When talking of human-powered speed on water – paddleboarding is right after kayaking the second fastest way to face the riding direction. Rowing is the fastest.
Racing paddleboards are one of the most advanced of the bunch, built for the advanced bunch. Although there’s only a handful of traditional manufacturers out there – the selected few best race SUP brands are all competing with one another by counting the World Championship titles.
Whether you’re after a downwind, flatwater, all-round or a pure racing paddleboard, the selection is out there. Have a look!
Listed by the total number of board types & sizes
#1 SIC Maui
2006 – Hawaii
TYPES: Rigid – Composite / Rigid – Thermoformed / Inflatable
PRICE: Premium
MODELS:
Hardboards – Atlantis, Bullet, XRS, Sonic, RS, RS Youth
Inflatable – RS Air, Bullet Air, RS Youth Air, Okeanos Air
Number one in this list is must be a brand that’s based out in Hawaii.
SIC Maui is a name and logo every true waterman and waterwomen is aware of. With roots in downwind paddling from open ocean swells to harbors, lakes and rivers, flat and choppy – all of their boards are built for the premium market. With extensive knowledge of shaping, condition and customer feedback – you’ll find the best selection of race boards out there. With Stand Up Paddleboarding as their main bread – they are also the specialists in basically any other surf discipline – wind, kite, foil, wingfoil, etc.
SIC = Sandwich Islands Composites
Sic Maui Racing Hardboards
RS (Downwind, Race, Touring) Super Fly
14’0″ x 26″
14’0″ x 24.5″
14’0″ x 23″
14’0″ x 21.5
14’0″ x 21.5″ LV
Atlantis (Downwind, Race) Super-fly
14’0″ x 22″
14’0″ x 24″
14’0″ x 26″
Bullet (All-round flatwater, Downwind, Touring) Dragon-fly
11’0″ x 28.5″
12’6″ x 28.5″
12’6″ x 30″
14’0″ x 27.5″
14’0″ x 30″
XRS (All-Round Flatwater, Race, Touring)
14’0″ x 24″
14’0″ x 22″
14’0″ x 20″
Sonic (All-Round Flatwater, Race, Touring) Ace-Tec
12’6″ x 30″
RS Youth (Downwind, Race, Touring) Super Fly
12’6″ x 22″
Sic Maui Inflatable Racing Paddle Boards
RS Air (All-around flatwater, Race, Touring)
11’0″
12’6″
14’0″ x 28″
14’0″ x 26″
Bullet AIR (Downwind, Race, Touring) Fusion-skin X2
14’0″
17’4″
RS Youth AIR (All-Round Flatwater, Race, Touring)
11’0″
Okeanos AIR (All-Round Flatwater, Race, Touring)
12’6″
14’0″
#2 Naish
1979 – Maui, Hawaii
PRICE: Premium
TYPES: Hardboards, Inflatable
MODELS:
Hardboards – Javelin / Maliko
Inflatable – Maliko Carbon Light, Maliko Fusion Carbon, ONE, ONE Alana
Another premium brand that will definitely be written in the history of paddleboarding. Not only due to its birthplace roots related to ancient paddleboarding, but mainly because Naish is the oldest race SUP brands out there. With a slightly smaller selection – they have it all for the right occasion.
Available in both inflatable and rigid forms – there’s a lot to read about each boards’ performance capabilities.
Sic Maui RACING HARDBOARDS
Maliko (Race/All-water)
Molded EPS Closed Cell Core
14’0″ x 23″ x 7 1/2″ – 242L
14″ x 26″ x 7 1/2″ – 273L
14’0″x 28″ x 7 1/2″ – 295L
Javelin (Race/Flat-water)
Molded EPS Closed Cell Core
14’0″ x 22″ x 9 3/8 – 256L
14’0″ x 24″ x 9 3/8 – 280L
Sic Maui RACING INFLATABLE SUPs
Maliko Inflatable Carbon Light (Inflatable Performance Racing)
14’0″ x 25″ x 6″ – 330L
14’0″ x 27″ x 6″ – 357L
Maliko Inflatable Fusion Carbon (Inflatable Performance Racing)
14’0″ x 25″ x 6″ – 330L
14’0″ x 27″ x 6″ – 357L
ONE Inflatable (ONE-Design Racing)
12’6″ x 30″ x 6″ – 301L
ONE Alana (Women’s ONE Design Racing)
12’6″ x 30″ x 6″ – 301L
#3 Starboard
Bangkok, Thailand
TYPES: Inflatable & hardboards
PRICE: Mid-range
MODELS:
Hardboards – All-Star / Sprint
Inflatable – All Star, All Star Downwind, The Wall
Based out of densely populated Bangkok, Thailand – Starboard is a great contrast to wild and secluded brands from the Hawaiian Islands. While it is believed that the ancient paddleboarding originated out of Hawaii, Bangkok has a totally different background in waterways and the making of SUP. Calm, flat-water island crossings, rivers and the fact that they’re not too far from the mecca for surfers – Indonesia, there’s a lot to expect from Starboard.
Starboard also has one of the widest selection of boards for basically every possible occasion out there. They pride themselves in making both solid and inflatable boards for the mid-range market.
Starboard Racing Hardboards
All-Star (All condition)
14’0″ x 28″ x 8.5″ – 331L
14’0″ x 26″ x 10.5″ – 340L
14’0″ x 24.5″ x 10.5″ – 324L
14’0″ x 23″ x 10.6″ – 303L
14’0″ x 21.75″ x 10.7″ – 278L
Sprint (Race)
14’0″ x 25.5″ x 10.8″ – 300L
14’0″ x 23″ x 10.7″ – 270L
14’0″ x 20.75″ x 12″ – 252L
Starboard Inflatable Race Boards
All Star (Downwind)
14’0″ x 28″ x 6″ – 367L
All Star
14’0″ x 28″ x 6″ – 367L
14’0″ x 26″ x 6″ – 323L
14’0″ x 24.5″ x6″ – 310L
12’6″ x 27″ x 6″ – 307L
12’6″ x 25.5″ x 6″ – 294L
The Wall (Composite Race Board)
14’0” x 30” x 4.72″ + 2″ – 324L
14’0” x 28” x 4.75″ x 2″ – 302L
12’6” x 28” x 4.75″ +2″ – 269L
#4 Aqua Marina
1991 – Shanghai, China
TYPES: Inflatable
PRICE: Mid-range
MODELS:
Race 12’6″ x 27″
Race 14’0 x 27″
Race Elite 14’0″ x 25″
Aqua Marina is featured in almost all of our SUP Brand Reviews for a very good reason. They are one of the top brands to have put out the largest number of different SUP types and sizes. Sold from all over the world, they are definitely a brand to consider if you are after a mid-range inflatable board that will last and perform way above the dollar you’ll pay. Their current range consists of three boards in two lengths and outlines. The Race series is best suited for anyone who values portability as much as they value performance. The Race Elite is its faster counterpart with an ultra-stiffening carbon fiber reinforced stringers (CFR™ Technology) and a more aero/aquadynamical outline.
All of their iSUP deals are combined with everything necessary to get you going – a race fin, a compact yet sturdy carry bag and a leash. All you’ve got to do is choose a suitable paddle to match the board and your performance. That’s the fun part as you’ll be saving a bunch due to their lower-average price tag.
#5 RED Paddle Co
2008 – South Devon, United Kingdom
TYPE: Inflatable
PRICE: Premium
MODELS:
12’6″ Elite MSL
14’0″ Elite MSL
22’0″ Dragon MSL
With a 5-year warranty, hassle-free returns and free delivery – RED stands out due to their dedication to detail and above-average quality standard in the iSUP market. All of their accessories and boards are directed to the high-end consumer market. Unlike the top 4 brands in this list – RED definitely stands out thanks to their multi-person 22-footer Dragon SUP and the attention to detail.
If you are after a personalized service and product – there’s no better brand the RED Paddle Co.
#6 Hala Gear
2001 – Yampa River, Colorado
TYPES: Inflatable
PRICE: Mid-range
MODELS:
Carbon Nass T (Race, Touring)
12’6″ x 30″ x 6″
14′ x 28″ x 4.75″
Not many brands have what it takes to try and make (not even talking of releasing) a series of racing SUPs, but Hala has done it. Besides their many other board types for all kinds of different disciplines, the Carbon Nass T is a perfect alternative to rigid boards by having a nearly idendical performance and feel. They use their own Woven Dropstitch and Patended Carbon Stringer technology which should offer the best money-can-buy speed trainer out there.
As an extra – you get the whole package without needind to look into paddles.
New to paddleboarding?
New to inflatable paddleboards – are they any good?
Inflatable paddle boards have been around for nearly 10 years which means that they’ve successfully passed the first trial-and-error phase.
Matter of fact – inflatable boards are booming for a variety of good reasons – they offer a nearly idendical ride and feel to performance boards with a fracture of cost. For new paddleboarders, it sounds more of an hoax, but it’s not. When comparing an average All-round hardboard to its inflatable counterpart – the speed difference is around 5%. Also, you don’t have to worry about roof racks and extra storage. The main difference between the boards’ performance is summed by “performance vs portability” for the other 13 Types of Paddleboards, while the selected brands reviewed above are perfect examples to prove that wrong.
Inflatable boards are as good as hardboards, especially in terms what you get out of them.
Read next – 45 Best SUP Brands
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I created Nulltuul to share my experience, research and analysis with other surf enthusiasts out there. If I'm not surfing on my travels - I like to photograph waves, surfers, and the surf lifestyle in general.