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's Annabel Anderson has been paddling up a storm in the UK this season in the lead up to key European events in Germany and Holland, including the Invitational Pro Jever SUP World Cup Race in Hamburg.
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Want to get more out of your paddling? Come along to our free training workshops for some hot race tips and techniques from some of our top water men and women. Starts Monday 6 December, Takapuna Beach 5-7pm
Read moreThe closing round of the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour took place Friday 26th / Saturday 27th May at Port Waikato's Sunset Beach, with Starboard's Jeremy Stephenson and Sean Hovell dropping in under favourites Shayne Baxter and Lynden Kennings
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