6 Best Sup Boards For Long Distance Racing That Pros Actually Use

Your teen has officially caught the stand-up paddleboard racing bug, and suddenly the conversation has shifted from casual paddles at the lake to talk of glide, displacement, and race times. You watch them poring over race results and videos of their favorite pros, and you realize the family’s all-around board just isn’t going to cut it anymore. Making the leap to a pro-level race board is a significant investment, and you want to choose a piece of equipment that will fuel their passion, not frustrate them or empty your wallet unnecessarily.

Choosing a Pro-Level Board for Your Teen Racer

You’ve seen that fire in their eyes after a race, and now the dinner table conversation is filled with terms you’re quickly trying to learn. This is that exciting, and slightly nerve-wracking, moment when a hobby transforms into a passion. Moving from a recreational SUP to a dedicated race board is a major step in their development as an athlete.

This isn’t just about going faster. A proper race board is a tool for learning. Its design forces a paddler to refine their balance, engage their core, and perfect their stroke for maximum efficiency. The dilemma every parent faces is balancing this need for quality equipment against the reality that teens grow.

The good news is that unlike running shoes or hockey skates, a high-quality race board isn’t something they’ll physically outgrow in six months. The key is selecting the right width and volume for their current size and skill level. A board that is too narrow or "advanced" will be tippy and demoralizing, shattering confidence and slowing progress. Remember, the top brands have excellent resale value within the tight-knit racing community, so think of this as an investment in their development that retains its worth.

Starboard All Star: The Gold Standard for Racers

Walk the beach at any major SUP race, and you will see a sea of blue Starboard All Stars. There’s a very good reason it has become the gold standard in the sport. It is arguably the most versatile race board on the market, designed to be blisteringly fast in flat water but stable and predictable in choppy, open-ocean conditions.

For a young racer, this versatility is a massive advantage. Your teen will likely be competing in a variety of venues, from calm lakes to windy coastal bays. The All Star provides a consistent, reliable feel under their feet no matter the conditions, allowing them to focus on their performance, not on wrestling with their equipment. It’s the ultimate "one-board quiver" for a developing athlete.

Starboard also offers different constructions, like the more durable and cost-effective Wood Carbon versus the ultra-light Carbon Sandwich. This gives you options. You can invest in a board with a pro-level design that is built to handle the learning curve, knowing it’s a shape they can grow with for several seasons.

SIC Maui RS: All-Water Performance for Teens

Does your teen thrive on the challenge of wind, chop, and messy water? If they are drawn to races where conditions are unpredictable, the SIC Maui RS—which stands for Rocket Ship—is a board that should be at the top of your list. It is legendary for its performance when the water gets rough.

The design philosophy behind the RS is all about maintaining speed and stability through challenging water. It features a sharp, piercing nose that cuts through chop rather than bouncing over it, and a forgiving tail design that adds a crucial layer of stability. This is the board for the paddler who loves the dynamic nature of open-water racing.

For a teen, that stability is a huge confidence booster. When they feel planted and secure, they are free to paddle hard and strategically. A board like the RS allows them to push their limits in varied conditions without the constant fear of falling, which is a critical component of long-term athletic development.

NSP Ninja: Flat-Water Speed for Competitors

If your teen’s race schedule is dominated by events on glassy lakes and calm rivers, their primary opponent is the clock. In these scenarios, pure, straight-line speed is the name of the game, and the NSP Ninja is a master of that domain. This board is a specialist, built for one purpose: to go fast on flat water.

The Ninja has a distinctively narrow and sleek profile designed to maximize glide and reduce drag to an absolute minimum. It’s a precision instrument. This specialization, however, means it’s less forgiving in choppy water compared to an all-water design like the All Star or RS.

This is a board for a more experienced youth racer. It’s the right choice when your teen has already developed a solid, consistent paddle stroke and good balance. If they are ready to focus on squeezing every ounce of speed out of their effort and shaving seconds off their personal best, the Ninja is a formidable tool for the job.

Fanatic Strike: A Top Choice for Serious Youth

You’re doing your research, and you keep hearing coaches and other parents mention the name Fanatic. The Fanatic Strike is another top-tier board that has earned a loyal following in the racing world for its unique feel and performance characteristics.

The Strike is often praised for its exceptional efficiency. The design focuses on a recessed deck and specific rail shape that promotes a powerful, connected paddle stroke. It’s a board that rewards good technique, allowing an athlete to feel how their power is being transferred directly into forward motion.

This can be incredibly beneficial for a teen who is in a key phase of building strength and refining their technical skills. The stable platform of the Strike allows them to experiment with their stroke and learn how to engage their entire body, from their legs to their core, to generate more speed. It’s a fantastic platform for athletic growth.

Infinity Blackfish: Stability Meets Pro Speed

Here’s a common scenario: Your teen is getting strong and fast, but they still get the "wobbles" on a narrow board, especially when they’re fatigued at the end of a long race. The Infinity Blackfish was practically designed to solve this exact problem. It has a legendary reputation for feeling far more stable than its width would suggest.

The magic is in the board’s unique bottom shape and tail design. These elements work together to create a board that feels incredibly planted in the water, even in cross-chop. This stability doesn’t come at the expense of speed; the Blackfish is a proven race-winner at the highest levels of the sport.

This unique combination makes it an incredible board for a developing racer. It can allow your teen to confidently step down to a narrower, faster board width sooner than they could on other models. That confidence is key. It lets them train harder and longer, focusing on building their race endurance without wasting energy on constant balance corrections.

Lightboard Corp: Custom Feel for Elite Racers

Your teen has been racing for years. They are consistently on the podium, their technique is dialed in, and their coach believes they have elite potential. At this stage, the subtle nuances of equipment can make a real difference, and it might be time to consider a semi-custom or custom board from a maker like Lightboard Corp.

This is the path for the truly dedicated athlete. Working with a custom shaper allows you to fine-tune every aspect of the board—volume, width, rocker, and outline—to perfectly match your teen’s specific weight, paddling style, and local conditions. It’s about creating the perfect tool for a specific artist.

Let’s be clear: this is not a starting point. A custom board is a significant commitment of both time and money. It’s a decision made when an athlete has developed so much that they can feel the limitations of off-the-shelf equipment. This step is almost always taken in close partnership with an experienced coach who can help translate the athlete’s needs to the board designer.

Beyond the Board: Paddles and Proper Training

It is so easy to get focused on the board, but remember, it’s only half of the propulsion system. The board is the car, but the paddle is the engine and transmission. Investing in a lightweight, full-carbon paddle that is sized correctly for your teen is just as critical as the board itself.

A heavy or improperly sized paddle will lead to poor technique and can even cause shoulder or back injuries. A high-quality, adjustable carbon paddle is one of the wisest investments you can make. It can be adjusted as they grow, and its light weight will allow them to train longer and focus on proper form without unnecessary fatigue.

Finally, the best gear in the world cannot replace great coaching and consistent training. A knowledgeable coach provides the technical feedback, strategic race planning, and structured workouts that lead to real improvement. More importantly, they foster a community and a love for the sport that will last a lifetime. Your investment in quality coaching will always provide the greatest return.

Ultimately, choosing the right race board is a thoughtful process of matching the right tool to your child’s current skill, commitment, and goals. Have conversations with their coach, talk to other families at the races, and most importantly, listen to your teen. Supporting their journey in a sport they love is a tremendous gift, and finding the right equipment is a wonderful way to show you believe in them.