Test freeride foils 2024: Starboard Foil Freeride 75 and Starboard SuperFlyer II 1300 - the ones with the extra padding
Surf Testteam
· 16.10.2024
In addition to the almost straight rail line from bow to tail, the very boxy and sharp rails on the underside are particularly striking, as if the designer had moved the plane and shaped the board with a Japanese saw. The actual gliding surface underneath is very narrow towards the tail due to huge cut-outs, so you stand with your heels on an overhang like on the deck of an aircraft carrier. The foot pads are particularly soft and foot-friendly, the deck is pleasantly rounded under the straps. The deck looks quite flat towards the bow, but on the underside there is a lot of upturn and an extreme V, which already looks like a displacement bow. The 85 mm aluminium mast fits perfectly in the box and is anchored just as securely in the fuselage with five screws and a plastic adapter. The wings also look solid, but with a total weight of 6.72 kilos, this is to be expected.
On the water
With an almost rectangular outline, the Starboard lies on the water as wobble-free as a Ritter Sport on the coffee table - and could arouse just as much desire, as it presents itself as an extremely easy to foil set-up. When pumped up or in the first small gust, the board rises quickly but not hectically out of the water from the fast displacement ride and shows hardly any tendency to tip sideways. It is definitely right at the front on take-off, and although the differences within the group are small, the Starboard gives the feeling that it is particularly easy to take off even in very light winds. In a wide wind range, it stabilises itself at a medium altitude even without much input from the rider, as if controlled by a levelling system, and has little tendency to pierce the water surface with the wing - which inevitably leads to crashes. At the same time, it can be edged at least moderately on a closehauled course and, with active control, can also be flown on the top floor; the 85-centimetre mast offers plenty of ground clearance even in slightly wavier conditions. It is only just behind the slightly faster foils in terms of speed, but on a duotone you voluntarily take your back foot out of the loop in strong gusts, the Starboard continues to fly at the selected flight level even when the sail draft is increased. In gybes it also knows no turbulence and flies very stable and long even with little pull in the sail, even sporty foil jibes are perfectly possible.
surf summary of the Starboard Foil Freeride 75 and Starboard SuperFlyer II 1300
Similar to the Alien Express, the Star Cruiser lets you fly comfortably and quietly like in business class, but with the extra padding. This combination is extremely easy to foil and still offers a good freeride feeling.
Extremely stable and easy to fly
no lightweight
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Technical data Starboard Foil Freeride 75 and Starboard SuperFlyer II 1300
- Board: 8.76 kg*
- Foil: 6.27 kg*
- Foil mast: 85 cm*
- Fuselage: 101.5 cm*
- Front wing: 85 cm*
- Stabiliser: 59 cm*
- Price Board: 2599 Euro
- Price Foil: 1299 Euro
- Info: windsurf.star-board.com
*surf measurement
