The ‘trad’ shape of JP’s two wave ranges. The JP Pro has changed name and changed shape from previous years, dropping the ‘Rad Wave’ name and assuming the now seemingly ubiquitous single concave underwater shape. It’s now considerably shorter and more rockered than the equivalent board (RadWave 74) we tested two years ago, and considerably smaller and narrower than the RealWorldWave 74 also tested here.

On the Water:

The Pro Wave is small and highly rockered and it’s no surprise that it isn’t all that quick to plane. However, it is fast and lively once up and planing. It has reasonable grip for a single concave board and its high nose rocker gives boosting take-offs if you can get a good, well powered run-up to the wave. In medium winds and kind water states it feels very fast and clean through the water and gybes smoothly, but if there’s much chop about it can feel a bit hectic. It isn’t the easiest board with which to get speed into turns as it’s quite easy to stall and can be easily upset by bad trim. This makes it quite technical in smaller, less powered or onshore wave conditions. However, if you can carry your speed through the first part of the turn and engage the rail well forward it rewards you with a beautifully clean turn into the section, almost seeming to accelerate as it goes, and it comes off the top beautifully as well. It is a bit of a challenge for the less able waverider but an excellent performer in bigger waves with higher boardspeed. Fittings: The decent G10 fin is a welcome addition for JP and, although quite small, seemed to suit the board well. Straps, pads and comfortable doming are all of the usual high standard.

Popularity:

Our expert waverider was getting very excited with its “hook in the bottom turn and snap off the top” capabilities, and a few of our other better riders were loving flashes of its excellent riding qualities. Mostly though, it was felt to be a bit too slow to plane and technical for top popularity.

Overall:

TheWave Pro is clearly a very potent riding board, best appreciated at fast boardspeeds due either to strong winds or larger waves.We can see it being responsible for some ‘best ever’ riding sessions. However, although a reasonable all-rounder that goes out fine in most conditions, jumping and pointing quite well, we feel it is not as good in the general-purpose role as the last JP RadWave that we tested and certainly not as easy to sail – particularly in tougher conditions. We would therefore strongly recommend it for waveriding biassed sailing in good conditions in experienced hands.