Starboard Converse as a backup wave board ?

[devon_sup_surf]

Hi guys

Following on from my post about graduating too early to a small low volume board- I'm on a quest to get my wave count up.

Given it may well take me some time for the right board to come up- I have noticed a few starboard converse come up for sale cheaply and wondered what people thought of them ?

Are they real beginner boards that will frustrate me ? Or will they be my super easy board and an easy sell on ?

9' 30" and 137-143L (depending on the year) looks good on paper and will be a piece of cake.

Alternative view is it's too much of an over reaction the other way and I will just sell it again a month later when I find the right board!

[PonoBill]

It used to be that a beginner/intermediate board was anything slightly under 12 feet, and while I'm a big guy, my magic surfboard is a Foote 10'6" production board. So I'd say go find some fun and don't worry about it. I have surboards down to 8'2 but the board I reach for is my 10'6" Foote Triton.

Before that my Goto when things weren't perfect for the shorter boards was a Naish Nalu 10'6". It didn't turn anything like the 10'6" Foote, which can pivot on a dime and give you nine cents change, but I had fun with it in slop that would have had me pissed on my 8'6" L41.

So yeah, go for it. I have no experience with that board, looks kind of chunky in the rails, but if the price is right, go have fun with it.  Most people wind up with a spare kids and guest board anyway.

[coldsup]

My friend has one of these and loves it.....however he is maybe around 20 kg lighter than you and 5ft 8.

[JimK]

I didn't really like it Turned fine but had no speed (or ability to generate any)
But I'm a BIG guy so you may find it different
But you asked

JimK
Extreme Windsurfing

[sailwave]

I had an older Converse and it was great for my first entry to waves, they are actually pretty good with a sail too in sub shoulder waves. After a year or two  I started to find it too slow standup on waves and jumped to the 9' Starboard Pro. That transition was fine as long as it was not too choppy or moving water conditions. I have a lot of choppy condition days so I also have went to the wide and stable Pocket Rocket at 8.5' x 30. I find it nearly as stable as the Converse and much faster. I an 5'10" and 185lbs.  Cheers.

[devon_sup_surf]

Thanks a lot guys

It sounds like a pretty easy board to cope with- but perhaps with performance ceiling that may frustrate after a while ?

JimK- may I ask how heavy you are ?

PonoBill- my thinking exactly. I miss longer boards. A big part of sup for me is easy entry, glide and spending the whole session standing up. I worry that even if I buy a short stable board- I will still find it frustrating. Shame your Foote isn't avaliable in the UK!

Wave- thanks and interesting. Pocket rockets do crop up from time to time actually.

[exiled]

The pocket rocket had a bigger following back in the day, and would probably still be big enough for you at 130L

[805StandUp]

Thanks a lot guys

It sounds like a pretty easy board to cope with- but perhaps with performance ceiling that may frustrate after a while ?

JimK- may I ask how heavy you are ?

PonoBill- my thinking exactly. I miss longer boards. A big part of sup for me is easy entry, glide and spending the whole session standing up. I worry that even if I buy a short stable board- I will still find it frustrating. Shame your Foote isn't avaliable in the UK!

Wave- thanks and interesting. Pocket rockets do crop up from time to time actually.

Have you thought of a performance longboard shape?  E.g. my Laird Surrator is similar in stability and performance to your Acid and my 9'0x29.5x113L Laird Surfer is night and days more stable and also performs.  Starboard seems to have a nice longboard for 2019 and the Nuts are being cleared out given that they have been discontinued.  I haven't surfed either of them but hear good things.