Windsurfing Equipment Tests - American Windsurfer

Boards: JP Australia @ Maui

Control Bump Speed Style King Surf

JP Australia Wave 245

If you want to know what people mean when they say windsurfing is better than sex, the JP Wave 245 is the board you need to ride. It’s so fast and so loose and so much fun to sail you want to keep going and going and going. Best of all, you can. For light and medium–weight expert- and pro-level riders, this is THE high-wind pick of the litter. Of course, this is a very lively board and it’s small, so only the most expert riders feel comfortable on it. The deck pads are slippery and non–skid is inadequate, but the manufacturer claims to have corrected those problems.

Power Rating 49
Length 7’11”
Width 20.3”
Volume 72 Liters
Weight 13.1 lbs.
Planing 3.5
Reaching 10.0
Upwind 4.0
Tight turns 10.0
Wide turns 7.0
Ding rating 18
Price $1,595
Includes: Straps, Pads, Fin

Recommended sail: Wave 3.5 to 5.0

Note: one of the few not pictured

Control Bump Speed Style King Surf

JP Australia Wave 255

The most popular wave board in the test, the JP Wave 255 combines quick planing and excellent speed with incredibly nimble maneuverability. This board’s darting, slashing style lets you slice like a sushi chef. If we were to judge by performance alone, this would probably be THE wave board of the test. However, slippery deck pads and slick non-skid count as significant shortcomings, particularly for a board in this price range. On the other hand, construction is light and strong, the stock fin is good, and the manufacturer has already changed the pads and non-skid on future production. Foot straps are extremely comfortable and easier than most to adjust.

Power Rating 52
Length 8’2”
Width 21.4”
Volume 78 Liters
Weight 14.5 lbs.
Planing 5.0
Reaching 9.5
Upwind 4.5
Tight turns 10.0
Wide turns 7.5
Ding rating 18
Price $1,595
Includes: Straps, Pads, Fin

Recommended sail: Wave 4.0 to 5.5

Note: one of the few not pictured

Control Bump Speed Style King Surf

JP Australia Freestyle 260

A fast, powerful, lively board, this JP design is not only the lightest freestyle board we tested, but it’s also one of the most ding resistant. Its tail is wider than most, which may account for the fact that it’s a little stiffer in the turns than other freestyle boards. It means you have to put your back foot a little farther back if you want to crank a tight turn. That’s no problem for flat-water freestyle and just bombing around. Double sets of strap inserts - inboard and outboard - mean the Freestyle 260 is versatile. Use the outboard set for flat water and slalom-type sailing; the inboard set for wave sailing. On Maui we like putting the starboard jump side straps out and the port wave riding straps in.

Power Rating 62
Length 8’5”
Width 23.4”
Volume 99 Liters
Weight 14.5 lbs.
Planing 8.0
Reaching 8.0
Upwind 8.5
Tight turns 8.0
Wide turns 8.5
Ding rating 30
Price $1,595
Includes: Straps, Pads, Fin

Recommended sail:
Wave & freeride 5.5 to 7.0

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