What a revelation! SHQ Sandringham kindly leant me a demo version of this funky looking JP-Australia board.

I am 52, 83 kg, 178 and have been on a SUp for about 18 mounths.

My intial reaction was that this will be too light, too small, too few litres of volume.

Took it out twice into far from perfect conditions including a stiff on-shore cross chop session.

From the outset it became obvious that this thing is stable as a table top! Standing was no problem at all.
Out the back waiting for sets you felt comfortable and did not have to "think" about standing up and watching foot position.
Paddling into the wave was no problem either, once it takes off it comes alive, is very lively under foot, easy to turn and manouvre yet maintains good run on the face.
Even getting into the reform as the waves fatten out was no great issue.
Used at the Vic DeSal plant beach ( 3 to 4 foot beachies) and opening to Inverloch inlet ( 2 to 3 foot cross chop slop).
I have tried other short boards that would tend to keep turning on paddle in, not the JP. Maintains a straight paddle line onto the face.

A super well designed board. Must be the magic number 32 in the width that does the trick!
http://jp-australia.com/2013/sup/products/sup-boards/surf-wide-body/

I call it an epiphany moment as it opens doors to critical wave sections.

Can't wait to get it onto a clean face face to see how it fares there!

Watch this space

Unaligned, unpaid, personal opinions onle are expressed here.

sounds amazing, looked at the JP wide bodies, but couldn't get a demo, instead went for 8.10 starboard wide point, which is also 32 inches wide. im 54 and 88 kgs and 180 cms .
been supping for the same time as you, love the wide point goes great in all conditions, just wandering if JP would be similar or better, and whether 8.2 would suit me, cheers and have fun
webbo ....

Hi Webbo.
Had a crack at the Widepoint too and found it very useable. Would have gone for that until I tried the JP. The 8 2 was the only board I could try so went in with a negative mind set and was blown away. ( As you can read). One advantage is the hand grip, same type as Naish with an internal offset. Makes it very easy to pick up and carry. Funky paint job is a winner. And still does my head in how this board is so stable and useable. Heading out this weekend for a final try out with better wave conditions. Looking forward to it.

Hi,

could not agree more, the 8'2 wide surf is one fun board, stable loose and still has an amazing ability to get over flat sections.
I can honesty say I haven't had as much fun on any other board.
It's only downfall is when it gets bigger you really have to hold back on your bottom turns otherwise it ends in tears.
Surfed mine at head high monkeys (skateparks) in Telos last year and really felt that was it's limit, but what a way to go. I'm around the 80kgs depending on beer intake and reckon if you want a board to surf in small surf when conditions arent ideal and you weigh upto 85-90kg this board is a must try.
I have surfed the 8'2 and 8'10 WP starboards, and in my humble opinion the JP makes you feel you feel that much closer to the wave and it's not quite so corky
I have no affiliation with JP, but honestly if they want to sponsor me I have absolutely no objection

nick

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johnwest said...
Hi,

could not agree more, the 8'2 wide surf is one fun board, stable loose and still has an amazing ability to get over flat sections.
I can honesty say I haven't had as much fun on any other board.
It's only downfall is when it gets bigger you really have to hold back on your bottom turns otherwise it ends in tears.
Surfed mine at head high monkeys (skateparks) in Telos last year and really felt that was it's limit, but what a way to go. I'm around the 80kgs depending on beer intake and reckon if you want a board to surf in small surf when conditions arent ideal and you weigh upto 85-90kg this board is a must try.
I have surfed the 8'2 and 8'10 WP starboards, and in my humble opinion the JP makes you feel you feel that much closer to the wave and it's not quite so corky
I have no affiliation with JP, but honestly if they want to sponsor me I have absolutely no objection

nick

Do you reckon the issue with the bottom turns in bigger stuff is due to board size or the quad setup?
I remember surfing quads in the eighties and they were never as good as thrusters for big bottom turns, you had to surf em a bit more laterally rather than up and down if you know what I mean.
Also curious if you can expand a bit more on the differences you felt between the Starby 8'2" and the JP cos I've had a quick sesh on the JP, couldn't believe how user friendly it was, but I've been eyeing off the starboard for a while, just haven't been able to find a demo, cheers.

I hate all you skinny ba----ds. Just thought I'd mention it. You're not a real man unless you are over 100 kgs. There i got it off my man boobs!!!

Leeroy, your man-boobs are telling you something - hit the gym before you need a 14' board to surf on!

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SSSimon said...
Leeroy, your man-boobs are telling you something - hit the gym before you need a 14' board to surf on!

The tragedy of it is I work as PE teacher in a gym! I'll stick with the gravity theory thing and alternate between the 12 footer and 9'2".. Might have to checkout the Peptide soution ( I am an Essendon supporter after all) or just become a straightout alcoholic[}:)]. Thanks for the advice though,Cheers Leroy.

John West, have you had any feedback on teh 8 10 wide body? Trying to figure out which of the two to go for.
If JP wnats an old bugger toi sponsor oand provide feedback, happy to be the gofer for them. In the mentime I just have to keep paying for the pleasure!!

Hi
the 8.10 wide body is an amazing board, it is a bit corky, but on ****ty 2 foot waves to overhead clean waves it draws great lines and turns on a dime, provided you plant your back foot over the tail pad. I have had the board for 2 months now and really enjoy it in all conditions.!!! would love to try the new 8.8 jp wide body as well.
cheers.

Hi guys,
CH I am with you I think it's got a lot to with being a quad, I've never been abig fan but must say I do enjoy it in small stuff, I also think the width in the tail, doesn't help. Im really tempted to take it around to one of the local board shops and get a couple offcs plugs put in the back and try it as a thruster, but it I don't want it coming back looking like s%$t :)
As for the SB 8'2 I only surfed it in crappy conditions, but still seemed corkier (if thats a word) than the JP, but I reckon maybe suited to someone 85-90kgs.
As for the 8'10 talk to Leroy, I reckon he'd love it.
Still no reply from JP, so narrow minded of them really, only sponsoring guys that rip and make their product look good :)

Well, I am not sponsored, have no association with SHQ or JP Australia other than I will buy a Surf wide body! Just trying to decide on 8 2 or the 8 8.
Took the 8 2 out in 2 to 3 foot reasonably clean at the opening to Inverloch inlet. All I can say os that it is a wave magnet!!! Holds the face, turns on a dime, easy to paddle and keeps going when the wave peters out till it reforms. Very surprising at how well it hangs in there. A hell of a board, well worth a look for anyone that is looking at the next stage in manouverability yet maintain stability and ease of paddle.
I have to go back to my first post. It's an Epiphany. Would never have believed a board this short can perform that well in so many different wave conditions. !!! To the designers, as you say to the chef after a good meal. My compliments!

Hi

I'm not quite sure if I should go for a 8,2 or a 7,4 JP wideboard.
I'm 74 kg. and most of the time I ride small slow waves.
I've been practicing SUP for some time so I'm not a beginner but not advanced either. But I'm used to surfing.
What would you advice?

Thank you for your help!

Hi BKL.
I have used the 8 2 in

1 to 4 foot conditions, Clean face and mush. It is a real eye opener and I must admit I am wondering how small one could go! I did NOT think it could float me at 83kg. I am considering taking the shorter one out for fun as a test but, gut feel is that it will need a decent face to get up to speed. It may also require more often change of paddle side. But, the experience with this board has been a real surprise.!

As a more scientific answer, I have found three shots here, one on a small wave, and two paddling that show how far the board sits in the water.
At no time did I feel my feet were too far in the water, standing out back waiting in the line up is no issue. These waves were in the 1-2 foot range so you can see it does the job well.

Nice review/test!

If you try the 7'4 please let us know how it compares for getting into smaller waves and speed on the face and making flat sections.

Has anyone compared either of the widebodys against the pro surfs? How are the pros in flatter sections and mush. I am wondering if they are just less stable but just as sweet and fast in mush?? or are they rockered out?

great pics!

Johnwest and anyone else who has ridden the 8'2" wide body,
did you ride the "pro" model or the WSGL construction. I'm wondering which would be more stable in choppy contitions. Plus the Pro is about $400 more!

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1 to 4 foot conditions, Clean face and mush. It is a real eye opener and I must admit I am wondering how small one could go!

For length: as short as a prone shortboards :-)
Wide and short (6'8" for instance for me) is insanely fun in "fun" waves, in spots when the paddling speed is not important (no crowds, no rips, well defined peaks), of course longer and narrower is easier in hollow waves, but this is why we have SUP quivers :-)

These short boards are quite easy in fact, if you take the time to practice in flat water and micro waves. If you just want to go out immediately in solid waves, you will get frustrated.

This board was the WGS.

Thanks!