"The Starboard's EVO is the first wave board able to very successfully cater for the hardcore Pro’s as well as the novice and intermediate wave sailors looking for ease of use."  We had the two first produced boards ready for our test, one Evo 74 Wood technology and one Evo 80 D-Ram technology. Two good sizes for most of us even if the Evo 92 (92 Liters!) would be more interesting for bigger guys.
Firstly, its very small, super compact in the back and quite wide from nose to tail. The nose and the tail are noticeably thinner than a traditional waveboard, then we understand easily what a "parallel outline" means, There is little or no waste of surface.! The rails are well worked on the tail like on a regular surf board. Although blending in as a recognizable Starboard design, the graphics are subtle and clean to let the very pure curves of the Evo express themselves.
The change is "evolutionary" compared to the Acid, the "regular" Starboard waveboard. The pads are completely new with a curvature to ensure good positioning and grip while pushing and executing manoeuvers. It also have shock absorbers under the heels, very good.
In Wood (very nice looking with the deck wood effect) or in D-Ram the finish is perfect.
On the water (Evo 80)
Our test starts at Ho'okipa during a small waves and light wind day, perfect conditions to get on the Evo 80 with a 5.7m? sail! First feeling was that the board is super stable, but you have to get used to the very short nose to avoid diving in non planning conditions, by re-working your position and weight on the board…Once you have this transition tuned in it's really amazing to be so comfortable on a board so small! Actually there is 80 Liters under your feet but you don't feel it.
It's like being on a mini-board! The planing is in fact super easy and fast. We got into the straps without looking due to the good width on the tail. The board accelerate and speed up automatically! Amazing how easy it is to launch a jump, no need for the perfect wave to get the feeling of the Evo's jumping ability. It is really easy due to the large wet-surface under the back foot, and it's fabulous to feel minimum drag. This allows to push the moves and the rotations with a stunning ease! The Evo is a big jumper! Now we can go for the surf with this new style of Fish. And the good surprises continues: The board is super manoeuvrable and easy to handle. We can do everything with it. It's just too easy to get in the right position on the wave, due to its volume displacement and its high level speed. You never need to push to get speed and to be continuously timing for good waves. Carving is a pure pleasure, the liveliness from rail to rail is remarkable, both fast and forgiving, even in cases of minor mistakes in your positioning! You forget about the board and turn fast, it allows to shorten the curves with a maximum of speed to hit the lip with the most energy possible! We arrive on the lip without fear and are surprised by the projection speed at the impact: It's like having a board without any drag at all. It takes off with incredible response, allowing aerials "impossible" with a classic light wind waveboard! Beware during fast rollers and off the lips. In the beginning we didn't have the reflex to move backward to avoid the super short nose to dive. Very responsive and impressive in the light wind conditions, this Evo 80 has really an liveliness matchless for a board of equivalent volume.
Maxi Ease = Maxi Performances (Evo 74)
 In stronger wind the next days we tried the Evo 74 with a 5.0, 4.7, and a 4.5m?, but regret not having a 4.0m?! Both in Little Bay (jump and surf spot) outside Kanaha or at Ho'okipa this small Evo is convincing, with the same riding qualities as the 80. However, with more aggressiveness and a wider range of use in the good waves for a medium weight of 75Kg. Always extremely easy and forgiving, never too technical in surfs, where we can always find the right speed and position, it's one of the most explosive board we ever tried in the manoeuvres - in the jumps and in the surfs. When we mix all this it's just a "tool", or rather a "toy" allowing to push your limits, with easy impulsions, rotations and landings. Manoeuvres became "automatic" and the only limits were our skill or imagination! Due to the instant response and great accelerations with this kind of board, we could use smaller and easier to handle sails than what is normal on a traditional waveboard. For light weight sailors however, a powerful and optimal carve entry is understandably required when over-powered with a 4,5 or smaller sails, due to the wide stance.
In Conclustion
 Much more stable and forgiving than a traditional wave shape, capable of an exceptional energy in the manoeuvers and surf, and also performance machine in terms of acceleration and speed - incredibly versatile in a wide range of conditions - the Starboard's EVO is the first wave board able to very successfully cater for the hardcore Pro's as well as the novice and intermediate wave sailors looking for ease of use. More than a new simple evolution for modern waveriding, the Starboard EVO is opening the trend of a new type of wave boards easy to use, more versatile, and more exciting for all! |
