Starboard iSonics took the top 3
places of the PWA Overall Slalom ranking in 2008.
Over the last two seasons, every event was won on an
iSonic, under the feet of Kevin Pritchard, Bjorn
Dunckerbeck and Antoine Albeau. Antoine never won a
single PWA Slalom event until he switched to iSonics.
Bjorn hasn't won a single event since then either,
until he too switched to iSonics last August.
As the 2009 slalom season gets under way, the
2009 iSonics have already lead the tests in France,
Germany and UK, establishing them as the reference
slalom boards yet again.
"Once again, we appreciate the blend of
glide, control and power. This gives it the cutting edge in all
circumstances. Overall Test Verdict: Starboard has really
created waves with their original low nose concept. If it was
necessary to choose, the iSonic is the board with most arguments
in its favor." Wind magazine, April 2009
Quite simply, no other production board range
has enjoyed such dominance in slalom history; and yes, the
boards the top racers are using are really off-the-shelf
production boards: the boards they ride are the same as the
boards you see in the shops.
Where does Starboard's slalom advantage come
from?
The
Maximum Efficiency concept is the key. Massive wind range,
massive user range, maximum top end speed, maximum average
speed, unbeatable overtaking ability and the quickest
acceleration out of jibes: these are the criteria to achieve
maximum efficiency. How to achieve it?
The largest R&D team with a wide variety of body weights: the
iSonics 2010 were developed by Tiesda You, Svein Rasmussen, Remi
Vila, Sven Akerboom, Kevin Pritchard, Cyril Moussilmani, Jimmy
Diaz and Jim Drake. From 60kg to 95kg, from PWA Champions to
your average freerider, no iSonic prototypes are validated
unless all eight designers approve.They need to be the best for
the best, and the best for the rest.
The technical advantage: with Tiesda and Jim's engineering
background that covers various aspects of mechanics, fluid
dynamics and material science, Starboard can blend theoretical
knowledge with feedback from on-the-water testing that gives a
blend that no other brand can match. The famous low-nose
concept, the wide-tail design, the high-aspect ratio planing
surfaces and the extra thin shapes have all come from
theoretical analysis. Today, these have become benchmark
features in modern slalom design.
What's new for 2010?
Rails
with a harder release edge in the back half of the board for the
iSonic 101, 111, 121 and 131:
for a
cleaner water release as the board accelerates on to the plane,
accelerates out of a jibe or accelerates to top speed in a gust,
and for a wider wetted surface area, therefore increasing the
aspect-ratio of the planing surface which adds to the board's
efficiency. More lift + less drag = more speed. The net result:
quicker acceleration, a faster top end speed and a higher
average speed.
New cutaway shapes for the iSonic 101, 111, 121 and 131:
9 variations of the cut-away shapes were tested to find a
new design that increases the efficiency of the planing surface
further. The new shape reduces the wetted surface while
maintaining the width of the tail, therefore reducing drag
without loss of lift, leverage or stability. The result: a
higher top end speed.
What stays for 2010?
The double winger concept, the deep deck concave, the side cuts
in the tail, the low-nose concept and the wide-tail designs
remain for 2010.
The iSonic 86 Slim and the new iSonic 94
The iSonic 94 is an all new shape designed as a smaller
version of the 101. Slightly more 'compact and wide-style'
for a slalom board, the board's wind range and efficiency ratio
is now much higher, giving the top end and high wind performance
greater than that of the outgoing 94 yet with more bottom end
and larger sail carrying capability.
The iSonic 86 Slim is an all new shape identical to the
iSonic 86 but with a thinner profile. 5 litres smaller, it
offers much more control and comfort in high winds and rough
conditions, especially for lighter riders. With the same bottom
hull shape as the 86, the slim offers the same top speed,
acceleration and bottom end. A new and unique concept and a
great choice for those who don't need the extra 5 litres.
Fins for the iSonics
For
2010, the iSonics are delivered without fins. Deboichet SL4, R13
and R16 fins are the fins the R&D team has used for testing the
boards and the fins the racing team is using on tour. These are
obviously the ones most recommended. Each board will have the
recommended fins printed on the tail, together with the ideal
sail sizes.
WARNING: the iSonics have a massive
wind range, therefore a quiver of two to three fins is highly
recommended to take full advantage of the board's performance.
Wood or WoodCarbon?
Wood
offers the best control, the highest level of dynamic shape
stability and increased comfort at a very light weight. The
unidirectional Australian pine wood sheet of 0.6mm thickness
wraps the entire board, deck and bottom, to form a stiff and
rigid shell that is also tough and impact resistant.
WoodCarbon offers the lightest weight of all with a stiffer
construction that offers quicker acceleration in lighter winds.
Unidirectional, ultra light and flat woven carbon is used for
maximum stiffness and minimum weight.
The iSonic WoodCarbons are only available for the larger
sizes. This construction itself is staggered into two groups:
the iSonic 94, 101, 111 WoodCarbons are built with a carbon deck
and a wood bottom to achieve a blend between stiffness and
control, as these boards are used mainly in medium wind
strengths. The iSonic 121, 131 and 144 WoodCarbons are built in
carbon both deck and bottom, as these boards are mainly used in
lighter winds. All WoodCarbon boards feature a wood spine on the
deck to add structural rigidity and shock-absorbing and
vibration-damping effect.
