STARBOARD SPRINT AIRLINE 14’0 X 27 TEST REVIEW
Verdict:
The travelling racer’s dilemma is finally solved. The Sprint Airline is an inflatable raceboard that is fiercely competent, and affordable, against top-end hard boards. Thanks to the unique Airline tensioner, a slammed rocker-line and thin, piercing nose, the Sprint Airline transmits the maximum possible energy from the paddler’s stroke to forward speed. You don’t even need logistical issues to love this board, it’s that quick and easy to paddle.
Overview:
The Sprint is a no-compromise, flat water inflatable race board. The outline has strong resemblance to the hard board Sprint: a taper to the needle-like nose starts just forward of the mid-point. There is a slight draw towards the square. On deck a cluster of beach-start handles sit behind the cargo bungee. Two carbon stringers run the full length to enhance stiffness. The EVA deckpad features raised edges that effectively widen the standing area. Up front, a nose cone carries a fascinating feature: the Airline. This is a free-floating, tensioned cable that is secured just behind the nose, before running around the nose cone, under the length of the board to anchor at the fin. This allows you to tune the flex and stiffness of the board. A further stiffening carbon stringer lives underneath, and the whole board is built with mechanically bonded seams that won’t degrade like glue can.
Brand Claim:
“The fastest flat water inflatable board. Flat water races on inflatable boards are about to be revamped. Similar to its composite counterpart, the Sprint Airline board is meant to be fastest board in the flat water conditions.
With a narrow nose to cut through the water surface, the centre of balance sits behind the middle of the board providing great acceleration.
Woven Fusion dropstitch technology maintains the board at its lightweight. The cutting edge standing tray is another innovation securing stability, control and comfort, while the edge release technology reduces drag by creating a laminar flow behind the board.”
Performance:
The Sprint is loaded with features but all you need to set is the Airline tension. This is easily done by securing it on the setting you want before fully inflating the board. Pumped up, the Sprint has a crisp, shell-like rigidity. This is immediately apparent on the water with the Sprint’s refusal to conform to bucking Atlantic chop.
The rocker-line lies flat to the water and with the needle nose this board slices into a headwind in way we’ve not experienced on an inflatable before. The EVA standing tray is a welcome feature. It offers more stance width options, provides better feedback than conventional turned down rail edges, and permits you to fine tune your leverage when steering from a rail.
On calm, flat water you really see the Sprint’s glide. Deceleration between paddle strokes is minimal; it just keeps prowling forward with the lowest resistance from the flat rocker line and sleek nose. This is a world-class racer with low barriers to purchase and accessing its performance.
Vital Stats:
Price: £1349.00 – no paddle £1439.00 – with Lima Tufskin paddle
Length: 14’0
Width: 27”
Thickness: 6”
Volume: 316 litres
Weight: 11.6 kg
Fin: Race 23