The 2010 Wave line replaces the Real World Waves that have been around for the past few seasons. With this range, JP suggest that the same shape can perform in both less-than-ideal conditions and down-the-line sailing. JP say these new boards will appeal to a wider range of sailors and perform in all manner of conditions. They even go on to say that every team rider has one of these in their quiver for when conditions get difficult. The boards have a slightly reduced rocker, reduced tail width, and a wider, more rounded nose.

Design: With a max width of 55.5cm and quoted volume of 75L, the board is a pretty standard size for this group. It has quite a bit of tail rocker at 12mm – the most in this test, but not the most we’ve ever measured – and a 2cm point at 145cm, giving it a fairly standard length planing flat. There’s a small amount of double concave running throughout the board.

On the water: Despite that amount of tail rocker, the JP gets up and going fairly early. Once planing it’s very comfortable to blast on and sails upwind with ease. It feels extremely light in the air, making it one of the favourites for boosting huge jumps on. The board feels relatively large for its size when stationary, but turns out to be very comfortable when sailing fully powered and seems to perform better in conditions of this nature. The board really comes into its own when riding – it was very predictable and easy to drive hard bottom turns, keeping its speed well, and a allowing very vertical, tight and snappy top turns.

Fittings: The board was supplied with a 22cm G10 fin which felt a little bit stiffer than most. In common with all JPs it had extremely comfortable footstraps and excellent pads which help to create a great value off-the-shelf package.

Overall: The JP is an excellent all-round waveboard. It’s as happy charging down-the-line as it is getting vertical in less than ideal onshore conditions. The board has the great feeling of being extremely predictable whilst still being fairly loose. It was at its best when well powered on 4.7m, but would happily take a 5.3m. JP have done an excellent job here, producing a board that really does work in a variety of conditions – an excellent choice for any competent UK wavesailor.

Click here to read the BOARDS 257 Single-Fin Waveboard test in full…