Creative Army Jive
Longboard 9’1
All Levels + | 1ft - overhead
A fun board for any level, a super lightweight longboard that can handle a range of conditions and different riding styles.
What board are you reviewing for us? Creative Army Jive 9’1” stocked at Ultimate Surf & Skate & Omaha Surf Supply. I’ve ridden it both with a three fin and a single fin setup. I wanted to get a longboard before a traditional log to work on getting some of the skills because the heaviness and lack of maneuverability with a traditional log was intimidating as hell when I tried one for the first time! I was terrified of killing someone and/or myself because it was so different from a shortboard! But I am enamoured by the cruisey, dreamy-dancing when I see people on a log so I am determined to get there.
How was it to manage? This board is more of an all-rounder style board. It can jump on faster waves easily but I can’t really make it on those fat unbroken waves like you can on a big log. With three fins it turns really well and is heaps of fun with some extra volume to snag heaps of waves. The single fin setup is definitely more slow to turn and less flexible on the back. I think you would have to be more advanced than me to get to the nose- although it has definitely helped me gain confidence at cross stepping and wave positioning on a longer board! It is very lightweight for a longboard which makes it super easy to manage, handle and manoeuvre in the water. While it is an all rounder, I’d say it rides less like a log and more like a midlength- its real strength is being super fun to carve on. You have to get good positioning and the rail really locked in on a good wave to ride it more like a log.
What are, in your personal opinion, the perfect conditions for your board to perform its best? It shows its best range being versatile enough to handle waist high, fast waves to overhead fat mellow cruisers. It doesn’t hold up well in smaller waves as it lacks the weight to nail knee high peelers, but locks in well on a faster steeper waves. Its really fun to carve on bigger mellow waves but won’t handle anything too steep as it is still quite flat through the nose.
What would your recommendations be for someone who’s looking to buy it? I’d recommend this if you’re a beginner or intermediate looking for an all-rounder board with volume that can get you on waves and handle bigger/steeper waves as the next step in your progression. Or, someone more progressive who wants a board they can take out in any condition and have heaps of fun on in a range of conditions and bigger waves! I’d love to know what a more advanced longboard rider thinks of it, as I enjoy riding it more like a midlength. Pew Pew!
Reviewed by Zofia Seymour
(intermediate rider)
About: I’m the designer at Betty Zine. Intermediate rider, I’ve been surfing for 6 years and still working to improve! I’m a soul surfer and prefer enjoying my time in the ocean than pushing my limits and I’m allergic to crowds. This is my happiest happy face.
Home Break: Muriwai Beach, where I first fell in love with surfing and its wild beauty. Except I am still much too scared for most of the big, heavy conditions it gets...
Style of surfing: I’ll either be having some mindful alone time, trying to work on something in my surf progression, or loving a session with a bunch of friends in the water and full of joy! I’m definitely a mellow, low-risk surfer, although I am slowly pushing myself into more uncomfortable situations (aka bigger waves) and just getting into cross stepping and other skills.