Looking at getting standard construction 14ft, the engine is ready but the wallet isn't. Any opinions on the world of standard construction race boards. I see a YOB Bathurst went around the Perth paddle loop in just over 28 minutes. Is it plausible that if you put an elite level paddler on a glass board you would get an elite level time?
Has there ever been any trials to determine how much advantage that carbon has over standard construction? It'd be interesting to see the dollar value attached to any speed benefits
A mini and a freight train can both do 160km / hour, one is just a bit more nimble than the other....... yes a extreme example, but you get my point.
However it massively depends on what you are going to be doing with it and how much you use it, if you are planning to race and do big DW's and are putting in 40km+ a week then for sure save up and beg borrow or steal to get the carbon version.
However if you are a more casual user then there would be no problem getting the glass version.
Also do not discount 2013 models, you often pick them up for $1000 less than this years model for the carbon version.
eg would a hrs 2014 fanatic be as slippery as a 2013 carbon fanatic? It seems the massive evolutionary gains in sup design seen with every new design are becoming more finite and with some carbon versions being barely 2kg lighter than their glass siblings, it seems sup is becoming focused on the board and not the engine. I accept carbon has an advantage, but it's determining how much, would love to see a test done to prove it.
Excellent question, and it would certainly be great to hear of any real comparative test results rather than personal opinion.
I can't speak for the difference with a race/dw board, but I recently changed my surfing board to a carbon. I went from a std epoxy construction to carbon in exactly the same design, same size shape everything. I must say the difference is remarkable, the carbon is more lively, faster off the mark and lighter under foot. It really feels like an entirely different board even though it is only the construction that has changed.
Again this is for a surf SUP, but I'd imagine there may be something you could take from that is down winding. I guess a carbon would pick up runners faster, and potentially stay on for longer based on what I have felt.
