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Touringboards/Inflatables 2023Starboard Generation Lite Tech 12'6" x 28" in test

Stephan Gölnitz

 · 23.08.2023

Starboard Generation Lite Tech 12'6" x 28"
Photo: Stephan Gölnitz
Surf feeling across the lake: the Starboard Generation brings surf style to the touring class. The Starboard is also said to be suitable for waves.

The board does away with the trendy, canoe-like shapes and favours a pointed, raised bow and a very narrow tail, combined with a clear deflection in the underwater line. This should enable the board to surf down moderate waves. Unfortunately, we were unable to verify this in the test, but it is certainly conceivable. The board also proved to be a consistently good touring companion. Despite its narrow width, it is much more stable in the water than, for example, the inflatable GTS RS from this test. This is due to the reduced thickness and the edge shape.

The deflection of the waterline is intended to support the suitability for waves.Photo: Stephan GölnitzThe deflection of the waterline is intended to support the suitability for waves.

This allows the board to accelerate quickly and maintain a good speed. Even if it can't quite match the speed of a thoroughbred tourer due to the upturned nose, it's still a lot of fun and the difference in speed is very small in absolute terms. Only when paddling out does it not seem quite as explosive, but once on tour it follows the course well and you are largely dry, the nose also copes well with small chop. Turning when you go backwards requires some practice, the narrow tail presses into the water, the board turns well, but reacts sensitively and demanding to every wiggle of the back foot. Turning round normally from the centre standing position, on the other hand, is no problem at all.

Conclusion on the Starboard Generation Lite Tech 12'6" x 28":

With the Generation you get a certain degree of wave capability, you can certainly slide down the odd Baltic wave or even ride a downwinder in strong winds on the lake. The board also offers good touring qualities, which the surf shape might not suggest at first glance. For paddlers up to around 90 kilos, the board offers sufficient load-bearing capacity; above this, the 14-foot version or two inches more width is recommended.

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Starboard Generation Lite Tech 12'6" x 28"Photo: Stephan GölnitzStarboard Generation Lite Tech 12'6" x 28"

Technical data and notes Starboard Generation Lite Tech 12'6" x 28":

  • Price: 1509 Euro
  • Length: 381 cm
  • Width: 71.1 cm
  • Weight: 13.5 kg
  • Volume: 249 litres
  • Info about Starboard

Suitable for waves, stable. Faster on the lake than you would expect.

An overview of all touring and all-round boards in the test can be found here

Stephan Gölnitz

Stephan Gölnitz

Deputy Editor in Chief surf

Stephan Gölnitz comes from Bochum and had Holland as his home windsurfing territory for many years before moving to Munich in 1996 for the job of test editor at surf magazine. The materials engineering graduate worked as a surf instructor on the Ijsselmeer during his studies and competed for several seasons for the Essen sailing team in the Surfbundesliga and the Funboard Cup. He completed a traineeship at surf-Magazin in the test department and since then has actively accompanied almost all tests on the boom and for more than 10 years also as a photographer. Stephan has covered many thousands of test kilometers, mainly on Lake Garda and in Langebaan, but also in Egypt and Tobago. He gets his hands on over 100 new sails and boards every year as his company car. Privately, he prefers to surf with a foil on Lake Walchensee or “unfortunately far too rarely” in the waves. SUP is Stephan's second passion, which he pursued for several years at numerous SUP races. Today, he prefers to paddle on river tours with family or friends - even for several days.

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