I have the new 2015 8' 6" Pro and it is a great board but most suited to very clean conditions. I'm looking for a bigger board like the ones mentioned in the Subject for less clean conditions and bigger open ocean waves. Has anybody ridden any of the above or can recommend a board which fits this category perhaps even not a JP. I have in mind some of the breaks in the Margaret River area where there are stronger winds, surges and a lot of water moving around. I weigh 74kg.

I had a 9'2" for a while and loved it!!Very stable, light and rips. Like the straight fin theory too. It's more suited to heavier riders though. 74 kg may not be enough to get the best out of it. Maybe try the starboard Pro 9'0"

Yep maybe the 9' 2" pro is a bit too floaty for me. I used to have the 8' 10" which was adequate for the task. Would require 30" width on a suitable board though rather than 29" for those choppy days. Will look at other options as well as the JP's.

Yo might wanna try the fusion 8.5 too there sick .. Still might be too much volume for you tho ...

Hi Aseela.

Read your post. The answer could be so simple, but can be also very technical when looking into everything like body weight & height, ability, board dimensions etc.
I think you have answered what you need in board width as it seems stand still stability is your main problem.
In my opinion, as I am 77kg & ride a 8ft 3" Sunova Soul at 29inch wide in moderate chop I do fall off regularly. Any worse & I would be riding my 8ft 2" JP Widebody which is as stable as! 32inch wide, 124Litres.
At your weight maybe you should be looking at the Widebody which doesn't add to the volume to make things too floaty or corky.
If you want to keep in performance & speed, maybe the Sunova Soul at 8ft 6"
But I would be looking for a board at 9ft & under & as close to a volume of 110 L & under to about 100 Litres. Keeping the width at 30 minimum to 31 max for performance & speed.
But that is only my opinion.

Sunova boards sound worth a look. I still am keen on my the 8' 6" JP but it is condition specific. I would be interested in any comments if anybody has ridden the 9' 2" or 9' 6" JP Pro.

G'day Aseela, I have the JP 9'2" surf and I'm 74 kg.... but, this is my first and only SUP and I've only had it six weeks so not sure I can offer much wisdom. I'm a long time windsurfer; 20 years, I usually sail a 65L and 70L wave board so at 136L the JP seems huge, it's the size of those two boards combined, however I'm surprised how well it handles on a wave, it's very stable on messy chop open ocean, I can paddle around with my 8 year old sitting on the front or back. I put a sail on it yesterday and was impressed again for it's size once I got it on a wave. It's a great family all rounder for me, a novice SUPer. Not sure that helps you at all. Spurge

Hi Aseela - I'm sure I don't need to tell you about the benefits owning a JP Pro (weight / robust construction etc.) however I've had my 9'2 Pro for approx 4 months & for me, the single biggest benefit is how the board comes to life the minute there's a bit of face to work with. I've also done a number of flat water paddles (>8km) & it tracks really well. At the risk of stating the obvious - demo demo demo if possible

I have the 9'6" JP Pro and it goes really good. It handles the wind and chop and glides really well, I am about 80kg and 175cm

From what you have said about surfing around WA you want to be sure about stability given the amount of wind and water moving around so it might be smart to go that little bit more volume or weight just because of that reason

I love the lightness of the Pro but I have found any really light boards in windy or bumpy conditions can mean more water time for me, but that is only a personal opinion

i have the JP surf 9'2" in ws and its a great board. Im 95KGS and like the 135litres volume and bit of length for slightly bigger days. I have a 8'8" JP WB in AST for smaller days and its probably my goto board.

I was considering either the 9'2" JP or the Starby Pro as a bit of a single board quiver/allrounder - something that would work OK in both little mush and up to decent head high type days.

I'm guessing from some of the responses here that they dont work so well in the little stuff? Is it that they are no fun at all in little waves, or just that they work a bit better with some juice?

(I'm 78kg, 40 - lifelong surfer)

Hi Aseela, am on the lookout for something similar for the same reasons I think.
On paper a Jimmy Lewis Stun Gun looks the good. I don't know how well they paddle they appear to have a fair bit of rocker.

The Stun Gun's are similar but don't feel as light underfoot. That of course may be an advantage in choppy conditions. I've tried the 9' 2" JL Stun G and the 8' 7" SG. I prefer the bigger one. I still think the 9' 2" by 30 JP is worth a look and I'll try to demo one. I would like a board that I can paddle out through the breakers easily standing up rather than prone or kneeling. The JP's really come into their own in bigger clean surf and hold an edge nicely. They seem to draw longer lines but not sure of their quick turning ability on the face of the wave for OTL's and that kind of thing. I have only ever ridden JP's so limited experience in that dept. Basically looking for something that is comfortable in less than perfect swells around the 5' plus mark.

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damo666 said..
I was considering either the 9'2" JP or the Starby Pro as a bit of a single board quiver/allrounder - something that would work OK in both little mush and up to decent head high type days.

I'm guessing from some of the responses here that they dont work so well in the little stuff? Is it that they are no fun at all in little waves, or just that they work a bit better with some juice?

(I'm 78kg, 40 - lifelong surfer)

Hi Damo i have had the JP 9/2 as my one board quiver for the last year or so and it is a great board, it catches waves amazingly well and will pick up the smallest rollers as well as any board I have ridden. It generates a decent amount of speed and is easy to turn in small waves but of course ( as with many boards) comes alive a bit more in bigger waves. I find it goes better with a nice open face wave, where it tends to fall down a bit is in small sucky waves it is just a bit too long and straight to turn nicely in a tight little pocket but I am sure that would be true of many sups. at your weight the 8'10 might be a better match I have heard the stability is roughly the same but a bit tighter turns and less volume.

i am 33 105 kgs and a lifelong surfer

Agree above I am on the 8 5 WW and 9 2 Stungun at 110kg. The 8 7 Stungun would be the go.