INBOUND – STARBOARD VIVA 

 Exciting developments out of the Starboard camp as they unveil a brand new wing range… and it all starts with the Viva. Starboard founder Svein Rasmussen gave us some insight into this new lightweight all-rounder built with the very latest materials.

 Hi Svein. You first disrupted windsurfing back in 1994 with the Starboard Windsurf gear that accelerated progression – how does the new wing range aim to do the same for wingfoiling over 30 years later?

Winging brings my 50 years fascination with water sport gear development to the next level of engagement. We look at all the variants in our sport, like the low aspect Source model avoiding wingtips from touching the water while progressing. The Bowstring development enables a 60% slimmer leading edge than a traditional wing, making freestyle rotations easier, while opening up for new dimensions of performance within racing. We specifically develop lightweight, durable fabrics with selected material suppliers and apply them efficiently. Back in 1999, we introduced Dyneema to water sports with our D-Ram tech, now we are onto the H2, Ultra-X and other Gen 2 materials. Hardware like the boom is also critical – here it’s all about ergonomic shape, firm grip, low weight and high strength.

So let’s focus on the Viva, which is the first wing to drop from the new range. It’s positioned as a lightweight, versatile all-rounder – what’s its defining role?

The Viva is a lightweight, versatile all-rounder made to excel in any conditions, any discipline – and yes, it does flag out really well. The straight middle section of the leading edge creates on-demand power together with the lightweight Aeroflex 55 material in the front section of the canopy that promotes forward drive, while a balanced medium aspect shape and dihedral makes the wing incredibly well-rounded regardless of what you throw at it.

We understand it uses a range of new materials including the Aeroflex 55. Can you please talk us through how these materials will benefit riders once on the water? 

We selected HTD160 (High Tenacity Dacron) as it is the strongest relative to its weight. It’s dyed in a light ivory shade to keep temperature and PSI pressure stable – unlike dark-colored frames that rise from 10 to 13 PSI in the sun, the ivory HTD160 only increases from 10 to 10.2 PSI. This keeps pressure consistent and drastically extends the life of the bladder and seams.

Aeroflex at only 55g weight provides a hint of flex in the luff (front) section of the canopy, creating shape and forward drive for more effortless acceleration. Code-Tec 85, an extra-strong mini ripstop ranking as the better “normal” canopy material, delivers stability in the middle section of the canopy. Ultra-X, developed to minimize stretch and maximize durability, is placed in the aft (rear) panels that are most exposed to stretch and sharp foil tip impacts. At the wingtips, where pressure is minimal due to the lower volume, Ultra-X also replaces HTD160 – reducing weight by 45% in this critical swing-weight zone.

Speaking of weight, it’s always a headline topic in wing design. The materials you've chosen are noticeably different to some traditional options on the market…

Our initial focus was to deliver the Viva as the highest-value product in the market. We calculate the weight and cost of every segment of the wing, looking for efficient weight savings and added durability.  For example, the combination of a 160g High Tenacity Dacron and the 90g strong bladder totals 250g saving per m² reduced. By positioning the boom connection point far forward on the center strut, the struts diameter can then be reduced by 30% as the stiffness is achieved through the prepreg UD carbon boom – an elegant way to increase stiffness while reducing weight and cost.

Our unique Ultra-X material is 4x stronger than traditional canopy cloth and weighs only 85g per m². We utilize this non-stretch, expensive material to keep the aft part of the wing tight and add another row at the tips, preventing foil rips there. Ultra-X is half the weight of the High Tenacity Dacron, so we prescribe Ultra-X in the actual wings tips of the airframe as well, saving weight in the very most critical areas – the area further away from the rider – helping to keep swing weight down and make maneuvers lighter and more effortless.

So the Viva sets the tone. What can we expect from the rest of the Starboard Wing range that’s rolling out through 2026?

Our freestyle wing – the Reactor – is yet to come. We have had it in the works all year, but at Starboard we only release products we really feel are class leading. Design brief is extra lift and high rotation speed. We have worked a lot on aspect ratios and find that the larger sizes need lower aspect for better rotational acceleration while the smaller sizes need more lift. The dihedral and taper ratios will be lower to increase rotation. We have also experimented putting the handle far down to make this fabulous freestyle wing great to flag out and ride downwind with as well. 

How has rider feedback and testing influenced the final design of the Viva, and the 2026 wing range as a whole?

I take everyone's feedback extraordinarily seriously. We have probably had 10 different riders test the wing in a variety of locations and conditions. It would be anyone from podium wave riders like Benoit Carpentier and Junior Freestyler Enoha Laurent, to designer Clinton Filen and myself – perhaps the most impossible progressive wingfoiler to please.