For a long time, the Starboard Wing Board was my go-to board for wing foiling. It was stable, reliable, and offered a solid foundation for my progression in the sport. However, after hearing so many positive things about the Starboard Take Off, I decided it was time to try something new and see what the hype was all about.
The Starboard Wing Board
The Starboard Wing Board has served me well ever since I began learning to wing foil. Initially I progressed using the 5'8 x 25" (88 litre) in Lite Tech, and then swapped it for the shorter but wider 5'2 x 27.5" (90 litre) in carbon. It feels like it's designed with stability in mind. The wider, shorter shape helped with my balance on the water, making it easier to get up onto the foil. It’s the perfect board for building confidence and nailing the basics of wing foiling.
The Take Off is more performance-oriented so it caters for more experienced riders. It’s slightly longer and narrower than the Wing Board for the same volume, which immediately intrigued me because of its potential for speed and agility. After hearing rave reviews from other riders and doing my research, I decided to give it a try.
The Starboard Take Off
The first time I took the Starboard Take Off out on the water, I noticed the difference between the two boards. The board’s narrower profile and more pointed nose allowed me to pick up speed much more quickly than the Wing Board. It felt like I was slicing through the water with ease, and the board was eager to lift off the surface and onto the foil.
Once I was up and foiling, it felt like a smaller board even though it was a similar volume to my Wing Board. It's a little more responsive underfoot, making it easier to do tight turns which is fun but may make the learning process take a bit longer if you're still progressing with your tacks and gybes. The stability is still there, and whenever I touched down briefly it quickly popped back up onto the foil thanks to the bottom shape.
One of the biggest benefits I’ve experienced with the Take Off is its ability to gain speed quickly. The narrower width and longer outline of the board mean it's a little bit less stable on the water surface, but I can tell it definitely reduces drag, helping me get onto the foil earlier.
The board’s agility is another standout feature. The Take Off responds instantly to any movements I make, whether I’m gybing, adjusting my stance, or shifting my weight to maintain balance. This has meant I've had to be much more aware of my riding, it's less forgiving than the Wing Board but means I can try new manoeuvres that I might not have attempted before.
The Starboard Take off has improved my overall wing foiling skills. I’ve been practicing my technique, using the board’s responsiveness to maximise every session, even when the conditions aren’t perfect.
After spending time on both the Starboard Wing Board and the Starboard Take Off, I can confidently say that the new Take Off is the board for me now. While I love the Wing Board and think it's a great board, the Take Off offers me more opportunity to continue progressing my wing foiling skills. However, if you're after a board that's got a wider area on the water to help you balance before getting up onto the foil, or if you're still getting the hang of tacks and gybes, the Wing Board does it all perfectly.
Wing board:
Take Off:
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