This has to be the lightest 12'6 that I have ever lifted/owned. It comes in at just over 10KG for the carbon (AST is 12.3kg) with a volume of 205L. This is the perfect BOP board if you are around 60 - 80KG and a more experienced rider (I weigh 70KG). The nose at the front of this board is not the usual 'cutting the water' shape, it is pointed at the top and flat at the bottom. This is so that it can easily punch through waves without losing too much speed This nose also helps it to skim over the water, rather than slice through. It has an almost identical nose to the Ace Pro but has a squared off back so that it is good on waves and for turning. It features a slight concave on the bottom (as do most racing starboards) for added speed. Connor Baxter won the California 2011 BOP on the 26.5 version. This board also comes in a 28.5 wide version which is 220L and alot more stable, the carbon comes in at 12.6kg.

Trev

Hi Trev I have the bigger brother and recently posted on it in this forum. I am very happy with this style of board. I live across the road from the ocean and it is easy to carry this board also in carbon. I had a 14' prior and it was just heavy enough to be an effort. It feels quite quick and surfs well too!

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johndg said...

Hi Trev I have the bigger brother and recently posted on it in this forum. I am very happy with this style of board. I live across the road from the ocean and it is easy to carry this board also in carbon. I had a 14' prior and it was just heavy enough to be an effort. It feels quite quick and surfs well too!

Hi John, great to hear that you love the board! I agree, I like the way it surfs - its easy to manoeuvre on a wave. I recently timed the acceleration against an ace 14 and it's only 0.4 seconds slower over about 15 meters. Thanks for the reply, Trev

Paddled this board for the 2nd time today. First time was a few weeks ago at the Mandurah State round and paddled it in and out for about half an hour after the race. Like Trev says the nose is perfect for punching through the waves without losing speed or stability. Surfs really well and what really surprised me was how well it turns around bouys.

Paddled it again today to a 1st in the 12'6 class at the whalebone and a 5th across the line. It didn't quite pearce the waves as much as I thought it would onto a slight head wind, but that may have been where I was standing. As it was only my second time on the board, still getting it dialled.