New JL downwinder

[Eagle]

This is a good video to see how a piercing nose board rocks and rolls slightly.  At 2:10 the JP designer says the following -> "we took out some volume in the nose area to make the board less sensitive to side winds".

If you watch the video closely at 1:30 and 3:05 you can see the board wobble and the sharp entry of the nose pearl slightly.  This is normal and very fast if you have good balance and can stay powered up on that board.  SIC with a surf nose design and a panel vee and especially JL with a flat bottom with hard edges all round -> have less tendency to rock and roll like that - and instead will pop up and plane more easily over the waves.

[coldsup]

very interesting ...thanks for that Eagle.

[Badger]

Race boards don't make good downwind boards IMO.


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[yugi]

new flat-hulled non-displacement nose ones will

[supuk]

it depends on your definition of good,  they can be very fast however they are normally also very hard work it just depends what you are trying to achieve.

[Eagle]

A couple local sponsored riders here do use their 25" race boards -> as that is what they sometimes race on.  One told me he likes the "challenge" keeping the nose from pearling.  Another told me that his 23" race board is great in Deep Cove - "but is a bit narrow and unstable for Squamish".

Both noted a beginner should not ride a 25" board since they can be very tippy outside of flat conditions.  One told me you should buy a board you can put full power down in all conditions.  For me DW this would be on my trusty 28" original M-14 -> that board allows me to stay dry in really tough gnarly conditions because of its forgiving continuous rocker.  All my flatter rocker boards just slam pearl and pound when it gets really steep and deep.

When those guys ride their 25" DW they are very fast and take off from the pack and stay dry -> they have good balance not like us.  To put it into perspective - they will do a 40 mile paddle for fun.

[Eagle]

Specs for the 2016 Rail are 14' Carbon 28.0" wide @ 290L - and 26.5" wide @ 270L.  Should be available Spring in limited quantities.  Has a continuous rocker -> but is a touch flatter than the M-14 based on these pics -

http://www.jimmylewis.ca/?page_id=2434

[Muskoka SUP]

I've been in contact with Jimmy Lewis Canada (Rogue Wave here on the Zone) and there will only be a few 28" Rails coming to the Great White North, unless you get to your local dealer (or even contact Rogue Wave) and pre-book.  This is a must if any one wants a 26.5 Rail next Spring.  (In Canada, anyways...). 

[Luc Benac]

I've been in contact with Jimmy Lewis Canada (Rogue Wave here on the Zone) and there will only be a few 28" Rails coming to the Great White North, unless you get to your local dealer (or even contact Rogue Wave) and pre-book.  This is a must if any one wants a 26.5 Rail next Spring.  (In Canada, anyways...).

Any pre-order comes with a mandatory requisite of a detailed review when the board has been received as confirmed by Lee :-)

[Muskoka SUP]

From the JL Europe site... Pretty nice looking Rail... Wow! 

[robon]

^Looks a lot like a Naish Glide in that picture. Similar nose profile. I'm sure it has a more aggressive rocker profile than the Glide.

[PonoBill]

Looks like a lotta rocker. I need to ask Jimmy about that.

[coldsup]

look forward to hearing comparisons of the M14 and new Rail

[Badger]

The Rail looks looks fantastic but I wonder how well it surfs. Not many downwind boards can surf as well as the M-14. The ability of a board to do both disciplines is important to me.

Most downwind boards seem to have the fin too far forward, poor tail shape and too flat of a rocker for good surfing ability.

[coldsup]

The Rail looks looks fantastic but I wonder how well it surfs. Not many downwind boards can surf as well as the M-14. The ability of a board to do both disciplines is important to me.

Most downwind boards seem to have the fin too far forward, poor tail shape and too flat of a rocker for good surfing ability.

Agree with you there.....I guess the new board is more of a racing downwinder....if you get my drift. It might be better for smaller bumps when the wind isn't too strong.....