Hey all,
Seriously considering buying one of these Boards in the near future. It will be my first Board.

I am a keen Surfer and looking to use thie Drive on flat water for cross training and a bit of Surfing.

Any thought's or other suggestions?

Yeah very good choice. Nice amount of glide for cross training and a very capable wave board.

That board or the 11'2 Blend were my favs on flatwater out of the Starby allrounder range, even in a bit of chop or headwind. I worked down at the demo centre / rental at Pelican Point and used them a lot. Not being too wide, they're easy to transport and store and good for smaller paddlers too.

The Drive is a nice board. I started SUP on an older 11'2" Blend, practicing on still water, and working my way into surfing and enjoying it. I snapped it in the surf, and maybe 6 monyhs ago replaced it with a 10'5" Drive.
Some advice though. If you surf now, it is likely that you will get hooked on surfing on your SUP. The Drive has been a lot of fun, but in better quality waves I am already at a point of wishing I had something easier to handle. If you are sure that you will stay mainly on flat water I would say the Drive is good, and the Blend may be even better.
I would suggest that you try something like the 9'5" or 10'5" WidePoints. That is the sort of board I am looking to move to now. I can't afford two boards or that would be better.

Depends on how heavy you are and how long you've been surfing. I started with a Drive and it handled flat and the right surf pretty well but Tayoria is dead on with if you surf more, and you've been surfing a while, you will soon want more surf oriented boards.

I have the carbon Starboard 10' 5 Widepoint that is excellent in the surf and does a pretty good job on the flat water. It is an extremely stable board that catches waves with ease. Obviously as you become more hard core you will want to go to smaller boards but personally, I will find it very difficult to ever get rid of this board.

Hi Antho. Is that the 2014 WP you have? I was told it has been significantly refined over earlier models. I just today broke my Drive on a large rock and am looking for a replacement. i had very quick test paddles on the 9'5" and 10'5" WP boards in atrocious conditions and was leaning to the 9'5", or another brand of similar size.

Hi Tayloria,

Sorry about the slow reply, I have been travelling and have not checked the Breeze lately.

I have the 2013 WP. Dependent on your weight the 9'5 is probably the better board in better waves. I love the 10'5 because it goes really well in small crappy waves due to its excellent flotation and wave catching abilities.

I have heard mixed reports as to whether the improvements in the 2014 model are really all that noticeable. The most important factor with a board like these IMO is weight... So I reckon carbon is definetly the go!
The carbon models are extremely strong, mine has hit the pavement and numerous rocky reefs and has only suffered minor paint chips.

I hope this helps,
Enjoy!

Thanks for the suggestion

Do the new drives have a windsurf insert?

I think the white AST Drive may have a windsurf insert. Check out the Blend also. Make sure about the inserts before ordering.
The new Carbon Drives are pretty sick surf SUPs. Bit more V and slight nose adjustments for 2014, but still low rocker and a fast paddler for cross-training. I actually switched back to the Drive for surfing from my old 9-5 woodie WPoint because the Drive was faster on the wave and faster paddling back out/able to catch way more waves. I think the narrower beam and less rocker give it less friction and more speed. My Widepoint would bog down pretty quick in any kind of chop on and off the wave. The carbon Drive is also lighter/has less swing weight than my woodie WPoint and I can keep both feet planted without having to reposition all the time when carving left..right..ect. as needed on the wider boards. I'm more of a longboard type SUP surfer however, feel that is what the SUP's are best for, and still surf hybrid surfboards for the more radical bigger stuff when conditions get good.
If you're under 85kg, I'd go with the Drive for flatwater and a bit of surf. Over 85, maybe go with the Blend. Try to get Carbon if you can afford it. The board will feel almost a foot shorter on the wave. If you can't afford carbon, look also into the 10-10 Nalu for flatwater & surf.