JP Australia Surf Plus Pro 8’3 x 30.5″ x 125L
Words & photos: Tez Plavenieks
It’s been a while since I stepped on a bona fide hard shell surf SUP. Unfortunately, surf SUP boards aren’t as abundant as they once were, mainly because the majority of stand-up paddlers don’t chase waves. Yet it’s nice to know that there are still some designs around for those who want wave performance.
The JP Australia Surf Plus Pro 8’3 is manufactured in full carbon. Plus stands for additional width and stability without sacrificing carveability. A pulled-in nose and winger tail deliver on this. The ability to tune as a thruster or quad fin is another big tick in the box.
Afloat, the JP is super stable relative to its overall dimensions, but it still feels lively underfoot. Paddling straight is easily accomplished, which makes take offs a doddle. Tracking does help where positioning is concerned. It’s also a fairly turbo board relative to its size. You won’t win races, but the speed will undoubtedly help riders make split decisions to pick off waves.
Once on a wave, the Surf Plus Pro is a delight. Bottom turns bite, and the board slingshots up towards lips or down the line without much cajoling from the rider. Laying a rail is fulfilling, while lip hits and froth bounces elevate the stoke further. For a bigger board, it has heaps of wave prowess. As such, it’d be a good tutor for aspiring SUP surfers, yet it remains perfectly applicable for advanced riders, too.
CONCLUSION
The JP Australia Surf Plus Pro 8’3 showcases how far performance wave paddle board designs have come. Gone is the need for super low volume and narrow platforms designed with wave shredding in mind. A composed yet whippy and carveable ‘machine’ like this is all you need. And should you fancy whacking a windsurf sail on it for some breezy windSUP wave action, you can! Thanks to Karl Cadwallander for the demo gear.
Price: £1949
Info: https://jp-australia.com/p/sup/composite-boards/surf-plus/
SUP Mag UK 
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