Since 1994,Starboard has been known for their innovative and quality-assured Stand Up Paddle boards, windsurf boards and tons of equipment specifically designed for water sports. With a vision to leave a sustainable mark on our natural environment while developing high-quality water sports equipment, it also means being ready to embrace new technologies and ways to produce a better, sustainable and innovative product. The new 2019 inflatable SUPs from have already hit the water, but what is it that they do so well and why should you choose a Starboard Stand Up Paddle board?
Stronger, more durable and better for the environment - Starboard's 'heat welding' technology
Starboard's focus on product development and environmental considerations has resulted in a new and improved way of assembling inflatable SUPs. It's still common to use glue to hold SUPs together, but Starboard has chosen to take a different approach. Instead of gluing the PVC plastic together, the PVC is heated around the joining points of the material and then subjected to high pressure to ensure that the two parts become one solid material. Over time, the heat welding method will certainly leave its mark on the way SUPs are constructed. A durable and safer solution unlike glue, whose bonding ability will always fade over time and eventually float into our waters and leave a mark on nature. In the video below, Starboard's Inflatable Stand Up Paddle manager, Raúl Delgado, explains the thinking behind the technology.
Deluxe double chamber - one step closer to the Hard Board feel
The 'Deluxe double chamber' brings a stiffer and safer SUP than you could have ever imagined before. 2 air chambers constructed inside the SUP and shaped like solid I-beams for almost unbeatable stability. The Deluxe double chamber is positioned from behind the SUP board's standing point to the front. Placed with the aim of creating rigidity along the critical points in the center of the SUP board, but still retaining some flexibility. Not only does the inflatable I-beam provide extra stability and stiffness, there are actually some safety considerations as well. If your SUP board should lose its tightness or puncture on the open sea, the Deluxe Double Chamber is designed to assist as a life jacket, as the Deluxe Double Chamber is constructed as a separate air space inside the SUP. This allows you to still be able to get to shore without having to leave a punctured and water-filled SUP behind. If you ask Starboard themselves, the Deluxe double chamber is a 'must have' for paddlers over 85 kg, and they may well be right.
Airline - Speed, stability and stiffness
Airline technology is patented by Starboard and comes with all Allstar inflatable SUPs. If you want a stable, durable and incredibly fast SUP, the answer is almost always the Allstar. With the integrated Airline technology, the SUP comes as a board with incredible stiffness that quickly cuts through waves and holds the bow up with a modern rocker profile as we know it from snow sports.
The Airline technology comes as a string of aramid fibers that runs from the bow, around the tip and attached back under the fin box. The aramid cord is attached before the SUP is inflated, and it can be adjusted in 4 different positions depending on how much rocker and stiffness you want. A worthy technology among lightning fast SUPs! In the video below you can see what other technical specifications are included with the Starboard Allstar SUP.
There are many great SUPs out there, and Starboard is just one of the top contenders among them. There's still a huge variety of different SUP types and shapes, and if you want to read more about the big SUP trend, check out our guide to SUP and neoprene clothing. If you have any questions about water sports or specific equipment, we are always ready with professional guidance in Herning and Copenhagen.
