Anyone been on the Starboard 7' 7" x 27" Pro?

[supnorfolk]

Very similar stability from memory. Didn't paddle them side by side but I would say the 8 is more stable if I had to pick one.
The 8 I paddled was carbon, IMO,better in bigger cleaner waves but really fantastic all rounder. More glide and less yaw than the POD so you can take off a little earlier on the wave before it gets too critical.
The POD is really good in beach break, haven't surfed the 8 in beach break so can't comment.  
People wouldn't point and laugh if you had the 8....

that's just the sort of info i was after - thanks - the 8' sounds great - i ride a pod all the time at the moment and really like it but as it gets bigger i think the 8' pro will come into it's own - just got a couple of months to wait now .....
any more thoughts/opinions gladly received.

supnorfolk.co.uk

[Cardiff Sweeper]

seriously? the 8'5" is big for me? cause the blurb on the SB website says the 8'0" is for folks up to 142 lbs. I realize that the marketing bs is often, well, bs, but still....

I do like the shape of the 8'0" better than the 8'5" but the 28" width is intimidating.

my biggest concern about going too short is that I won't be able to paddle into the waves before they get really critical. I can't imagine the POD having much glide.

I guess I should figure out a way to demo these things eh?

The Pod does just fine for me.  I just take a half-step forward to get the weight on that wide nose, and she drops right in.
The 8' and 8'5" have even better glide, so you need not worry about getting into the waves.  There's so much nose rocker, that pearling hasn't been an issue for me on any of the Pro boards.

And to put things into perspective, the 6'6" Impossible has one liter more displacement than the 7'4" Pod.  Wider, thicker, and a bigger tail.

[supnorfolk]

I'm really appreciative of all the info here - also wondering what fin set up you're all using on the pro boards - i use some nice glass quad fins on my pod which work great - however i know the pros come with a quality 2 + 1 fin set up - are you guys already riding pros finding them a good fit?.....

[JonathanC]

Hey, I weigh about the same as you, was considering going to the 8'5" pro from the pocket rocket. Any thoughts on pros and cons of making that move?

Hey adamrod, which year 8'5 pro are you talking about? The 2012 8'5 Pro is much higher performance than the 2011. Great board but quite big for you at 168.

seriously? the 8'5" is big for me? cause the blurb on the SB website says the 8'0" is for folks up to 142 lbs. I realize that the marketing bs is often, well, bs, but still....

I do like the shape of the 8'0" better than the 8'5" but the 28" width is intimidating.

my biggest concern about going too short is that I won't be able to paddle into the waves before they get really critical. I can't imagine the POD having much glide.

I guess I should figure out a way to demo these things eh?

Lummers here on the Nose Rider has both the 8'5 and the 8'0 in carbon, he loves the 8'0 and he is 200lbs. Maybe he is not such a good example, obviously a skilled surfer with very good balance!

If you can get your head around smaller boards your surfing will improve out of site. At under 170 the 8'0 will be absolutely fine unless you are in super choppy conditions. The weight recommendations seem very very conservative to me. Scotty Mac rides the 7'7 in clean conditions and he is 200lbs and that is way way tippier than the 8'0. Trouble with demoing unless you can take it for a couple of days is that it does take a little while to get used to smaller boards.

[newton333]

i ride the new 8'5 2012 pro i like it a lot I've ridden a lot of the smaller guys but the thing i like about the 8'5 range is it still has  a little glide when u go smaller u lose  a lot of that. the smaller boards surf great but catching waves gets to be more difficult and u lose some of the sup advantage. just something to think about i was ridding the pod for a while but still like  the pr and 8'5 pro best but I'm 190 lbs at 168 u should be fine  28 isn't that bad. i wish they had like a 8'0 x 291/2 that would be sweet.

[Scotty Mac]

had some great surfs on the 7'7" in up to 3 foot waves. i struggle on it in 4 foot and above because of my weight. love the board but.. going to get a 8'0" aswell. so stoked. "Lifes a f_ken dream i am living in".

[cb super]

Is anyone aware of demo boards on the East Coast, in or around North Carolina? I am very interested in either the 7'7 Pro or 8'0, but feel I need to test drive before buying (the Brushed Carbon version). I ride a 7'7 now, but its 29 wide and 4.25 thick... I weight 175lbs

I like an aggressive board, but not trying to win any contests...

Any Starboard reps out there??