From: Michael Shin

Subject: Speed test of 14 SUP boards (all 14' long)

Date: 16 March, 2012

To: Mike Fekete David Nemethy-Fekete

Here's a link to a recent test done on 14 SUP boards, each one 14' long: http://www.supvic.com/the-rps-supvic-ultimate-14-board-test/ This is probably the best and most comprehensive speed test of SUP boards ever done.

They had 14 paddlers paddle each one of the 14 boards over a flat water 300m course with a 180 degree turn halfway. However 5 of the paddlers didn't test all 14 boards so their results were not included.

The winner of the test was the Starboard Ace 14' x 25", by a clear margin. It was interesting to see that this board was the fastest in flat water, which I didn't expect. I know that this board is also great in mild to moderate downwind conditions.

Here's a summary of the results:

So the accumulative total (each paddler's time on the board added together) for each board ranked by best time:

1. 19:06 - Starboard Ace 25
2. 19:36 (equal) - DC14 & NSP
4. 19:42 - Naish Javelin
5. 19:48 - Fanatic Fly Race Flat
6. 19:50 - Surftech Bark Dominator
7. 19:51 - Starboard Ace Pro
8. 19:52 - Starboard Ace 27
9. 20:10 - Surftech JM Paddleboards
10. 20:26 - Naish Glide
11. 20:34 - Fanatic Fly Race Open
12. 20:40 - Starboard Pierce Touring
13. 20:45 - Sunny King
14: 21:00 - Starboard Open Ocean AST

As for the paddlers, the top 10 fastest times posted were:

1:52 - CAMO on the Starboard Ace 25"

1:54 - LIGHTNING on the NSP

1:54 - CAMO on the Starboard Ace 27"

1:56 - CAMO on the Fanatic Flat

1:56 - LIGHTNING on the Starboard Ace Pro

1:56 - WOOZ on the Naish Javelin

1:57 - LIGHTNING on the DC14

1:57 - LAZZA on the JM

1:57 - LIGHTNING on the Bark

1:57 - LIGHTNING on the JM

There was some bias in the results since some of the boards were tested earlier on average than the other boards - resulting in an advantage since the testers would be less tired. Likewise some boards were tested later on average resulting in a disadvantage. Considering the timed results and the average test order bias, I'd say the fastest boards are the following in order from fastest first:

1. Starboard Ace 25" wide (Fastest by a significant margin. If the buoy turn was not included, this board would likely have been the fastest by an even bigger margin.)

2. Dale Chapman

3. Tied: NSP, Naish Javelin, Fanatic Fly Race Flat 27" wide, Bark Dominator (since the Javelin was less stable than the NSP, Fanatic Flat, and Dominator, I'd rate it lower overall though)

The NSP (2nd place in the test) was 24 seconds faster than the Bark Dominator (6th place in the test) but the NSP was tested 5.6th out of 14 boards while the Bark was tested 9.2 out of 14 boards. My guess is that if they were tested in the same position, the Bark would have been as fast as the NSP.

It would be interesting to determine the average time for all the runs based on the order of the run. So you'd determine the average time for all boards tested first by all paddlers, second by all paddlers, etc. An approximate "order handicap" could be calculated to even out the distortion from test order.

In the meantime, I've done a quick analysis of which boards had an advantage or disadvantage due to testing order. I've attached my analysis as a file.

Also, here are the discussion forums on StandUpZone and Seabreeze (Australia) regarding this test:

http://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=15273.0

http://www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/RPS-SUP-Vic-ultimate-14-board-test-results/

Michael