JP AUSTRALIA THRUSTER QUAD PRO 93L 2015 TEST REVIEW
JP AUSTRALIA THRUSTER QUAD PRO 93L 2015 TEST REVIEW
THE LOW-DOWN
Same shape as the 2014 Single Thruster but with 5 fin boxes. JP provide you with three fins to get you going; a 21cm US box center fin and 2×10 cm mini tuttle thrusters.
BRAND CLAIM
“In the thruster setup they are perfect for conditions where you need a fast, early planing, powerful board that turns well and launches into the sky like a rocket. In the quad setup you get a board that is super loose and provides radical turning and heaps of control on the wave. So you can shift the focus from an onshore rocket to a side shore ripping machine. This suits our riders on the PWA tour as well as any wave rider wanting a versatile wave board”.
PERFORMANCE
Werner Gnigler and the JP team have been tweaking and the 2015 thruster Quad 93 is the largest but one of the 4 board range. With 5 fin boxes there is the option to have single, thruster, trailer, twinser and quad setups! That’s a lot of possibilities to get the grip set up you want.
This year the JP was the first board to arrive and had a much more comprehensive workout than its predecessor last year. Robbie Swift had a hand in the modifications to the fin configuration and recently achieved his first podium in Klitmoller. In thruster mode this is an extremely accessible, easy going board that is really stable at rest. Early planing, it would keep all but the most specific riders happy with the huge grip in the turns that allow you to push very hard with total confidence. In the Medano slop its speed and hold made it fun for all with an excellent throw about nature coupled with a smooth, low-energy ride. It has a smaller feel than its quoted 93L and when it got a bit windier it still felt small but with great control. Such are it’s abilities that some of the less technical sailors found it very easy to maintain speed on the wave and link two or more turns. The flattering nature had two of the test-team ranking the JP in their top 3 boards. If we had the fins to explore more options it may have slotted in even higher. It manages to combine the ease of use of a freestyle wave, with the grip and turning ability of a dedicated wave board in a similar way to the Fanatic TriWave but possibly fulfilling the role for lighter riders too.
THE VERDICT
An easily accessible board that will tick most peoples boxes with its smooth ride, versatility and control. Flattering wave ability to keep speed in on-shore surf. Its small board feel and acceleration make for demon jumping abilities. Wish it came with 5 fins but well worth a demo.
OTHER BOARDS IN THIS TEST: