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Product of the week - Racepaddle Starboard Bolt

Stephan Gölnitz

 · 24.07.2015

Product of the week - Racepaddle Starboard BoltPhoto: Stephan Gölnitz
Product of the week - Racepaddle Starboard Bolt
419 grams for a full-size paddle - this can only be achieved with state-of-the-art carbon technology. We have already extensively tested the lightweight 2016 model.

Carbon prepreg- This is probably the highest quality carbon processing - and this is exactly how the shafts of the new "Bolt" series are manufactured. The carbon fibres are "impregnated" with the exact amount of resin before the shaping process. This ensures that not one gram of resin is applied in excess.

sup/M3325767Photo: Stephan Gölnitz

The Boltcomes in at an incredibly light 419 grams, with a length of just under 2 metres. You can feel the low "swing weight" on the water with every paddle stroke, the paddle comes out of the water as light as a feather and literally flies forwards to be stabbed again. When catching, it immediately builds up pressure, the proximity to the characteristics of the Quickblade V-Drive is unmistakable. The blade of the Starboard is also designed with a V-shaped concave, but the outline is completely different, more like the well-known "High Aspect" from Starboard 2015. The paddle can be pulled smoothly through the water without fluttering. The shaft and blade of the "Connor Baxter's favourite paddle" we tested, with a medium blade size and medium flex, provide a light flex, which ensures good comfort. Heavy or particularly strong paddlers (or those who simply prefer particularly stiff paddles) can choose a slightly stiffer shaft, while the blade remains minimally flexing.

The new handle with the ribbed area underneath for non-slip gripping during the "choke stroke".Photo: Stephan GölnitzThe new handle with the ribbed area underneath for non-slip gripping during the "choke stroke".

The combination of a lot of grip immediately after insertion and slightly noticeable flex seemed very pleasant to us. The paddle feels light as a feather and is unrivalled in this respect.nothing easier got my hands on it. Even though the oval shaft seems to give way to pressure in the hundredths when gripped, four weeks of testing couldn't harm the paddle. We gave it a good tug in some races and hit the bottom in sprint races - the reinforced blade edge also coped well with this. Conclusion:A great paddle that can be guided with minimal effort and builds up a lot of pressure. Unfortunately, the price is not yet known, but it is also likely to be in the lofty realms.

sup/M3325929Photo: Stephan Gölnitz

Features:

sup/M3325930Photo: Stephan Gölnitz

Sizes:

S - M - L; 74.4 square inch (480 square centimetres) - 83.7 (540) - 93 (600) Price: n.a.

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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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