Hi all,
I am a lightweight supper (67kg) riding now the starboard pro 8"5 2013.
I manage well with this board in my home condition which are waves up to 1.5m
and sometimes choppy and sometimes even glassy.
I rate myself as advanced surfer.
I have a chance to upgrade my 8"5 to 8"0 the same year.
I tried the board and I feel the difference.
I mange to stand and paddle on it and also take waves.
For sure on the wave it is better.
But I have doubts if this is the right step to reduce the size/volume.
What do you think ? is the 8"0 for people like me is the correct board?
Or is this board is too small and good for places in which the condition are always perfect
with no wind and glassy waves?

and another question:How is the starboard 8"0 compared to Fanatic pro 8"0 ?

Hi Supil.

With your weight you can definitely downsize to a 8'0 Pro. It's a very stable board for its size and a hell of a wave board.

I have the 2014 Brushed Carbon model and I previously owned the 2013 (BC) and the 2012 (AST). I surfed it last weekend in severe conditions (4-5 ft with 20 knots onshore and a lot of rips) and still kept a good balance.

I even think that you could might consider the 7'7 Pro. I also had the 2012 in Brushed Carbon and the new one is more stable. I was undecided between the 8'0 and the 7'7 and went for the bigger one. But next year I will definitely go for the 7'7.

I agree that you can go shorter If you have good balance ( which is a bit different to being a good surfer). To illustrate, I ride the 2013 carbon 8'5" pro and I'm over 6'4" and 87kg. At your size you should definitely consider the 7'7", and it would surf great by comparison. I'd even be tempted to go smaller than that, as you should be able to work your way down to a board between 80-90 litres Or less.

thanks
Since this is a very requested board here I decides to take it and save the 8"5 for several weeks.
once I will fill comfortable with it i will sell the 8"5

thanks for your advice (I needed the little push ...)

for places in which the condition are always perfect with no wind and glassy waves? & 67kg
Then you can have a 7 foot board or even smaller !

For waves less than 1,5m, it is true that you could go really shorter, keeping some width for stability (29"?), with volume in the 90 - 100 liters to handle chop.

As an advanced surfer, something in the 6' - 7' range will open you a new world.

I would stay away from the "world cup" insanely narrow (< 26") shapes, at least for now.

And if you like to keep speed in turns and are not keen on "slashing" moves (sliding the tail), a mini-Simmons shape could be a revelation.

Supil, I am 67/68kg and in a very similar situation in ref to board choice. Riding the starboard 8.5pro on those clean days aka small chop (never really glassy) and find this board awesome. When conditions are clean the board feel very stable. I too am leaning towards the Starboard Pro 8 for those same days. When the swell wind chop and swell is up and you get a little back wash, then I find the 8.5Pro too challenging. Mind you I think with lots of practise it would get better. When it is messy out there with big confused chop I go for the Starboard Pocket Rocket (Carbon). A very fun sweet ride which offers the stability i need when it is like a washing machine. The carbon construction i find amayzing as the board feels very crisp, responsive, fast and lively on the wave. If i was going to stick with the Pro8.5 size i would for sure upgrade to the carbon. I think once you go carbon it is hard to go back. :)

After first session with the 8"0 have no doubts that these are not the same boards.
Once on the wave with the 8"0 it is something completely different - board is very light and connected to me.
Wouldn't go back to the 8"5 after this feeling.
(Another thing is that the 8"0 is carbon and my old 8"5 is wood).
I didn't feel that the 8"0 is too small for me but for sure it demand more work with the paddle.
I have some feeling that now I should be more accurate in location near the peak in order to catch the wave.
Anyway I think that the PRO is dedicated wave board and once you take it you should have the correct size.
(and for small guy like me the 8"0 is the correct one). I understand that if I want another bigger board it should be
something else. maybe more fish or longboard style ...