Stefano, a rider from Cagliari, told us in the Waterwind forum his impressions of one of Starboard's wave windsurfing boards: the Hyper in the 83-liter size.

Windsurfing: impressions on the Starboard Hyper 83 2024

The review is so complete and full of interesting ideas, that it would be a shame to leave it confined to the forum. There is a risk that over time it will get lost in the huge amount of ​​constantly open discussions in the forum. I therefore thought of highlighting it, transforming it into a specific article, which will always remain easily available in the Waterwind section dedicated to equipment reviews.

I therefore leave you with the words of Stefano, who also made a detailed comparison with his previous board, the Quatro Pyramid 2021.

First test in the water

"Hi guys, I recently got the Hyper 83. I was able to try it here in Sardinia in the tail end of this last September disturbance in strong but extremely gusty wind conditions, with large holes in the wind that allowed me to evaluate its buoyancy and planing start in "float and go" conditions. I would like to point out that my weight is 72 kg and therefore it is a judgment related to the fact that I am a "lightweight", therefore what I say could evidently not be true for an 85 kg windsurfer. What I express here is not a complete judgment because it is based on a very limited test and furthermore it is not even an absolute judgment, but rather a relative one, determined more than anything by comparison with my board of origin, which is the Quatro Pyramid 2021 (the red one, to be clear).

The first impression that surprised me the most was the speed of planing, which instead I expected to be its weak point; the Hyper starts planing very easily and in any case definitely before the Pyramid. Intrigued by this unexpected feature, I got myself a template to see the rockerline that Starboard defines as "plenty of noise rocker and tail kick". Well, with no small surprise I verified that the board is extremely straight in the entire central part, let's say from the mast foot to the side fins, ending with a modest tail kick. Therefore I can say that Starboard's statement (plenty of tail kick) is not at all confirmed by reality, demonstrating that miracles cannot be performed: if the board planes as quickly as it seemed to me, it must necessarily have had a decidedly fast rocker line, so much so that in comparison the Pyramid is really a banana. The second thing I noticed is the remarkable ability to support my weight in the absence of wind, allowing me to lift the sail quite easily with the recovery line; this makes me think that in reality the volume is slightly more than the 83 liters declared.

An excellent feature is that it absorbs the water's chop very well and does not get upset in bottom turns at speed in strong wind conditions, resulting in this area more reassuring than the Pyramid (which is a bit more bouncy), thus confirming the nature of the board particularly dedicated to fast and powerful wave conditions. As for the surfing characteristics, it seemed to me (but it is only an impression limited to the brief test in the water) that the board is certainly very reactive to side changes, but perhaps a bit less "surfy" than the Pyramid; to be clear, while the Pyramid inspires more a surf-style use, the Hyper seems more conceived for powerful and high-speed surfing, more for downtheline conditions".

Second test in the water

"The slightly stingy weather conditions have not yet allowed me to fully test the Hyper, however I was able to enjoy a day in Chia with a meter high waves and side-off wind (more off than side to be honest), that allowed me to catch some decent waves. I continue the comparison with the other reference board, that is the Quatro Pyramid. As I said, the small waves condition and very gusty and weak wind have at least allowed me to do a trial run for a board with such sleek lines. In the meantime I can confirm the pleasant surprise of a more than acceptable planing start, which I confirm is a little faster than the Pyramid of the same volume.

But which differences have I found in surfing between the Hyper and the Pyramid? It is not easy to explain on this point, but I could summarise it like this: while the Pyramid leads you a little into the trajectories doing part of the work for you thanks to its fluidity and excellent release in the top turn, the Hyper demands your absolute initiative with a decidedly more precise and active conduction. However it has two phenomenal characteristics that are very important in my opinion: the first is that it gives a sense of security and control when hitting the bottom at full speed that the Pyramid doesn't even make you dream of, and the second is that it goes exactly where you decide to send it with surgical precision, a characteristic that the Pyramid also has in part but not as effectively and with a little more uncertainty; the Pyramid however partly repays by requiring less strength when making the top turn. These are obviously judgments to be taken with a pinch of salt, given the somewhat poor conditions. I would say that perhaps while the Pyramid seems to give its best in intermediate and softer conditions with a more fluid and more classic surfing style, the Hyper seems designed for more important conditions, where absolute control and precision make the difference; to be clear, the Pyramid in Pacasmayo and the Hyper in Ponta Preta !!!!"

Third test in the water

"Once that horrible wind between 40 and 50 knots yesterday was over, which is, at least in my opinion, the worst thing that can happen for good wave-riding and for a good test on the equipment, finally I got into water today to ride with the Hyper 83 some excellent waves in Chia with light side-off wind. Waves were not big (1.5 meters) but really powerful (the period was 9 - 10 seconds and we started like splinters with the 4.8 despite a wind of just 12-14 knots almost straight from the beach).

The Hyper showed all its potential in this condition, that is a burning start on the wave and a really immediate response to impulses that allows you to easily position it wherever you want on the face of the wave; I have to say that with this board I can enter with more verticality on the wave than I was able to do in the past with other boards, such as the Quatro Pyramid 2020/21 (which is still a fantastic board) or the Goya Custom quad 2020/21 (the latter instead a real disappointment and in my opinion rigid and not very reactive in pure surfing).

But one of the most beautiful features of the Hyper is the size of its outline compared to the volume. Underfoot and in surfing it feels like being with a 75 liters, but it floats without any problem under my 72 kg plus wetsuit plus rig (I recover the sail from the water with the uphaul line). Intrigued by this sensation I carefully measured it and these are its real dimensions: length cm. 221, max width cm. 55.7, o.f.o 32.0, thickness cm. 13.4, which you can see, with the exception of the thickness, are the typical measurements of a 75 liters.

The deck is rather "curved", and its humpback shape terribly incites you to forcefully sink the leeward rail, instigating an aggressive surf aided by the great sense of security and control it transmits. I have to say, however, that it's not all sunshine and rainbows. I actually had the chance to try it in side-on conditions with strong wind and a slightly messy sea and I have to say that it was really unpleasant. That shape that performs so well and is so exciting in the side-off conditions of Chia has actually turned out to be really unsuitable for those opposite and less-than-perfect conditions; in that rodeo-like sea, in fact, the shape of its deck turns out to be counterproductive and its considerable thickness is felt a lot, which makes you lose a bit of feeling with the board in its messy bouncing on the choppy sea; furthermore, if you try to surf "clew forward" in side-on conditions, it tends to lose speed quickly, perhaps because of its narrow and thin tail.

In conclusion, I can say that if we intend to use it in spots that are mainly side-off, preferring down-the-line riding, then it is likely that we will have a top-notch tool; but it gives nothing away on the opposite front. Therefore, in my opinion, those who want a single board for very different conditions should look elsewhere. Those who are planning to go to Maui or Cape Verde or similar places could seriously think about it. For those who want to use it profitably in Sardinia, it will certainly give satisfaction in Chia, Maresciallo and Capo Mannu, three spots usually with cross-off wind and adequately fast and powerful waves, while it will be much less satisfying in spots like Funtana Meiga due to the slowness of its waves and the side-shore wind".