Here is a photo of the 2010 Free Race, even though we had heard that it and the 31 are based on the current Pin, certainly seem to be some changes! I like the simple graphics too.
Photo came from Wardog at Surfingsports
And yes I'm buddies with Starboard
You can imagine our dissapointment yesterday when Scott Mckercher showed up to race with one of the new carbon brushed race boards. Needless to say we saw him at the start and finish line.
Unfortunately I haven't got any more info than that at the moment, the Surf Race should be here mid April and at this stage no one knows the prices! I'm getting a carbon so hopefully it's not too scary. I would be very surprised if the Free Race epoxy is much different to the current Pin pricing which is $1700ish from memory in the Camo version. There is a poor quality plan view image here Phil, scroll across to the race board section - it looks pretty similar to the Pin.http://www.star-board-sup.com/2010/products/boards/overview.php
Not sure if the "New" is coming in epoxy but that could be the bargain race winning board in the 12'6 class if it is, I'm not so into racing, rather have something that is light and fun to surf on down-winders as well and fits inside my van!
Had the same experience with Scotty McKercher at the Doctor race, saw him at the start then at the finish! Talking to him about how the Surf Race caught wind swells was one of the things that convinced me to go for it. He said he was actually beating Mike Galvin on his F16 for the first half of the race while the swells were clean, it was only in the shadow of Rotto when it got super rough that he started to fall off and lost ground to the F16. To beat an F16 with a bloody good paddler on it in good wind swells with a 12'6 is quite something, he said it surfed really well too.
The board Scot had yesterday had a concave bottom which i havent seen mentioned yet in any posts or advert spiels. It was quite a large area about quarter of the way back from the nose. The finish/paint job was also different to anything I've seen so far. The board actually reminded me in shape and thickness of a lifesavers paddle/rescue board. Definately quick though.
So I know info on this board is still a bit sketchy but can one assume it will be semi-displacement like the pin?