JP 9’6” LONGBOARD TEST REVIEW
JP 9’6” LONGBOARD TEST REVIEW
Verdict
JP’s first real longboard performance SUP, new for this year. The 9’6” steps deep into a full-on performance ride; it’s super quick and agile on a wave. We found the JP more alive to ride and with pace than the other ‘longboard’ style boards in its class. The chunkier mid-section and harder rails create plenty of speed down the line, releasing quickly. We enjoyed it’s fast ride, generous nose rocker and light weight construction.
Overview
Available in Pro or Wood construction, the Pro a tested comes with “Alutex “ paintless rails and come out super light and stiff. The board has a good amount of nose rocker, along 3/4 deckpad with no kick pad, a small ledge handle and windsurf option as standard. The deck is really flat in the standing area which makes the rails look chunkier and in front of the pad there’s subtle bevel in the rail to lose volume. Underneath, the sanded finish hides a small single-concave in the nose and runs through a double concave mid-section and into a narrow tail with hard sharp rails and a try fin set up. The glass centre US box is paired up with some plastic FCS sides.
Brand Claim:
The Longboard line is full-on surf performance oriented. The new shape for 2018 is the 9’6”x28”. All four sizes feature a very subtle step deck and a nicely pulled in tail. The narrow tail in combination with a makes them very loose and responsive. A flat deck curve gives the rider confidence when paddling and the stability needed to cross the breaking waves. The smooth bottom curve provides good glide and, in combination with the increasing tail kick, easy rail to rail transition.
Performance
Stepping on to the 9’6 JP you stand relatively high on the water, slightly wobbly, but as you wobble a secondary balance point kicks in as the volume in the mid-section pushes you back and it soon becomes quite natural. The stiff, solid construction feels great underfoot. The JP will drop into most waves with ease with its generous nose rocker and longer length. Once on the wave you’ll find the board comes alive and feels super easy to throw around and it seems to generate more speed than you’d expect for a longboard style SUP. It’s drawn out tail offers heaps of grip and security on your bottom turn. Compared to other longboard style SUP’s we’ve tested which tend to be wide nosed low-rockered and thin railed, the JP has a narrower nose and harder faster rails meaning the 9’6 seems like a rocket ship in comparison to the rest of the long board crew. You could call it a progressive longboard rather than the a “toes to the nose” style plank. This high performance long board would at home cruising on smaller waves but would also be very capable of dropping into some far bigger stuff also. Overall, we loved the speed and agile feel, the easy drop in and the new school long board combo; it would make a great partner to a smaller wave SUP for riders who want a bit more juice out of their long board.
OTHER BOARDS IN THIS TEST:
Starboard Allstar 14’ x 24.5” Carbon Sandwich