SurfingSports Standup Paddle Surf & Standup Paddling BLOG

We messed around with a few of the new 2009 Starboard SUP's today...fresh out of the Thailand factory oven...hot and spicy...













Mark my words...the new "SuperFish" 9'8" x 28.5" and 10'5" x 30" "Drive" are going to be a smashing success...plug & play standup right out of the box...world class construction and attention to detail...Q U A L I T Y ...

A few more shots in this gallery...

Be stoked...be V E R Y stoked...{:~)

Start saving your nickels...or cash in what's left of your 201K...these new boards are going to be worth it...really kewl, well thought out features bring you extra value and bang for your buck...

We have a container on order...first of the year delivery...get on our waiting list if you want to stroke into the new year some new stoke...in the mean time, grab one of the existing models...at $1099 for the 2008 Tufskin version, full deck pad, integrated handle, and sail attachment option...this is a no-brainer...we believe that this is the best value on the planet, so we've got a container of them coming in next month...and there are still a few available right now...

2009 prices have been forced up by energy costs, raw materials, and foreign valuation of our currency...regardless, you still won't be able to get close to this level of quality for the price...



Come see, feel, and paddle the Starboard SUP product line, and we'll also have a few of the new 2009 Starboard SUP's at the Rainbow Sandals "Battle of the Paddle" event at Doheny Beach, California this weekend...
L@@K for us at the Starboard booth...

This is only the tip of Starboard's proverbial SUP iceberg...OUT!!!...er, uh, I mean PEACE OUT!!!...;-)

Labels: 2009 Starboard SUP, Santa Barbara standup paddle sports, stand up paddle boards

Over the next couple of months Starboard will be unveiling the most extensive SUP board lineup in the world...it's hard to keep the excitement in check because we've already seen, and ridden, several of the new shapes...

All I can tell you is that "YA'LL AIN'T SEEN NUTHIN YET!!!"...;-)

Here's the new 9'8" x 28.5" SUPer Fish...



Not to worry...the current shapes are staying in the lineup...for good reason, too...they are already among the leading SUP shapes on the planet...combined with the top construction, you get QUALITY and INNOVATION...

Continuous product improvement is the Starboard mantra...ours, too...
That's why we are committed to this brand, and have been for over 10 years...

We bring in containers full of Starboard standup paddle boards straight from the factory...knowing that we are getting boards that have been through rigorous QA...that adds value, to you our clients...and, you get it...thanks to you guys, they sell out in a few days...that gives us the resources and confidence to continue to provide you with state of the art boards, and stay at the leading edge of the sport...BTW, we have several more containers of boards ordered and on the way...

Starboard doesn't hold back when it comes to board development...with a rocket scientist, a host of engineers, top world champion athletes, and the best designers on the planet...in-house testing facilities...secret testing grounds scattered across the globe...nobody comes close to touching their R&D program...

Starboard has been world market leader for years in windsurfing boards, and has quickly become market leader in SUP's...

Starboard in 1995 revolutionized the surfing world by introducing epoxy wood veneer molded mini mals and longboards . The same year Starboard complimented their surf board range with the EVA shock deck technology and also produced epoxy sandwich boards, well ahead of the surf industry.

Starboard further was the first production brand to introduce carry handles in the SUP boards, full deck EVA, special diamond groove texture in the standing area and specialized kids boards. As an international market leader, Starboard introduces the widest offering in the sport. From the 7'2" Kid which enables grommets to rip, to the 14'8" Point for long distance and speed paddling.

The fish shapes in the range, the 9'0" and 9'8" Extremists and the new 10'5" Crossover, are probably the World’s most progressive shapes, and drives the cutting edge of competitive SUP.

Starboard 2009 SUP Board Development

Extensive amounts of time and energy have been spent at Starboard bouncing between the Maldives, Australia and Indonesia for testing purposes and the search for the ultimate range of SUP's.

Multiple trips to Bali, another to Sumbawa, as well as the latest one down to the edge of the world at west Java, provided a vast array of conditions to test out all the different configurations of outline Rocker volume and "V".

From Perfect right hand point breaks, to fun size beach breaks and racetrack tubes, we experienced the broadest spectrum of conditions for testing, while also having an incredible amount of fun in the process.



Ekolu Kalama was along for the ride, experiencing the decadence of the Club Med open bar in the Maldives, to the contrary of the glory box,(enough said) at a far outpost of Sumbawa.

Starboard head Honcho and mad keen SUP rider, Svein Rasmussen was also there, never wanting to miss out on an opportunity to test all the latest toys and Johnny Hibbard from the UK came down the Maldives to provide some input as well.

It's been a rapid learning process with modifications, new ideas and new trips coming about, constantly pushing the boundaries with what was not considered possible in the very recent past, to the current state of play and the evolution doesn't show any signs of slowing down soon.

The boards have been unpacked, (still wet from the last trip) in the factory to already being modified and the next ticket being booked to progress from what was learned, to provide the most up to date range of SUP's in the world.

Labels: 2009 Starboard, stand up paddle boards, standup paddle boards, Starboard SUP's

Here at Standup Paddle Sports, we almost need a blog inside a blog...so much goes on inside a day here at the shop, that daily blogging can't keep up with it...so sometimes what you get are bits and pieces of trickle down SUP shizzle...;-)

As promised, here are a couple of shots of the new Werner SUP paddles...these are 1 piece...

The blue "Advantage" and the orange "Carve"...MSRP $219...





One of our Central Coast riders , Ken Krall, came down to pick up a new Naish 9'6" quadfin...we installed the pad and customized it with a clear stomp pad...



These Naish quadfins have been hot...Lori Rafferty, known as the "Speed Queen"...she held the North American women's speedsailing record at one time, has just picked one up to complement her 10'6"...we're going on a SUP boat trip with her and her husband, Kail...so we'll try and get some shots of her, or her sons Reese and Curtis, shralpping in the waves...

So...back to Kenny...he pulls up in a kewl new Sprinter...the ultimate funhogmobile...;-)

We almost bought Ken's previous Sprinter van...here's his new one...pretty amazing toy mobile/camper...









Lastly, we've had several requests for a few more pics of the new Naish 11'4" SUP...

We padded this board up for a Malibu client who wanted to maximize the wood veneer and tribal graphics showing...we've applied texture to the nose area for nose riding...and he will apply surf wax in the center section and use the pad for surfing off of the tail...if he gets tired of dealing with surfwax, he can simply clean it off and apply the rest of the pad that comes with the '09 Naish SUP products...

Labels: Naish 11'4", Naish 9'6" quad, stand up paddle boards, up paddle boards, Werner SUP paddles

In our relentless quest to bring you the best standup paddling gear in the world, we test new gear delivered to our shop doors in Santa Barbara almost daily...we're now ready to offer you guys a board that we've been riding and sharing amongst the local standup paddling community that has gotten double shakas by everyone that's ridden it...introducing, the Mistral "Pacifico Wave"...




This puppy is lightweight, strong, durable, nice l@@King, stable, glides well, and surfs like a dream...now on sale for $999 (MSRP $1399)


It comes with a great paddling fin made of high quality G-10...factory installed pad,...and, you can throw a sail rig on it...even footstraps, if you prefer...not much more to ask for in an 11'er...




The stand up paddleboard and lightwind wave sailing longboard for intermediate to expert riders!




Catching waves with or without a sail has never been easier! The all-new 11'2" 2008 Pacifico Wave (170 liters) is biased more towards maneuverability and performance waveriding with its thinner rails, and increased bottom rocker. The lighter, stiffer sandwich construction of the Pacifico Wave offers a more lively ride than the standard Pacifico.





For all advanced riders who’ve ever dreamed of surfing waves like Kelly – smooth, technical and with style. Designed, developed and tested by Kaleo Alfredo (Hookipa Lifeguard & Jaws Big Wave Rider).

A partial EVA foam deck pad provides great comfort and traction and reduces overall weight. The Pacifico Wave comes with a 28cm G-10 wave fin, footstrap inserts, mast track, and an integrated carrying handle.

For the full-on windsurf addict the Pacifico Wave also offers a mast track for wave sailing on the light wind days with up to 6.5m wave sails. The newly developed Scoop-Rocker line makes the board super easy to maneuver and ensures you can always be at the right spot on the wave. The board accelerates through the bottom turn to give enough power and speed for the right timing on the cut back.




Click on image below for gallery images of the Mistral Pacifico Wave...









- Shaped by Mark Nelson and tested by Kaleo Alfredo (Big Wave rider Jaws),

- Pure waveriding scoop-rocker-Line

- Intec Sandwich construction

- Perfect combination of light weight technology & durability

- Unique Premium Wood Design

- Partial EVA deck for smooth riding (anti-slip grip)

- Leash insert for comfortable wave riding sessions

- Integrated Handle Grip for ECTB (easy carry to the beach)

- G10 custom 28cm fin by Kai Hopf

Labels: Mistral Pacifico Wave, Santa Barbara standup paddle, stand up paddle boards

We've had lots of inquiries about info on the 2009 Naish SUP's...

In addition to the gallery of the 2009 Naish 9'6" Quad that we have already shared with you...we'll provide detailed pics of the other gorgeous new SUP boards in the expanding Naish lineup...

Click on image below for a L@@K at the 2009 Naish SUP brochure...

Labels: 2009 Naish, Naish, Naish SUP, Robby Naish, stand up paddle boards

When the head of our shipping department (local SUP ripper, Brian Bowie) mentioned that his son Josh is a pretty good welder...we tasked him to weld up some new freestanding (or wall boltable) SUP display racks for the shop...





These racks will be commercially available soon...there is already a waiting list...almost everyone that's seen them wants a set for their board quivers...

Josh makes some pretty wicked beach cruisers...





He also makes some pretty kewl old skul aluminum sk8boards:

Labels: Santa Barbara standup paddle, stand up paddle boards, sup racks

L@@K for a quite impressive roll out of the 2009 Starboard SUP (& windsurf) lineup in the coming weeks...we just returned from the big Starboard Pow Wow...where we saw , or heard about, over a dozen new shapes...exciting new graphics...and new constructions...including the new state of the art, wood/carbon boards...lighter and stronger...

Starboard has total commitment to making the highest quality, most innovative products on the planet...

Starboard team rider, Ekolu Kalama, putting the Fish SUP to the test...



From an inexpensive...but, very high performance kid's SUP...to what was described by rocket scientist, and co-inventor of windsurfing, Jim Drake, as the fastest gliding flatwater board on the planet...of course, with the addition of Ekolu Kalama (3X Quiksilver Molokai to Oahu Champion and big wave hellman) to the Starboard "Dream Team"...along with 2004 World Wavesailing Champion, Scott Mckercher, the high performance SUP board lineup has been significantly expanded...Scott's buddy, fellow Australian pro-surfer Jake Patterson, was said to have pulled off some mind-bending new moves on the '09 SUP prototypes on a recent trip to Indonesia...

Sneak peek at one of the new graphics on the Technora constructed Fish...



Starboard is by far the biggest SUP manufacturer in the world...and, is also the world's largest manufacturer of windsurfing boards...by a factor of 2:1 over it's next biggest competitor...solely owned by Svein Rasmussen, who is one of the most addicted standuppers on the planet, you can only imagine the innovations and quality that will set the standard in the SUP world in the coming years...

Sneak peek at the versatile new SUPer 12'6" with retractable center fin...removable knob...watertight gasket...



This board (formerly known as the "Cruiser") is already the most demanded board for downwinders on Maui's North Shore...it's also a dream glider for windsurfing and wavesailing...you can only wonder how many fish have been caught on this board...now, it's become even more versatile...and stable...

We're saddled up...and ready to R I D E !!!

Labels: stand up paddle boards, Starboard SUP's

We've been playing around on some of the new Starboard 2009 product...
One of the surprises is how surfable the new 10'1" x 34" is...obviously, it's gonna be stable...in thruster mode, it's also quite surfable...



The new "Super" 12'6" has a well designed and quite functional retractable center fin
that sails very smoothly...motors you back upwind in the slightest breeze...also, will function quite nicely to stabilize the board in nasty chop...we believe that this board will also be a great fishing platform...

The Limited Edition (200 only) lime green Futura sparked some interest...not only from the bright new color...but, also because there will be a charitable donation to a worthy cause from the proceeds...

Here is former Burton snowboard rep, and all around great guy, Scott, showing off his new ride...



Starboard owner Svein Rasmussen discussing the new 2009 board lineup...







More info coming soon...

Labels: stand up paddle boards, Starboard SUP's

Due to the incredible demand of our top name standup paddleboard offerings, there are several new opportunities that we are involved in hatching...

Our East Coast expansion is well underway...announcement(s) coming soon...

We've had to requisition a couple of new vehicles better suited for hauling SUP's...and settled on a fleet of diesel powered Sprinters...will be doing the biodiesel conversions...



Suffice it to say that an extended Sprinter van full of goodies has left the world headquarters of Standup Paddle Sports in Santa Barbara, CA...the 1st dedicated standup paddleboard shop in the America's...







Deliveries are being made to several locations...Johnny Appleseed style...;-)



This puppy was almost a taildragger as it left our shop...;-)

Labels: Santa Barbara standup paddle, stand up paddle boards