http://gizmo.do/u9LqMq
"SURFING
BY BRENT ROSE
Surfer Shreds Huge Waves With a Self-Propelled Surfboard
Motorized surfboards are nothing new, but typically we just see some yutz puttering around a glassy lake on them. Bo-ring. But today, finally, their potential is being realized. Check out braver-than-you big wave guru Garrett McNamara using a WaveJet to tame some giant, unfriendly waves.
We wrote about the WaveJet earlier this year, and it's very cool technology. It's basically a pod that can be attached to small watercraft like surfboards, kayaks, and rescue boards. It has twin inboard jets that are powered by lithium-ion batteries. That means that unlike most jetskis, which run on gas, they can be used in heavy-water places that are protected sanctuaries (like Mavericks and Ghost Tree).
The system is controlled by a wireless wrist band, and if (when) you fall off, the board's motor will automatically shut down. It supplies 20 pounds of thrust and can go 12MPH for about 40 minutes on a full charge. Now, that's no where near as fast as guys can get whipped in behind a jetski (think 30MPH), so it's unlikely that we'll see these on a giant day at Jaws, but this is a major step in the right direction.
"It was so amazing to kick out and not have to paddle to get out of harm's way and get right back to the peak to catch another wave," says McNamara. Oh, and for those of you not familiar with surfing lore, that's not just some random guy talking. Garrett McNamara is a legend. Remember last month when someone surfed a 90-foot wave and likely smashed the world record? Yeah, that was Garrett. If you think that 40 is old, I would say that the 44 year old McNamara effectively crotch-kicks that notion and gives me hope for the future."
I THINK I JUST THREW UP IN MY MOUTH A LITTLE BIT!
6 comments:
dang. why didn't i think of inventing a really thick/ non flexing/ tail heavy surfboard with parasitic drag issues.
form an orderly queue now folks.
a little bit? I hurled a ton. I crotch-kick that "article"!!!
please please please, joel tudor you need to enforce another strangle hold on this madness
Soon coming to your local 1-foot summer slop break, and their kook riders will still use SUP oars or ask for a tow-in to boot. The only good thing about these will be that people riding them may actually delete themselves from the gene pool when they fall off the tail and the things run off, dragging them by their leashes underwater and over shallow rock bottoms. Real surfers will pay to view.
supposedly you can't use a watercraft with an oar in an area with swimmers (surfers count in that definition) but CA Lifeguards aren't enforcing that against SUPS. So now you have watercraft with a motor and that is legal in the swim zone? What happens when someone runs over a swimmer or surfer on one of these things under power? Someone call the motorcyle lawyer!
its going to be a nightmare seeing these things in already hectic lineups
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