I'm looking at the 2015 Starboard Noserider. There seems to be a broad degree of opinions of this board over the years on this forum. Everything from it being a dog that pushes water to an excelllent board which is really fun to ride. What is the story here?
Is it a good longboard style of a board that trims well and does what it's name suggests?

Super Dog! Paddles great in flatwater, but you've got to be in the 100kg club to make this thing work in the surf. Only good for supertanker turns. The concave in the nose is f'ing ridiculous!!! Have you seen this board in person?

If you want a proper noserider look at the JL Black and Blue Machine.

i know someone who sells Starby but personally wouldn't go near their Noserider......far too much volume and weight in the nose

I've seen Harry M really ride one and and two different locations / wave types. Didnt look like he was struggling (quite the opposite) and he had the whole Starboard demo trailer to choose from - best to demo and make up your own mind. Depending on where you are in NSW I'm sure you could get a demo off Rod.

No I haven't Baddog. Plan shape and specs look ok but the conflicting reviews on this board are amazing.

maybe the "conflicting" reviews have a lot to do with the skill of the rider. a good noserider can ride anything-freaking-thing and make it look good. imho, re the starby NR, and I have owned one, if you're average or below, like me, it's a dog. otoh, the jimmy BB, is brilliant for just about anyone who wants tip time. it and it alone has made me a much better noserider, and indeed a much better surfer, than any other board i have owned. you have to be into trad style, however, to really bliss out on the thing, which i am. pivot turns and the like.

i mean, if the BB is an option, i wouldn't give the starby a second thought, unless of course you're a hot stuff guy on the nose already, in which case you can ride anything and it won't make a diff.

I tried it last November and loved it. And I'm most certainly not a great Noserider. But I found myself wave after wave standing right up front, which probably made me look more skilled at tip time than I really am.

Well, I guess a lot of this depends on how you define noseriding. if you're on the front third of the board, imho, you are riding on the nose but you aren't noseriding. To me, noseriding means 5 toes over at the very least and not crashing and burning at ride's end, with all or most movement on the board, whether forward or backward, accomplished via cross stepping (ie no shuffling or hopping, etc). anything else, and you're riding on the nose, which is fun and gratifying on its own, and i spend almost all of my time in that neck of the woods. but it ain't what's meant by noseriding.

Somebody once said to me, ya know, ask someone from the sticks what noseriding is and 10 times out of 10 they'll say hanging 10. Riders themselves have expanded that to include hanging 5 and various permutations.

Anyway, if you want to do what most people think of as noseriding, I'll still maintain that the BB beats anything out there, especially for a motivated novice. I don't get five over anywhere near as much as I'd like to, but at least I do it sometimes get it right and I've never ridden a board where I could do that.

End of probably unnecessarily pedantic rant .

Thanks guys. Really appreciate all your feedback. What it does still prove is that the board divides opinion. Before paddle surfing my board of choice was a McTavish Nossa 66 - a traditional longboard which I walked and rode the nose. The SB Noserider may be a good choice. I agree the JL Black and Blue looks great but the web site says the 10' is 'coming soon'. I really like the new 10' Laird but the build/construction issues turn me right off. I'd love a 10' Surftech Laird Pearson Arrow but they no long are making them and are rare as hens teeth on the second hand market.
Thanks again for all your input Hopefully I'll make a decision soon. I welcome any more suggestions and advice.

Marce

I recommend trying the Sunova Style had mine for a while and love it.
Ive had the Laird and yes it's a great board however I think you are right to be cautious
I also ride the Noosa 66 when it suits.

Definately demo the Style though

I love this board..I'm just under 80kg and can really get up the nose with ease. I am not a good noserider on a longboard but find this board very easy and forgiving for those new to the art. Getting out was/is a breeze. I surfed this in 2/3 ft with the occasional 4 ft bomb and could drop in easily and found the board fast to get over sections. I love this board and it would be a fantastic additional to any quiver. I'm losing patience waiting for a TC demo to arrive on the GC and this may be my next board. I could not find any fault with it and can't find any negatives….

I've got a Starboard nose rider and a Starboard element. Love the Element. Try the Element which is a great board, fast and easy to turn and manouvere and you can nose ride it.
Nuffsaid