JP – Real World Wave 83L Pro
Boards Vital stat’s – 233 x 58.2
My Vital stat’s – 6’2” & 92kg
What can I say the board is light and I mean very light. I have been riding the Real World Wave boards since they first came out in 2004 and I am a big fan of these types of board for sailing my local spots around the metro area of Perth.
First Impressions
The 2008 boards are a step up from the last couple of years and have a very custom like feel. about them. The bottom channels have gone and a sort of double concave set up has been used, the nose is now more rounded instead of the square nose of the past, giving the board a even more wavy out line. The tail looks to have been drawn out more and is a lot thinner than the past as well. The graphics also look good in a sleek semi painted gun metal finish. The fin is a G10 fin at 23cm. In the past I have not used the stock fins on the JP’s, but the new G10 fin look the goods for on-shore wave riding and over powered free style riding very impressed.
On the Water
The conditions were NNW Duchies about 22knts. I was using a 2006-4.7m Neil Pryde Combat. The board pops onto the plane very earlier due to the light weight and tends to push or glide through the lulls well also due to the lack of weight. Ok the board feels crisper and stiffer then last years, I was a little worried about what it would feel like in the air due to the weight but it went well the trick is to use a little bit more mast and sail pressure on the board when jumping. On the wave it carves so much better than the last years and snaps back very quickly and more lively so gives you more time to set up for your next move.
Pro’s
Lighter, lighter, lighter the light weight gives the board a very crisp and stiffer ride.
Con’s
Less suited to high wind free style than the past years.
Pro over Normal Construction
Ok I have in the past had a pro addition JP free style board from 2006 and it is still going strong still has the same crisp and stiff feel as when I bought it. I am a big fan of the pro construction and do not see any problems with the strength of the construction and at 92kg I am no light weight. The only problem is its like full carbon booms once you try one you will only use or want to use the pro addition construction.
Pete
