JL Striker

[dingfix]

It usually takes about 12 months before I start finding “reasons” to change a board.   However my current surf sup is bucking that trend - it does everything I need, it does everything the brochure says, and it is superbly made – my Jimmy Lewis 9’5 Striker.

I’ve had it well over a year now and have experimented with different fins in different conditions, 1-6 feet.   Best setup so far is standard JL sides with a 7” cutaway.   The board catches waves so easily, is very loose off the tail, likes to be ridden way up front and is so smooooth.

What I don’t understand is why the Striker isn’t talked about more, all the hype seems to be around other JL models like the SuperFrank.   Maybe they are better for their more-specific purposes, but for a one-board quiver the Striker gets my vote.   Anyone else riding a Striker, how do you find it? 

PS.   I have no affiliation with JL.

[Bean]

No, but let me tell you about my JL B&B Machine!

Seriously, JL just has some really good shapes, I'm not surprised in the least that you are diggin' the Striker.

[dietlin]

"but for a one-board quiver the Striker gets my vote."

Mine, too.  I think it's a great board for milking mushy junk and paddling in chop.  And it still works quite well in decent surf.  Reminds me of an SUP version of the Takayama In the Pink. 

I like it with AM2s in the sides and an 8" center fin pushed up as far as the conditions will allow.  Riding an 8'5".  Have my 8'11" for sale if anyone's interested.

[centralcoastsup]

Dietlin interested in your 8’10” Striker. Where are you located?

[centralcoastsup]

I’m in Monterey Ca.

[dietlin]

Boston, MA.

[Big Windy]

Yeah, your right, great board.  I have the 9’5 Striker.  Fun board.  Had it in knee high chop to 3 feet overhead.  Big nose for bigger stuff, but the tail and rails work well, so you can maneuver.  Very stable in choppy seas.  Fun to use with a 4-5” center and stock sidebites and do helicopters in waist high stuff.  Had it for 2 years.  Usually only keep boards for about a year, but this one has been a keeper for junky conditions.

[jayjay]

Deitlin-  Interested in your 8-11 JL Striker.
I can pay $125 freight for shipping to Texas, if you have a box.

Call 956 or text me For 33. Sixsix for too.
Thanks, Jayson.

[Billekrub]

Have an 8 11 Striker since 2010 west coast, Baja.  In great condition, quite well made, but heavier than more recent constructions.  Use it occasionally as my only board when not windsurfing.  Often there is side-offshore wind here and waves are mushy and often small.  My last session I could catch anything, even some smooth lumps far off peak, because the wind was light and my paddling has improved.

If you approach the board from a distance lying upside down, it shows a lot of rocker.  Would be nice to have a little more speed in this less radical surf, e.g., such as a Super Frank as reported, but if you get back on the Striker it will respond instantly.  A number of times, when stepping on the rear rail and certain I would fall off, the board turned back under me like magic.

You can walk to the front of the board almost any time without fear to get a speed boost on a marginal wave, because it is so wide in the front, and on modest days it can survive some horrific drops without pearling.  It comes with a wonderful full deck pad making me ask why so many do not have this.

Have designed a removable aluminum insert in the handle slot so it can take a sail rig for wind-supping--custom fabricated in a rural machine shop in Baja.  Requires no modification to the board.

[liv2surf]

I am really interested in picking up a 9'5" JL Striker for surfing real waves shoulder to 2' OH beachbreak in Nor Cal. I am a longtime longboard surfer and have been looking for a legitimate longboard style SUP for waves. I often prefer not to have a pointy nose in front of me. I also want to be able to cross-step my way to the nose on that luxurious full deckpad. The above comments provide interesting discussion of other positive performance characteristics. I am on a 9'5 Naish mana right now which has 163L.  I think 147L would be a good step down that I an manage.