Hi All, first post here ;-)
Great forum with lot's of info here. Thanks for letting me participate.
About myself: started paddling two years ago and have a Red 13.2
Try to go out twice a week. Love the sport.

So here is why I started this thread:
For 2020 Starboard has the Generation in the program. There is not a wealth of info on the board and I was wondering if there's any user info on it and what think of the design.

Best regards and thanks, Maarten

Hi Maarten,

I suspect not many of us have any knowledge of this board. I watch Starboard developments fairly closely and did not know of it until very recently (like.... In the last week)

Looks interesting on paper.......... though 249 litres is getting up there and nearly 13kg is not great if carrying for any distance.

The concept of combining the options of surf, race and touring is interesting and could appeal to the recreational supper wanting a jack of all trades board.

In the end, I'm guessing sales will judge its appeal........... or not.

If you get one, be sure to let us know what you think of it

that's a nice do it all board and I think Starboard is up there for thinking.
Others better design something similar or better because this type of design will be a hit in the sup world (hint)

It looks like the 2020 version of the 12"2 Starboard freeride from 2014 / 2015. a really fun & versatile board

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Balsaboards N.Z. said..

Different animal.

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Nlakes said..
It looks like the 2020 version of the 12"2 Starboard freeride from 2014 / 2015. a really fun & versatile board

To borrow from the Gambler... different animal. I have a 2017 Freeride and it is not a great surf board. Excellent cruiser but too wide to be a race board.

I've got the Carbon Top version of the Generation. At this stage I've done a couple of downwinders on it and some flat water paddles.
One of the downwinders was pretty full on, graphs showed gusts to 50 knots on Port Philip Bay in Melbourne. In those conditions the Generation was really fun.
It has relatively low rocker and gets onto the runners very very easily, high volume nose helps prevent pearling but you really need to actively move on the board to get the best out of it down-winding. Absolute pleasure once on the runner, stable and intuitive and easy to surf and trim. Even in the big gusts it was super well behaved and confidence inspiring. On flat water the board doesn't have the glide of a low rocker 14 but it's actually still very nice to paddle. For cruising and fitness it just fine on flat water. I haven't surfed it yet but I've got no doubt it would surf fine after getting a feel for it on downwind waves - of course it's a lot of board to deal with in regular waves. I'd actually prefer a lot less volume for surfing but saying that, on the big downwind day it was really very good - and to be honest apart from trying it in surf just for the hell of it, I'll very rarely actually surf it.
I'm a big fan of 12'6 boards, only 65kg so that's maybe a factor.
i was excited to see it in the range, always been a fan of the jack of all trades 12'6, I had the original Starboard 12'6 x 30 from 2007 and loved it, actually wish I still had it. That old board surfed beautifully and even down-winded well but you really had to keep an eye on it pearling down-wind. The Generation is far more forgiving in that regard.
So far very happy with the Generation, do wish it was a little lighter but it's actually not too bad and find myself tending to grab it even for flat water paddles over my 14' boards just for the ease of loading and unloading and the nice simple slightly 'old school' feel of a 12'6.
I think the designers have done a good job of incorporating some of the current race board tech of the complex bottom shape and higher nose volume into a very user friendly and non intimidating flat deck all-round board. It does exactly what it says on the box!
I've been getting a bit jaded about all the 14' race board end of the paddling game over the last couple of years. The Generation is quite refreshing and honestly if I could only keep one board out of the silly fleet of a couple of years 14' All Stars , my much loved 2013 Ace and 17'6 Bullet this would be the one. FYI I'm a Starboard 'ambassador'.
I do some downwind paddles on my own down near Wilson's Prom in Victoria and on big westerly days getting into the beach at the end of the paddle involves negotiating substantial short wave period, quite unpredictable swell that starts breaking at least 800m out, it's actually bloody scary on something like a 14' Allstar and a board like the Generation just takes away all apprehension of that last k away and makes the whole experience much more fun.
Cheers JC

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WaveScience said..

Nlakes said..
It looks like the 2020 version of the 12"2 Starboard freeride from 2014 / 2015. a really fun & versatile board

To borrow from the Gambler... different animal. I have a 2017 Freeride and it is not a great surf board. Excellent cruiser but too wide to be a race board.

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Nlakes said..
It looks like the 2020 version of the 12"2 Starboard freeride from 2014 / 2015. a really fun & versatile board

I've got the 2018 version of the Freeride, 12'2 x 30 - the start of my journey looking for the 'Jack of all trades' 12 foot something board. Actually think there is a lot of the dna of that board in the Generation. For something that looks as dorky as the 12'2 x 30 it's actually a very good all round board, surf surprisingly well and works superbly as a tandem surfing board for two people. I took mine on an absolutely ballistic downwinder and it was absurdly easy - recorded gusts of 65knots! Insanely windy. On more normal 20 - 25 knot downwinders the Generation would leave it for dead. Generation is actually a way nicer looking board too, somehow disguises the race/downwind board design elements to look more like an appealing large surfing all round shape.

boardsportscalifornia.com/product/2018-starboard-freeride/

I tend to use my M14 for anything that involves going for tours along the coast, DW or surfing on weak fat waves. It's actually a lot of fun in the right surf....but at times would prefer something a bit more lower volume and thinner in the tail......my worry is that the Generation looks like it might be nose heavy to me ....maybe not. There's other gunny shaped 12 to 14 boards about which I reckon I would opt for which would suit me better.....but I'll stick with my M14.....not been tempted by anything else to date....and it's pretty light too!

(I used to have a Starby Allstar which reviewers said it was great in the surf.....it was a total dog in the surf due to being so nose heavy and I didn't much like it on DW either....far better with a proper DW board like the m14.)

There is certainly some volume in the nose but I wouldn't call it 'nose heavy'. There is a lot of race/downwind board in it though, that's for sure. Guess if I had to categorize it, it's more towards the flat water down-wind end of the spectrum rather than surfing. It's a very easy board to downwind because of that volume in the nose, the flat deck and the fine tail. Goes surprisingly well on flat water. Way better behaved for down-winding than the AllStar, I've actually never really enjoyed down-winding an AllStar, much prefer the Ace. To be honest the AllStar has always felt a little like it's in no mans land for me, get a Sprint if you want to go really fast on flat water or tiny bumps, get an Ace if you want to seriously downwind.
IMO the AllStar makes a really great all round board for flat water and choppy water paddling. The last couple of years they are super stable even in the narrow widths and pretty much un-phased by chop.
I was worried the Generation might feel too 'technical' but it doesn't, a 14' version could so easily get back to the Coast Runner or 14' Race heights of board design, comfortable and fun and easy to paddle but deceptively fast at the same time. The sort of board that the vast majority of paddlers should actually be on IMO.

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The Gambler said..
Hi Maarten,

I suspect not many of us have any knowledge of this board. I watch Starboard developments fairly closely and did not know of it until very recently (like.... In the last week)

Looks interesting on paper.......... though 249 litres is getting up there and nearly 13kg is not great if carrying for any distance.

The concept of combining the options of surf, race and touring is interesting and could appeal to the recreational supper wanting a jack of all trades board.

In the end, I'm guessing sales will judge its appeal........... or not.

If you get one, be sure to let us know what you think of it

Thanks for your reply, I immediately liked the idea of this board.
It's not a lightweight for sure. The " light tech" version should be about 1 kilo heavier than the carbon top.
I wonder how the " light tech" construction will hold up during use.
Cheers, Maarten

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JonathanC said..
I've got the Carbon Top version of the Generation. At this stage I've done a couple of downwinders on it and some flat water paddles.
One of the downwinders was pretty full on, graphs showed gusts to 50 knots on Port Philip Bay in Melbourne. In those conditions the Generation was really fun.
It has relatively low rocker and gets onto the runners very very easily, high volume nose helps prevent pearling but you really need to actively move on the board to get the best out of it down-winding. Absolute pleasure once on the runner, stable and intuitive and easy to surf and trim. Even in the big gusts it was super well behaved and confidence inspiring. On flat water the board doesn't have the glide of a low rocker 14 but it's actually still very nice to paddle. For cruising and fitness it just fine on flat water. I haven't surfed it yet but I've got no doubt it would surf fine after getting a feel for it on downwind waves - of course it's a lot of board to deal with in regular waves. I'd actually prefer a lot less volume for surfing but saying that, on the big downwind day it was really very good - and to be honest apart from trying it in surf just for the hell of it, I'll very rarely actually surf it.
I'm a big fan of 12'6 boards, only 65kg so that's maybe a factor.
i was excited to see it in the range, always been a fan of the jack of all trades 12'6, I had the original Starboard 12'6 x 30 from 2007 and loved it, actually wish I still had it. That old board surfed beautifully and even down-winded well but you really had to keep an eye on it pearling down-wind. The Generation is far more forgiving in that regard.
So far very happy with the Generation, do wish it was a little lighter but it's actually not too bad and find myself tending to grab it even for flat water paddles over my 14' boards just for the ease of loading and unloading and the nice simple slightly 'old school' feel of a 12'6.
I think the designers have done a good job of incorporating some of the current race board tech of the complex bottom shape and higher nose volume into a very user friendly and non intimidating flat deck all-round board. It does exactly what it says on the box!
I've been getting a bit jaded about all the 14' race board end of the paddling game over the last couple of years. The Generation is quite refreshing and honestly if I could only keep one board out of the silly fleet of a couple of years 14' All Stars , my much loved 2013 Ace and 17'6 Bullet this would be the one. FYI I'm a Starboard 'ambassador'.
I do some downwind paddles on my own down near Wilson's Prom in Victoria and on big westerly days getting into the beach at the end of the paddle involves negotiating substantial short wave period, quite unpredictable swell that starts breaking at least 800m out, it's actually bloody scary on something like a 14' Allstar and a board like the Generation just takes away all apprehension of that last k away and makes the whole experience much more fun.
Cheers JC

Hi Jonathan, thanks for your elaborate reply. This is the first in depth user review of this board. I'm 94 kg and 1,88 (6'2"). Could you share your opinion regarding a heavier rider for this board and how it compares in stability vs the Starboard 12'6 x 30. BTW I share your thoughts on the ease of unloading and handling, 14 ft is a lot of board to handle. Thanks, Maarten

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JEG said..
that's a nice do it all board and I think Starboard is up there for thinking.
Others better design something similar or better because this type of design will be a hit in the sup world (hint)

The Blue Planet Bump Surfer is in dimensions (12'6 x 28 x 245l) not a million miles away. Supposed to be good for flatwater / touring too. Looks like it has more rocker than the Generation and a single fin setup. Both are good looking boards imho.
Regards, Maarten

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MaartenAir said..

JonathanC said..
I've got the Carbon Top version of the Generation. At this stage I've done a couple of downwinders on it and some flat water paddles.
One of the downwinders was pretty full on, graphs showed gusts to 50 knots on Port Philip Bay in Melbourne. In those conditions the Generation was really fun.
It has relatively low rocker and gets onto the runners very very easily, high volume nose helps prevent pearling but you really need to actively move on the board to get the best out of it down-winding. Absolute pleasure once on the runner, stable and intuitive and easy to surf and trim. Even in the big gusts it was super well behaved and confidence inspiring. On flat water the board doesn't have the glide of a low rocker 14 but it's actually still very nice to paddle. For cruising and fitness it just fine on flat water. I haven't surfed it yet but I've got no doubt it would surf fine after getting a feel for it on downwind waves - of course it's a lot of board to deal with in regular waves. I'd actually prefer a lot less volume for surfing but saying that, on the big downwind day it was really very good - and to be honest apart from trying it in surf just for the hell of it, I'll very rarely actually surf it.
I'm a big fan of 12'6 boards, only 65kg so that's maybe a factor.
i was excited to see it in the range, always been a fan of the jack of all trades 12'6, I had the original Starboard 12'6 x 30 from 2007 and loved it, actually wish I still had it. That old board surfed beautifully and even down-winded well but you really had to keep an eye on it pearling down-wind. The Generation is far more forgiving in that regard.
So far very happy with the Generation, do wish it was a little lighter but it's actually not too bad and find myself tending to grab it even for flat water paddles over my 14' boards just for the ease of loading and unloading and the nice simple slightly 'old school' feel of a 12'6.
I think the designers have done a good job of incorporating some of the current race board tech of the complex bottom shape and higher nose volume into a very user friendly and non intimidating flat deck all-round board. It does exactly what it says on the box!
I've been getting a bit jaded about all the 14' race board end of the paddling game over the last couple of years. The Generation is quite refreshing and honestly if I could only keep one board out of the silly fleet of a couple of years 14' All Stars , my much loved 2013 Ace and 17'6 Bullet this would be the one. FYI I'm a Starboard 'ambassador'.
I do some downwind paddles on my own down near Wilson's Prom in Victoria and on big westerly days getting into the beach at the end of the paddle involves negotiating substantial short wave period, quite unpredictable swell that starts breaking at least 800m out, it's actually bloody scary on something like a 14' Allstar and a board like the Generation just takes away all apprehension of that last k away and makes the whole experience much more fun.
Cheers JC

Hi Jonathan, thanks for your elaborate reply. This is the first in depth user review of this board. I'm 94 kg and 1,88 (6'2"). Could you share your opinion regarding a heavier rider for this board and how it compares in stability vs the Starboard 12'6 x 30. BTW I share your thoughts on the ease of unloading and handling, 14 ft is a lot of board to handle. Thanks, Maarten

Hello Maarten,
I'm sure you would be absolutely fine on this board at 94kg. It's been a long time since I used my 12'6 x 30 but I would think the Generation is actually more stable. It's certainly way better at piercing chop and flat water paddling. I'll be able to have a surf on it soon after Christmas and I'll post my thoughts on it for straight surfing.
Cheers, Jonathan

www.supboardermag.com/2019/12/17/the-starboard-generation-is-a-board-to-do-it-all/?fbclid=IwAR2299mvBIW4WrcbF79C_A6xMoMjADDaITa4eGm-WimsExaHUEZM_zRq0Oc

This is nothing new and some of its features and novelties seem wildly exagerated. I'm sure other brands have plenty of boards like this before.
I have experience with SIC Bullet 12'6 and I had a lot of fun surfing with it (and also with its bigger brother Bullet 14'0 and even with the 17'4), and it is also a great board for downwind and touring, and even racing (as long as you aren't aiming at firts spot, but with open ocean conditions or downwind conditions it would be a very good board).

SIC is releasing a much awaited upgrade for 2020 with some changes ain the shape, construction and new sizes: 12'6 x 28.5" (266 liters) and 12'6 x 30" (280 liters).

Thanks for a good review Jonathan, just what I was looking for before buying it.

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Supnorte said..
This is nothing new and some of its features and novelties seem wildly exagerated. I'm sure other brands have plenty of boards like this before.
I have experience with SIC Bullet 12'6 and I had a lot of fun surfing with it (and also with its bigger brother Bullet 14'0 and even with the 17'4), and it is also a great board for downwind and touring, and even racing (as long as you aren't aiming at firts spot, but with open ocean conditions or downwind conditions it would be a very good board).

SIC is releasing a much awaited upgrade for 2020 with some changes ain the shape, construction and new sizes: 12'6 x 28.5" (266 liters) and 12'6 x 30" (280 liters).

Hey Supnorte, guess the only 'new' thing might be the race board hull design incorporated into a more regular 12'6 shape for Starboard - that's what the topic is actually about .
We would all be interested to know about the new SIC boards, why don't you start another topic and share what's coming up. Let's try to leave the aggro to the politicians and keep the forum a fun and interesting place. Happy Christmas

If the new 12'6" x 28.5" Bullet had side fins. it might be getting close to the Starboard Generation. My first impression, which seems to be supported by people who have seen and tried the Generation, is not that it is revolutionary, but that it is a throwback design to the early 12' SUP boards before the brands all started refining them to specific racing purposes. So nothing new here? Yeah, that's kind of the point. That's what's appealing.

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JonathanC said..

Hey Supnorte, guess the only 'new' thing might be the race board hull design incorporated into a more regular 12'6 shape for Starboard - that's what the topic is actually about .
We would all be interested to know about the new SIC boards, why don't you start another topic and share what's coming up. Let's try to leave the aggro to the politicians and keep the forum a fun and interesting place. Happy Christmas

Wasn't my intention to highjack this thread. Only talked abouth this board because other people talked about boards they had fun surfing, racing, downwindind or touring, and I think the Bullet is the perfect example of that.

I thought it looks interesting Jack of all trades board. No reason to think it's not going to be a decent board. There are other interesting options on the market if you are open but since you were very specific I'm not going to mention. Too much volume for personal taste but you got some size on you so may not be such a bad thing for you.

Here is another longer look at this board. It's in German but if you put subtitles you might be able to make most of it:


As for the Bump Surfer, if it's anything like it's bigger sister the Bump Rider it should be a well made, fun board. Probably better surfer
than the generation but slower in flats if you compare rails and rocker. This is only theoretical based on info on the web and not a real world experience mind you.

Looks a bit like Starboard's version of the JP Hybrid.
IMO many people might be better off with a 12ft or 12-6 surf shape, if you are an ocean paddler. These hybrid shapes with more volume in the nose aren't usually noticeably faster in flat water, and they are more susceptible to side winds and chop, and their surf performance does suffer (relative to more of a surf shape e.g. like the 12-6 Hypr Hawaii gun).

But maybe this Starboard is different...

I think I would opt for a SUnova Search or one of those boards Area 10 mentions....something more surf orientated....but that's just me and what I prefer.

i think the Sunova Point Break looks the best option though....if surfing is your bag. The Hypr boards look interesting but not convinced with the tail design ( too pointy) and weight.

The Sunova Point Break and Search are nice alternatives. Up to this moment I had not seen the Hyper Hawaii Gun. Nice board, thanks for mentioning.
I waiting for a chance to demo the Generation.
Regards, Maarten

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MaartenAir said..
Hi All, first post here ;-)
Great forum with lot's of info here. Thanks for letting me participate.
About myself: started paddling two years ago and have a Red 13.2
Try to go out twice a week. Love the sport.

So here is why I started this thread:
For 2020 Starboard has the Generation in the program. There is not a wealth of info on the board and I was wondering if there's any user info on it and what think of the design.

Best regards and thanks, Maarten

I have a rpc 13'2" as well and also looking at composite boards. (foiling!)