Hi everyone

I currently ride a Smik Hipster Twin 7'10 & Naish Raptor 7'0 (95). Both suit the conditions we get 95% of the time on the Sunny Coast beach breaks.

However I'm after a board that's more suited to the hollow, steep waves we sometimes get here, and for the odd surf trip to points -a board to tuck in and run down the line with more speed, more of a gun outline and a narrower nose with some rocker that won't catch on the drops.

There's a 2nd hand 8'1 JP Pro for sale near me, and it looks to be what i'm after, but I've never ridden one.

Can anyone with experience of the JP Pro shed some light on this?

Thanks!

This should answer your question

Heaps of videos of Keahi surfing bigger stuff on JP, remember seeing one of him stalling with his hip at Cloud Break

I have an 8'6" mad dog for $700, bit small for me and mainly foil now

thanks for the replies, and I enjoyed watching both of those, but the pros rarely ride stock boards - I doubt either of the boards in those vids is off the rack.

and goggo, cheers for the offer but 8'6 is a bit big for me.

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stamp said..
the pros rarely ride stock boards - I doubt either of the boards in those vids is off the rack.

Quite true... Just look at the boards, if you do not see a handle, this is definitively a prototype.
Or if you see that the pad is actually just the deck painted to the pad colors, with wax.
Often the pro is on a 23" wide board whereas the production model is 28".
And sometimes, the shaper is favorite shaper (e.g. Pat Rawson), not even the brand shaper, with prototypes having very different shapes (rocker, volume distribution) than production.

It is logical, they need to test new designs for the future production lines, progresses could not be done if the pros were always using production.

PS: never rode a JP, but an excellent rider here in Hossegor (knee-deep paddling level) is very happy with his JPs.

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stamp said..
thanks for the replies, and I enjoyed watching both of those, but the pros rarely ride stock boards - I doubt either of the boards in those vids is off the rack.

and goggo, cheers for the offer but 8'6 is a bit big for me.

I remember when that vid of Geoff came out the talk was it was a stock 8'0"

For perspective JOB rides soft tops at pipe

I've got a couple of JP Surfs, currently on 8'6 (2020 model before they went back to Pro construction for 2021) as I'm too lazy for 8'1 in the chop we usually get. The board is awesome - takes off in next to nothing, super easy on late drops, very stable for its size and easy to whip around. Can't really fault it. Just rail tape it as the paint is made out of eggshells. Unless you like the look of exposed carbon - chicks dig scars and all.

I've owned a Jp pro 8'1, stunning board for the conditions you're describing. Super fast and holds in well. I moved on as it was just that little bit harder work especially if any sort of surface chop at 86kg that it tired me out a lot quicker. Can't fault the performance though.

They are a great board. Super light, but very durable. I have had and 8'6 and now have an 8'0 2016? .. I am imagining with the 8'1 that you wouldn't want to be that much >80kg or so.

Thanks everyone for your inpur.

Stu - I'm 77kg, so i reckon it will be spot on for me

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stamp said..
Thanks everyone for your inpur.

Stu - I'm 77kg, so i reckon it will be spot on for me

Yes mate, 100% that sounds like a sweet spot. I'm a lazy git so I'm on the 8'6" being about 81kg

Hey Stamp , the 8'1 is THE perfect go-to board for yr weight , I weigh 74-76 kgs , its the go-to , and can handle the choppiest conditions etc , and as such my daily board for small to medium conditions ... The construction durability is great on the jp's , so a REALLY good long term staple to fit yr quiver around ... It is great soft slow waves for me also , and handles a lot of size , with me going to a longer thinner railed board for sizey conditions when the rails of the jp can overload slightly ... (I'm talking solid 3m + faces and good period) ... the jp 8'1 is a GREAT everyday charger ... has a fast rocker under the feet for paddling , yet enough tail kick to crank nice turns ...

I had a second hand JP 8x27 and rode it for 5 years til dElam deck. Sold recently only when I found another younger ssame shape one with 5 fin boxes. My fave board in Indo when it's clean. My weight high 70's.
No Keahi lip slide face drops but good enough to keep me alive and kicken

I have had a jp a while, an 8'6" and i like it lots in good clean waves, particularly bowly waves up to head high

But not in anything much bigger than that. it tends to get a bit skittish at higher speeds.

take note of the fin box alignment of whatever you buy. mine has side thruster fins aligned straight (not toe'd in pointing at the nose)
This is slightly unusual and gives great speed (less drag) and fin release, but the trade off is less control at high speeds than a typical toed in thruster set up. im guessing here but i reakon that may be why its good in clean quality waves, and perhaps less good when theres a bit of chop / bumps on the face.

Just add C-drives for control