. As soon as a bump presented itself it lifted the tail and took off. I had some great runners and would have to say the longest I've had as well. The board made connecting one runner to the next very easy. The little Tiki character on the front was nearly talking to me saying “come on lets go”. It was like the board was enjoying itself as much as I was.
Pro's
The stability is fantastic and it has heaps of glide. I love the drainage holes as they worked perfectly for getting rid of water on the deck. It was easy to turn on the runners and has heaps of deck space to walk forward and back when on a wave.
Negatives
Wouldn't smash records at the lake.
2. The Ace was like riding a wild bull leaping on to bumps with little disregard for the rider! As speed goes it smashed the Coastrunner, but I did fall off 4-5 times.
The Stability was supa hard but tracking left or right helped.
Negatives.
Hard moving up and down the board, the well fillng up with water at times making it hard to paddle till it drained out and stability.
Pro's
SPEED, It put's a big smile on ya face and it would smash records at the lake!
Cheers Jonesy 
Thanks Guy's looks like U had a epic run. Waves looked like they were working well for U.
That wind must of been pushing U along as it as quite strong. How long did the down winder take & did U see those sharks out there yesterday? LOL.
Excellent account and that would be my evaluation of both boards too. Perfect analogy with the Ace on a downwinder - a wild bull with little regard for the rider. Beau O'Brian managed to win the Southern Cross DW race on the weekend on a Coast Runner in pretty wild conditions. He had the choice of an Ace and there were 3 or 4 other quick paddlers on Aces. But up above 30 knots, the speed advantage of the Ace seems to dissipate due to control challenges.
Great review and pictures.. Thanks.. Did you get any vid?
IMO.. It's not all about speed.. But I have to admit that fast can be fun..
DJ
Great review Jonesy!
I too had the chance to try out the Coast Runner (I thought it was 28" wide?) for the first time in the downwinder at the Southern Cross SUP Festival over the weekend and this board is loads of fun in good/strong downwind conditions.
It might not be the fastest board in the flats, but when in it's element, it was definitely one of the easiest boards i've had the chance to downwind on. The glide was fantastic, manoeuvrability between runs was effortless and the stability was great too!
The faster speed of the Ace in flatwater and lighter winds will mean it's always got a place in my quiver, but for stronger winds, or just getting out there and having loads of fun, I'd love to be able to add a Coast Runner too!
good review, however its not quite even when the ace was carbon and the c/runner was ast
To be honest, I think the two boards in that wind (18-25knots) are similar in speed, but if I was racing and I had to pick one..... I would grab the coast runner
But the question to you all is...... The Excel race next week has a 8k flat water paddle at the end! Which board would you grab in the same wind?????????
Easy. The Starboard Ace but in the 27" like mine. Just back from a quick across the bay from Mooloolaba to Maroocydore. The 27" is so much more stable than the 25" which I had prior. It's in the ocean that the extra stability comes in and it just jumps onto runners and goes....
Regrettably the AST which whilst heavy at 17kg to lug off the car and into the water,doesn't seem to matter once you get it moving.
Would love a carbon version though.
i'm intrigued with carbon coast runner. the extra weight off would make a big difference dwing and in the flats too
