The German magazine “SURF” recently published the following pre-test in their August Issue (Issue 8, August 2012, page 48).

surf pre-test: “already sailed”

The new JP Freestyle 100 2013 is being launched. The board was developed together with World Champion Steven van Broeckhoven and shows some important changes: rear and center area are clearly thicker, which allows for more pop at the take-off. Fin and mast step are positioned further back, so the distance between straps and mast step is reduced. According to our experience this should make it easier to steer the board in the air. The new foot straps are very pleasant with twin-screws, wider, thicker and without the inconvenient plastic edge of previous years which provides a by far better feeling and comfort – even when sailing barefoot. The fin measures 20 cm and is therefore shorter than last year.

The thick and voluminous tail area makes the boards very stable while none-planing. The JP is slightly more technical to get going in light winds but then it accelerates powerfully with the first gust. Once powered it feels sporty and fast. In lulls or when changing to switch stance the JP board greatly maintains its speed which can then be used for the next move. An absolute strength of the board is its power to jump. Being super light and agile underfoot it convinces with great pop for all hip power-moves like Kono, Shaka or Culo. The constant feeling of control dominates even during slides. This makes the board ideal for experts and Spock-novices alike. Ambitious freestylers will probably not care about the fact that the board is not made for carving moves and bump & jump, which anyway is the case of most radical freestyle boards.

surf-Tip: What’s good for World Champion cannot be bad for mere mortals. The new JP is a perfect freestyle machine with great speed and outstanding pop for all hip power-moves. It should provide a lot of fun for ambitious freestylers weighting between 75 and 90 kg.