On todays downwinder I was joined by the Astro boys.. 
Wozza and PT on their new 12'6'' x 26'' Starboard Astro inflatable race boards..
DJ
Think I saw a bit where I was actually upright... You guys make it look so relaxed. Had a heap of fun though. Alot to learn. Finding going through my video, I can really see what I'm doing wrong. Seemed to have the speed but it definitely wasn't pretty.... DJ you are definitely right about the camera angle. Would have been better if I had it facing more forward. Ill post a bit of it tomorrow.
Cheers
DJ, your vids are always so cool & kinda relaxing too. Just watched it with my 4 month old son & he was mesmerized!
Select to expand quoteAbdillam said..
Think I saw a bit where I was actually upright... You guys make it look so relaxed. Had a heap of fun though. Alot to learn. Finding going through my video, I can really see what I'm doing wrong. Seemed to have the speed but it definitely wasn't pretty.... DJ you are definitely right about the camera angle. Would have been better if I had it facing more forward. Ill post a bit of it tomorrow.
Cheers
You're getting it. Speed is great. Maybe just work on balancing your weight over the board. You seem to have a tendency to fall to the right and forward so get more weight on your left when you're at speed and try to get that right foot a further step back. I know the Ace is not the easiest board to step around. Also, you'll find the paddle is a great third leg. The rest of us would have had as many "moments" as you during that run, we just know how and when to use the paddle on the surface to correct an imbalance before toppling into the drink.
So what's the verdict on the new Starbie 14 x 26 inflatables guys??
Judging from the video they aren't going to knock the Ace off the speed podium in moderate downwinders but do seem to go pretty well.
I've been paddling a 12'6 x 30 Astro Touring over the last couple of weeks and love the light weight and whole carefree thing about living with an inflatable board. Think that for most casual/family paddlers they really make a whole lot of sense.
Select to expand quoteRedfezz said..
So the big question is DJ ,how do they compare stroke for stroke?
Well I was very impressed with these new inflatables.. You go to pick one up and you almost throw it into the air because it's so light.. The deck grip now goes much further back.. The fin seemed a bit on the small side but yawning wasn't an issue.. It's hard to compare a 12'6" blow-up with a hard 14' DW board in DW conditions but I was very impressed with how well they caught runners and how much glide and speed that they had.. Warwick is like the energizer bunny so he soon disappeared off ahead of me in those light DW conditions.. I'd still rather be on a hard board but I can see myself buying one of these inflatables soon.. Mine will be yellow and black..
DJ
Select to expand quoteZeusman said..
DJ, your vids are always so cool & kinda relaxing too. Just watched it with my 4 month old son & he was mesmerized!
Thanks.. It's nice to know the 4 month olds enjoy my vids.. 
DJ
Select to expand quoteAbdillam said..
Think I saw a bit where I was actually upright... You guys make it look so relaxed. Had a heap of fun though. Alot to learn. Finding going through my video, I can really see what I'm doing wrong. Seemed to have the speed but it definitely wasn't pretty.... DJ you are definitely right about the camera angle. Would have been better if I had it facing more forward. Ill post a bit of it tomorrow.
Cheers
I agree with PT.. It's still early days for you doing DW'ers and the day you get to the end without a fall will be reason to celebrate..
As much as I like to stay dry in these cold winter conditions I had no reason to calibrate that day after falling off in the backwash coming around the breakwater wall right at the end.. Jeez I hate that..
DJ
Select to expand quoteJonathanC said..
So what's the verdict on the new Starbie 14 x 26 inflatables guys??
Judging from the video they aren't going to knock the Ace off the speed podium in moderate downwinders but do seem to go pretty well.
I've been paddling a 12'6 x 30 Astro Touring over the last couple of weeks and love the light weight and whole carefree thing about living with an inflatable board. Think that for most casual/family paddlers they really make a whole lot of sense.
Hi Jonathan.. These are the first Astro's that we've seen here and they are only 12'6" boards.. After seeing Warwick and Paul I was thinking Jonathan would love one of these for sure.. .. It will be interesting to see how the 14 goes.
DJ
PT and DJ thanks for your advice...it is early days. I did jump in the deep end....as you witnessed...starting off with the 25 ace, having never suped or even surfed before. Looking forward to putting your advice into practice on many more downwinders
Cheers
Select to expand quoteAbdillam said..
Ultra-boof...
(need a step or two back shortly before than happens 
...sounds like you did very well for your first one )
I had the 14' x 26" Astro in Venice. I tried the 12'6 x 26" last week. Obviously the 14' is faster, it's a really well balanced board and runs well. There's enough rocker in the tail to kick turn with 3 strokes for 180deg, but flat enough to keep the length of the board in the water when paddling (I hate it on most inflatables where the board bananas excessively in the middle and the tail sits out of the water).
The 12'6 behaves in exactly the same way and very light....very light. Stability is good for a beginner-intermediate on the flat, but on the ocean I think a beginner would find it challenging. These boards are the new standard for race inflatables - it will be interesting to see where this board type goes.
Select to expand quoteGoochi said..
I had the 14' x 26" Astro in Venice. I tried the 12'6 x 26" last week. Obviously the 14' is faster, it's a really well balanced board and runs well. There's enough rocker in the tail to kick turn with 3 strokes for 180deg, but flat enough to keep the length of the board in the water when paddling (I hate it on most inflatables where the board bananas excessively in the middle and the tail sits out of the water).
The 12'6 behaves in exactly the same way and very light....very light. Stability is good for a beginner-intermediate on the flat, but on the ocean I think a beginner would find it challenging. These boards are the new standard for race inflatables - it will be interesting to see where this board type goes.
do you think you could do in's and outs training in the surf on it
Select to expand quotelaceys lane said..
do you think you could do in's and outs training in the surf on it
We'll find out on Sunday.
Select to expand quoteAbdillam said..
Is this what you meant PT about using the paddle as a third leg...
Yeah I'd recommend when you're traveling that quickly and about to hit the wave in front, your left foot needed to be on the back of the pad and your right foot another step back off the pad. The paddle is best used a little more behind you so that you can lean back. The aim is to bring that nose up over the wave in front.
Cheers for the advice guys...does get very tippy back there on that pin tail though. Looking forward to putting all this advice into the next run
Cheers
Select to expand quoteAbdillam said..
Cheers for the advice guys...does get very tippy back there on that pin tail though. Looking forward to putting all this advice into the next run
Cheers
hi ya. while your up for it. try using or bending your legs when getting into a situation like on the photos. bent over like that a very weak position and usually ends in a fall.
mind you everyone's finds themselves 'there' occasionally
Select to expand quotelaceys lane said..Abdillam said..
Cheers for the advice guys...does get very tippy back there on that pin tail though. Looking forward to putting all this advice into the next run
Cheers
hi ya. while your up for it. try using or bending your legs when getting into a situation like on the photos. bent over like that a very weak position and usually ends in a fall.
mind you everyone's finds themselves 'there' occasionally
Agree with Lacey, lowering your centre of gravity helps enormously. Also, you don't need to get too far back into the pin tail, just one step off the pad. It's a lot easier to do when you're actually traveling at speed. Like a bicycle, stability actually increases with speed and becomes next to impossible when you aren't moving. The other thing I would point out after watching your video is that with each fall, if you watch just the board, you'll see it actually doesn't tip at all, it maintains stability and it's actually your weight tipping over the edge of the board. Once you know the board won't tip, that's half the battle.
do you think you could do in's and outs training in the surf on it
I used it in small surf in Tuscany, the length gives it good stability so it went alright. Someone more skilled in the surf would have to comment here though. 
I paddled the 12'6 x 26 in the surf on the weekend and also this morning at training. The paddle in the surf was my first on this board and it felt a little rollie but still manageable in the surf with 10-15knts. Got a couple of little waves and it surfs pretty well. I think in the surf the thing that you would most need to get dialled in is getting over waves. With the lack of rigidity (compared to a carbon board) it really needed a heavy back foot and quite a noticeable push up to unstick the nose and get it up and over the white water.
Can it be done, yeah. Are there compromises, yeah. Is it still fun, YEAH. Does Jackson wish I was riding it in the race, probably.
While noticeably slower in the flat, compared to my 12'6 x 25 All Star, it was still very impressive. The one thing I noticed between them is that the inflatable, although an inch wider, felt more unstable but after an hour or so I started to get used to the roll of it. I found the inflatable had less primary stability and I think this is due to the fact I am used to riding a slightly recessed deck.
