Have a look at this collection of reviews!http://www.star-board.com/2008/pages/news/news.php?readmore=362
yeah - i do a lot of film work for them - ride their gear and even help a little with testing some of the wave shapes before they go into production.
Starboard have a very unconservative / can do approach to making shapes that work.
This is how that boardseeker test summarised the futura-
"Lets face it, no one wants to be overtaken!! If you want a board that can match up to any freeride board on the water for speed (and probably hold its own against some race models), this is certainly the board for you. As well as blistering speed performance, the board offers great stability for beginner and intermediate gybers and flexibility for advanced gybers.
It has to be said that the Futura is a high quality, great looking product and a board you will be proud of every time you take it to the beach."
it was also the only board in the test to score a full ten on the active feel er o meter.
Of course Futuras arent for everybody - and crew will have different favorite boards- i am just presenting the buzz on the board as it comes out of the media. Feel free to interpret info to match your own style.
I can see how there would be some confusion.
I no longer work with the good people at Auswind - but we are still in regular communication as we work in the same industry.
Auswind will continue to post info here as it comes up.
Thanks to the industry doors Auswind opened up for me:
Reflex Films is my gig now - my own video production business - shooting and editing wind, surf sports and Radio Control action (lots of electric rc aerobatic planes)- mostly in WA -amongst other productions as well (such as powerboats ,real estate and concerts - lots of it from a heli) - its really REALLY fun work - especially when you start mixing up helmet cam, heli angles, on plane radio cams , water housing footage in good surf as well as the standard tripod angles from the beach. So much magic to be shot in WA - especially on the south coast.
I will also continue to do some testing for Starboard and Severne where wave gear need requires further development and feedback.