Starboard Sprint
- Written by Staff
- Published in Reviews
- Comments::DISQUS_COMMENTS
Only best products in a given category receive “A” grade.
Overview:
Paddle Board Highlights
Who is it for?
If you’re looking for a very fast, non-inflatable, premium race board to paddle in sprint races then the Sprint from Starboard is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in the Carbon Sandwich technology which is durable and has its ups and downs. Because of the extremely narrow width of 21.5 inches the board is incredibly unstable, however, with 1.86 lbs per foot weighing 26.1 lbs total the board is very lightweight for a 14ft board. Its construction and shape combined best fit the Sprint for sprint racing on flatwater. Retailing at $3,399 the board is among the premium price point but is exactly that: a premium board designed to win.
First Impressions
On first impressions, the graphics and color are good, the shape design is very thoughtful and the construction strikes as durable and strong. The Sprint has some nice looks, coming with an solid mix of colors and graphics intended to be quite lively. The shape design is unique for boards in these categories, offering features tailored primarily for competitive SUP racing. And the construction does appear strong, as something that can survive heavy but careful use. This paddle board is easy to carry and the glide is very fast which is expected since lightweight construction and speed-centric design are are at the core of this board model. Once you put it all together, the Sprint is a very unstable yet very fast board that only lightweight and skilled paddlers will likely feel comfortable using.
Benefits
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Primary Use
Race UsePaddle Boards fall into two broad categories, All-Around and Specialty boards, with all-around designed primarily for recreation while speciality boards for top performance in specific disciplines
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Durability
Very StrongDurability is largely a result of the board construction and shape, with more durable boards typically carrying more materials (added layers, PVC, etc) and as such adding to the weight.
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Stability
Very StableStability is a product of construction and shape, where boards w/ 30”+ wide and 200+ liters in volume offer plenty of stability for your AVG adult while a board under 26” wide is a challenge.
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Glide
FastGlide is a result of board shape and construction, w/ boards weighing under 30lbs and designed for racing offering best glide while recreational boards normally being on the slow side
Learn more on the Starboard website.
Features
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Dimensions
14' x 21.5" x 9.1"Industry standard in board dimensions reads: L (length, from nose to tail) x W (width, from rail to rail at midpoint length), and H (height, from top to bottom of board at midpoint length).
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Weight
26.1 lbsStandup paddle boards tend to fall into 4 different weight classes: extremely lightweight (under 20 lbs), lightweight (20-28 lbs), average weight (28-35 lbs), heavy (above 35 lbs).
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Volume
230LVolume is a key metric to determine how much weight a board can carry. Boards w/ 200+ liters offer most floatation with boards under 150 liters typically for high-performance surf
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Capacity
175 lbsCapacity is the max cargo weight a stand up paddle board can carry, considering not only the paddler’s weight but whatever else the paddler may choose to carry alongside him/her.
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Add On's
FCS Compatable Deck PlugAdd-on’s include bungee cords, a minimalist way to haul things; Connexsup, which allows for all sorts of attachments, even fishing rods; and FCS II/Connect, for easy fin instal.
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Handle
2 HandlesHandles directly affect carrying ease, with external grip handles (Liftsup & EZgrab) offering most comfort, Internal Ergo Grip the mid-tier comfort, and box handles as least comfortable.
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Holders
NoFishing rod holders and/or paddle holders can make paddling that much more pleasant, esp. when needing holders for the rod or having a safe place for the paddle during yoga.
Sizes Available
| Length | Width | Thickness | Volume |
|---|
| 12 Feet 6 Inches | 23 Inches | 9.3 Inches | 217 L |
| 14 Feet 0 Inches | 21.5 Inches | 9.1 Inches | 230 L |
| 14 Feet 0 Inches | 23 Inches | 9.3 Inches | 274 L |
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For more detailed reviews and to look at similar models, visit Supconnect.com. If you like this review, give us the thumbs up. Don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments. And make sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss the latest news and reviews from Supconnect.