JP CruisAir LC 12’6’’x31’’: A lightweight, highly manoeuvrable touring SUP put to the test.

​Design and features of the JP CruisAir 12’6’’x31’’

Even on land, the shape of the Cruise Air catches the eye. The board has a pointed nose that rises slightly out of the water. It is therefore not completely flat, but is slightly curved upwards at the front. On the water, the first 25 centimetres or so of the nose usually remain above the water’s surface. This makes it easier to cut across waves and keeps the front of the board dry. At the same time, the pointed bow gives it a sporty look. From the nose, the outline runs in a smooth curve to the widest part of the board. The tail is of medium width. This provides sufficient stability for turns whilst still leaving scope for good speed.

Lightweight LC design: just 7.3 kilos

The LC (Light Crossed) construction is the lightest version in which this board is available (we weighed it at 7.3 kilos, deflated and without a fin). Nevertheless, it still offers an excellent standard of stiffness. The alternatively available, further reinforced CR (Cross Reinforced) construction, which we compared in the the JP SportsAir 13’x’29’’ we tested …as we were able to test, offers a slightly greater perceived stiffness, particularly in choppy conditions. For normal use, however, the stiffness of the LC version presented here is more than adequate.

The workmanship is impeccable. The edges are neatly finished. The board utilises welded-seam technology, in which the all-round outer edges are welded. This is intended to increase durability and, by reducing the amount of adhesive used, save weight. That said, the weight saving achieved by using less adhesive is likely to be rather modest. A distinctive feature of JP boards is the position of the valve: it is located at the top front of the nose. Directly opposite this, on the underside, is the tow eye. At the tail, there is an eyelet at the top for the leash.

Fins integrated into the housing

The fin box has a handy feature. The threaded plate is already integrated into the fin box. This means that all you need to do is screw in the plastic knurled screw from above, and the plate cannot be lost. This also makes the whole process very quick. The screw is secured against falling out by a small retaining ring fitted in the fin at the factory. However, this retaining ring can itself get lost.

At the front there is a medium-sized luggage net with a bungee cord, which is attached to four plastic eyelets. The storage space is ample for medium-sized luggage. The deck pad extends almost from the stern to the luggage net, thus covering precisely the area that is stepped on whilst paddling. Strictly speaking, it is divided into five sections, which could make rolling it up a little easier whilst also saving a bit of weight. However, the gaps are only about two to three centimetres wide, so they are practically unnoticeable whilst paddling.

A non-slip and comfortable deck pad

We’re already familiar with the new deck pad from the SportsAir 13’ x 29’’. It feels very soft on land, and is also exceptionally comfortable underfoot on the water. At the same time, it offers a surprising amount of grip – both lengthways and, above all, across the direction of travel. Given the fine longitudinal ribbing, this isn’t necessarily what you’d expect. At the very back, the pad is slightly raised in a wedge shape. If you move right to the back for a pivot turn, you can brace your foot there. To do this, however, you’re already standing quite far back. This is intended more for the sportier style of turning.

The carrying handle is also the same as the one we’re already familiar with from the other JP board. It is slim, but also has a thin layer of padding on the underside. This makes it comfortable to grip. As the board is so light anyway, it doesn’t need a particularly thick handle. Thanks to the carrying handle, the Cruise Air is wonderfully comfortable to carry. Overall, the board makes an impeccable impression in terms of build quality. You’re not buying a pig in a poke here; instead, you’re getting a high-quality product with very neat workmanship and top-of-the-range technology.

Practical test: Even the walk to the water is fun

With a board this light, the paddling test actually begins on dry land. When you take the CruiseAir 12.6 down to the water, you immediately notice how feather-light it is to carry for a touring board of this length. It’s great fun. Even children can carry the board with ease. You can hold it casually in one hand, toss it into the water, jump on and start paddling. That lively feeling carries straight over onto the water. At 15 PSI, the board sits firmly in the water. It doesn’t float perfectly straight, but it’s by no means sagging significantly either. With the first few paddle strokes, you’re off at a brisk pace straight away. The Cruise Air accelerates briskly and feels very nimble. It retains its intended shape even under a fair amount of load and, as described below, offers good performance and manoeuvrability. All in all, this makes the Cruise Air a great fun board, suitable not only for longer trips but also for shorter distances.

Touring and Luggage

Anyone wishing to use the board for longer trips has the appropriate luggage options. Here too, the Cruise Air impresses with a speed typical for its class and a very light paddling feel, which is mainly due to the board’s low weight.

Its light weight really comes into its own, particularly on trips involving sections where you have to carry the board. At locks or shallow stretches – for example, on river trips – you’re certainly glad not to have to carry several kilograms of board weight as well. Standing on the deck is always extremely comfortable. Even when barefoot, the deck pad causes absolutely no uncomfortable pressure under your feet. At the same time, it remains very slip-resistant. The directional stability is perfectly fine and allows for plenty of paddle strokes on one side.

Agility and gymnastics

When performing a Crossboard Turn (where you stand in the centre and make several arcing paddle strokes), the Cruise Air turns very well. The slightly raised nose and the tail, which is only lightly on the water, ensure that the board responds quickly to turning inputs. It’s also easy to correct your course whilst travelling in a straight line. In crosswinds, for example, you can countersteer very effectively with slightly arched paddle strokes and bring the board back onto a new course.

If you move back on the board to turn, the nose comes out of the water easily, partly because the board is so light. The board lifts its nose nicely, doesn’t stick to the water and turns nimbly. However, if you move right back to the end of the pad, you’ll find yourself in a slightly more challenging position, as the tail isn’t particularly wide, unlike on many short 10.6-foot beginner boards. Nevertheless, the CruisAir offers experienced paddlers enough stability to execute the turn safely and then paddle their way back to the front with a few extra strokes.

Speed and stability

The JP Australia CruisAir 12.6 is a well-balanced touring board. At 12.6 feet in length, it is also suitable for long tours and allows you to make good progress. The typical speed is likely to be somewhere between 6.5 and 7.5 km/h – depending on the paddling pressure. Thanks to the board’s low weight, this is all very easy to manage. Even short bursts of acceleration here and there are effortless. In terms of stability, the board behaves as one would expect for this width class. As it has neither a particularly wide nor a particularly narrow stern and features a correspondingly balanced shape, its stability is also within the typical range for this class. For an experienced paddler, the Cruise Air therefore offers more than adequate stability, even in very choppy conditions. Of course, the Cruise Air is not a 33-inch-wide beginner’s board with a particularly wide tail and correspondingly high inherent stability. Nor, however, is it a high-performance racing machine. Instead, JP combines good touring speed with good stability here – all in a set that is, above all, very, very light.

Technical Specifications and Design

The model is listed as the JP Australia CruisAir LC 12'6" x 31" x 6". The 12.6 feet correspond to a length of approximately 381 centimetres, the 31 inches to a width of approximately 81 centimetres and the six inches to a thickness of approximately 15 centimetres. The recommended retail price, including a carry bag and pump, is 569 euros. Also in a set with a paddle (glass-nylon, three-piece) for 589 euros available.

Test conclusion

The JP Australia Cruise Air LC 12.6 x 31 is a well-balanced touring board with additional all-round qualities. It glides smoothly, turns well, responds nicely to steering inputs and offers sufficient stability to ride safely even in more challenging conditions.

• Its particular strength lies in its low weight. Weighing 7.3 kilograms (our measurement, without air or fin), the 12.6-foot board feels remarkably light and is a joy to carry even on the way to the water. Once on the water, this light, lively character continues.
• The stiffness is at a good level and is more than adequate for the intended use. The alternative, even higher-quality CR construction offered by JP would provide additional stiffness in choppy conditions or for very heavy paddlers, but this is not necessary for normal use.
• If you’re looking for a very lightweight touring board that offers quite sporty handling whilst still being versatile enough for shorter trips, the Cruise Air LC is a very well-built and straightforward board. For keen sports paddlers, we’d like to highlight the A look at the (admittedly more challenging) JP SportsAir 13’x29’’ recommended.