i'm on the 8.5 pro bc starboard 2013 , at 72kg i start to find it too comfortable, by this i mean that i could do with less board on hollow wave...don't get me wrong, i like to be able to go out in sort of rough conditions...
i was wandering if the 8 is much more manoevarable and easier to handle on hollow surf,
and if it paddle good to catch waves early...
basically i want to know if anyone has done the transition and can tell me if it's worth selling my 8.5 to get the 8 or if i'm being fussy...
by the way, my level is intermediate, ever practicing and improving...
the waves i surf in are whatever i find really as i'm a surf nomad...
thanks for all advices!!!!
I've ridden the the 2013 8.5 BC Starboard at a little over 90 kgs and found it pretty stable. Nice board, but I ended up buying the 8.0 BC version from 2012. Feels much less stable but more fun to surf and pump to generate speed. Haven't tried the new 8.0, but I'm betting it's a ripper with the thinned out rails and flatter deck. If I was a bit lighter I'd be going for the new 8.0 for sure. Last year's 8.0 paddles well into waves. I found the the 8.5 in comparison to feel a touch draggy to get in at times (may have been extra current that day though) compared to the 8.0 which is eager to release and fly down the line. I seem to like the idea of riding as small as you can balance on to get the liveliness in the wave we all want.
