but it can claim to have been at the forefront of this relatively new sport, which is rapidly developing along a seemingly infinite amount of developmental directions.
Starboard became the worlds most successful and largest producer's of sailboards, living by their slogan of "Innovation and quality". Thinking outside the box producing boards that a lot of people would laugh at first, (being so different from anything they'd ever seen), but then when function overrode form, and these boards started to sell by the truckload. Well, these people weren't laughing anymore and were scrambling to catch up to produce similar boards.
It could be said the same thing has occurred in stand up Paddling. Starboard's founder Svein Rasmussen unravelled the Whopper to some dubious onlookers, with surfing never having seen anything so wide. But when a board that was so simple to ride had such incredible performance capabilities, the detractors soon followed with ultra wide boards of their own.
Starboard Sup has also been the leader in the production of the shorter length SUP's, continuing to re-define what was once thought impossible, when all others had thought we'd reached the minimum length long time ago.
Innovative thoughts turned into quality products with an exhaustive R&D program utilizing a state of the art custom factory who's sole purpose is the production of prototypes, that would put most companies actual factories to shame. All in the name of producing the best product possible, catering to the needs beyond today.
"Starboards main focus has always been to apply revolutionary ideas a few years ahead of the crowd. Time after time the development crew get there first, creating real excitement, and the base for new performance levels."
Svein Rasmussen.
Starboard NZ team in Top Five! Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race, Sunday July 25, 2010. The 14th consecutive year of this challenging 32 mile crossing of the Ka'iwi Channel ("channel of bones") in Hawaii.
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The Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour with Starboard Stand Up Paddle Surf Contest continues this weekend at Mount Maunganui February 19-20, 2011. Come and watch the action, or get out on the water with NZ's best...
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