Hi I currently ride a 2012 Naish Hokua 9.5 X 29.5 139l and was wondering from peoples experiences how this would compare to the JP 8.8 x 32 136L wide body.
l. stability
2 paddle speed
3 Turning speed on a wave.
Would the JP be a worthy upgrade for a 80 kg intermediate rider in 3-5 ft waves?
Why do most of the manufacturers seem to be going shorter and wider?
Never ridden a Hokua but from what I have seen of them they are better geared towards good surf....more powerful surf. They are pretty high performance shapes with all that rocker and sharp rails.
I have a JP 8ft 8 and at your weight (and if you are after an "upgrade") then you would be better off with the JP Surf line or certainly one of the smaller JP widebody SUPs if you are after a small wave board. 8ft 8 too big for you I reckon.
I am a little over 90 kg (nearly 6ft) and quite a bit heavier with a 5 mm or 6mm wetusit on. I reckon the volume of the 8ft 8 is bang on for me....i could paddle/surf the 8ft 3 no problem I reckon but don't want to make life harder for me....I just like to have fun out there.
Stability - very good - taken it out on windy days and been fine. Forgiving sweet spot so great.
Paddle Speed - average for a board that size. Low to moderate rocker helps but you will not go anywhere fast!
Turning Speed - very good. I have quite big fins in it (Gerry Lopez quads) which work very well - good drive and loads of hold. For average to crappy surf, which I do mostly, I can do with a smaller set - trying very small fins in the rear next. The board turns very well for its width and is quite predictable so doesn't feel out of control. Good speed on a wave too. Noserides well also.
I would view the Hokua as a more performance design - JP surf widebody is a more a forgiving shape with some performance built in.
Go smaller for sure - it is a fun board.
Have both of these boards, the 9'5" Hokua and the JP 8'8" WB pro. Slab is right on in his comments about the boards. Both of these boards are my go-to depending on conditions. The JP works well in fast beach break and is a blast to ride. I could have gone with the 8'2" but I'm very happy with the 8'8". As you know the 9'5" Hokua is just a great board in the surf. I'm still playing with the fins. Do you ever try it with quad?
IMO
l. stability - they are close in volume. The JP is a bit corky compared to the Hokua. The are much different boards, but for me the JP is a bit more stable.
2 paddle speed - hands down the Hokua is quicker, although I am always suprised at how easy it is to catch a wave on the JP. I can generally sit right in or just outside of the longboard lineup.
3 Turning speed on a wave. Once again much different boards. For me they both turn well. The JP is only about 17lbs so I feel like I can throw it around better in small beach break type surf.
Although I have not ridden the JP 8'2" WB, this may be a bigger step in the right direction.
Thanks for the feed back all makes since.
I have noticed in almost perfect flatter conditions how much quicker the hokua paddles and catches waves than rough slightly windy.
I,m still riding the board up in the middle rather than towards the tail on a wave, thruster set up, which I think makes it less easy to throw around on a wave. It definatly turns quicker standing toward the tail but does not feel balanced.comfortable maybe it's just the size?
One guy who had the same 9.5 hokua had quads and said it made the board looser and more manoeuvrable standing further up but I have,,t tried this yet as quad fins are quite expensive.
Maybe somebody who's tried thruster to quad could comment on this.
