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 curves upwards slightly 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 nose gives it a sporty look. From the nose, the outline flows in a harmonious curve to the widest point of the board. The tail is of medium width. This provides sufficient stability for turns whilst still allowing 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). In terms of stiffness, however, it still meets an absolutely high standard. 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, this 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 makes an impeccable impression. 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, also save weight. That said, the weight saving achieved by using less adhesive is likely to be fairly minor. A distinctive feature of JP boards is the position of the valve: it is located at the top front of the bow. Directly opposite, on the underside, is the tow eye. At the rear, 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 you simply need to screw the plastic knurled screw in from the top, 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. You should bear this in mind. Please also note: the box is not compatible with many aftermarket fins.

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 rear, the pad is slightly raised in a wedge shape. If you move far back for a pivot turn, you can brace your foot against it 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’s slim, but 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 head down to the water with the CruiseAir 12.6, you immediately notice how feather-light it feels 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 that’s 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 that involve carrying the board. At locks or shallow stretches – for example, on river trips – you’re certainly glad you don’t have to carry several kilograms of board weight as well. The deck is always extremely comfortable to stand on. When barefoot, the deck pad causes absolutely no uncomfortable pressure under your feet. At the same time, it remains very slip-resistant. The board’s directional stability is perfectly adequate and allows for plenty of paddle strokes on one side. Those undertaking particularly long tours might wish to consider upgrading the fin to a larger one. However, this applies equally to almost all touring boards in this class. (Please note: check compatibility; the JP box is very short and is not compatible with many fins).

Agility and gymnastics

The Cruise Air turns very well during a crossboard turn (where you stay in the middle and make several arcing paddle strokes). The slightly raised nose and the tail, which is only lightly in the water, ensure that the board reacts 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 of the board’s light weight. 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 work their way back to the front with a few extra paddle strokes.

Speed and stability

The JP Australia CruisAir 12.6 is a well-balanced touring board. At 12.6 feet in length, it’s 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 pressure applied to the paddle. Thanks to the board’s low weight, it’s all very effortless. Even short bursts of acceleration here and there are effortless. In terms of stability, the board behaves as you’d expect for this width class. As it has neither a particularly wide nor a particularly narrow tail and a correspondingly balanced shape, its stability is also within the normal 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 has combined 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 pack sack and pump, is 569 euros.

Test conclusion

The JP Australia Cruise Air LC 12.6 x 31 is a well-balanced touring board with added all-round capabilities. 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 light weight. Weighing 7.3 kilograms (our measurement, deflated and without the 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.