JWSM finally gets wet

[Guma]

So I am ashamed to admit that I have had this board for probably 6 months now, and just got it wet yesterday. Up until last week, work has kept us off the water.

I ordered my JWSM from Wake9 right before Inland Surfer and James teamed up, so I got one of the last ones available. Last year and my first few runs this year I was using the Inland Blue Lake board. Finally broke out the JWSM yesterday and WOW this board is amazing. I am actually abit over the recommended weight of 190, at 200lbs right now. Still this board is crazy fast and responsive. Twice I have to bail out because I was coming fast and thought I was going to end up in the ballast boy seat.

Took me 2 or 3 runs to get comfortable, but after that, it was a blast to ride. I even tried my first 360, and after 4 falls was able to get it all the way around, but was too far back to recover and it was time to head back in. Next time out, 360 on video... I HOPE!

[kerlee]

Awesome, I pre-ordered one of the new ones, but still waiting for them to be released?

[ragboy]

Guma is referring to the Walker Signature Model by The Walker Project. It used to be called the "JWSM" for "James Walker Signature Model" but now TWP is just calling it the "Walker Signature Model" as in "Mike Walker", I think. Kinda confusing, I know. I just call it the TWP "Signature" board. Its a great board, and very versatile. It is a performance board, yet at the same time forgiving enough to learn on.

@kerlee, the board you are referring to is the Flyboy board that is now being made by Inland Surfer. They are still yet to be released, but I hear are just going to be. I cannot speak to the inland version, but the original flyboy is a great board for a more advanced rider, but its not as forgiving as the TWP Signature.

[Surfdad]

I hate dogmatic responses. I was involved in the original shaping of the JWSM and also created the FlyBoy and have ridden all of the iterations of both boards so can actually speak with knowledge about both boards. The FlyBoy does great with advanced riders, it is fast and responsive, but also in an environment where the boat IS NOT overweighted, it works quite well for newbs and beginners alike. We teach newbs exclusively on it, with 100% success and Bre Horton who is a solid beginner (she can't ride switch, backside, do a 3 or get air) rides the FlyBoy exclusively behind our boat...again, we don't overweight our boat. That said, the FlyBoy is amazingly fast, light and responsive and an advanced rider can make it sing.

[Guma]

Ahh correction I do have the Flyboy, got confused since it had been so long since I ordered it.

[Surfdad]

I'm glad that you enjoy it Guma and I'm sure you'll nail that 3! Be sure to post up the 3 on video.

[Surfdad]

Awesome, I pre-ordered one of the new ones, but still waiting for them to be released?

Sheesh I didn't mean to ignore you! First batch was shipped to dealers/drop shipped to consumers this past Monday.

[ragboy]

I hate assumptions...

We use much less weight when teaching people, and in the video where we were teaching Jesse, we used only people weight.

Dogmatic: The flyboy is not forgiving.

Not Dogmatic: The Flyboy is not AS forgiving as the JWSM.

[Surfdad]

I am not good at 3's I can do them, but not consistently. When I miss one the TWP I'm done, on the FlyBoy I have enough drive that I can power back in either through pumping or directing the board to where I want it to go. Forgiving.

A short example of forgiving, James doing a stalled air reverse and he should have been out that back and WOULD have been on a different board - but on and the Flyboy James pumps it from the flats back into the wake. WAY forgiving. Float, speed, directionaly stability all combining to create foregiveness, on the TWP James would not have won.

The FlyBoy will save many tricks for riders that they wouldn't land on the Signature model or any other board, IMO that's the definition of foregivesness.

[ragboy]

That's great, but we have done 4 events now, 2 of them devoted to just demos, and the open both demo and comp. At the 2010 polar bear demo I sat and handed 60+ different boards to 25 different people and then got all of their feedback. That doesn't include all of the other demos, beginners, and pros behind out boat over the last couple of years. In almost every occasion a more beginner rider could not keep the flyboy under control very well and would also sometimes have trouble pearling especially if they were taller or preferred a wider stance. More advanced riders could ride and appreciate the flyboy. I have even taught people for the first time on the Signature model, and many times throw that board out to beginners. The Signature board is very versatile and also has performs better than most people can use. The Original Flyboy (I have never seen the Inland) has been an amazing and durable board, but I would never recommend it for beginners.

I have told Dennis many times, if they put a third fin in the Signature board, it would be amazingly versatile, to teach a noob, and then take out the back fin and have someone else tear it up.

Take that for what its worth, but we try hard to help people pick the board that best for them, considering many things, including budget. The Signature is a board you can progress ON, the flyboy is a board you can progress TO. IMHO.

Think of a new Dodge Viper and a new Camaro SS. Both are sports cars, and if you know what you are doing, you can probably drive the doors of the Viper. But your mom can drive the camaro, and the camaro is also going to perform pretty well for most people.

Just my 2 cents, and coming from a guy that makes no money on the sale of any of these.

[Surfdad]

There is no reason to argue with someone's OPINION and those will vary depending upon rider, skill and environment, but that is NOT a fact. Overly broad generalizations aren't accurate. I appreciate you sharing what you've observed and heard.

There's NO money to be made on the fisrt gen at this point, it's not being sold. As I pointed out at the beignning and in the footer, I built it, make no mistake about it and I'm damn proud of that board and the tech behind it. You can count on me to point out inaccuracies every time I see them.

[Fiveflat]

That flyboy prototype you put me on definitely was a forgiving board for a guy my size! I loved it! It made wakesurfing so fun for me!