Hi guys, just after some advice on my next board!

I have recently sold my 8'11" Allwave as I really only have the SUP out in smaller, flatter waves - and after 30 years on longboards am looking for something a little more cruisy & "longboard"ish (I have plenty of surfboards for when the waves are good).

I am 5'11", 78kg. A this stage I am thinking I dont want to go to a full 10ft+ board like the Nalu's/Lairds etc just as they are all quite big - I am thinking something around 9'5"- 10' that can be thrown around on a wave, but will still allow me to get up the front when I feel like it.

The JL Striker looks pretty good in this regard, with 31" width for good stability, low rocker & longboard type shape?

There seem to be limited reviews on these boards though. Does anyone out there in Seabreeze land have one and like to comment? Or any other boards of this type that I should be looking at?

At your size I would go the 8 11. I am 110kg and find the 9 5 pretty big. But I come from a 8 5 WW. Both great boards well made.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/Review/Jimmy-Lewis-Striker-811-Test-Report/

www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=22269.0

supwithjohn.wordpress.com

.. two others to consider, would be the TC Loose Leaf 9' or SUNOVA Style 9'6"
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/Review/Sunova-Style-Longboard-Style-Sup-at-Surf-Fx/


shop.surfindustries.com/au/surf/surf/tom-carroll-paddle-surf-loose-leaf-cv-sup/

I have a 9 5 and 2 mates have a 9 5 and an 8 11 . All great boards haven't heard a bad word said about them .

Quality construction , had mine about 2 years still good as new after a heap of work . 2 boards bought since then look about 10 years older .

Very stable , great for longboard type cruising / carving . Had mine out in up to head high , 20 - 30 knot winds no dramas .

hey dano666, at your weight the 8'11" would be your best option, stability isn't a problem, you can surf these boards on the nose, but they are also great off the tail, would have to be the funnest sup i have surfed and you can't beat the construction.

I have the 9'5" and it's one of the boards that I'll be keeping - pretty much will do what you've described in your post, surfs really lively if you step back a bit but move forward and it behaves like a long board. I'm 82kg and can get to the nose. I'd agree with both Hilly (8'9" will probably surf more lively) and Tassiedevel (JL quality construction - I've had 4).

Fantastic, thanks guys - what I was hoping to hear.
I was thinking the 9'5" purely as I though the 8'11" might be too close to the 8'11" Allwave I just sold....might have to rethink that.

I'l have to keep any eye out for one - yell out if anyone wants to sell theirs!!

I have the JL Striker 8"11 and am pretty much the same weight and height as you. It's super stable and goes well even in choppy conditions. Hop on the nose and it takes off, step back on the tail and it carves .... pretty much like a classic longboard in a sup. I have also surfed a friend's allwave 8'11 and it was quite a different board. It was fun but didn't nose ride well at all and I found it a little corky for my weight. All in all I much preferred the JL Striker. I have surfed it in everything from 1ft dribblers to double over head and it handles both no problems for me. If I were you I wouldn't go any bigger than the 8'11 as I reckon you'd find it a little corky and bouncy in the chop, more pain and no gain!

I am interested in this board but would like to hear a bit more about any issues with the nose. I know it is a noseriding longboard shape primarily and I'm not talking using it in super steep stuff - just beach breaks that can get a bit messy or overhead. I like the JL boards - quality - but there maybe better options for me. Sometimes having a bit more nose rocker does make life a bit easier. Paddling this board into chop and white water is not going to be that easy I guess.

Opinions welcome - and if anyone has any footage or pics that would be useful - you hardly see any!

Same height & weight & no prob's in all cond on the 8'11" JL.
Great board still has reasonable glide & when you get on the tail it does turn,wouldn't go any bigger.

2MT who turns 70 in a couple of weeks charges on his striker

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riverider said..
2MT who turns 70 in a couple of weeks charges on his striker

Impressive - 70 you say - very impressive.

Have to say I am a bit torn between a Nalu 10 6 and a Striker 9 5. I think the Nalu might be more versatile and better in bigger stuff but the Striker looks sooooo much fun on smaller days.

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riverider said..
2MT who turns 70 in a couple of weeks charges on his striker

Do beleive that was on his 9 5 ,

I just picked up a 9'5" Striker 2014 as a short longboard.

Once I get it OTW will post my thoughts.

Cool..... I'll be up to try it

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AkeG said..
I just picked up a 9'5" Striker 2014 as a short longboard.

Once I get it OTW will post my thoughts.

Can we get a STC type video review?

I I am going for a Stun Gun by the way AKEG.

looking forward to the review. i have the jl b&b but it's not a one-quiver board, so i'm looking to round out the fleet ....

Creek and Linter...or I could just drive south to glean some nose riding knowledge from you two. I feel like I've stunted my growth a bit as a sup surfer being on nothing but shorties for the last couple years

Longboards.....great fun in small, medium and bigger waves....

I'm sensing a Breezer "longboard expression session & board swap" in Linter-land, when the wayward son writes his return.

we may need a drone......

akeg: just be aware i can't noseride worth a hoot. i'm a wanna be and a dreamer. creek, otoh, is the real deal. he keeps saying he's got a thing or two to show me that'll help but so far mum's been the word. what about it, creek, when i get back, want to spend a day at the flagpole doing just one thing and one thing only for a session?

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linter said..
akeg: just be aware i can't noseride worth a hoot. i'm a wanna be and a dreamer. creek, otoh, is the real deal. he keeps saying he's got a thing or two to show me that'll help but so far mum's been the word. what about it, creek, when i get back, want to spend a day at the flagpole doing just one thing and one thing only for a session?

Turn the board onto the wave and if it feels good walk straight away....i just go for one foot near the front......and often can get close on smaller waves if it is clean. I can do good cheater fives on my JP quad 8 8......it has a little concave in the nose which helps and it is stable. The old Allwaves were good noseriders believe it or not. I'm no expert either btw....but have a good go now and again. It is often when I start walking back when I end up off the back lol! Creek has it sussed on his Nalu That's for sure

Is there some footage? everyone seems to like this board but there are Rarely pics or videos.

There's plenty pics if you Google but no decent video which can help you get an idea of what the board surfs like.......but I have yet to hear someone who doesn't rate the board well. A lot depends on what you want it to do I suppose. AkeG posted some useful pics on the "other" forum including this one of the rocker. This board will ride longboard style and cut good sharp lines and will pick up waves easy for its size....has to with this outline and JL's shaping skills. Mine comes mid April.....yay!

I just got out and scraped the snow off the driveway (above pictured). Got pretty icy and slick overnight. Now I'm back in sitting in front of the wood stove.

Can any 8'11 Striker riders tell me how well they glide? I'm in need of a shorter board that allows early entries on fat 2-3ft waves. Would the striker be well suited to these conditions? I'm 5'11 75Kgs.

Ideal for those conditions. Very little rocker in the nose and early planing gets you onto fat waves early and easily