The evaluation begins on possibly the first of these boards in Australia.
I picked up my new 8 8 this week from SHQ and am looking forward to a decent surf in the morning. Photos of the Virgin stick are attached.
Impressions are interesting finish on the Pro version with the rubbed back base and gloss rails.
Smooth lines with good rocker, rails taper nicely from the flat deck to quite sharp near the tail.
Weight, set up with FCS Quad fins
I added my RailSaverPro in clear and some Deck Grip Paint to the Nose.
Next stop Inverloch beach!
and leg rope, just under 9kg!
Looks good, love the JP
But seriously I dont think I'd be surfing this puppy from the nose...........
Well, session is done and dusted!
Let me open the review this way.
After a days work in the sun, you grab an ice cold beer and drain 1/2 the stubby. Ahhhhhh, hits the spot!
This is this board!
Superb and wish I could shake the hand of the designer!!
4-5 Foot solid waves, strong Off shore, surfing back hand all morning and a switch in the tide making things difficult and choppy yet a nice wave when you get on the face.
The board paddled out a treat, is super stable to stand on, tracks nicely on the paddle 6-7 strokes before switching sides. Flat deck means you stand nicely with a good sized sweet spot. Even though this was my first session on a new board I could stand out the back without considering where the feet were planted. Cross chop not too much bother. Just super stable.
Point it at shore with a wave coming and it accelerates beautifully transforming into a wave magnet! Great take off, easy to turn and lively under foot.
Holds the line nicely, ride through into the reform and bam, off again. Even a switch tide chop does not upset the balance of the board!
Paddle out and , well, wave pigs beware you are about to be turned into a monster.
I am 52yo, 82 KG and 175cm. Not a great surfer by any standard but this thing is just sliced bread with honey on top and sprinkles.
Any negatives found? Sorry, I could not find one.
Super board, well worth the investment for an intermediate looking for the next step yet still retain the fun. Looking forward to getting stuck in and having more sessions under my skin!!
Thanks to SHQ for bringing the board into the country!
Looks sweet, was thinking the 8 ft 2" WP jp but this looks sweet, how much volume have they put into it
136 L, weighs only 9kg all up! Tried the 8 2 and it was an epiphany, revelation.
Went for the 8 8 just to be slightly more all round as I surf all sorts of stuff and conditions. Can only recommend these as super fun boards.
Just for the record, I am a happy full price paying customer. Weekend warrior, average punter.
Great review! I just got the 8'2" and will report back tomorrow! Mommasfolly what fins do you have in there? Did the board come with them? Mine came with cheap little plastic ones.
Yes same here, white plastic M5's. SHQ recommended the FCS GL1's for me. That's what's in there. They worked well yesterday. More time in the water in different conditions will tell how they stack up.
Can anyone tell me the thickness of the 8'8" or 8'2"?
The JP website has everything else but the thickness dimensions.
Thanks
Thanks Mamma... I have my eye on the 8'8 Pro.
I currently ride the 9'6 Allwave, but I've dropped to 98 k and ready to downsize. Looking at the 8'10 Allwave as well, but I'd like to change it up a bit.... keep the reports coming, I'll be watching with interest.
Flying High they don't have the thickness on the boards either I will try to measure it.
near as I can get. 104mm,4 1/8 inches roughly. Taken near the hand insert.
Another reason to buy the JP, the Handle! With the internal rebate means you get a more comfortable carry position for your fingers. You can even pick it up from flat with one hand!! Wonder why all SUP manufacturers don't follow JP and Naish with this handle, especially since they basically come from the one factory, Cobra in Thailand!
Hi Viatormundi,
I can't comment on the All-wave 8 10, I have an All-wave 9 6 though. The differences I can easily list are, shape, fin lay out, Rail shape, Width, Volume.
Checking the brochures lists the benefits and design concept behind both boards.
The focus of the All-wave is all around design and performance. The JP Wide body has been designed for steeper beach break waves, responsiveness and turn ability. After one surf I can certainly vouch for that. Very stable to paddle, pulls onto waves with minimal effort and springs to life on the face with easy turns. Even when the wave fattens up prior to a re-form it sticks with the plan until the wave stands up again, allowing you to milk it for all it's worth.
BYW this is from the US and am watching Aussie Adam Scott in the playoff of the Masters!
I have the 8'10" All Wave and just got the 8'2" wide body. The wide body is just as mommasfolly reviewed. I found the 8'2" to be stable for it's size but I still got tired after an hour on my first time riding it, started having trouble waiting for waves. This was is small semi clean conditions. A better comparison would be the 8-2 WB and the 8-5 Allwave or the 8-8 WB and the 8-10 Allwave. But I don't have both. If I was going to have the 8-8 Wide Body
Sorry but Adam is putting for the win.............
Adam Scott WINS.....................................
I would be interested if anyone has been able to compare these to the Starboard 8'10" or 8'2" Wide Point?
It seems hard to demo the JP Surf Wide at the moment as they are new and hard to get hold of.
Hi Flying HI,
I tried the Starboard 8 10 on a previous trip. The SB was a very good board. Similar in performance, (has the sucky handgrip).
Sadly I have not had both out on same conditions for a direct comparison. But,
from memory the SB seemed to ride more on the wave, rather than in it. The 8 10 was a thruster rather than the quad set up of the shorter boards. The SB has more volume than the JP though very similar dimensions. From memory the rails are a little fatter and not as defined as the JP. The 8 2 JP certainly woke up our thoughts as to the possibilities of 8 and maybe sub 8 foot boards!
Momma,
Since you have the 9'6 Allwave as well, could you give a 1 to 10 scale on how they compare as far as stability, glide and overall comfort. Did you have a big adjustment?
The one factor that blew me away on both boards is the stability and lack of conscious adjustment in order to stand on the 8 2 and 8 8. Both are amazingly stable in every respect of the word. In all circumstances, both while waiting out the back and in cross wind chop. Front back side to side. A Naish Mana 8 10 I tried was critical front to back not so the JP.
Even when the wave hit the outgoing tide chop it remained stable and tracked on the wave.
That was one factor that led me to buy the board, performance yet stability. At the end of the day I want to improve yet have fun, not work like crazy just to stay upright.
In comparison to the 9 6 All wave, best I can say is that I felt at home on either board from the first time out!
Thanks for the review... it's the best source of info when researching boards you don't have a chance to demo.... the 8'8 will be around here within a month.
I also had a month wait SUP, but, well and truly worth it. Only draw back was snapping my paddle blade on a wipe out! Oh well, I had 2 hours up at that stage and was pretty tired anyway
I really like the look of this board. I haven't been SUPing long, but the idea of a shorter board just seems more convenient and like a lot of fun. Only thing holding me back is uncertainty over stability. I currently ride a JP surf 9'6 which is fine stability wise but I don't think I would consider the 9'2 yet. Would love to know if anybody could comment. Not surfing big waves or anything, just looking for maximum fun. Would be looking at the 8'8 and weigh in at a little over 80kg. Not from a surfing background but kitesurf.
Hi Chr15j, sounds like a James Bond Title!
I found the surf wide bodies amazingly stable in bot the 8 2 and now the 8 8 version. I selected to buy the 8 8 just for a bot more all around performance as I spend my time in whatever waves are presented I.e. can't pick and choose.
Mush, clean 6" 6' whatever I am in.
Performance is super, I have to catch up to the board, but, fun factor is number one. For me that is wave count, and , this board is a wave magnet!! At one stage I did not get out the back for 20 minutes as each wave I pointed at, bam, I was on.
Thanks momasfolly. Great review by the way. I guess if I find it unstable compared to my 9'6 I'll just have to get better quicker ;-) I couldn't agree more that more waves = more fun!
Session 2. 2 foot beachies. Smooth and slight Off shore. 8 8 was out and handled the small stuff easily! Paddles in easily and on. Even manages one stroke late take offs. Just go surf stance, opne stroke and on. Does not get much better than that!
Super board.
Todays session, Reef break. Full tide, strong off shore wind, 3-4' waves with some larger sets coming through. The wind made paddling in an interesting event as some gusts would lift the rail and in you go!
Still steady and stable, handled the paddle well. Early on the paddle in was quite interesting with a hollow section. Handled it well, the board was just good to go. Still waiting for a decent low wind day with nice swell.
Still can't fault this stick!
Sunday will be interesting with a large swell predicted for Vicko.
Bring it on
I like the continuous updates from
Session to session.... Keep it up! We get to know the board better as you get to know it better! 👍
