Hardboards 2023JP-Australia GTS Carbon 14'0" x 29" in test

Stephan Gölnitz

 · 30.05.2023

JP-Australia GTS Carbon 14'0" x 29": Slim nose, wide tail.
Photo: Stephan Gölnitz

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Fast and furious Hinkelstein: The JP board comes with a very unusual outline. This also applies to the riding characteristics of the fast touring board.

The JP board achieves what would not be possible with any iSUP. It combines a 29 inch narrow centre section with a pointed, rounded bow from the racing development, with a low standing position and an expansive wide tail. All in all, this combines very good tipping stability with a top average speed. However, these board concepts with a lowered cockpit do not result in the lowest weights, even with the highest quality construction, as the surrounding rails mean a lot of additional surface area and therefore material usage.

Exceptional shape of the JP Australia GTS Carbon.Photo: Stephan GölnitzExceptional shape of the JP Australia GTS Carbon.

However, this does not slow the GTS down. Standing just above water level, you can accelerate the board perfectly, maintain a high speed throughout and achieve very good results on the speedometer during sprints. You still feel like you're standing on the board between the fairly low board walls. This also makes you feel freer to climb far back for tight turns and this is achieved with very good tipping stability. Once loaded at the back, the GTS turns around the buoy really quickly and with very good stability - more stable than on any of the inflatables tested. This is really fun on the JP board. If you stop in the centre to turn around, the board at least turns properly. When handling it on land, 14 feet and a good 14 kilos seem a bit bulky, especially for smaller, more petite people.

Conclusion on the JP-Australia GTS Carbon 14'0" x 29":

An unusual outline for unusual riding characteristics for a very fast touring board and sports equipment with good tipping stability. Alternatively also available as the GT-S Biax for 1799 euros.

Average speed, top speed, tipping stability, load capacity.

Info:

  • Price: 2690 Euro >> available here
  • Length: 426.0 cm
  • Width: 74.0 cm
  • Weight: 14.4 kg
  • Volume: 309 litres
JP-Australia Fin Race 8,4" US RTMPhoto: Stephan GölnitzJP-Australia Fin Race 8,4" US RTM

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Stephan Gölnitz

Stephan Gölnitz

Deputy Editor in Chief surf

Stephan Gölnitz comes from Bochum and had Holland as his home windsurfing territory for many years before moving to Munich in 1996 for the job of test editor at surf magazine. The materials engineering graduate worked as a surf instructor on the Ijsselmeer during his studies and competed for several seasons for the Essen sailing team in the Surfbundesliga and the Funboard Cup. He completed a traineeship at surf-Magazin in the test department and since then has actively accompanied almost all tests on the boom and for more than 10 years also as a photographer. Stephan has covered many thousands of test kilometers, mainly on Lake Garda and in Langebaan, but also in Egypt and Tobago. He gets his hands on over 100 new sails and boards every year as his company car. Privately, he prefers to surf with a foil on Lake Walchensee or “unfortunately far too rarely” in the waves. SUP is Stephan's second passion, which he pursued for several years at numerous SUP races. Today, he prefers to paddle on river tours with family or friends - even for several days.

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