Cool lookin board, I'll be interested to hear how it goes.

Only a precaution on the nose, nearly pulled a groin slipping one day!

Well, session is done and dusted!
Let me open the review this way.

After a days work in the sun, you grab an ice cold beer and drain 1/2 the stubby. Ahhhhhh, hits the spot!

This is this board!
Superb and wish I could shake the hand of the designer!!

4-5 Foot solid waves, strong Off shore, surfing back hand all morning and a switch in the tide making things difficult and choppy yet a nice wave when you get on the face.

The board paddled out a treat, is super stable to stand on, tracks nicely on the paddle 6-7 strokes before switching sides. Flat deck means you stand nicely with a good sized sweet spot. Even though this was my first session on a new board I could stand out the back without considering where the feet were planted. Cross chop not too much bother. Just super stable.

Point it at shore with a wave coming and it accelerates beautifully transforming into a wave magnet! Great take off, easy to turn and lively under foot.
Holds the line nicely, ride through into the reform and bam, off again. Even a switch tide chop does not upset the balance of the board!

Paddle out and , well, wave pigs beware you are about to be turned into a monster.

I am 52yo, 82 KG and 175cm. Not a great surfer by any standard but this thing is just sliced bread with honey on top and sprinkles.

Any negatives found? Sorry, I could not find one.

Super board, well worth the investment for an intermediate looking for the next step yet still retain the fun. Looking forward to getting stuck in and having more sessions under my skin!!

Thanks to SHQ for bringing the board into the country!

136 L, weighs only 9kg all up! Tried the 8 2 and it was an epiphany, revelation.
Went for the 8 8 just to be slightly more all round as I surf all sorts of stuff and conditions. Can only recommend these as super fun boards.

Great review! I just got the 8'2" and will report back tomorrow! Mommasfolly what fins do you have in there? Did the board come with them? Mine came with cheap little plastic ones.

Can anyone tell me the thickness of the 8'8" or 8'2"?
The JP website has everything else but the thickness dimensions.
Thanks

Flying High they don't have the thickness on the boards either I will try to measure it.

Any major differences to Fanatic Allwave 8'10?

BYW this is from the US and am watching Aussie Adam Scott in the playoff of the Masters!

I have the 8'10" All Wave and just got the 8'2" wide body. The wide body is just as mommasfolly reviewed. I found the 8'2" to be stable for it's size but I still got tired after an hour on my first time riding it, started having trouble waiting for waves. This was is small semi clean conditions. A better comparison would be the 8-2 WB and the 8-5 Allwave or the 8-8 WB and the 8-10 Allwave. But I don't have both. If I was going to have the 8-8 Wide Body
Sorry but Adam is putting for the win.............

Adam Scott WINS.....................................

Hi Flying HI,

I tried the Starboard 8 10 on a previous trip. The SB was a very good board. Similar in performance, (has the sucky handgrip).
Sadly I have not had both out on same conditions for a direct comparison. But,
from memory the SB seemed to ride more on the wave, rather than in it. The 8 10 was a thruster rather than the quad set up of the shorter boards. The SB has more volume than the JP though very similar dimensions. From memory the rails are a little fatter and not as defined as the JP. The 8 2 JP certainly woke up our thoughts as to the possibilities of 8 and maybe sub 8 foot boards!

Momma,
Since you have the 9'6 Allwave as well, could you give a 1 to 10 scale on how they compare as far as stability, glide and overall comfort. Did you have a big adjustment?

Thanks for the review... it's the best source of info when researching boards you don't have a chance to demo.... the 8'8 will be around here within a month.

I really like the look of this board. I haven't been SUPing long, but the idea of a shorter board just seems more convenient and like a lot of fun. Only thing holding me back is uncertainty over stability. I currently ride a JP surf 9'6 which is fine stability wise but I don't think I would consider the 9'2 yet. Would love to know if anybody could comment. Not surfing big waves or anything, just looking for maximum fun. Would be looking at the 8'8 and weigh in at a little over 80kg. Not from a surfing background but kitesurf.

Thanks momasfolly. Great review by the way. I guess if I find it unstable compared to my 9'6 I'll just have to get better quicker ;-) I couldn't agree more that more waves = more fun!

Todays session, Reef break. Full tide, strong off shore wind, 3-4' waves with some larger sets coming through. The wind made paddling in an interesting event as some gusts would lift the rail and in you go!
Still steady and stable, handled the paddle well. Early on the paddle in was quite interesting with a hollow section. Handled it well, the board was just good to go. Still waiting for a decent low wind day with nice swell.
Still can't fault this stick!
Sunday will be interesting with a large swell predicted for Vicko.
Bring it on