I have an urge to wear Oakley Frogskins, Pastel Suits, grow a mullet, drive a convertable and live in South Beach Florida.
you'll have to check .....
I haven't been to the shop yet and wouldn't be helpful as I don't know what last year's edition looked like...
Ok - upfront disclosure - I own a store that sells JP.
However - I rode this board in port phillip bay 2 days ago and I can honestly say port Phillip bay is cold! Sorry - I can honestly say this is the best board for freestyle I have ever ridden. I rode it with the supplied 20cm fin with super short chord and was surprised how easy it gets on the plane. Nowhere near as technical to ride as I thought it would be. It's definitely a specialist freestyle board unlike the all appeal easy riding freestyle boards from pre 2011 but if you want to progress in freestyle I reckon this is an awesome board.
Key points for me were:
- very very early to plane (I weigh 80kg and was using a 2013 combat 5.3m in 17knots)
- very short with most volume under your feet gave it a lot of pop, especially noticed the extra pop in shakas
- spinning tricks were easiest of any board I've ridden, felt like no fin at all once sliding
- flakas were made easier by short length and again the pop from all the volume in the tail
Anyway - I loved it! I'm in Tassie for a couple of weeks but the board will be available to demo at SHQ from the 8th July. Come have a go!
Cheers,
Fletch
i really like 2012 model and it's my fave since the 2008 model. If the newest one is even erlier planing than 2012, then it's a pretty decent effort 
looking forward to trying one. i hope it has built-in auto flakka shakka?
Yeah they'll be onto a winner when they have built in auto moves - there's a few tricks on my wish list that I think I'll only get with integrated BIAM 
