Windsurfing Equipment Tests - American Windsurfer

Boards: StarBoard @ Maui

Control Bump Speed Style King Surf

StarBoard 253 Wave

The Star 253 Wave is the least powerful board in the test. It has the most tuck and the second greatest amount of rocker of any board we tried, yet it’s far from being the lowest in volume. What’s all this add up to? It’s not that quick to plane or go fast, but it’s quite a wave oriented board, loose and easy to turn on a wave face. Our lightweight testers liked the easy turning and controllable ride. Bigger testers felt it could work well as their smallest Gorge board - something for nuking days when staying in control is the good odds game.

Power Rating 45
Length 8’2”
Width 20.8”
Volume 78 Liters
Weight 13.8 lbs.
Planing 3.5
Reaching 8.5
Upwind 3.5
Tight turns 10.0
Wide turns 6.0
Ding rating 8
Price $1,281
Includes: Straps, Pads, Fin

Recommended sail: Wave 3.5 to 5.0

Control Bump Speed Style King Surf

StarBoard 260 Wave

The 260 Wave is the only board in the test in which wood veneer is used extensively in the skin. Many testers liked the look of the wood, but doubted its usefulness. But as the ding test shows, this board’s wood-reinforced skin has the best combination of toughness and low weight of any board out there. As for performance, the 260 Wave practices moderation in quickness, speed and turning. It’s the sort of board that a pro or expert may not find exciting enough, but which an intermediate wave sailor will thrive on

Power Rating 54
Length 8’4”
Width 22.0”
Volume 92 Liters
Weight 14.0 lbs.
Planing 5.0
Reaching 7.0
Upwind 4.5
Tight turns 9.5
Wide turns 7.5
Ding rating 42
Price $1,605
Includes: Straps, Pads, Fin

Recommended sail: Wave 5.0 to 6.5

Control Bump Speed Style King Surf

StarBoard 260 Wave

The 272 Free is a control-oriented freeride board, very similar in dimension to other boards in its volume and power range. Its rocker is a little flatter than that of others, which makes it just a bit quicker to plane and sail upwind, but holds it back a bit on a fast reach. The 272 is comfortable to ride and reasonably easy to turn. We like the components and the weight - an incredible 14.3 pounds in the test board - but feel it could stand to be tougher.

Power Rating 61
Length 8’8”
Width 22.4”
Volume 97 Liters
Weight 14.3 lbs.
Planing 7.5
Reaching 7.5
Upwind 8.0
Tight turns 8.0
Wide turns 7.0
Ding rating 6
Price $1,281
Includes: Straps, Pads, Fin

Recommended sail:
Wave & freeride 5.0 to 7.0

American Windsurfer Magazine
http://www.americanwindsurfer.com/

Editorial: (603) 293-2721 Subscriptions: (800) 292-2772
FAX: (603) 293-2723 E-mail: info@americanwindsurfer.com
Web Site comments: web@americanwindsurfer.com