Amara Watersports and SiamSurfDogs have been testing the Starboard Pocket Rocket SUP in Thailand and Cambodia ever since the first models of this board came out.

This is what Surf Dog had to say about it.

Review: Starboard Pocket Rocket 8’5 x 30 SUP (AST construction)

Rider

Weight: 78kg

Height: 183cm

Ability: Intermediate (hmm not sure about that) LOL - Light weight riders with good balance can use on flat water immediately. 70kg - 85kg riders will need to do some hours on bigger boards first before can use this board even on Flat water. Not a good first board unless you have previous experience and good balance.

Having previously ridden Starboards 9’8, 10’, 10’5, 11’2, 12’ and 14’8 Stand Up Paddleboards obviously the first thing that struck me about the Pocket Rocket was the noticeable difference in weight, size and overall bulk, its a dinky pocket sized SUP. This is a manageable board size, it fits into the tray of my truck nicely, it can be loaded onto a roof rack by one person easily and I don’t have to switch arms carrying it down to the beach.

The next thing that strikes you is the radical shape of the board, a single to double concaved stinger with plenty of nose, moving down into a pulled quad finned swallow tail…a veritable sex machine. This combination of length and design culminates into a board with unique performance characteristics.

Paddling on flat water the Pocket Rocket is surprisingly stable. It doesn’t have the same effortless glide as the longer boards and it won’t track as straight but it does feel equally as solid underfoot. Although I wouldn’t recommend this as a beginner model, I have placed first timers on this board and they’ve taken to it in seconds.

I’ve been having so much fun surfing this board in a variety of small wave conditions. It’s not until you take this board into the surf and pull into that first wave that you can really understand how the design features come into play.

The shorter length makes it easy to spin around into position quickly and it fits better into a smaller wave shape than the longer boards. The big nose has plenty of surface area to paddle in early, and once moving, a slight transfer of weight over the back foot opens up the Pocket Rocket’s quick turning ability giving it a loose fun board feel. This sweet spot between the nose and tail sections gives the Pocket Rocket its fine balance between fast acceleration and responsive bite into a turn.

I’ve not had the opportunity to try this board in bigger waves yet but I feel confident the Pocket Rocket will handle size and she will be accompanying me on a trip to Indo very shortly to prove herself.

There’s a good reason why this is currently the best selling sub 9’ SUP in the world. For a rider looking for a dedicated all wave type, all conditions surfing SUP it’s a hard choice to beat. I really found the love for the 8’5 Pocket Rocket and it’s pumped my stoke for SUP, a definite keeper. In conclusion all I have to say is go buy one, ride it and cherish that baby.

Again, a huge thank you to Amara Watersports for their constant encouragement and for letting me test drive this beauty!

Here is a video of Craig playing with it in Pattaya in ankle waves (actually measured in gecko toes not feet)

In Phuket Swell it was an absolute blast.

So how does Starboard SUP Pocket Rocket work in Big Swell? - SUP West Java

The Starboard 8'5 Pocket Rocket SUP made the journey to Indonesia with us. It was surprisingly painless travelling with a short paddleboard, ( and two paddles; we even managed to fit the paddleboard nicely into the motorbike rack without toppling the bike over. The Pocket Rocket worked a treat in bigger surf and at Sawarna we had very long rides enabling us to take off right on the first peak with enough speed to make the sections, fly straight through the line-up and all the way down the point.

Surfing the Pocket Rocket in West Java was a great learning experience regards travelling with and handling a paddleboard in bigger waves: 
1. A quality extra strong leash is a must. The leashes we brought just couldn't handle the punishment and snapped or pulled out of shape when the SUP tested them to their elastic limit. (Caveman Heavy Duty SUP leashes - no frills, just strong - available now)

2. The SUP's primary disadvantage over a surfboard - it can't be duck-dived under a wave - is balanced by its main advantages, namely the ability to see incoming waves further out and increased paddling speed. 
3. With a ledged reef break the SUP still has to take off in very much the same area as when riding a surfboard, whereas at a beach break where waves form and hold up for longer a wave can be caught and ridden much further out than a surfboard. 
4. The SUP is truly an amazingly versatile design, it can be ridden on any wave of any size however there are certain breaks and conditions where a SUP is better suited. 
5. The lighter the SUP model construction the better when travelling. 
6. Taking the drop from a standing position is pure fun.

The stand up paddleboard was well received by all; we avoided using the SUP if a break already had a crew of surfers on it and respected the local surfers in the line-up. To our knowledge this was the first paddleboard to make an appearance in the Cimaja area and for sure the first SUP the local Indonesians had ever seen. The local Indonesian surfers thought it was really cool and some of the Jakartan weekend crew commented that it looked like a lot of fun.

The local Indonesian fishermen are predominantly paddle powered; they paddle their jukungs in and out to small fishing stations anchored further offshore all day. When they'd see me paddling my SUP around they'd curiously move closer for a better look and then give a big toothy smile and a thumbs-up in approval. There was an instant connection, we'd both stare and smile at each other paddle in hand, we shared something in common.