Test JP-Australia Magic Air 150 - inflatable revolution!

During the long weekend, we had the opportunity to test an inflatable board for the family, designed strictly for windsurfing. I didn't believe in this concept myself, and in the fact that such a board can glide, or even give so much pleasure! But more on that later. First some information. We had a JP-Australia Magic Air 150 board at our disposal, and a NeilPryde Fusion HD sail in the size of 6.5 m2. I would like to point out right away, that I usually use a freestyle set: 93l board and sails in sizes 4.0 - 4.8, so the test set quite differ from mine 😉 In the JP Magic Air set we have 4 foot straps, a RIDE 44cm fin made in Glass technology, a pump and a repair kit. Folded board (with attached straps) fits into the backpack the same as inflatable SUPs, so no more fighting with luggage straps and a roof rack. The backpack itself is well made with high-quality materials, and the large and strong wheels, which make it easy to carry. The whole thing, i.e. the board, backpack, pump and accessories, weighs approx. 15 kg.

Technical data of JP Magic Air 150:
 

• SE 3DS technology (Superior Edition, 3D stinger)
• Length: 250 cm
• Width: 84 cm
• Thickness: 5 "(12.7 cm)
• Volume: 200l
• Weight: 10.4 kg
• Fin: Ride 44 cm Glass, Power Box

The Magic Air is made in SE 3DS technology, that is a three-layer, welded drop-stitch, which makes it extremely durable, and the 3D STINGERS protect the sides, additionally stiffening the entire structure. The deck in Magic Air is in 2/3 covered with EVA foam (more or less from the area around the pallet), which protects against falls, and the characteristic diamond texture reduces the risk of slipping. The different colors of the deck act as a guideline for newcomers as to where to stand and how to position their feet. Bearing in mind the different level of user advancement, the manufacturer has prepared two options for setting the foot straps. One for beginners, allows to attach 3 straps closer to the center of the board. The second option for advanced riders allows 4 straps that are placed closer to the stern and more to the outside of the board, and this setting was also used during testing. In the middle of the board you will find a handle, which makes it easier to carry it alone, and combined with the low weight it becomes really easy.

Looking at the bottom of the board, going from the nose, we can notice a delicate rocker line, which gradually flattens out. Approximately from the middle of the bottom, the side is surrounded by a hard edge made of layers of PVC fabric and laminate. Such a finish results in more efficient water release, and thus the board gains speed more boldly and slides more easily. At the stern, there is a solid deck with integrated Power Box, so we can also easily mount an anti-grass here. We had the opportunity to test it with an anti-grass and the board also worked well, but because of this type of fin, you had to be more careful about the spin outs, which requires a bit more commitment on our part to go out with such a wide board.

The conditions in which we tested the board were west wind of around 13-24 knots, and the spot was the Puck Bay. The testers were three windsurfers weighing from 50 to 85 kg and each of us flew without any problems (with 6.5 NP Fusion quickly becoming too big for the lightest Magda). On land, due to its size, and above all its thickness, the board may seem rather clunky, but after the first few tacks, this belief quickly disappears, and a big smile appears on your face instead (I remind you of freestyle attitude!). Thanks to its buoyancy and compact shape, the board is super stable and you can easily learn from scratch on it. The only problem will be the lack of a dagger, so it might be a little harder for novices to hold their height at first.
 

In the aforementioned conditions, the board was able to plan easily and willingly. The volume reserve and the flat bottom were conducive to passive planing. All the testers noticed that: "as soon as we feel that the board is accelerating, we just need to put our foot in the forward strap and sheet in the sail, and the board itself was willing to go into the glide." The board, with its dimensions, and above all with the mentioned thickness and width, accelerates a bit sluggishly, but still achieves a very decent final speed, we even managed to exceed 40 km / h! Its thickness also gives the impression that we are high above the water and indeed in full glide the board emerges strongly, so controlling the board in overpowered conditions requires a bit of experience and technique. The inflatable deck and the soft EVA foam finish makes crashes a lot softer both for us and the board 😉. In the glide itself, despite the 200l volume, it is easy to handle and go upwind. The tack position is pleasant, the footstraps are in good places, so we can safely go for longer tacks. Personally, I was very positively surprised by how the Magic Air is doing on upwind courses, and the speed itself was also there. However, you need to remember to guide the board relatively flat on the water in order to actually be able to use this stiff edge on the bottom. When we start to press the rail of the board too hard, the board immediately slows down and starts splashing. It is very important during carve jibes, where we have to lead the board flat and exit the jibe in a larger arc so that you won’t lose much speed and keep the board in the glide. The board is definitely not as stiff as composite boards and it works gently all the time, but even the larger bay chop farther from the shore was not terrible. Already after a few tacks, I stopped paying attention to it, and even felt less strain on the knees and spine while gliding through the chop, and the same was stated by the oldest tester at the age of 60.

Despite all my skepticism at the start, I have to admit that JP-Australia Magic Air is a really good, full-fledged windsurfing board. The number of advantages that an inflatable board has, especially for a recreational user, definitely exceeds its lack of stiffness of a composite board (which we seriously get used to). Certainly it is not a board that we will win the races, but the control, ease of plaining, or the fact that it fits in a really reasonable size of a backpack (!) Compensate for the lower acceleration and a slightly more difficult gybes. High volume allows people of different levels to use it, and thankfully to the fact that it is an inflatable board, we approach maneuvers much more boldly. All the testers mentioned that even for a moment they did not worry about the risk of damaging both themselves and the board, which made the sessions on the water even more fun. I sincerely regret that I had to part with JP Magic Air, because it is a really cool board that can give a lot of fun to the whole family!

PS After the tests, the oldest tester is thinking of changing his 145l freeride board to JP-Australia Magic Air, so seriously it's a great board that works! : D