Bought my 1st of 2 new boards this year 2011 121 Starboard Carve Technora
Got to sail it with a 7.4 yesterday in some flat to small 2 ft chop for 1 hour.
I am no expert and have only rode a few boards in my years of sailing buy here is what I thought that first hour.
I am 56 yrs old weigh 235lbs with wetsuit on, the 121 ltr floated me well right off the top and seem to get up and plan ok , compared to my last board I was replacing my HI Fly Madd 115 twin fin which by the way I really like so it will take a lot to get me thrilled with the Carve.
So rode it for 1 hour turned very nice and seemed to do just about anything you wanted in the turns from a slower turn to a more sharp on a dime turn which was nice.
It also seemed to handle what chop there was pretty good, go upwind not a problem down wind too, here in the "Gorge" USA you seem to sail down wind a lot cause the river is pushing you upwind.
Speed was average not a big concern of mine I just like to have fun, and when I learn more about the board I am sure it will go faster than yesterday.
My only draw back that I could tell was that it did not feel as "active or squirrely"
as I wanted, the foot straps were place inboard for the rep. told me that would be the spot to get the most response from the board.
of course I had a 7.4 sail on which is kind of heavy and cumbersome.
So all in all a good board, I read all the tests the past couple of weeks and I felt it tested the best and the Carves had a good reputation in the past and that is why I went with it. Cost was 1400 US dollars.
My next board will be a RRD 2012 102ltr FSW which should be much more active.
You can change the feel significantly with a different fin, to make it feel more active and responsive go for more of a slalom design, it will ride higher in the water then. I learnt on a carve133, great board, only sold it as I thought I didnt need a board so big.....then entered the slalom scene.....and had to replace that size.
This post is rather late but after about 2-3 hours of sailing on my Carve 121 it developed a hairline crack on the flat bottom of the board
.
I took it back to Bigwinds in Hood River USA and they promptly told me to pick out another board
.
I did not like the feel for the Carve 121 so I got a Starboard KODE 113
which I love, nice and loose
.
I would buy another board at Bigwinds in a heart beat, great place with friendly people.
Just a reminder for everyone if you can test ride your new board first before you buy.
It worked out well for me but that was all because of the flaw in the board.
