2023 Duotone Jaime SLS Review | All New Shape—All New Ride!

This is Dustin and Pat, and we're here today with the all-new Jaime. We're going to talk about the differences between the 2022 and the 2023 versions. We'll get into some of the design changes, why they made them, and whether the new version is right for you or if you should pick up an old version or hop over to a different model in the Duotone line.

New Canted Fins

Dustin: One new key feature is the canted fins. They've adjusted them 10 degrees to face the outside of the rails. My first impression is that it's super grippy, with crazy upwind drive.

Pat: Yeah, it seemed like it really gripped up on the water when we first got it, compared to last year's model. It's going to track a lot harder, if you're used to it slipping out a little bit. I rode the Jaime last year with smaller fins so I could slide the fins out a little bit easier and slide the rail out. On the new version, with the 5cm fins that come on the board, it's like riding on rails. The board is locked in. It is probably one of the hardest-edging boards I've ridden in a while.

Dustin: For sure, hands-down. It's super poppy with explosive jumps. You're gonna grip it and rip it for sure.

New Rail Shape

Pat: The next big change that they made for this year is to make the whole board almost a massive, single concave, I guess is the best way to describe it. They took the rails on the outside of the board and canted them down as well so they scoop the water and almost act as a second set of fins for you.

Dustin: Yep, it's really grippy.

Pat: That angle continues all the way down the rail to about where the straps start on the board, so you have the grip all the way to where your feet would stand. Then the rail flattens back out between your feet, so it still allows for a little bit of forgiveness in landing, but I definitely think that this is going to be a little less forgiving for landing blind and stuff like that. If you don't land perfectly, I think it is going to throw you off a bit and you might catch an edge a little easier. That's where I think the older model comes in with some forgiveness, where you don't have to have a perfect landing to make it work for you.

Who Is the New Jaime for?

Pat: I think that they stepped the Jaime up a notch for this year and made a bigger gap between the Jaime and the Select in the line.

Dustin: Definitely. The new Jaime is going to be more for that intermediate to advanced rider, whereas with the 2022 you could just blend everybody into it. I think that the more advanced people will go to the 2023 Jaime, and a lot more people are going to get into the Select.

Pat: Right. I think you're going to see a lot more advanced beginners and intermediate riders gravitate towards the Select this year, being that more traditional shape with a little bit less of a tracky grip.

Dustin: Yeah, for sure.

Pat: I like both; they both have their place in the lineup. I think that they have made the Jaime the ultimate big air twintip, and it sets the bar for what an ultimate big air board should be. That's the rider they designed it for, so they really made a distinct difference in the lineup this year, versus having a lot more crossover.

Construction Options

Pat: For 2023, they are keeping with the two versions of the Jaime layup. They are going to have the traditional layup with wood and fiberglass, and the SLS layup with carbon. You're going to get a bit different flex with the two different models. The wood is going to be a little softer, and carbon's going to be a little stiffer and have a weight reduction as well, so it has a bit higher performance in the SLS version.

Which Board Is Right for Me?

Pat: I feel like the feel of the Jaime is still there, as far as the pop goes; it's just a lot more gripped up than the old version, so you're going to have a lot more edge control than you did in years past. If you're looking to jump as high as you possibly can and send big jumps and land fast, the new Jaime is awesome for it. If you like that looser feel, you might be looking more towards the Select this year, or a 2022 closeout Jaime if you can find it. I think we still have some left in stock, and that'd be a good option for you as well if you like the traditional Jaime since they did move it to the next step up this year, in my opinion.

Dustin: Yep. I was a huge fan of the 2022 Jaime. I love buttering through stuff. I'm still experimenting with this board; it's been absolutely freezing in Michigan, so time on the water is definitely limited, but there will be more to come. This has been Dustin and Pat with all-new 2023 Jaime.

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