JP X-Winger Pro

The new X-Winger Pro board is packed with innovative design details, making it more versatile with a superior and smoother feeling. This board is longer and narrower than the previous version, but most importantly, looks far more efficient. This X-Winger has long track boxes offering a wide tuning range for the foil, which is really useful when you ride with differing foil brands to ensure maximum performance. The tracks are embedded in high-density blocks running from deck to bottom, ensuring an extremely stable construction. This board also features a full high-density PVC sandwich on both the deck and bottom, providing a ratio of stiffness and low weight, along with Innegra rail reinforcements. This board is made for both intermediate and advanced riders and would be the perfect choice if you’re wary of going for a mid-length or a dedicated light wind board as the X-Winger can basically do it all.

I usually ride a board that’s around 50 to 60L max, so I was a bit skeptical before trying the X-Winger pro. On the beach the board looked really compact, it’s 5’0 so nothing crazy big, but what amazed me is that you cannot tell that this is almost a 90L board. What I loved about the X-Winger is the volume distribution, the board felt stable, and the volume distribution was evenly balanced, making it easy when underpowered or before taking off.

As I’m 70kg, I could stand on the board before taking off, something that doesn’t really happen normally when I’m winging. I tried it first with a big foil – a 1200 in 8 knots, and then in stronger conditions with a 900 foil at around 20 knots. It behaves very well even when the wind picks up, and I didn’t feel the urge to change boards. I was also impressed by the effortless and smooth take-offs this board enjoys – you don’t feel like you have a big board under your feet and can pump it like a smaller one.

Another point of note is the seamless touchdown recovery. I was afraid that sometimes the compact shape would be unstable, moving back and forth, but I didn’t feel that here. The shape of the nose is also a massive help for take-offs, but is also really comfortable once you’re up and riding. The pulled-in nose outline also aids in touchdowns by reducing swing weight and improving the airflow, with the thickness in the nose area here to balance the lower volume of the pulled-in nose. As soon as I was flying, the board's stiffness was very apparent, with every movement of my feet translating to the foil quickly. Jibes and tacks came easy.

The finish and quality of this board is right up there with the best on the market, and you can see lots of thought has gone into the design process. This board is perfect for anyone wanting to take their wing game up a notch, and to have a board that does it all. I would happily add this as my go-to wing board for this summer.