STARBOARD CARVE 125L WOOD SANDWICH 2021 TEST REVIEW
VERDICT
Unique underfoot, the Carve demands little in the way of technical input, yet rewards with freerace-esque performance. A straight-line blasting machine, it is also a great tutor and guide round the corners.
THE LOWDOWN
The name ‘Carve’ has quite a dynasty in the Starboard brand, having largely defined many movements and innovations in the freeride board market over the years. Described today as ‘smart’ freeride boards “to facilitate you taking your windsurfing to the next level”, the Carve range has been completely revised for the new season, with just three sizes available, this 125 being the middle option with siblings 10 litres either side. Produced in either wood sandwich technology (as tested here), or in the brand’s more price pointed ‘Starlite Carbon’ construction, all the sizes utilise a Deep Tuttle fin box, yet aren’t recommended for use with a foil. If you want to venture into the realms of foiling, Starboard recommend you opt for the Carve 135 RTF (Ready to Foil) – the same 135 design produced in wood, but with a beefed-up box (adding a quoted 350 g to the weight). That said, if you read their literature, the brand actually encourages the consideration of the Foil Freeride or Foil X boards in their range if you’re serious about foiling.
Taking a closer look at the 125’s design, some of its adopted features are the breakthrough concepts of its lineage, such as the recessed deck (dubbed the Gravity Control System), lowering the position of the mast track and bedding down the rig’s position, for improved control. There are other well-established design theories present, such as an increased flat section in the board for improved early planing and glide. And then there are some new concepts, such as a waterdrop tail outline with a wide one foot off, before angling in quickly to a narrow tail – a design said to combine early planing with a faster top speed. On the underside the overwhelming feature is one of pronounced vee that is present throughout, joined by some double concaves in the shoulders and mid-section, and some simple cutouts in the tail. And interestingly, the tuck in the rails starts early in the tail, pushing the hard edge right under the board’s side, so it sits underneath, inside its outline. Heavily domed and chunky in the tail, it comes supplied with a robust Drake Freeride Power fin, thick dual density pads and a multitude of placement options for the sustainably produced Drake Slick footstraps. The K9 anti-twist inserts are proudly retained, and the new T-shaped Tiki tool supplied with the board is worthy of mention, with all fittings now fastened using this TX30 tool.
BRAND CLAIM
“The 125 is where it all came together, surprising us with its early take-off into a fun ride with high acceleration.”
PERFORMANCE
When screwing the deck plate into the Carve you soon notice another unique feature of the Carve – it has an extraordinarily short mast track! The idea is to make the board as clear cut and easy to use as possible (just rig it and go!) and in essence it sets the tone for the whole riding experience on the 125. Deliver power and it accelerates smoothly from the blocks, the straps easy to locate thanks to the pulled in tail. Once in the straps you immediately become aware that the feel of the Carve is quite unique underfoot. The deck is heavily domed under the backfoot, dropping the heel and naturally encouraging the rider into a compact comfortable stance. It’s a perfect position from which to load the board and push … yet the 125 simply doesn’t require any technical input – it responds instinctively! A prime example is when racing upwind. Normally you’d try to trim the board by pointing your back toes, digging the leeward edge of the tail in to assist the drive of the fin. On the 125 though, any attempt to do this is both overkill and uncomfortable to maintain! The board simply does it for itself, the ample fin drive rocking the board on its pronounced vee and charging upwind. As the pilot, all you need to do then is keep your heels down and the board level. Fast on all points of sail, the Carve is comfortable to use for long periods, its freerace-like performance coming easy as it rides high and clear over harsh chop. We did find that in powered or overpowered conditions, the Carve would ‘rock’ a little from side to side on its vee if you tried to push and force the issue. Again, it’s just not necessary; relax, let the board trim itself intuitively and the performance comes naturally, the Carve easily a match for all in this group. In the corner it grips and carves beautifully through the turn, providing the confidence to initiate a gybe forcefully and without notice, before maintaining its speed effortlessly all the way to the exit.
VITAL STATS
Volume (Quoted): 125 litres
Length: 238 cm
Width: 76 cm
1ft off: 48.7 cm
Bottom shape: Pronounced vee throughout, with a wash of double concaves that disperse in the tail, becoming flat vee.
Weight (‘Naked’): 8.0 kg
Fin: Drake Freeride Power 40 (Deep Tuttle)
Sail Range (Quoted): 5.5-8.5m
Sizes Available: 115, 125, 135, 135 RTF.
PRICE: STARLITE CARBON: £1449.00 WOOD: £1949.00
OTHERBOARDS IN THIS TEST
THE LINE UP
JP AUSTRALIA SUPER RIDE 124 LWT