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Starboard S-Type 115
Windsuf Magazine, UK April 06 |
 
At a Glance
The S-Type has been around for a couple of years now and has evolved into Starboard's high performance freeride board range, designed to offer slalom-like capabilities without compromising control and ease. The middle hull in a five-board line-up, the 11 5 has a small compact appearance, with a thick bulbous nose and sharp bevels on the rails. Available in either Wood (as the one tested
here) or D-RAM construction it comes supplied with Starboard's excellently engineered straps, adhesive fish-scale deck-pads, and a stiff high performance fin shaped by Tiesda You.
Ride and Handling
Feeling smaller underfoot than its quoted volume would suggest, the S-Type is not comfortable with sails much bigger than 7.om, and isn't really at home in marginal conditions. It will cruise up onto the plane smoothly and reach a good speed, yet you need to adjust your stance to eliminate the chance of spin out and keep it driving forward …your weight acting down through the board rather than pushing against it. It's when you take the 115 out in comfortably powered conditions that you being to realise its potential. Accelerating instantly, it explodes from the water and soars up to a stunning speed, adopting a really efficient stance as it rides on the fin alone, keeping the amount of friction between the board and water to a minimum. Electrifying off the wind, it keeps accelerating in the gusts and will take every ounce of power you dare to deliver The fin provides masses of feedback, contributing to the board's precise immediate nature, which selves to captivate the experienced rider and make them want to explore its potential more. Being relatively small and particularly stiff, the fin does require quite a sensitive approach, especially when sailing across and upwind, where too much back foot pressure will result in spin-outs that are hard to recover from. Instead, the rider has to be light and reactive on their feet, releasing pressure as they heed the board's warning of slipping sideways. A sharp and involving board to ride, the security from the straps and deck-pads nevertheless provide some much appreciated support, making the S-Type an ideal contender for the experienced sailor wanting that little bit more, without going too far down the dedicated slalom path.
Manoeuvres
With its narrow tail, the S-Type does demand a positive carving style to exit from the gybe purposefully. More edgy than the Carve, if committed into the turn with the rider getting forward, it will bite with interest and fire the rider out of the corner before they know it. Entering the transition at speed and engaging tentatively to start with, we soon found ourselves growing in confidence as we learnt to trust the rails and fin to hold the board in. Similarly in the tack, the 115 does require concentration to get round cleanly, such is the low volume of the short nose.
For: Electric responsive ride, and speed on every point of sail when powered.
Against: Not for the intermediate - look to the Carve range.
Verdict
Providing blistering performance in a sharp and involving ride, the S-Type is ideal for the experienced rider looking for that little but more from their freeride board, without wishing to probe too far down the slalom route.
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