need new starboard opinions.....

[newton333]

hey looking to go from older pocket rocket to  the 8'5 pro anyone ridden the newer version lately? im 190 lbs and ride the pocket rocket and a naish 7'9 mana. anyone ridden the new pro? or the new pocket rocket with new rockker? im going to get either the blue ast or the gray. does the gray have a kick pad tail? if not ill get the blue so i can put heel pad on. website says both pocket rocket and pro have same volume? any updates.

[newton333]

anyone riding new starboard?

[JimK]

Try 9-0 Naish Mana or the Naish Hokua 8'5

Not to mention you can get a great price here in NJ

jimK

[river]

8.5 pro has narrower tail and turns way faster.  Also faster down the line, and the pulled nose helps for late drops.  Still noseride's well which is surprising but fun.  The brushed carbon is epic for vertical smacks!

[Ake G]

Yes, but not the models you're looking at. So far as the new AST boards go, looks like the smaller models in silver have a kick pad. I'll bet Wardog has some shots on his blog. But If you don't mind the Blue color over the silver get the blue and put the $$$savings towards a pad that will suit your needs.

anyone riding new starboard?

[paddlesurf.net]

I rode a 10'3 pintail Starboard longboard style stando this weekend at DogPatch and... that thing surfed great!

[JonathanC]

Hi newton333, I went from the Pocket Rocket to the 8'5 Pro in Candy (still not quite sure about the colour!)

Exactly as River says turns much faster and I find it easier to get out through while water, slightly less stable but still fine. I've only surfed mine as a quad so far, getting an fcs adaptor for the centre box so I can much around with different setups.

Do miss the PR in really junky onshore stuff but otherwise love the 8'5 pro - it does have a heel kicker. Tried a friends 8'5 pro in brushed carbon, amazing weight difference and feel - I want one

[newton333]

ya the carbon looks sick, but the price is too high. i think il go with the pro in blue and get my own pad im pretty pad spefic if its not just right and sticky enough i get so frustrated.

[Boludo]

ya the carbon looks sick, but the price is too high. i think il go with the pro in blue and get my own pad im pretty pad spefic if its not just right and sticky enough i get so frustrated.

After owning a pocket rocket (camo pad) I too am now pad specific.  I love the board but had the pad.  The my back foot slipped a lot until I added additional pad pieces on top of the pad, which is just lame!  Now my other board has the x-trak pad and it is night and day different than my pr camo pad.  Thousand times better.  Keep that in mind when buying a starboard sup surfboard with built in pad.

[Ake G]

Total agreement on the x-trak pads! Well made, very grippy (even in high-30 degree water!) and great layout options and color choices.

ya the carbon looks sick, but the price is too high. i think il go with the pro in blue and get my own pad im pretty pad spefic if its not just right and sticky enough i get so frustrated.

After owning a pocket rocket (camo pad) I too am now pad specific.  I love the board but had the pad.  The my back foot slipped a lot until I added additional pad pieces on top of the pad, which is just lame!  Now my other board has the x-trak pad and it is night and day different than my pr camo pad.  Thousand times better.  Keep that in mind when buying a starboard sup surfboard with built in pad.

[newton333]

the oam rasta pad is what i like and it fits my style, the laird pad they used to make was also sick and was diamond cuts threw out. real grippy. 

[newton333]

would the 7'11 float a 200lbs? really interested in this board. know it would not be that stable in the chop but interested non the less?