Starboard Spice Advice

Please give me a bit of advice regarding the Starboard Spice. I'm an intermediate SUP surfer. 85kg, 183cm height and 65 years old. I've been waiting for my local surf shop to get an 8'8" Spice in stock thinking it would suit me perfectly. Recently, I spent a couple of surf sessions on a 6 year old Naish Hokua X32. The Naish dimensions are 8'8" x 32" x 140L which are identical to the Spice 8'8". Surfing the Naish was fun but I wasn't comfortable with the Naish's stability when standing/paddling. Would I expect to have similar issues with the Spice or might I expect it to be more stable due to different shape, flatter rocker or some other reason? Local shop doesn't have demo to try. Currently on a Jimmy Lewis Kwad 9'7" x 31 x 140L which I'm very stable on.

Hi mate, I have 10 kilos on you, but I am ten years younger so that makes things even right

I had a Naish Maddog 9x32 145 ltr and I too was looking at the Spice. However I was looking to go down in volume so I changed to a Smik Hipster 8'6" x 31.5 and find it more stable, lighter and surfs really well.

The Hipster is so stable I could have gone down to the 8'3. The Hipsters as advertised are a looser board on the waves and I have really enjoyed mine.

If stability is key the 8'10x32 would probably be really hard to fall off waiting around out the back, and still give you a great ride.

The Spice and the new JP Australia Surf Plus seemed to have taken more than a leaf out of the Smik Hipster. So if you have a shop near by have a look at the Smik, or the SUPboardermag website reviewed the Hipster and the Spice, might be worth a look.

Cheers.

Steve.

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drivethebus said..
Hi mate, I have 10 kilos on you, but I am ten years younger so that makes things even right

I had a Naish Maddog 9x32 145 ltr and I too was looking at the Spice. However I was looking to go down in volume so I changed to a Smik Hipster 8'6" x 31.5 and find it more stable, lighter and surfs really well.

The Hipster is so stable I could have gone down to the 8'3. The Hipsters as advertised are a looser board on the waves and I have really enjoyed mine.

If stability is key the 8'10x32 would probably be really hard to fall off waiting around out the back, and still give you a great ride.

The Spice and the new JP Australia Surf Plus seemed to have taken more than a leaf out of the Smik Hipster. So if you have a shop near by have a look at the Smik, or the SUPboardermag website reviewed the Hipster and the Spice, might be worth a look.

Cheers.

Steve.

I'm trying to convince myself that the new Spice at 8'8 x 32 x 140L is the board for me but I'm concerned about stability. Going from my very stable Jimmy Lewis Kwad (9'7 x 31 x 154L) to a session on a Naish Hokua X32 (8'8 x 32 x 140L) was a big drop in stability that I would not have expected. I assume the Hokua X32 I was on was the slightly smaller predecessor to your Mad Dog. The Smik Hipster you purchased is dimensionally smaller than your Mad Dog yet you found it more stable. Why is that? Would you think that the Spice at 8'8" x 32 x 140L could be more stable than the Hokua X32 for the same reasons. Thanks for your help!

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VooPoo said..

drivethebus said..
Hi mate, I have 10 kilos on you, but I am ten years younger so that makes things even right

I had a Naish Maddog 9x32 145 ltr and I too was looking at the Spice. However I was looking to go down in volume so I changed to a Smik Hipster 8'6" x 31.5 and find it more stable, lighter and surfs really well.

The Hipster is so stable I could have gone down to the 8'3. The Hipsters as advertised are a looser board on the waves and I have really enjoyed mine.

If stability is key the 8'10x32 would probably be really hard to fall off waiting around out the back, and still give you a great ride.

The Spice and the new JP Australia Surf Plus seemed to have taken more than a leaf out of the Smik Hipster. So if you have a shop near by have a look at the Smik, or the SUPboardermag website reviewed the Hipster and the Spice, might be worth a look.

Cheers.

Steve.

I'm trying to convince myself that the new Spice at 8'8 x 32 x 140L is the board for me but I'm concerned about stability. Going from my very stable Jimmy Lewis Kwad (9'7 x 31 x 154L) to a session on a Naish Hokua X32 (8'8 x 32 x 140L) was a big drop in stability that I would not have expected. I assume the Hokua X32 I was on was the slightly smaller predecessor to your Mad Dog. The Smik Hipster you purchased is dimensionally smaller than your Mad Dog yet you found it more stable. Why is that? Would you think that the Spice at 8'8" x 32 x 140L could be more stable than the Hokua X32 for the same reasons. Thanks for your help!

Hi Voo, yes the outline of the nose of the Hipster would help with stability, but more so that it gives the board a parallel rail line for a longer. So gives the board a stable feeling, the magic of the Hipster is the wing at the tail it breaks the outline and with the fin setup gives the board a great turning feel. The 8'8" Spice outline certainly looks like it would be stable, the shape in that length could be a more down the line feel than the Hipster. Looking at it I would expect it to ride more like my Naish Maddog did. The tail width of the Maddog helped with the stability but held it back a little in the turning department. The Hipster reverses that outline, stability at the front, party at the back.

I was surprised how we he Hipster catches waves, for me it would be a one board quiver. Just don't tell my wife I could get by with one board

If you have not see it I made a post about the Hipster and how it rides and it has a few photo too.

Hope that helps.

Steve.

The spice and the hipster have a fuller outline than the Hokuas = more stable. The Hipster has less volume in the tail than the spice so potentially more unstable front to back but they have fuller rails so might offset. Loving my spice but still getting used to it, Hipsters are proven surf weapons!!!

My other board is a 8'5" fanatic surf pro and the spice is much looser, not sure about what causes what in feel but it is much easier to adjust your line off the bottom. Have only surfed it in head high and under waves (Western Australia where the waves have a bit of power) might need to increase the fin size in bigger waves. Is very stable!! lot less hassle in wind chop etc. Catches waves super easy,. I am very happy with it. Cheers

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Goodbye said..
I have an 8.8 Spice and was out on it this morning in small stuff but can't fault it. Find it extremely stable and only notice the beveled rail when turning which it does really well. I also find it glides well and tracks in a straight line. The volume picks up waves beautifully and I also think the weight is perfect. Mines the blue carbon version. I'm 180cm and 82kg. I've got Smiks and Sunovas which I love and enjoy this board as much as any of them.

Good info thanks. Which smiks do you have and how does it compare?

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VooPoo said..
Please give me a bit of advice regarding the Starboard Spice. I'm an intermediate SUP surfer. 85kg, 183cm height and 65 years old. I've been waiting for my local surf shop to get an 8'8" Spice in stock thinking it would suit me perfectly. Recently, I spent a couple of surf sessions on a 6 year old Naish Hokua X32. The Naish dimensions are 8'8" x 32" x 140L which are identical to the Spice 8'8". Surfing the Naish was fun but I wasn't comfortable with the Naish's stability when standing/paddling. Would I expect to have similar issues with the Spice or might I expect it to be more stable due to different shape, flatter rocker or some other reason? Local shop doesn't have demo to try. Currently on a Jimmy Lewis Kwad 9'7" x 31 x 140L which I'm very stable on.

Hi VooPoo

I run numbers on people every day and they can be misleading at times.
Board shape and surface area on the water play important rolls in stability.

Much of my advice on board sizes boils down to age, fitness and how much capacity you have for challenge.

By the numbers, you shouldn't suffer on any of the board you discuss... but add in the very pointy nose of the Hokua and the algorithm changes. The pointy nose leads to curvy rails and that combination creates considerably more challenge in comfort and stability.

I have never seen a Spice, but the pics look like it should have noticeably more stable than the Hokua.

However, even considering your weight height and age, the width and volume on the Hokua should be quite stable for you.

What I take from that is that you either need more time on smaller boards or you may want to reconsider larger options.
It is truly amazing how well we adapt to smaller boards if you have patience and a sense of humor.

One of my strongest beliefs after riding many many board (I own 28 at the moment) is this:
Smaller, rarely increases performance for intermediate level SUPsters
They don't carry speed as efficiently, performance suffers in average mediocre conditions.

I watch myself surf for hours and hours a day when editing videos
I get so I can barely tell the difference between my performance on an 8'8 vsa 9'5
YES... in perfect waves, I can full on rip harder on an 8'8.... but when conditions weaken, I am working harder for results.
Search this site for my "Width vs Volume" video to see how vastly different sizes surf just fine.

Bottom line?
The race to shorter boards is only truly beneficial if you have a solid quiver with many board sizes and shapes.
I am fortunate... I can grab the exact right board for the conditions.
But I log FAR more sessions on 9'4 to 9'6 than I do Sub 9'

You are not getting younger, but that doesn't matter, if you want to drop in size... you only need commitment and the patience to retool your balance skills.

The 8'8 should be perfect for you... but you need to make the decision on how much you want it.... or better yet: Start building the quiver!!!

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supthecreek said..
Smaller, rarely increases performance for intermediate level SUPsters

Yes, smaller does not make you surf better by itself: It raises the limitations from the gear.
Or actually trade limits: remove some, add some (in stability, paddle speed, ...)

It is then your technique than can seize the opportunity to go past these limits. If you do not have (yet) the level for it, the benefits of a smaller board is kind of "wasted", but you will still get the drawbacks.