Starboard Flare 2007

The Flares burst on to the windsurfing scene last year but haven't appeared to have made a great impact on the freestyle circuit.

Not wishing to fall behind, Starboard have been busy redesigning the entire range - out goes the 94, 104 andd 114 and in comes three brand new boards - the Flare 88, 99 and 111. The main thrust of Starboard's approach is to design a board with a much wider range of use and suitable for different conditions.

And Starboard appear to have done just that! The Flares are fast freestyle-freeride boards. Featuring a slalom rockerline and a flat tail, the Flares are exceptionally fast and quick to accelerate for explosive, high-speed freestyling and dynamic freeriding.

Following the general style of other manufacturers the boards are more compact than last year, the Flare also gains more thickness and volume with a slighter wider tail. This means the boards are now more stable but also provide a better pop and jump launch pad that are synonimous with freestyle boards. The lightweight construction also ensures the boards have better acceleration from standstill.

Comfort and control are so important when spinning and popping freestyle tricks so the deck shape has had a complete makeover. Heel gutters have been introduced that lower the centre of gravity and provide extra-dome for comfort and grip.

Taty Franz aboard the Starboard Flare at the PWA in Fuerteventura - Pics PWA / Carter

The Flares are built exclusively in Starboard's amazing Wood technology - so these boards look as great off the water as they do blasting around on it. The accessories have not been left to chance either, the boards come with a new series of faster freestyle/crossover fins designed by Curtis Hesselgrave.

Designed for all out performance the Flare 2007 is one of those boards that is equally at ohome on the PWA freestyle circuit as it is for the spock or vulcan apprentice learning to freestyle for the first time.

Specifications:

More on Starboard: www.star-board.com