Starboard unveils the future of downwind foiling with the new Ace Foil⚡ Range and new Foil Blade.
The Ace Foil range was our renewed vision of our infamous Ace Race Board, a leader in many years of ocean racing and a true specialist in the world of stand-up paddle. The Ace design originally debuted as “the NEW” back in 2009, with its radical teardrop design receiving harsh critique and loyal followers. In truth, this shape revolutionized the way we thought about SUP racing, especially ocean racing, with an unexpected top-performing design in larger ocean bumps.
In 2024 we released the Ace Foil range, which was a compressed replica of the original 12’6” Ace, and once again our mark in downwind foiling was made with this unique design, offering versatility, stability, and top-end performance. We love the Ace Foil, and it has quickly become one of our best-selling ranges within our foilboard division. This month we unveil the next evolution of the Ace, with the Ace Foil Lightning⚡.
The ⚡ range follows similar characteristics of our Ace Foil range, only taking the extremes to the next level. We wanted to see how far we could push the limits of performance while offering a range that is usable (not just to our dream team riders) but to all serious downwind foilers.
‚During testing, we designed the ultimate (what we thought) “unusable board” when we first made the 7’5” x 15”. This was meant to be our stopping point, where stability flies out the window and only a 40 kg wizz kid could possibly use the full potential of the design… To our amazement, this board was quite the opposite. Stable, fast, and easy to use—even for our testers who range between 75 and 85 kg.
Earlier this year we took our first samples for a true trial run in Tenerife, where we downwinded large ocean swells with 35 knots of wind on the 7’5” x 15” – WOW, this is the future of downwinding. ‚ – Trevor Tunnington, Foilboard R&D team
The Ace Foil Lightning is available in Blue Carbon construction in four different sizes:
- 8’4” x 19” / 122L Ace Foil Lightning:
The ultimate board for riders up to 110kg, combining high aspect ratio for speed with sufficient volume for enhanced stability. - 8’2” x 18” / 101L Ace Foil Lightning:
Ideal for fast acceleration and long downwinders, this model offers excellent glide and speed. - 7’6” x 17” / 87L Ace Foil Lightning:
A high-performance board with lightning-fast acceleration, perfect for smaller and faster foils. - 7’5” x 15” / 83L Ace Foil Lightning:
The narrowest and highest specification model in the range, designed for exceptional speed and stability.
Sure, the board is quite low on volume, but by adding additional length to this model, creating a more parallel outline than previously, and flattening the entire standing area, this 15” board became our team’s new favorite model.
The Ace Foil⚡range is Starboard Foilboard’s narrowest range ever, designed to deliver superior performance while remaining accessible to serious downwind foilers of all levels. It is the top-performing model for downwind foiling that also has great winging capabilities for those wanting to have fast straight-line wing foiling.
“We’re incredibly excited about the Ace Foil⚡ range and the Foil Blade. Seeing our boldest ideas come to life has been a remarkable journey. We’re thrilled with the performance of these new models and can’t wait for the foiling community to experience the future of downwind foiling.” – Starboard R&D team.
Accompanying the Ace Foil⚡ range is our new Foil Blade, engineered to complement the high-performance characteristics of the Ace Foil boards. Drawing on Starboard’s latest paddle shapes and innovations from the 2025 range, we’ve reimagined the blade specifically for foiling. By incorporating many characteristics of the high-aspect design, we’ve transformed the paddle into a low-aspect version. The result is a short Foil Blade that delivers powerful low-end acceleration from 0 to 10 km/h and precise performance, setting a new standard for SUP foiling.
With the new Foil Blade, we are able to achieve super fast takeoff when foiling thanks to the instant power from the low aspect blade.
We learned from our time in race board development, that the board makes a huge difference, yes, but you can achieve similar performance gains when pairing with the correct paddle. – Starboard R&D team
Designed with a shorter blade to avoid contact with the foil, Foil Blade provides you with more clearance and better maneuverability. Experienced downwind foilers will understand the headache of a snapped paddle blade mid-ocean. And thanks to the shorter blade height, this problem is drastically reduced.
The Foil Blade being so small is also our lightest paddle in the range—the Prepreg carbon blade comes in at 185g—and is a true joy to use over a long-distance downwind session.
Some key features for the new Foil Blade:
- Instant Power and Acceleration:
The blade’s low aspect ratio is designed for rapid acceleration, allowing you to get onto the foil with ease. Its powerful performance is ideal for down winding and quick starts, making it an essential tool for SUP foiling. - Winglets: Borrowed from advanced foil designs, the winglets around the blade’s outline reduce turbulence and flutter. This results in a smoother and more efficient pull through the water, enhancing overall paddling performance.
- Seamless Connection: The Foil Blade features a new inner join from blade to shaft, providing a seamless connection for a smoother, more durable paddle experience.
The Foil Blade comes in two paddle constructions:
Prepreg Carbon is the lightest paddle we have ever made (15% lighter than Carbon Foil technology) and is our top-tier racing construction with pre-impregnated carbon construction.
Carbon Foil is our stronger construction for those who are still worried about knocking their paddle with their foil. Carbon foil features a PVC top sheet for increased strength and stronger impact resistance.
Available in a single M size with two construction options, the Foil Blade is designed to meet the needs of both casual and competitive SUP foilers.