Anyone compared these two boards for paddling, yaw etc. Any comments on how they surf appreciated too. Also has anyone around 75kg surfed the JP 8'6 and have any feedback?

Hi Tojoe,

I have a Converse 9x30x137L and last week I bought a Starboard Pro 8x28x96L. On the river (dead flat water) I could paddle around with ease and with regard to yaw like Piros said being so narrow you can pull fairly straight so yaw is not an issue. I have now had about 4 sessions in the ocean, first couple were very hard work and I could hardly stand up, spent the whole sesh coming off and getting back on. Reverted back to the river and just practiced getting up cleanly and now last two ocean sessions have been great and in only 1’ waves (occasional 2’). I bought this board for better surf but I am just committing to it to get up to speed for the good days.

So I cant comment on the JP but I love my new (2013) Starboard 8 Pro even in the small waves I have been on I can see this board will rip in decent surf.

Cheers Slack (73kg)

had a quick ride of the 8'6 jp last sunday at a demo day and i liked it. i'm 76kg and it floated me no probs and paddled into waves nice and easy.

Piros said..

Good point Slack if you are demoing a board to buy do it in the Ocean , for you light weights also have a look at the JP 7-6 & 7-4 if you can handle the 8-0 you will be able to paddle the smaller ones. Geoff Breen 85kg & Keahi 83kg both use the JP 7-4 but these guys do have super good balance. Jackson Close at 85kg won the 2013 Aussie Titles on the 8-0 in absolutely terrible sh!tty conditions.

Bit off topic but yes and no Piros.

If I had demoed on the ocean and unless it had been very good conditions I don’t think I would have bought the SB 8’Pro (BC) as it would have appeared all too hard but since I could stay up on flat water (ie river) then I figured in a matter of time I will get the hang of it on the ocean at least on glassy days.

Thursday arvo - 10 min demo on the river and no problem
Friday morning – Ocean fairly calm and paddled around with some success
Friday arvo – River, easy
Sat morning – Ocean, so so sesh moderate depression creeping in
Sunday morning – Ocean, small chop and I was ready to sell it
Sunday midday – River, easy
Sunday late arvo – River, easy and feeling confident
Monday – Ocean, can see improvement and now catching waves (albeit small)
Tuesday – Ocean, more time on top and catching more waves
Wednesday morning – Ocean, bordering on comfortable and caught as many waves as the others out on 9/10/11’ boards
Wednesday arvo – Wind was up so went out on the river in 0.5-1’ chop, 4 windsurfers and a kiter out and I felt like I wouldn’t have done much better on the Converse.

A week ago I was more stable standing on the Converse than kneeling on the Pro.
Fortunately I bought it because now I love this board and I still haven’t had it in the surf it was designed (and bought) for.
Guess my point here is if there is enough float and you commit you can ride these small SUPs.


^^^^ Love that first video of the guys behind the boat

Thanks boys great feedback and great vids.

Yeah we had few leggie snaps that day , Keahi is attempting to tie a bowline