mate need/wants an upgrade from his 9'6" allwave - been sup surfing for 15 months - 160 litres currentboard

Jimmy lewis Striker 9'5" 31" 147L

Starboard Wide Point 9'5" 32" 153L

Ecs Wide Boy 9'5" 32" 155L

Surfs mostly off back foot -- 95 kilos - 6 foot - 63 yo - wants to graduate from cruising to carving - not ripping

feed back on how these boards surf in small medium surf AND how easy they are to get out thru surf and once out there, how easy to stand in chop waiting for waves -- also glide characteristics for paddling along the beach to different breaks . If you surf any of these as your go to board please send in your board's characteristics

Thanks

I surf the JL striker 8'11. Best board I've surfed and I've tried heaps. Very stable and heaps of glide for cruising between breaks. He would need the bigger model at his weight. Things to be careful of. Hardly any nose rocker equals good glide but if you don't have the skills to get your back foot back early it will pearl in a steeper beach break. Not a problem for me but I have read that some have struggled. Anyway, this board carves beautifully off the tail and although he doesn't walk the board, if you step up on to the nose it accelerates beautifully as opposed to snow ploughing to a halt like many other boards.

The most important point is: does he wants to noseride?
If yes, choose the Striker. Like MickMc says, low nose rocker means great noseriding... but great nosediving if you dont have the technique.
If not, the others.

Disclaimer: I only tried the Striker and the Wide Point. From the pics, the outline of the ECS looks stabler with its wider nose. kind of medium ground between the Striker & Wide body.

I've got the 8'11" striker as well and reckon is the most funnest sup I have ridden, good noserider and turns well when you get on the back, 2MT has the 9'5" and has taken out the state over 65 and club championship on his and you can't really go past the construction of the JL.
Here's 2MT charging at last years state titles

Select to expand quote

riverider said..

I've got the 8'11" striker as well and reckon is the most funnest sup I have ridden, good noserider and turns well when you get on the back, 2MT has the 9'5" and has taken out the state over 65 and club championship on his and you can't really go past the construction of the JL.
Here's 2MT charging at last years state titles

love carving on my 9 5 striker , had it about 12 months and given it a flogging ,surfed it in everything from beachies to reef breaks , even had about 20 newbys on it from 9 year olds to 74 year olds ,but still looks new .

to answer the rest of your questions Stehar , my striker is my go to board on small to medium point / reef breaks . I have only been on a SUP a bit over a year but find it very stable both on the paddle out , punching through waves , and waiting behind the line in wind and chop .eg. few months back surfed in 30 knot winds with a fair wind chop , took out my PSH ripper wind and chop knocked me off about 10 times in about half an hour , swapped for the striker - no dramas .
have surfed the widepoint IMO the striker is a much faster board on the wave , others might think different , have never seen or surfed the ECS

8 8 JP Australia, Surf Wide body!

Works a charm in beach and reef. Does not mind some size, had it out from 6" to 8 foot.

Hollow, chop. slop, clean. had it 1 1months an enjoy it every trip.

Sup[er board, BUT,

Demo! Try before you buy! Find what works for you and feels right!

I have a 9''5 wp and its a nice cruising board for points or slow waves. Super stable but a liitle boring (which is why i bought a smaller board).

I'd suggest that he tries boards that suit the waves that he riding. Demo!!!

BTW it doesnt seem much of a drop in size - In my average SUPer opinion why not diversify and get a shotrr board with vol and width so he can attack steeper beach breaks?

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/Review/JP-Australia-Surf-Wide-Body-8-8-As-a-Thruster/
Here is my review of the board. Stand by every word I wrote!