Introducing Katana and Tsurugi | Shuri Araki’s signature race boards by Starboard

Meet the Katana and the Tsurugi, two new race boards designed by Takuji Araki and his son, multiple ISA and ICF World Champion Shuri Araki. Both are built around a patented Narrow Box Tail, and they ride unlike any other board in the Starboard race range.

In this video, Takuji explains the thinking behind the design, from the slicing nose to the sharp 90° tail edges. With every stroke, the narrow tail sinks and the edges bite into the water like two extra side fins. When the tail pops up, the edges release and drag drops. The result is a board that pumps forward instead of sitting in the water, made for the short, high-cadence stroke Shuri learned growing up on the water in Okinawa.

Katana

14′ x 20.5″, one size only
Made for elite racers aiming for world titles

Tsurugi

Available in 21″, 23″ and 25″ widths
Slightly wider, thinner tail for easier control

Explore & Register your interest now to be the first to ride – https://star-board.com/blogs/paddleboarding-blog/new-starboard-katana-tsurugi-register-your-interest

Racing footage credit: World SUP Festival, Costa Blanca

Chapters
0:00 Introducing Katana and Tsurugi
0:47 Takuji Araki on the two boards
2:10 Nose and cockpit design
4:19 The narrow box tail
6:26 How Shuri’s paddling shaped the board
8:15 Paddling in side wind
10:26 Katana vs Tsurugi
11:30 Two years of development
12:23 The nose graphic by Okinawan artist Masayuki Yogi
13:48 Shuri’s dream
14:15 Standing position and deck pads
15:55 Tail pad for buoy turns
17:06 First test ride in Pattaya
21:19 Bottom shape
22:44 The partnership with Starboard