thks marco!!!
the blue one, is the carbón finish?
I ordered the Wood one, but now (only aestetics based) i doubting.
Anyone that knows starboar, is the Wood construction that much better tan de AST? how much is the weight difference?
Thanks a lot!!
Hi NACHOSUP,
Yes the Blue board is the Carbon finish, I actually really like the look of the Wood this year it has a more natural visual with the Wood deck and brown rails.
In general terms Carbon is 1.5kg lighter than AST and Wood is 300g lighter than AST. Unfortunately in the 7'2 and below the Hypernuts do not come in AST construction.
It's a little subjective with the differences between Wood and AST as the weight difference is not that much. Wood has a little more flex and slightly better impact resistance but also does not have any of the windsurfing inserts normally associated with AST construction.
I wish Starboard would go back to leaving the deck pads off the Carbon models!! Let the consumer decide what kind of pad they want to ride. Maybe include the one they are now using but leave it to the store or customer to apply.
But on the topic of the HyperNut...I can't wait to get a go on the 7'2
Hi SaltH20,
Please no, we fought so hard for years to have pads supplied with Carbon boards, 98% of our Carbon boards sold ended up with a pad placed on aftermarket. I don't see the point in supplying a board with a lose pad that is included in the price and then potentially not used or stuck on badly.
The pads supplied ex factory are stuck to the board much better, takes the hassle away during a sale, it finishes off the product and we don't have to carry extra stock of pads in different cuts, brands and colours.
Cheers,
Marco
Kia ora, given the context please take this review with a grain of salt, in fact I was a bit hesitant about writing any sort of critique given my novice status but thought it might be useful as these boards are very fresh and new, and somebody of my weight and relative inexperience who is considering it might get something from this .
Context
I’m an intermediate, 78 kegs, wrong side of 50, surf supping 2 years, never surfed in my life, but have pole surfed in waves for 25 years. Currently on a 2014 8’2” x 32” widepoint (nice board), get out on average once a week on local beachies where head high is considered a fairly epic day.
Construction & Design
Yes this the carbon version of the 7’2” x 28, weighing in on our steam powered bathroom scales at about 7kg inc fins and the nice pad. So pretty much in line with the 8 x 28 pro of similar volume but sans pad. Must say a pleasure not to have to grip this board up. Nice design touches and quality finishing abounds. The rails look fat from the pics but I think that’s an optical illusion produced by pad stopping well short of the top of the rail. I’m not really sold on the brushed pin stripe and the fluoro (no need to carry flares in an offshore, if you are blown out to sea the coast guard will have no issues spotting you) detail, but its growing on me. I’m told this combo may or may not be the long run production colour graphic. The wood version looks quite tasty to my eye BTW. The recessed handle is the now standard internally shaped for finger grip version most boards have, without going to the cavernous JL style of handle. The handle is well placed being centred around the balance point making the board an easy carry. I also found my feet best placed around the handle when paddling in a straight line.
As regards design, previous posts about the proto cover it really, plus I’m out of depth on this one. The concave through front and middle and negative V detail in the channels appear to be all as per the proto. I did note the “nut” rail kink is quite subtle and you don’t really notice it except when you turn it over. Fins are nice hexel glass M7s and M5s. Maybe it would be nice to have the thruster option but trust the boys have it right going quad and sans the nubster as well. It really is a compact board and the Top Gear tip of the week is when you’re putting on the RSPro Extreme rail tape, start it right from the corner of the nose because when you reach with the paddle you’ll be going well past that point, and the rail is so short you’ll end of taping past the tail if you don’t start at the nose.
Stability
Well yeah this was a major for me coming off 32” so with some trepidation I dipped its toes in some flat water on Sat and Sun (thankfully no surf in the w/e to make a knob of myself in). No worries! Floated me well, but to be expected I guess with 105L vs 78kgs, water slightly lapping over the rear third of the board, stability was awesome for such a small board, was paddling for 45 mins each session, stayed dry, poked my nose into some slightly rougher wind blown water in the middle of the bay and whilst had to keep paddling and doing a fair bit of hula, toilet stance and bracing it was all fairly controlled. In the smooth it was very comfy, I could stay stationary and relax the legs a bit. Secondary stability was excellent, as you can imagine was dipping the rails a lot but they just popped straight back up with nary a correction. Out in the line up its going to be completely different of course but I have an overall sense this will eventually be an allrounder for moi provided the perseverance is maintained.
Performance
Well because of no surf this will have to wait for another day. But I can say glide was average to OK, the nose seem to push water visually(although I wonder if you are just seeing stuff that a normal nose would hide?) but never got drowned (we’ll see how that goes paddling out in the surf) and I could paddle 500m without cracking a sweat. Tracking was better than the WP, could do 6-8 strokes aside no probs, guess the narrowness and parallel outline all doing good things here. I think this trait is going to mucho welcome when catching waves. Spin turns were easy, very forgiving board as regards manouevring it around. I did in fact get down to local break on the Sunday and catch half a doz 3” monsters rolling through. Absolute cake to catch them and started to feel that nice little lift on the bump of the, I hesitate to say, wave and also a wee burst of acceleration once caught that gave a tantalizing hint of what might come in decent surf.
Overall I’m stoked with the board and the experience so far and can’t wait to get into some waves soon.
Chur
thanks a lot marco and T45 for the review!!! we have the same context (only 36 for me) so now my level of anxiety is on the roof!! Cant wait till august!!
Yes but not for publication yet
Anyone got photos of the AST Electric construction?
Yes but not for publication yet.
Do these include a board bag in the purchase price like the Naish Raptor?
No but there will be Flying Objects bags to suit
Yes but not for publication yet
Anyone got photos of the AST Electric construction?
Yes but not for publication yet.
PM?
I am thinking the 7'8 for me. I really do want to demo one before I order though. I am still a bit unsure of how this will compare to the Airborne I am on right now (8'8). I would think an extra foot cut off the length would be a huge transition but I may be wrong.
Zane Schweitzer used his Hypernut during the repechage final during the ISA SUP titles two or three days ago.
You could see the speed diference but it was also possible to see the board surfs a lot different from a traditional shape!
I am thinking the 7'8 for me. I really do want to demo one before I order though. I am still a bit unsure of how this will compare to the Airborne I am on right now (8'8). I would think an extra foot cut off the length would be a huge transition but I may be wrong.
I've had a go on the 7'2" x 28 and also surfed the Airborne you have - of course not as stable as the 8'8" (which is wider too) but surprising how stable it is, after about 15 min was reasonably comfortable and I expect, as with other boards when you first get on, it will become less challenging over a few sessions. I'm 85kg for weight reference. Demo is of course the best option.
I am thinking the 7'8 for me. I really do want to demo one before I order though. I am still a bit unsure of how this will compare to the Airborne I am on right now (8'8). I would think an extra foot cut off the length would be a huge transition but I may be wrong.
I've had a go on the 7'2" x 28 and also surfed the Airborne you have - of course not as stable as the 8'8" (which is wider too) but surprising how stable it is, after about 15 min was reasonably comfortable and I expect, as with other boards when you first get on, it will become less challenging over a few sessions. I'm 85kg for weight reference. Demo is of course the best option.
No problem, I reckon will be OK and lot of fun after some more sessions. You will be used to it
Check it out.
The heat i saw starts @2:41:00 and to me it is quite clear that these shapes have both advantages and disadvantages comparing to a more traditional one.
Also remember that one thing is the board feeling great because they carry more speed, another thing is the board surfing great, meaning that some of these shapes (not all of them) tend to make you surf flatter.
thks!! its good to see this board in action!!
I think the main advantage of this kind of shape its that we could use a much more shorter board than with a traditional shape.
I orderer the 7´2 (105 liters) in a traditional shape its a 8´5 (fanatic prowave)
Johnny, wich are the main advantages and disadvantages? Sorry about my english, but what do you mean by surf flatter?
Thanks again
Zane Schweitzer used his Hypernut during the repechage final during the ISA SUP titles two or three days ago.
You could see the speed diference but it was also possible to see the board surfs a lot different from a traditional shape!
Sure JohnnyThese competitors in those mushy waves would be better gear with small Hyper NUT , more speed, more glide , more off and down the wave and much larger dish pan
I mean small when there is less board-liters than SUPer-kilos.
3 months for mine to arrive!!! can´t wait!!!
the good side of it, its that i have time to get in shape!!
Do you know the volume of it?
Volume of the 7'8 is 115L
Pictures of this Wood board and other specs are on page 3 of this thread.
Cheers,
Marco
I wish Starboard would go back to leaving the deck pads off the Carbon models!! Let the consumer decide what kind of pad they want to ride. Maybe include the one they are now using but leave it to the store or customer to apply.
But on the topic of the HyperNut...I can't wait to get a go on the 7'2
Hi SaltH20,
Please no, we fought so hard for years to have pads supplied with Carbon boards, 98% of our Carbon boards sold ended up with a pad placed on aftermarket. I don't see the point in supplying a board with a lose pad that is included in the price and then potentially not used or stuck on badly.
The pads supplied ex factory are stuck to the board much better, takes the hassle away during a sale, it finishes off the product and we don't have to carry extra stock of pads in different cuts, brands and colours.
Cheers,
Marco
At least offer the option of with one or without!!!
Some of us like to use wax!!!
Some are sponsored by companies that make pads!!!
Some have a brand that is there go to for a pad!!
and then
Some are happy with the pad already there.
Offer the option on Carbon!!!!
IMO, asking to put tail pad later on up to you is the same custom order as asking it about fins plug positions . Tail pad is the connection between back feet pressure and fins/planning area reaction. so you cant move it out of the board balance given by its shaper .
Attached are a few pics of the actual Hyper Nut production boards that I was fortunate to Demo at Portsea yesterday courtesy of Ian and Will from Starboard Australia.
I rode the 7'4 that paddled more like my 9' board and was very stable.
The board was exciting to surf to say the least.
Will (below) is on the 8' Hyper Nut.
Pics courtesy of Catherine Reilly from Peninsula Stand Up Paddle School.
I will have the Hyper Nuts for sale and demo when available.
Happy Boardriding
Jack
I have just had one of the most exhilarating and exciting SUP session ever!
I have just borrowed the 8’0” Hyper Nut from Scot at Starboard UK.
See my blog about my session here
www.kitesurfingtorquay.co.uk/blog/24-new-starboard-hyper-nut
Amazing board!
Hi Andre,
Read your blog, good review & sounds like a great board Coincidently I live in Torquay in Victoria, Australia.
I'm about the same weight as you, but a bit taller. Just wondering did you find the 8'0" corky/too big for your size? I'm considering the 7'8" x 30", but would go the 8'0" for the extra stability/glide. I'd be happy to trade a bit of performance for more stability/comfort.
Many thanks,
LT.
Hi Lohit
I didn't find it at all corky, I found it really versatile. Haven't tried the 7'8" they don't have one yet. I was really surprised with the performance in various conditions. Try and jump on a demo one. Hope to get out on it again soon. Been a bit of a lull in the surf. Andre'