Pictures & Article by: Dom Gaud

The new Alpha 14’ racer from Coreban arrived yesterday and I was given the first look at the new speedsters.

Specs: 14' x 28" x 6.5",  279.6 Litres

Sandvlei was the testing ground in rather difficult conditions with a strong SE wind making the regular paddle route challenging.

Both the Pure Range board and Carbon Kevlar board were made available.

First impressions: This is a very sexy looking board that has been design with speed in mind. The Pure board feels about the same weight as other boards in its class, however the Carbon Kevlar version has a definite weight advantage.

The matt finish to the bottom and the well-drawn lines give a great indication that this board has the ability to move swiftly though the water. The noise has a fare amount of rocker with a  “displacement “style leading into a flat bottom, which inturn leads into a subtle double concave into a vee which runs into a flat bottom at the tale. This nose style will do well in downwind conditions with big running swell. On the flat water it gets up to speed quickly and easily draws a straight line.

The width helps provide stability which worked well when paddling with the cross-winds parts of the course and the little runners constantly try to put you off balance.

Another area I felt the boards faired well was when rounding buoys, the maneuverability was a stand out point that allowed for the advantage heading into the downwind run on the final stretch of the course.

Strengths: Stable, holds its line well yet very maneuverable in turns.

The conditions where not ideal to test it’s true speed and it will be exciting to see how it compares in a “shoot-off” with other boards currently on the market. We also look forward to seeing it perform in a downwind run. All primary indications lead me to believe that this board is going to do very well! Oh and the bags they come in are very impressive too.

For more information on pricing and availability, speak to your local Coreban dealer or contact Barend Buys ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) directly. Check out their website www.coreban.com for more info on the board