HO Sports Joker Kneeboard Review

What to Buy Now: HO Sports Proton Kneeboard

The Proton is HO's current trick-focused kneeboard, and it fixes the Joker's big beginner problem: it has an Easy-Up handle hook, so a first-timer is not fighting the rope to get up.

Its surf-inspired shape has retractable fins, so you can learn with them down for tracking and retract them when you want to spin. Deep tracking channels steady your landings, and the PowerLock single locking strap holds you in.

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The HO Sports Joker Kneeboard is our best thrill-sport kneeboard for beginners pick, and it scored 82 out of 100 in our testing.

The best-selling trick board of all time rides and performs superbly, but it has no integrated hook, so a true beginner will find the first pull harder than on a hooked board.

It is a symmetrical fiberglass performance board designed by Tony Klarich in 1994 for spins, flips, and carving, chosen here for riders who want thrill rather than the gentlest learning curve.

First things first:

We tested it head to head against the other top kneeboards, and below we break down how it did on Value for Money, Stability, Design, Performance, where it falls short, and whether it is worth your money.

Best Thrill-Sport Kneeboard For Beginners

Overall82

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HO Sports Joker Kneeboard

Value for Money6/10

Stability7/10

Design9/10

Performance9/10

Bottom Line : The best-selling trick board of all time rides and performs superbly, but it has no integrated hook, so a true beginner will find the first pull harder than on a hooked board.

Pros

• Iconic high-performance trick shape
• Big pop and easy fakie riding
• Comfortable dual-density kneepad
• Loved by owners for progression

Cons

• No integrated hook, harder first pull
• Less stable than wide budget boards
• Not the gentlest true-beginner choice

Our Verdict: HO Sports Joker Kneeboard

The best-selling trick board of all time rides and performs superbly, but it has no integrated hook, so a true beginner will find the first pull harder than on a hooked board.

It is a symmetrical fiberglass performance board designed by Tony Klarich in 1994 for spins, flips, and carving, chosen here for riders who want thrill rather than the gentlest learning curve.

What's the bottom line?

Fiberglass performance build with a classic square tip and tail profile.

Locking edge channels let riders lock in for fakie takeoffs and landings.

Owners call it a blast to ride with big pop, and some report teaching newcomers on it, but with no integrated hook a nervous first-timer may find the first pull harder.

Reasons to buy:

• Iconic high-performance trick shape
• Big pop and easy fakie riding
• Comfortable dual-density kneepad
• Loved by owners for progression

Reasons to avoid:

• No integrated hook, harder first pull
• Less stable than wide budget boards
• Not the gentlest true-beginner choice

Our Analysis, Comparisons, and Test Results

The HO Sports Joker Kneeboard scored 82 out of 100 overall.

It is strongest on design and weakest on value for money.

Here is how it did on every metric we tested, with exactly how each score compares to the rest of the field.

Value for Money

Priced as a mid-to-upper performance board, reflected in the modest value score of 6.

You are buying a proven high-performance shape rather than a cheap trainer.

Owner reviews call it a blast to ride and worth the money for progression.

Less sensible if you only want a few easy pulls behind the boat.

Stability

Symmetrical square tip and tail shape is trick-focused, so it is less planted than the wide budget boards.

2-stage rocker and locking edge channels favor pop and control over pure beginner stability.

Here's what that means:

Still stable enough that owners report teaching newcomers on it.

Its stability score of 7 is the lowest among the hooked and wide boards for a reason.

Design

Fiberglass performance build with a classic square tip and tail profile.

Locking edge channels let riders lock in for fakie takeoffs and landings.

Dual-density kneepad, first used on the 1994 Joker, cushions landings.

Powerlock single locking knee strap is quick and secure.

Note it ships without an integrated getting-up hook.

Performance

Top performance score here alongside the Connelly and HydroSlide picks.

2-stage rocker maximizes pop off any wake, forward or backward.

Built for spins, flips, and smooth carving, a genuine trick board.

Rewards riders chasing thrills far more than cautious first-timers.

Should You Buy the HO Sports Joker Kneeboard?

The best-selling trick board of all time rides and performs superbly, but it has no integrated hook, so a true beginner will find the first pull harder than on a hooked board.

It is best suited to beginners with an athletic streak who want to progress fast into tricks.

Want to know the best part?

The big win: Iconic high-performance trick shape.

The main compromise: No integrated hook, harder first pull.

We scored it 82 out of 100.

What Other Kneeboards Should You Consider?

Not sold on this one? A few others from our testing are worth a look.

The Connelly Boost Kneeboard is our best durable kneeboard for beginners. A stable fiberglass board that starts beginners easy and keeps performing into tricks, but it is pricey and the beginner hook is an add-on rather than built in.

The O'Brien VooDoo Kneeboard is our best versatile kneeboard for beginners. A tough rotomolded board with an integrated hook and quad fins that suits mixed-ability families and punches above its price for beginners.

The HydroSlide Pro XLT Performance Kneeboard is our best adjustable kneeboard for beginners. A well-built US-made board with a beginner hook and retractable fins, letting new riders add control now and unlock spins later, at a fair price.

Specifications

Conclusion: HO Sports Joker Kneeboard

After testing it against the other top kneeboards, the HO Sports Joker Kneeboard earns its place as our best thrill-sport kneeboard for beginners pick.

Its standout strength: Iconic high-performance trick shape.

So:

The main thing to weigh before you buy: No integrated hook, harder first pull.

If you want beginners with an athletic streak who want to progress fast into tricks, it belongs at the top of your shortlist.

Still comparing? See exactly where the HO Sports Joker Kneeboard ranks against the full field in our 10 Best Kneeboard For Beginners guide.

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