Starboard Pro for heavy hitters

[Paddle On]

Zoners -

I have become a SUP believer. I am 6'2" and 205lbs.

I have the Starboard 9' XL pro (139L), it took about 3 weeks to get it wired and I love it, even in small waves. Looking at having a quiver the next step would be the 8'5" Pro (112L).

Would like to hear any expierince with going this small. Is this a reasoanable step down or will it just be collecting dust?

PO

[SUPcheat]

I think that would be in the category of "try before you buy" in at least mixed conditions.

[NorthJerzSurfer]

Paddle on....

You'll find that is a huge step.  I'm about your weight albeit shorter.  (5'10 205-15 depending on season + 10lbs for winter gear)

I have had a pocket rocket and currently an RNB that were 130l and 135l respectively.  I could stand on them in a hurricane.

I 'am moving' down to a 106l hypernut and a 119l El Tigre .   There's a massive difference between these boards.

I have found that at my weight the magic 'break number' between having to paddle/brace to stand up is 110l or so (shape dependent of course)

i'd strongly caution on the 112l pro.   I wanted to aim for that board, the Jimmy lewis Super Tech or the Sunova Acid all at around 112l for a winter board and am realizing it may not be worth the work (vs prone surfing)

If you are willing to sit between sets it may be a great option or are in ideal conditions (I do neither- sitting between sets is called surfing and NJ has mostly a bit of bump)

the good news is at 8'5 you probably wont worry about forward and aft balance issues (A huge prob on my hypernut at 7'4.)

At your weight it is definetily a possibility on the spectrum. (My daily driver even in winter gear is the 119l board)  But I would hold on to the 9' until you have the 8'5 totally wired so you dont have too many frustrating sessions without actually enjoying waves.

i'd really try to demo especially given the prices of the Starboards. vs their used value.


happy surfing!

[exiled]

There is a big hole in the Starboard pro line up between the 9'0 and 8'6. I guess they think that is where the pocket rocket fits, but you can do better.

The 8'7 Sunnova Flow and 8'6 Naish Maddog both clock at 121L and are probably much better options for you while maintaining a similat shape. Naish pricing is kinda wonky to put it politely, but Sunnova has priced themselves competitively with Starboard. Those would be boards I would look at first at your weight.

[anonsurfer]

I have become a SUP believer. I am 6'2" and 205lbs.

I have the Starboard 9' XL pro (139L), it took about 3 weeks to get it wired and I love it, even in small waves. Looking at having a quiver the next step would be the 8'5" Pro (112L).

Would like to hear any expierince with going this small. Is this a reasoanable step down or will it just be collecting dust?

Go for it!  At 205 lbs (93kg) you'll be at a guild factor (GF) of 1.2 on a 112L board.   It will be a big drop from your current GF of 1.5 but it should not be a problem if you are a good intermediate paddler.    You will notice a BIG jump in surfing performance going from 1.5 to 1.2GF. 

[Paddle On]

i appreciate all the caution for the large step down and the enthusiasm! i have been trying see if can get a demo without any luck so far.

i feel like both sides are whispering in my ears.....devil and angel........

[lopezwill]

Paddle On

Could you give a short rider review on the 9'0 XL Starboard?  Stability, how it surfs, maybe a comparison with your JL Stun gun?

Thanks

[Paddle On]

LW - good question. i live in SF and been in san diego, linda mar, santa cruz, privates and even sharks on a steep day. nothing very much over head yet.

the jump from a 9'7 x 31" 136L to a 9'0" x 29" 139L seemed like it would be fairly straight forward. it was not. the stability of a 29" vs 31" is HUGE. even paddling through the surf on my knees was a challenge the first few sessions. the pro has more rocker throughout and softer rails, where as the JL has nose scoop so no pearling, but is flatter in the tail with much sharper rails which makes for a really fast board going down the line, but i really had to get back and dig for turns. the pro feels amazing going top to bottom! its like going from carving on a snow board on hard pack vs light powder kinda. i can easily stand on the JL without much bracing, but really need to keep the paddle in the water most of the time with the pro.

i was able to always catch waves on the pro, but i would stand, plop, stand, plop, repeat, etc, a bunch. granted it has been pretty soupy due to storms this season here in nor cal. on my second or third session a fellow SUS came by and simply said it will take 3-4 weeks and then it will all click. and boy did it! dealing with a narrow side to side balance and then throw in the front to back yaw and hard headed football player mentality made for some frustrating sessions, i had to eat my pride and keep at it. it was better that i did not go out with any of my regulars so i was not conservative and kept trying different things, lots of bracing, small changes in foot position based on currents, wind, seaweed and wave direction was key.

then it clicks and now i am aggressively paddling thru waves both kneeling and standing and making many as the thinner nose cuts through, i have begun aggressive pivot turns to catch waves. late take-offs are not scary, head high and lower so far. i am able to catch pretty small waves which was surprising to me with some pumping. i am now learning to pump on the waves to gain speed, sticking some bottom turns and soft off the lips (i want to throw some spray one of these days!, but that many be down the road). the bottom line is that the pro in more fun on the wave for me, but if i am out for a long session i will occasionally sit down and rest.

i have not gone back to the JL yet, i will do that before deciding whether it will stay in my quiver as it is a super fun, fast, stable board that can handle some real size.

this experience has me super jazzed and thinking that the 9'0" and 8'5" would be a great 2 board quiver. i will keep the big easy and hero for bolinas, small summer stuff as well as friends and family.

i just read a review that the 2017 8'5". in order to thin the rails and keep the volume, they had to add thickness which domed the deck and is "notably less stable than 2015 and 2016". i am planning to demo the older models soon.

[lopezwill]

Thanks Paddle On.  Excellent report!

Those are some great boards your trying out.

I'm curious what you will end up with in your quiver? 

 Please come back and post 

[Paddle On]

i got the 2017 starboard 8'5" pro, have my first sesh, whoa! back to learning, at my size this board is under water and feels like paddling through oatmeal. a whole different kinda of balance and paddle.

i was able to catch a few waves and the board feels great, but only being able to stand for a few minutes at a time makes for a lot of plop, plop, fizz, fizz. hope i get to master this.

will report back in a few weeks......................

[supthecreek]

Paddle On, good thread, excellent write ups and adjustment feedback!
This is good Zone stuff, helpful for many to follow the work/reward process.

In true adict fassion, you have aquired an impressive quiver in short order😃👍

[Paddle On]

As I wrote earlier, stepping down from the 9'7" x 31 JL to the 9'0" x 29 was challenging, took a few weeks, the 8.5 feels easier. I had to learn to move my back foot back more than I thought and definitely heel on center line and toes out and front foot forward a bit and straight kinda close to stringer and most important stay crouched a bit and get the paddle in water for some forward momentum. Things really clicked today when I realized that I need to make really small changes, bend down slightly, just tap the water with my paddle gently for a save, moving my foot, 1/8" is what it takes, as I am feeling more comfortable then I can stand more parallel and relax. Paddlling is different, slower and more controlled. My wave count has gone down, but I am learning to be pickier and waiting for set-waves. I can't wait for a big swell to come.

And the best part, I switched back to the 9.0 and it felt like a boat! I was super solid and could jump up, paddle and catch waves at will, like I improved tons on it by riding a much smaller board!

I will report back when I get the 8.5 in some size and see how it handles.

[RATbeachrider]

On all the Pro models that we surfed with (6'10, 7'2, 7'7, 8'0 and 8'5), we found the balance point is just a tad (approx.  4-6 inches) in front of the handle.  We being 150lbs and 170lbs.

[Paddle On]

my foot in in front of the handle, but back foot just behind or the nose pearls.