jimmy lewis KWAD

I've found a couple of very old posts about these boards but would like to open up some new discussion if I may.

I have put these in my mix of boards that would suit my needs perfectly but the age old question raises its head yet again - how small does one go before it gets too small to be that perfect board you were originally looking for ?.....

If you ride, or have ridden the 9.1 and 8.7 Kwad please chime in with your thoughts/opinions

At 78 kg (fairly fit) very comfortably intermediate sup'er (not paddled for a year tho) 50yo (so no grand desires about the world tour) surf small waves (always under head high) always beachies and rivermouths. Due to old injuries do not throw boards around but want a board that is nimble and turns nicely on rail and runs nice in garbage surf

I know the 9.1 will be comfy and fun and easy and probably perfect BUT would going to the 8.7 make it a challenge I wont want or need OR will it better suit my surf and broken body better as it will be more nimble and easier to handle ?

Cheers for that mate. Without appearing rude whats your weight/age pls - PM me if you wish.

Launny mate. Surf Bridport rivermouth and penquin area nowadays.

I have had the 8'7 Kwad for the last couple of months and surfed it in big and bumpy, hollow and fast, small and cruisy, beachies, points, reefs, pretty much all conditions from WA to Qld, and I haven't found it wanting in anything I have taken it out in.
Fast, fun and turns on a dime. I've ridden a lot of different boards over the years, smaller, bigger, shorter, longer, wider, narrower, but since I have had the Kwad I haven't had the thought that X or Y board would be "better out here today" or in certain conditions and for me that says a lot. I haven't even changed the fins, which I usually do after a couple of surfs on a new board.
My brother at just under 100kgs (normally rides a Whopper) tried it the other day and easily caught the first wave he paddled for, paddled back out and said it surfed like a shortboard, it was his first surf on any sup other than his Whopper.
I would suggest to consider the 9'1" over the 8'7" for you if you don't like to "throw a board around" as you would have more fun overall. It is still a very agile board but just a bit easier. Too many people talk themselves or get talked into boards that become more challenging than fun.

I have had both and am 76 kg and we'll over 60. The 9 1 feels like a log once you have been on the 8 7.

Haha, didn't recognize you from your avatar at first...

Yep, nearly back to my old self weight-wise after leaving no-surf-Perf and getting amongst some waves again, good to hear you might actually be getting back on a board too.

The 9'1" is very similar to a sporty tech wood deck board from about 2009 you really liked only lighter and even more sportier.

Knowing your style tho, you might actually prefer the smaller of the Strikers...

I'm over 50 and 85kgs - bought the 9'2" Stun Gun (know it's not the KWAD has less volume and you'll get what I'm trying to say) because I had the same concerns. After 4 months I bought the 8'7" and have the 9'2" up for sale. The Stun Gun is 110 l and the KWAD is 115 - at your weight it would be very stable with a more stable outline (wider nose and tail) and 5 l more volume.

Also have the Striker in 9'5" and have to agree in small waves much more fun than the Stun Gun.

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supnth said...

Do you ever surf the 8.7 in waist high or less ? If so how much of a struggle is it to get on ?

Sure have, it goes very well,it loves little runners, the low rocker and fish out line coupled with a lovely little vee bottom through the backend makes it very sweet little wave board ,but it also makes it come alive in bigger waves , so to summarise quickly you can surf it waves from knee high wind swells to clean offshore head to 1 1/2 times over head maybe bigger depending on the waves and riders skill level.hope this helps

Way different from the old 8'5 for sure.

8'7 is probably the most versatile board I've ridden. Like I mentioned above, it is at home on ANY size waves I've taken it out in and that's as big as anything you've seen me surf over the years. No problems getting on micro waves either, I even spend the occasional moments up towards the nose but don't find it necessary to jump on the nose to get onto waves like i do on other boards. I am impressed with it to say the least.

Today was pretty flat up here but I could see some bigger waves the other side of the river. Paddled across and out the rivermouth then surfed down the beach for couple of hours getting some nice little waves, then paddled back across the river on an incoming tide. Got a little bit worried because of the runout tide but was able to paddle with the runners created by the outgoing current to help me get back across and down the river without landing on the rock wall or having to go around and paddle in on the northern side of river where sups definitely aren't welcome. All of this was easy done on the 8'7.

Hello,

I'm 42y 6'1 185lbs. I've got a JL kwad 8'7 in my quiver and I assure you it's a pretty stable board. Easy going.
I find it very well shaped. I just wish it was brushed carbon :)

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8'7" KWAD users report after 6 months regular use.

I've recently had an 8'7". I saw this thread and thought I ought to put my 2 cents in. My advert was quite like a review. I have no affiliation to JL and pay my way.

I'm 6 foot tall, 72kg, 43yr old, exp. surfer, kiter and I used to wavesail a lot 1985-2003. I think this board would be good for someone up to ~90kg, depending on exp. A heavier rider could really crank this board! It's super floaty for me. I started SUPing early this year on a 10'5" SB Drive.

To me the Kwad seems to be an awesome one board quiver. Good row and glide, stable and relaxing out the back, handles chop and wind, easy into waves, no pearl (nose dives), fast, drivey, loose and punchy. The low volume rails, which are rare on SUPs, make this a great surf SUP. 8'7"x 29" x 3 7/8". 115L. I used this board 2-3 times a week from April to mid Sept this year, whilst I waited 6+ months for an 8'7" stungun and a heart op. late in July.

Initially, I was resistant to the kwad design / concept as I've not used big fish style surfboards and am much keener on round / pin tails - more like the stungun. Having used it in all conditions, I've no resistance now - the kwad is a cracker for me (72kg) in anything up to head / head and a half sized surf. Perfect for SUP action. It's so versatile and fun to use. The fuller nose and wider swallow tail make this super stable when stationary and quickly generates lots of speed and response on the crappiest wave. The KWAD is a perfect one board SUP quiver. I found it's very relaxing, satisfying and inspiring to use this board. It continued to be. I've used the Stungun a fair bit & I like it too. The Kwad has very worthy attributes. It is both drivey off the bottom and loose - even rad off the top! It’s a very respectable and refined board. Usability, smoothness & balance are a great strengths, I imaging that if you didn't use this for 6 weeks or more you could hop on and get straight back into it - relaxed and pleasurably. It is certainly a much more stable board than the stun gun, despite their similar dimensions.

Before I ordered the Stun Gun, I received/read/sought/took lots of advice about how the many other boards would be better for this and that (paralysis by analysis - hype!). Certainly, for my weight/skill/time spent, I did feel somewhat over powered in big (5-6 foot) quality waves on the Kwad, so I would be wanting for something finer like the stun gun then. However, I’m a pretty inexperienced SUP rider, I quickly found ways to make the KWAD hold in better and trim and transition smoothly to maintain speed. I found much greater satisfaction and connection with the board by moving my back foot around between turns (rather than plant and rip – as per a performance surfboard). It was bloody exciting to get barreled (all be it a shallow one) on a SUP in 5-6” waves. So, whilst I’ve absorbed and responded to a lot of noise about better boards I found the Kwad is a great example of a performance SUP that is fantastically enjoyable to use in a huge range of conditions.

Changing boards? – well I have been really stoked with the KWAD and could just as happily kept on KWADing especially in ideal or common SUP conditions (ie. when you can’t surf a shortboard – or your wave count and satisfaction will be much lower) – often 1-3 foot, or poor wind / tide conditions. The KWAD is a great SUP and think it will always be a great SUP to SUP on. Jimmy Lewis magic!!

Jimmy Lewis construction is second to none. Epic hand polished finish compliments this boards great design. It's nice and light too.

Best wishes to you.

Thanks to Jason and Sonya @ WOK for sound accurate advice at every stage.

Pete

BTW. What did you choose supnth? 8'7" or 9'1"?

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colas said..

This is where the paddle helps: with this added "3rd leg" it is easier to manage wide tails than on prone surfboards, in part by the added leverage, in part because it is easier to move the rear foot around while using the paddle for balance...

A 'pivotal' point Colas!

Once I started using my 'long arm' and 'feather fine paw', everything transmuted from my surf, sail, kite life. SUPutation had me taking deep breaths and swinging in with commitment. I had SUPed for quite sometime before I consciously realised the potent pivotal power and reach of the paddle. What a pleasure it is to feel that extended and solid connection to the water through your board and paddle :)

The Kwad has been a great board for me to identify and feel that action / moment / pivot with smooth connected turns both off the bottom and the top. It has been a serendipitous parallel experience to come to feel this pivot action on the KWAD and observe the many 'pivotal' changes that have taken place in me and my family over the last 12 months too.

Hooray for SUPutaion!