It's only 9.2 kilos that make the senses fly. A hint of glass, wood and lots of carbon fibre envelop the needle-pointed hull. The proverbial "hot knife in the butter" is only a blunted comparison to how the Race-Bug cuts through the water. The Flatwater Race's favourite thing is when the lake is as smooth as a mirror and the board cuts the surface like a glass cutter - then you could be forgiven for thinking that the lake is falling apart behind you.
But this experience, when you feel like you're travelling twice the distance with every paddle stroke as you would with an inflated racer, is something you have to work for slowly. You don't get into the SUP racing league with a credit card in your hand, but only by paddling many, many kilometres. A width of 62 centimetres is neither a landing stage nor touring dimensions. When there is no wind on the lake, the slim hull feels subjectively much faster than a 12'6'' touring board - even if the difference is only two or three kilometres per hour. At least without any disturbing external influence. Because on this raging thunderbolt, every pedalo wave becomes a tsunami, seven knots of wind are like a heavy storm. Then the silent rush of speed becomes a hell of a ride on an unbalanced trolley, just like in an ICE at 240 kilometres per hour. Nevertheless, for budding racers: the risk of addiction is extremely high. Be sure to check your bank balance before you go for a test paddle.
Price 2,499 EuroLength14 feet (2.27 metres)Width: 24.5 inches (62 centimetres)Weight: 9.2 kilos lightVolume: 226 litres slim;Thickness8.2 inches (20.9 centimetres)Info: www.jp-australia.com
