Windsurfing Equipment Tests - American Windsurfer

Boards: Seatrend @ Aruba

Novice Control Speed Race Explore Balance

Seatrend Allstar 58 AVS

Of the Allstar 58, one of the most popular boards in the test, Margaret Hepper said, “At first it did a lot of wheelie action, but when I got it to settle down it was very easy to control, smooth in chop and fast, fast, fast.” Other testers echoed Margaret’s comments and went on to mention the 58’s smooth, easy jibing. An advantage of this board over other AVS designs is that the back of the deck extends over the flap, thus protecting the flap and giving waterstarters something to rest the boom on. Construction of this board is light and, like the smaller Allstar 56 that we tested on Maui, surprisingly tough.

Power Rating 62
Length 8’6”
Width 23.2”
Volume 94 Liters
Weight 14.6 lbs.
Planing 7.5
Reaching 9.0
Upwind 8.5
Tight turns 8.0
Wide turns 9.0
Ding rating 36
Price $1,275
Includes: Straps & Pads

Recommended sail: Freeride 5.5 to 7.5

Novice Control Speed Race Explore Balance

Seatrend Allstar 70 AVS

While the Allstar 70 has made a good name for itself among customers in the last year, our testers were mixed in their reaction to it. Mark Stumpp, a good sailor and the sort we would expect to like the Allstars could not get comfortable on it. However, other testers, particularly the more advanced ones, loved the 70’s quick planing, lively ride, high top-end speed and good windward ability. They noted that the board’s greatest advantage is its ability to work in a wide range of wind conditions - floaty and quick to plane in light air and fast and controllable in stronger winds. One of Its disadvantages is that it tends to wheelie until you get used to its lively, out-of-the water ride. Another disadvantage is that while it’s loose in the turns, it doesn’t maintain speed through a jibe as easily as a board with a flatter rocker will. Where the 70 is lacking is easily made up by its great range; for some riders the trade offs are worth it.

Power Rating 79
Length 9’1”
Width 27.7”
Volume 151 Liters
Weight 18.4 lbs.
Planing 9.5
Reaching 8.0
Upwind 10.0
Tight turns 6.5
Wide turns 8.0
Ding rating 16
Price $1,306
Includes: Straps & Pads

Recommended sail:
Freeride & Race 7.0 & Up

Novice Control Speed Race Explore Balance

Seatrend Allstar 80 AVS

The Allstar 80 is only ten liters less floaty and 1.4 inches narrower than the celebrated Star Board Go. This makes it just about as good as the Go in the role of all-around board for lightweight riders. However, it was designed to provide light- to moderate-wind freeride performance for heavyweight riders and this it does very well. It planes up quickly and unwets unbelievably on a reach. This ability to unwet combined with the board’s great width also gives the 80 tremendous upwind performance. Of course, like other AVS designs, the 80 shares a tendency to tail walk for the first-time rider, however, moderately-skilled riders quickly learn how to keep a lid on that. The width of the 80 also means that it tends to heel from side to side as it goes over chop. This is no problem provided the rider doesn’t try to fight or muscle it and just lets the board take its own path over the water. The final idiosyncrasy of the 80 is the way it jibes. The width calls for a jibing style that we can’t take time to describe here but which is unconventional, yet manageable. The Allstar 80 does a good job of replacing the longboard of someone who doesn’t need great upwind performance in sub-planing conditions and who would prefer a simpler, light-air option. Better yet, there’s no other board that offers a more exciting ride for that long-neglected minority: Windsurfers who weigh between 200 and 250 pounds.

Power Rating 89
Length 9’2”
Width 31.1”
Volume 166 Liters
Weight 19.0 lbs.
Planing 10.0
Reaching 8.0
Upwind 10.0
Tight turns 5.5
Wide turns 7.0
Ding rating 16
Price $1,306
Includes: Straps & Pads

Recommended sail: Basic, Freeride & Race 1.5 & Up

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