Starboard Generation

Hi Maarten,

I suspect not many of us have any knowledge of this board. I watch Starboard developments fairly closely and did not know of it until very recently (like.... In the last week)

Looks interesting on paper.......... though 249 litres is getting up there and nearly 13kg is not great if carrying for any distance.

The concept of combining the options of surf, race and touring is interesting and could appeal to the recreational supper wanting a jack of all trades board.

In the end, I'm guessing sales will judge its appeal........... or not.

If you get one, be sure to let us know what you think of it

I've got the Carbon Top version of the Generation. At this stage I've done a couple of downwinders on it and some flat water paddles.
One of the downwinders was pretty full on, graphs showed gusts to 50 knots on Port Philip Bay in Melbourne. In those conditions the Generation was really fun.
It has relatively low rocker and gets onto the runners very very easily, high volume nose helps prevent pearling but you really need to actively move on the board to get the best out of it down-winding. Absolute pleasure once on the runner, stable and intuitive and easy to surf and trim. Even in the big gusts it was super well behaved and confidence inspiring. On flat water the board doesn't have the glide of a low rocker 14 but it's actually still very nice to paddle. For cruising and fitness it just fine on flat water. I haven't surfed it yet but I've got no doubt it would surf fine after getting a feel for it on downwind waves - of course it's a lot of board to deal with in regular waves. I'd actually prefer a lot less volume for surfing but saying that, on the big downwind day it was really very good - and to be honest apart from trying it in surf just for the hell of it, I'll very rarely actually surf it.
I'm a big fan of 12'6 boards, only 65kg so that's maybe a factor.
i was excited to see it in the range, always been a fan of the jack of all trades 12'6, I had the original Starboard 12'6 x 30 from 2007 and loved it, actually wish I still had it. That old board surfed beautifully and even down-winded well but you really had to keep an eye on it pearling down-wind. The Generation is far more forgiving in that regard.
So far very happy with the Generation, do wish it was a little lighter but it's actually not too bad and find myself tending to grab it even for flat water paddles over my 14' boards just for the ease of loading and unloading and the nice simple slightly 'old school' feel of a 12'6.
I think the designers have done a good job of incorporating some of the current race board tech of the complex bottom shape and higher nose volume into a very user friendly and non intimidating flat deck all-round board. It does exactly what it says on the box!
I've been getting a bit jaded about all the 14' race board end of the paddling game over the last couple of years. The Generation is quite refreshing and honestly if I could only keep one board out of the silly fleet of a couple of years 14' All Stars , my much loved 2013 Ace and 17'6 Bullet this would be the one. FYI I'm a Starboard 'ambassador'.
I do some downwind paddles on my own down near Wilson's Prom in Victoria and on big westerly days getting into the beach at the end of the paddle involves negotiating substantial short wave period, quite unpredictable swell that starts breaking at least 800m out, it's actually bloody scary on something like a 14' Allstar and a board like the Generation just takes away all apprehension of that last k away and makes the whole experience much more fun.
Cheers JC

I tend to use my M14 for anything that involves going for tours along the coast, DW or surfing on weak fat waves. It's actually a lot of fun in the right surf....but at times would prefer something a bit more lower volume and thinner in the tail......my worry is that the Generation looks like it might be nose heavy to me ....maybe not. There's other gunny shaped 12 to 14 boards about which I reckon I would opt for which would suit me better.....but I'll stick with my M14.....not been tempted by anything else to date....and it's pretty light too!

(I used to have a Starby Allstar which reviewers said it was great in the surf.....it was a total dog in the surf due to being so nose heavy and I didn't much like it on DW either....far better with a proper DW board like the m14.)

www.supboardermag.com/2019/12/17/the-starboard-generation-is-a-board-to-do-it-all/?fbclid=IwAR2299mvBIW4WrcbF79C_A6xMoMjADDaITa4eGm-WimsExaHUEZM_zRq0Oc

Thanks for a good review Jonathan, just what I was looking for before buying it.

If the new 12'6" x 28.5" Bullet had side fins. it might be getting close to the Starboard Generation. My first impression, which seems to be supported by people who have seen and tried the Generation, is not that it is revolutionary, but that it is a throwback design to the early 12' SUP boards before the brands all started refining them to specific racing purposes. So nothing new here? Yeah, that's kind of the point. That's what's appealing.

I thought it looks interesting Jack of all trades board. No reason to think it's not going to be a decent board. There are other interesting options on the market if you are open but since you were very specific I'm not going to mention. Too much volume for personal taste but you got some size on you so may not be such a bad thing for you.

Here is another longer look at this board. It's in German but if you put subtitles you might be able to make most of it:

I think I would opt for a SUnova Search or one of those boards Area 10 mentions....something more surf orientated....but that's just me and what I prefer.

i think the Sunova Point Break looks the best option though....if surfing is your bag. The Hypr boards look interesting but not convinced with the tail design ( too pointy) and weight.