My name is René and I must say I'm a SUP enthusiast. I've worked in the Herning store for over 3 years, but my SUP career started 10 years ago. I've participated in races in the Netherlands and am often on the water several times a week - the weather actually controls my calendar (which some find a bit unpopular, but that's how it is). In recent years I have practiced downwind SUP, where you surf with the wind in extreme weather, for example across Ringkøbing Fjord (If you have any questions about it, I'm also happy to help).
I'm a geek to the core and just want to share my joy for SUP with everyone. Whether you're a beginner or have five years of experience, it's all about finding the right equipment for your level and budget to get the best experience with the most days on the water. See my recommendations at the bottom.
SUP has become popular
We love how many people have discovered SUP in recent years and have tasted the freedom of the water. Many of our customers have bought a cheaper board during the corona and are now ready to take the next step and get the full experience, either with a fixed or inflatable board that focuses on quality and sailing performance without compromising on comfort and fun.
What do you get out of upgrading?
Fixed SUP board
Glide: The biggest difference you'll notice right away is how the board glides through the water. You'll experience more speed and a board that more efficiently converts power from the paddle into propulsion. This makes it more fun and comfortable to go on longer trips, train and generally enjoy the experience on the water.
Stability: A fixed SUP board is significantly more stable than an inflatable SUP board. You'll experience a board that gives you confidence and is less sensitive to current, wind, choppy water and small waves. You'll have more great days on the water with amazing experiences, even on days with little wind.
Directional stability: A directionally stable SUP board makes a big difference to the experience as it allows you to get a proper rhythm in your paddle strokes. It helps you stay on course and is less sensitive to wind and waves, so you can focus on moving forward without constantly correcting direction.
Inflatable SUP board
There is a big difference in the quality and experience of inflatable SUP boards. A board designed for the cottage differs significantly from a board from an established brand with engineers behind the design, and it doesn't have to cost much more - it's all about knowing what to look for.
Stability: A quality SUP board like the Starboard Touring Zen is designed with a core that distributes stiffness so you're not standing on a "banana" out on the water with both tip and tail pointing up above the water.
Durability and materials: A quality SUP board is designed to last for many years. Thought has gone into materials and joints, from the inner technology to the outer materials. Many cheap boards lose their shape, break at the seams or get leaky valves, which can be difficult to repair due to the high pressure inside an inflated board.
Glide and speed: Good inflatable boards are designed by engineers from renowned surf brands and can compete with fixed boards in terms of glide, speed and directional stability. They're designed to be extremely stiff and stable, providing a great experience on the water, even if you live in an apartment or may not have a car and roof racks.
The paddle
The paddle is your only contact with the water besides the board and the only source of propulsion, so the experience depends a lot on which paddle you use. There are two main factors to consider: material and number of parts.
Material: Paddles are made from many different materials, but most are made from aluminum, carbon, fiberglass and kevlar. Aluminum is the cheapest and suitable for fun, but for serious sailing it falls short. Carbon or Kevlar paddles are lighter and stiffer, providing better power transfer and a better experience. Women in particular can benefit from a lighter paddle with a smaller blade.
Number of parts: Paddles can typically be divided into 1, 2 or 3 parts. The fewer parts, the stiffer and more efficient the paddle. However, a fixed paddle of around 2 meters can be difficult to store and transport, so a 2-piece paddle is often a good compromise.
In terms of blade size, you can think of it like a bicycle gear. A large blade is like a high gear, tough to start with, but provides great propulsion once you get going. We take into account the customer's size, strength and shape when recommending blade size.
My recommendations
Starboard Generation(Fast):
- Full SUP experience: Lots of speed and stability at a low price compared to the competition.
- Versatility: Suitable for all conditions, from flat water in lakes and fjords to chop and choppy water in bays and along the coast.
- Speed: Just below race boards in speed but offers a much more stable and calm experience.
- Ease of use: Perfect for both beginner and advanced SUP enthusiasts.
This board is like a Swiss Army knife and one of the world's most popular SUP boards. It offers the full SUP experience with plenty of speed and stability at a low price compared to the competition. From flat water in lakes and fjords to chop and choppy water in bays and inlets, the Generation is a board that does it all and is suitable for all conditions. With plenty of speed, Generation is just below Race boards, but offers a much more stable and calm experience for everyone from beginners to advanced riders. Generation is a board to experience, because you won't go back to the old one, it's a top board where you get incredible value for money.
Starboard Waterline(Fast):
Stability and speed:
- Created to deliver an amazing flat water experience.
Ideal for lakes and rivers:
- Optimized to give you the best performance in calm conditions.
One of the fastest boards:
- On flat water, the Starboard Waterline can compete against race boards, and faster for many riders
This board from Starboard is designed for flat water, so if you primarily ride lakes and rivers, it's a great choice. It stands for stability and speed, and provides a great flat water experience. With a focus on silent and efficient sailing, the Waterline gives you the perfect and rare combination of race-like speed and plenty of stability, which are usually opposites. By dedicating the board to flat water, it has provided opportunities to work on clean and silent glide, without compromising on stability. This means that this board can be sailed by everyone and should, in my opinion, be present in all lakes and rivers.
Starboard Touring Zen(Inflatable):
Unrivaled stiffness and durability:
- The welded construction ensures the board holds its shape and has a long lifespan.
Improved speed and glide:
- Rail Edge technology allows the board to release the water earlier and easier, giving you better glide and more speed.
Great directional stability:
- The increased stiffness allows you to paddle multiple times on the same side without the board turning. This means you don't have to constantly correct and can sail straight ahead with ease.
With this board you get close to the experience of a fixed board. The entire construction with welded joints is designed with stiffness, durability and performance in mind. This means you get a board that holds its shape on the water and has a huge lifespan thanks to the high-quality materials and welded joints. So if you're in the market for an inflatable board that gives you an absolute top experience with speed, stability and stiffness, Touring Zen is the board for you.
Don't forget the vest
A reminder: We always recommend having a vest on board when sailing - it's actually required by law. Whether you're looking for a small vest in a belt bag that folds out or a real life jacket, we're here to help. All our life jackets are CE approved. See the selection here
