light as hell.
50% for and against with deck traction tho.
Startouch is slippery (in my experience)
I've surfed the 8 and 8.2 in carbon. I loved the 8.2 as a board (loved it) but felt like it was way too light and I was constantly in fear of the board just flying out from under my feet - IT DIDN'T however but it was always in my mind and I think it's just a matter of getting used to the feel of the carbon weight, or should I say lack of weight and then I think you would be very much at home with it - personally I wouldn't get the board in carbon cos it just freaked the hell outta me, but I wouldn't hesitate in getting the board in ast construction. The 8 fter was such a tiny board anyway that the lightness didn't really become an issue and the way that you need to surf this little gem really seems to fit right in with the lightness of it, because its a board you need to be fairly aggressive with and it's much easier to aggressive with a board that weighs nothing.
I suppose none of this really made your decision any easier but I suppose if you have money to burn and you are prepared to spend a bit more again to at least partially grip it then go for it - personally the price of them is prohibitive for me but I suppose if someone offered me any board in the starboard range I would probably take a carbon 9.5 BUT with a deck pad.
Ok.. A friend has the 8'5" in the brushed carbon and his board blew off the car while driving and it bounced down the road (in a board bag) and no real damage was done.. Pretty amazing.. Also he doesn't wear booties or have deck grip.. He loves the startouch grip.
DJ
Hi all i am new to the forums i live and surf in lennox head. I have a starboard brushed carbon 8'5 pro as well as 4 other sups ranging from 8'6 to 10'6 most of them are proformance boards. The 8'5 pro is my preferred board. In bumpy surf it is a challange to Paddle. Being so light it tends to feel a bit like standing on a cork as it bobs around in uneven conditions. Over the last 10 years i have riden quad setup surf boards and my transition to sup 2 years ago i have also been riding as quad setup. But i find the starboard surfs better as a thruster setup with the larger centre fin. In surf under three foot i position the side fins in the back Position and find it drives a lot harder and faster. I had to fiddle with the centre fin to find the right position. But in any surf over 3 ' i move the side fins in the front position. It Preforms unlike any other sup i have riden. It is fast off the bottom turns and the harder you drive it the better it goes . The same for off the lip reos. Last week the starboard team were in town and i surf on most of the range of demo boards. Dont know if its because in am used to the 8'5 pro carbon but much preferr it over any other model.
Raybro
Hi guys and gals, this is my first post around here, but i'm happy to give you my 2 cents.
I have the 2011 Brushed Carbon Pocket Rocket and I'm waiting for a new 2012 8'5 Pro to arrive anytime now.
The way I see it, it's like this: Once you go carbon, you'll never want to go back!
My previous board was a PSH 9'3 Ripper and after three weeks surfing the carbon PR, I had to sell it because it was painful to surf it. Everything just feels to heavy.
I have my board for 8 months now and they feel bulletproof. I have a friend that was paddling the other day and got dry on the reef while standing on the board and just had a few scratches on the paint job. He has the 2011 8'5 and 9'1 Pro and loves them both and is now waiting for the 8'0. All carbon.
Both of us weight in the 95-103kg range (depending on the food we're eating at the time) and not even the slightest foot dents on the board.
We surf just like everyday so they have been tested properly.
By the way, I am portuguese and my local break is Supertubos in Peniche.
I've taken a couple of bad wipeouts there, broke two paddles already this year and no damage to the board so far (the PR is not a proper board for that wave, but it's the only one i've got right now). They are really solid.
As for traction...
I use a Ocean and Earth longboard deck on the tail and for five or six months I wasn't using anything else but the startouch. You never feel that it is optimum traction, but you can get used to it and it will feel just enough for some time. After some time, the traction starts wearing off so you have two options: either you go full deck pad or you start using wax. I went with the latter.
For my new board I will have a deck pad all the way up to the standing area. The startouch provides enough grip for nose rides, but extra traction comes handy for those harder turns and close out hacks...
Wind wise:
Being 100kg (plus 3.2 wettie) right now keeps my board underwater, but even when I was around 92 I never felt like the board would be tippier because of it's lightness. You just get used to it!
Sorry for the love letter on the first post guys!
Keep paddling,
Joao
Totally agree moao. For traction on my 8'5 i wear booties, dont have any problem with the brushed carbon grip. But ive been surfing in booties for years but takes a while to get used to them
Raybro
Thanks for all your replies, I wanted to upgrade the pocket rocket to a 8'5 pro.
I will take all advise into consideration, the price difference was a factor too. All the replies helps.
i have the 2011 9 converse , the 2011 8'5 pro in carbon. cant fault the pro and i dont feel like its corky at all, ridden mates naish 9'0 and owned a psh 9'4 that where more unstable and take offs had to be late.
i am about 80kgs
i ride mostly in chest to head high sand breaks so sometimes its quick down the line which i find the pro is great at, when its a bit fatter though cant fault it for turning, very stoked at this board, havnt used the converse since buying it although a couple of sessions that it would of been a better choice because of the chop.
i bought the pro second hand for less than a new stock board.. so i did price in the extra cost. dont know if i would pay new price though....guess when i snap it i will find out 
I demo'd the carbon Wopper down at Merimbula and couldn't belive how light and user friendly it was.I am now looking at getting a wide point 9'5" or 8'10"as an allrounder but am unsure of the retail price$$.Any retailers out there that would be able to give me a price on a carbon widepoint 9'5" or8'10".
Thanks P.T.Thats a big help Im nearly there cash wise now all I have to do is decide which one...
