JacKnife Pictures

[Fazza]

My new JacKnife arrive today and i must say that it looks really good in the flesh. It is a lot more refined than i thought it would be and has a nice amount of rocker in the nose and tail.

944943942941940

[Fazza]

945946

601 Hellrazor against the 6'0 JacKnife

[seabass]

Fazza, give all of us a run down on how it performs.............

[Fazza]

First surf on the JacKnife this morning for around 3hrs at a beachie.

Was around shoulder to head high on the sets odd smaller one odd bigger one. The board is a lot more refined than what you think and you can certainly feel it when on the wave. Took me a couple of waves to get used to it but that board is really fast, goes top to bottom very easily. The board is really easy to turn but does not feel unstable in any way it seemed to handle late takeoffs without a problem.

It certainly surfs like a short board even though it is a HP hybrid and has left me craving for more......will take it for another spin tomorrow in a nice punchy reef break and see how it handles that.

[core personal training]

good stuff fazza....the board will "JACKNIFE" off that wing/flyer....

[Fazza]

2 more surfs on the JacKnife and i am really loving this board. Surfed it Friday on a nice sized reef break with a bit of push in the waves probably unto head half high on the face. I was a little hesitant as i would normally surf my Hellrazor or Bourez at this break but the JacKnife seemed to handle the waves fine but i am still getting used to the board so it wasn't the best test for it. I used the Futures Techflex CM2 fins which made the board feel a little too loose for me on bigger waves which also made me a bit hesitant.

Saturday surfed for 5 hrs on the JacKnife with Futures TP1 Fins at a nice reef break which breaks over a shallow reef sometimes only knee deep with water. Again i was a little hesitant as i would normally surf the Hellrazor as this wave can suck up quite quickly. After a few waves i got into the grove and really enjoyed this board immensely. It can handle a sucky waves without a problem, nice and fast with a bit of weight forward and then lean back a little when you turn and the board snaps nicely around under your feet. The board paddles really well into waves, very stable on the takeoffs, turns in the pocket if you want to or draw your turn out a little.

I think if you were looking for a board that can handle really good or even mushy waves under shoulder to head and half high this is the board. I think it can handle anything between your small wave Sweet Potato/PNator and your bigger wave HP board. If you wanted to replace your Dominator with a better wave board that can handle a wider range of waves then this is the board. I did look at the Activator but decided that it was too close to the same wave range as the Dominator that I had. The Activator to me seems to be more geared to the same waves as the Dominator but gives you the ability to surf more in the pocket of the wave. the JacKnife surfs in the pocket really well, nice and fast down the line if you need it, and can handle some decent waves if you need it to.

[Slowman]

...

I think if you were looking for a board that can handle really good or even mushy waves under shoulder to head and half high this is the board. I think it can handle anything between your small wave Sweet Potato/PNator and your bigger wave HP board. If you wanted to replace your Dominator with a better wave board that can handle a wider range of waves then this is the board. I did look at the Activator but decided that it was too close to the same wave range as the Dominator that I had. The Activator to me seems to be more geared to the same waves as the Dominator but gives you the ability to surf more in the pocket of the wave. the JacKnife surfs in the pocket really well, nice and fast down the line if you need it, and can handle some decent waves if you need it to.
I was looking at the Activator too. That's the kind of information I was after, thanks Fazza, the Jacknike is firmly on my wishlist now.

[kdropin]

2 more surfs on the JacKnife and i am really loving this board. Surfed it Friday on a nice sized reef break with a bit of push in the waves probably unto head half high on the face. I was a little hesitant as i would normally surf my Hellrazor or Bourez at this break but the JacKnife seemed to handle the waves fine but i am still http://www.firewiresurfboards.com/f/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=12119getting used to the board so it wasn't the best test for it. I used the Futures Techflex CM2 fins which made the board feel a little too loose for me on bigger waves which also made me a bit hesitant.

Saturday surfed for 5 hrs on the JacKnife with Futures TP1 Fins at a nice reef break which breaks over a shallow reef sometimes only knee deep with water. Again i was a little hesitant as i would normally surf the Hellrazor as this wave can suck up quite quickly. After a few waves i got into the grove and really enjoyed this board immensely. It can handle a sucky waves without a problem, nice and fast with a bit of weight forward and then lean back a little when you turn and the board snaps nicely around under your feet. The board paddles really well into waves, very stable on the takeoffs, turns in the pocket if you want to or draw your turn out a little.

I think if you were looking for a board that can handle really good or even mushy waves under shoulder to head and half high this is the board. I think it can handle anything between your small wave Sweet Potato/PNator and your bigger wave HP board. If you wanted to replace your Dominator with a better wave board that can handle a wider range of waves then this is the board. I did look at the Activator but decided that it was too close to the same wave range as the Dominator that I had. The Activator to me seems to be more geared to the same waves as the Dominator but gives you the ability to surf more in the pocket of the wave. the JacKnife surfs in the pocket really well, nice and fast down the line if you need it, and can handle some decent waves if you need it to.

compare it to the magic razor

[Fazza]

KDropin

I am still working the board out and getting confident with what it can do but so far i am very impressed with how it performs. I would say fairly comparable to the Razor on the waves i have surfed it on so far but need a few more surfs on. I will try to take both boards with me and go out on the Razor and then JacKnife and see how they compare.

Some Pics of Fridays surf on the JacKnife

954955

[kdropin]

damn we have it so bad where i live!!

[Chris]

man oh man fazza. that looks so fun!! I kind of think the major difference between the two boards is the length and rail shape. Because of the wing, I feel the jacknife maintains a little less rail curve which, to me, makes the board draw a slightly longer, driver line than the Hellrazor. subtle, though, i agree, and likely more noticeable if did have both at the same time. Most surfers who are in for this genre of board will enjoy either.

[guigoon]

2 more surfs on the JacKnife and i am really loving this board. Surfed it Friday on a nice sized reef break with a bit of push in the waves probably unto head half high on the face. I was a little hesitant as i would normally surf my Hellrazor or Bourez at this break but the JacKnife seemed to handle the waves fine but i am still getting used to the board so it wasn't the best test for it. I used the Futures Techflex CM2 fins which made the board feel a little too loose for me on bigger waves which also made me a bit hesitant.

Saturday surfed for 5 hrs on the JacKnife with Futures TP1 Fins at a nice reef break which breaks over a shallow reef sometimes only knee deep with water. Again i was a little hesitant as i would normally surf the Hellrazor as this wave can suck up quite quickly. After a few waves i got into the grove and really enjoyed this board immensely. It can handle a sucky waves without a problem, nice and fast with a bit of weight forward and then lean back a little when you turn and the board snaps nicely around under your feet. The board paddles really well into waves, very stable on the takeoffs, turns in the pocket if you want to or draw your turn out a little.

I think if you were looking for a board that can handle really good or even mushy waves under shoulder to head and half high this is the board. I think it can handle anything between your small wave Sweet Potato/PNator and your bigger wave HP board. If you wanted to replace your Dominator with a better wave board that can handle a wider range of waves then this is the board. I did look at the Activator but decided that it was too close to the same wave range as the Dominator that I had. The Activator to me seems to be more geared to the same waves as the Dominator but gives you the ability to surf more in the pocket of the wave. the JacKnife surfs in the pocket really well, nice and fast down the line if you need it, and can handle some decent waves if you need it to.

Hi, and thanks for yours comments. Just 3 questions :
- A JK in 6'0, with 29.8 L is not to big for your 68 Kgs ?
- You surf your JK as a thruster or a quad ?
- Could you post a video of your session with your Jacknife (JK) ?
Thanks.

[Fazza]

Guigoon

The waves in SW OZ are pretty powerful compared to other parts of Australia and i find that you need a little bit more volume to get onto them early as most of the power is in the bottom half of the wave. Having said that the JacKnife is a pretty high performance hybrid that is fast down the line, allows you to stay high in the wave and yet still releases through your turns, it is quite refined through the nose, tail and out to the rails and i have no problem turning it in soft or powerful waves.

I have only surfed it as a thruster at the moment and have tried Techflex CM2's and TP1's so far i have preferred the TP1's but will be trying it with Techflex WCT fins this week sometime. I will try it as a quad once i have had a few more surfs as a thruster.

I'll see if i can get the video sorted the only thing is it was shot from a bit of a distance and there was 3 of us in the video and i am not sure who is who.

I have done some comparisons to my 601 Hellrazor and i must say the JacKnife is pretty refined, and pretty close to the Hellrazor. They both look very similar in the nose rocker but the JacKnife has slightly more tail rocker which will help with rail to rail transitions. The rails are very similar and the JacKnife looks very evenly proportioned from nose to tail. The JacKnife definately has slightly more width forward of centre compared to the Hellrazor which I have not noticed that being a problem in any of the waves i have surfed it in, it really doesn't feel like you are surfing on a hybrid when you get it under your feet on a wave.

I will post some comparative shots tomorrow as it is night at the moment and too hard to get any good shots.

[guigoon]

ok, interesting, yours to us informed.

You think therefore that JK is good from knee high to head and a half ?

[buzzy]

It looks to me like a single flyer Futura. I'm really happy with my Futura and also find it covers much the same conditions as my Dom as Fazza mentioned.

[Fazza]

The JacKnife can definately handle better waves than the Dominator and probably even the Activator ans the rocker is so similar to the Dominator.

I have tried to do a few comparison shots to the Hellrazor below:

976977978

The first 2 shots the JacKnife is on the left and in the last shot the JK is on top.

[Slowman]

Hey Fazza, what is the bottom contour on the JK? Just curious.

[Chris]

there are barrels in your neck of the woods kdropin...

[Slowman]

Hey Fazza, what is the bottom contour on the JK? Just curious.
would I be correct in assuming it has a single concave bottom?

[Fazza]

Slowman,

Sorry didn't reply earlier I have been on holidays in Melbourne for that last week, missed a fantastic week of surf.

The bottom contour of that board is a single into a double with a slight V.

Regards
Craig

[Slowman]

Slowman,
...
The bottom contour of that board is a single into a double with a slight V.

Regards
Craig
Craig, thanks, sounds like an absolute ripper. Regards, (another) Craig!

[Fazza]

I think thats why I like the board so much.........single into double helps with speed and lift and the little bit of V and a little more tail rocker helps with the rail to rail transitions.

[kdropin]

there are barrels in your neck of the woods kdropin...

yes when it turns on it is pretty special for sure.. been pretty special here lately.. stoked

[H.S.O.]

Although they are very diferent looking, what would be the diference in surfng feeling and wave range between the jacknife and MB model?

[Fazza]

HSO

The MB really likes good, clean, punchy waves and probably can handle a bigger wave but i do find it harder to paddle into waves.

The JacKnife can handle a pretty decent wave, it is nice and fast, lose, easy to turn. It does still prefer a wave with a bit of push, the board is so much fun and i really don't see myself taking the MB out unless it is really good/solid.

I am amazed as to how well The JacKnife performs. I surfed it in 3-6ft waves and it can handle fast punchy hollow waves. I find that I am getting into the waves early and that board just takes off. It is really fast down the line and seems to be easy to turn though I haven't had lots of waves with much of a wall…just get up and go ones so far but on a couple that I have had with a wall the board has a nice feel to it and you can stay high in the wave if you need to.

So far I am really stoked with the board and even though it is a hybrid it seems to show some HP characteristics and you tend to forget that it is a hybrid and not a HP short board.

[H.S.O.]

Thank you for your help. Probably JK is a better allround board for average joe.

[Fazza]

HSO

I think it can handle a pretty good wave range as long as they have a little bit of push to them.

[Magnet]

Fazza are you preferring your jk to your hellrazor?

[Fazza]

Magnet,

Good question. I have been surfing the JacKnife at the same surf spots i would surf the Hellrazor so it can definitely handle the same waves. I do find that it is a little easier to get into the waves as there is a bit more width forward of centre which you really don't notice. It doesn't seem to surf or feel like it is a hybrid when you are on the wave and it is pretty refined through the nose and tail.

I haven't thought to myself that i which I had the Razor today. I did snap the JacKnife :( and went back to surfing the Razor for a week or so while i was waiting for a new one to arrive. I enjoyed surfing the Razor again and it felt good but i did find myself thinking that i wish i was on the JacKnife.

I do think the JacKnife is going to be one of those under rated boards as it has been placed in the Performance Hybrid sections but to me i find it performs just as well as the Razor in the same waves, i find it turns a little easier and is probably a little more forgiving.

I do need to spend more time surfing it but so far i am really loving the feel of the board and am probably still slightly torn between the 2 but will probably surf the JacKnife more.

[Chris]

yeah guys in my opinion the jacknife is a board that rides like it has a longer rail and a little less curve, so fast and drivey off the bottom and super reliable in down the line waves. The hellrazor brings in a bit more curve to the template by coming to a narrower tail without a wing, giving the board a shorter rail feeling and the flexibility to surf short, snappy and tight. Those are the major differences in my opinion. They really are geared for similar power and comparable waves but will suit different styles better...

cheers and hope this helps!!

[Magnet]

Cheers for the great responses guys very helpful. Love the razor in tropical reef waves but after something with a touch more volume in colder wetsuit climes. Chris is 6'6 jk more refined in the rails than a 6'6" hf? How would these differ in ride?

[Slowman]

Cheers for the great responses guys very helpful. Love the razor in tropical reef waves but after something with a touch more volume in colder wetsuit climes. Chris is 6'6 jk more refined in the rails than a 6'6" hf? How would these differ in ride?
I just got one! Unfortunately, the wind was onshore by the time I picked the board up, it just wasn't worth bothering. So I can't tell you the difference between the JK and HF. Perhaps tomorrow morning I'll be in a position to make a comparison.

[Fazza]

Let us know when you get a surf on that thing, i think you will be presently surprised as to how well it performs.

[Slowman]

I'm keeping it in the boardroom, not that I'm a big AFL fan but go the Swannies...
10851086

[50young]

Niceeee!!

[Slowman]

Let us know when you get a surf on that thing, i think you will be presently surprised as to how well it performs.
First surf today. Predictions of more swell were both right and wrong! Standing on the beach it looked tiny with maybe a few 2' sets on the shore dump. A couple of other guys went home without getting wet. Just check this out to see what I mean http://www.coastalwatch.com/camera/cameras_large.aspx?cam=4000 . My little beach always has at least another foot but it wasn't looking that way. Anyway had to go in before the onshore came up.

Glad I did I surfed for 2 hours and had the first 40 mins to myself. I walked down to the creek and there were a few lefthanders breaking along the shore dump. Sure enough wait for a bit and 3' sets would come even a little bigger but often just closing out if sitting too deep. A lot were 2 second rides where you hope just to get in a good turn off the bottom and do a closeout reo but every now and then a good one with lots of NE angle to it would sweep down along the shallow shore dump bank and go for maybe 10 seconds allowing maybe 2 or 3 turns.

The JK certainly paddles into them pretty well, I think as well as the spitfire, slightly better than the HF anyway. And unlike the spitfire it handled steep sucky take-offs pretty well. It gets moving pretty quick too, stand evenly weighted and the board has lots of speed down the line. I found it didn't turn too well with too much weight forward but shift weight towards the rear and you can feel the tail rocker turn the board for you.

I started out with the H3 quad set up with a nubby stabiliser and I found it a tad stiff, still OK but on my backhand it felt a bit weird and didn't always turn when I wanted it to and I'd end up in a horrible poo stance leaning back into the wave and bogging the turn but there were others where it turned well. It was the fuller sections where it was getting boggy. Wish I'd brought a fin key with me, anyway ran back to the car and took the stabiliser out and rode it as a straight quad - success! The board lit up and stopped the boggy sensation on the fuller sections. It seems to me the tail narrows down nicely and there is no need for a stabiliser.

For the next hour I had more fun and I'm sure it would have gone better than the spitfire as these waves were sucking on a pretty shallow bank pretty close to shore...so from that point of view it's one up on the spitfire. I still think the spitfire would still be a better option in 1-2' fat weak waves. These waves even though small still had plenty of punch but I'm not certain about that it still went through the flat bits OK, so maybe with more experience on it, it might be as good. It certainly smacks the lip and releases off the top fine and floats over crumbling lips well and handles steep landings well. Good drive off the bottom too. The H3 fins don't have as much drive as say the G-AM or R2 but with this board that extra drive doesn't seem to be needed. I know this board will go well in decent waves. I'll know more then and will be able to make a better comparison to with my HF but so far so good I'm impressed.

[Fazza]

Its a pretty refined board considering it is in the hybrid section and a lot less forward and rail volume than the Hellfire.

I first surfed mine with Futures TP1 fins and after speaking with Raz in firewire Oz he said he has been surfing his with Future WCT fins. I have a set of those and have been surfing the JK exclusively with those fins and found that board is really lose and still drivey. I think the WCT's are pretty close to FCS K2.1's. I too have found that evenly placing your weight the board just takes off and slightly shift weight to your back foot for your turns and that tail rocker kicks that board around, so easy to turn, the board feels so good under your feet.

I have surfed it in a some reasonable onshore pus in the last few days and the board still seems to perform fine.

[Slowman]

I finally got some almost decent waves today and got to unlock some more of the potential. Ever since I've got it, the wave quality has gone off. No banks, onshores and any time where it has been OK for a moment I've had to go into the office. Anyway, got about 3-4' waves today and still very inconsistent and shifty peaks but got a couple of bigger ones where I got the chance to smash some lips. Again though always ending with some pretty dredging shories...the board snapping kind! I'm still yet to get some decent long waves...which always help really work out a board.

Feels a lot like my old Webber Afterburner in the way it turns and moves. It's fairly fluid and precise but it demands pretty precise foot placement. Get up in the wrong spot in these shitty waves and you've blown it. You still make the drop OK but that moment of awkwardness means you won't get down the line in time to make it. Good board so far but also demanding of its rider. Please God just send some decent waves so I can work this thing out completely!

[xxthehenryxx]

Slowman- how do you pop up and land your foot on the stomp pad? I always pop up with my foot in front of the stomp pad and slide my foot back later. What technique do u use?

been having this problem and its getting critique that I have to get it right to survive my drops lol

[prjwebb]

try moving your hands further back as you pop up

[Slowman]

Slowman- how do you pop up and land your foot on the stomp pad? I always pop up with my foot in front of the stomp pad and slide my foot back later. What technique do u use?

been having this problem and its getting critique that I have to get it right to survive my drops lol
I just pop up and land with my feet in the right spot generally (yes on the pad)...in my case it is just that it's a new board and because it is slightly different to my other boards the foot positioning is a little different. That said, different situations demand slightly different positioning and weighting it's these little nuances that take a little time to work out - especially if you can't get some good long waves where you have time to play around and experiment. Once it's worked out it's usually locked in. Then it's just those surprises like the backwash as you get to your feet or wind gusts and general onshore unpredictability.

xxthehenryxx, as PRJ suggests you might be a little far forward, in those critical take-offs having to slide your foot back will be enough of a delay to mean the difference between making the wave or not. It could also be your position from your last board, your instincts will eventually work it out but a little focus on making a change might speed things up.

[Chris]

yes indeed!!!

Good stuff everyone!

[Marklids]

Fazza,
Which board do you like/recommend more JK or HR?

[pmorgan]

I'm keeping it in the boardroom, not that I'm a big AFL fan but go the Swannies...
10851086

She is looking good there. How are you finding the Nexus fins bud.?
I like the look of the foil on those.

[pmorgan]

Also just to add onto what PRJ said if its steeper take off righthander regular footer. try to drop your inside hand back futher than your out side so that they are digional on the deck. That will help rotate your shoulders as you pop planting your tow pressure on the inside rail setting it sooner and helping back foot planting. I use a gim ball to pratice when out of the water. I find it helps with the muscle memory.

[Fazza]

Fazza,
Which board do you like/recommend more JK or HR?

Marklids,

Hmmmm good question. Both good boards and work well for different reasons. If you like boards with a single to double concave, swallow tails and want more of a hybrid ride and surf a bit flatter then go the Jacknife (Can still handle decent waves). The Hellrazor will surf a bit more vertical, handle good, bigger waves better than the JK, surf a bit more like a HP board.

Hope that helps or adds to the confusion :)

[Slowman]

She is looking good there. How are you finding the Nexus fins bud.?
I like the look of the foil on those.
The Nexus H3 quads I didn't really like in this board, I found them a bit stiff, so I went to R2s next, then R2 thruster, then TC redlines front and little 3" 50/50 foiled side bites as rear quads, which was very loose and slidy, then tried the aqualine rears and they were perfect.

I'm testing the H3 quads in my Vanguard now, still need good waves to see how it goes with them.

[hawaii_boi]

Slowman, I love the H3...it's too bad all my boards are futures now. If I went back to FCS, I would definitely run those fins...super fast!

ALOHA!!

[pmorgan]

Cheers Slow

I hear alot of good things about the TC Redlines. I have a mate who has a set i might see he well give me a shot.


The Nexus H3 quads I didn't really like in this board, I found them a bit stiff, so I went to R2s next, then R2 thruster, then TC redlines front and little 3" 50/50 foiled side bites as rear quads, which was very loose and slidy, then tried the aqualine rears and they were perfect.

I'm testing the H3 quads in my Vanguard now, still need good waves to see how it goes with them.