Finally got out on my JL Slice. At 76.2cm (30") it is wider, thicker and heavier than the 10"6" Naish. Board felt good and I got a chance to work on stroke technique in the flat water in a canal. It is kinda of bulky to lift and was wondering if other people use one side handle to make it easier to lift. The board is drilled for side handles. Can I use machine screws so the hard JL handle can come off before it goes into the bag? Or is it better to use a soft handle so it can stay on in the bag?

if you fall, hard handles could hurt

It is not a flatwater board but does pretty well in it. After the second run it feels even better. The stripes come in handy for a line to reach for instead of tape. I am not sure if I need a handle (getting easier to maneuver the more I use it ) but might experiment with some webbing or a kite handle.

I thought the Blade was their flatwater board? No problem as the water is mostly flat in the Florida Keys.

Thanks