I've seen the future and it amazing

General Discussion
41

Just as a general observation on the application of new ideas. There is usually at least one or two human generations of delay between a new theory and practical applications. Einstein’s special relativity theory came out in 1905. We are still building on and renewing understanding of his original ideas. The properties of crystals, semiconductors, etc. were known long before digital technology. Boolean and abstract algebras have been around way longer than their practical applications in modern devices. Why should technologies and materials’ properties as applied to surfboards be any different? Obstacles come in many forms, social, political, educational, cultural, you name it. But once the change begins in earnest, it tends to accelerate.

So, keep on truckin’ guys, but in any field of research, the future may not belong to those who make the advances today. And that’s OK.

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This is the present…

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…you re right, but remember, all the human advances came with wars yes war…

…so, first some government will try to investigate new technology and do researchs, then theyll try to annihilate any other gov…then if exist then the new tech arrive to the public market…

so, im laugh when you try to convince yourself talkin about the golf or whatever sports, saying that the tech used in they goods…i say W. W. II technology…

-i mean, new tech is digital tech, etc, or something like that, but all the others products are petrochemicals! dinosaurus tech…

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…you re right, but remember, all the human advances came with wars yes war…

Very little metal in the most advanced military aircraft of today compared to recent decades. New materials of today are the foam/fiberglass of Simmon’s time. Unfortunately the “wars” being fought today have no traditional beginnings and ends, so the best of the tech may stay out of public hands for some time. On the other hand, as filthy lucre seems to be supplanting religious icons, perhaps some crass sell-out will deliver the goods to us all.

45

Rincon’s gonna be sweet this winter with my SEAL surplus water proof night vision goggles, no full moon necessary.

46

…yeah, but beware with the sharks…

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My 2004 jeep still has plenty of metal in it. The 2001 Saturn I traded in for it had more space age plastic than metal in it. It was lighter, but less functional than what I need for durability and weight. Everything is application dependent. Every thing has its uses. Be patient. The new stuff will find its way to its proper niche. That’s all I am trying to say.

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Without the petrochemical industry, there are a lot of “new” and “advanced” and “space age” materials that would no longer exist. So when we run out…Let’s hear it for recycling and HWB’s.

49

Found this quote by accident. Thought is was appropriate to this discussion, and amusing as well.

“The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.”

                  Albert Einstein
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morph control , micro processor , data collection , flexible skins , internal torsion control , no moving joints…

stress - voltage - process - morph based on load …

problems still to solve ? power supply , hard wiring direct to the brain …

even boeing dont have a product on the shelf yet , with the technology being built into the humble sandwich these days …

to be honest , the stuff being touted as the next generation and gaining mass exceptance , is already completly obselete , but it is a starting point …

theres some stuff happening now , that has an almost sci fi direction …

once again , inspiration from below …

a dolphin has fine muscle control , subtle adjustment to maximise power , direction and speed …

cross pollinisation …

a blending of technologies …

enough said already …

greg , something big on the way …

im sure it will get some attention …

up till now , the traditionals have had some valid aguments …

but with the next generation ,even the harshest critics have been silenced …

if a kid wont pay 1000 , then they just ride disposable crap , pretty simple …

whats the value if something twice the price lasts 10 times longer ??

it actually ends up being 80% cheaper …

if someone cant work some basic maths , then they still have 2 choices , ride unresponsive heavier disposable junk , or get something that fraction heavier that lasts 20 times longer which ends being 90% cheaper …

isnt that a reflection of modern society , anything disposable has a price tag to match …

little wonder theres no profit in urethane boards without volume …

sustainable, responsible , product development , having consideration for the enviroment and the cultural aspect of surfing …its to simple …

regards

BERT

51

“sustainable, responsible , product development , having consideration for the enviroment and the cultural aspect of surfing …its to simple”

That’s the dream worth dreaming. The catch is in the differences among aspects of the industry and the consumers regarding the definition of surfing “culture.” Not everyone has the same vision or mind set. Surfing is too widespread for that now. The preachers all preach a different sermon on what heaven should be.

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Quote:

…control , micro processor , data collection , …, with the technology being built into the humble sandwich these days …

.theres some stuff happening now , that has an almost sci fi direction …

.

regards

BERT

Hee hee hee Well I guess I finally beat you to something, Bert!

I was reading all these posts about the future and just started thinking a little silly. I was already feeling that the whole d-cell vac bag thing was pretty skunk-worksy…so I knocked apart an old viral computer from work for a chip…looks like I have the world’s first Pentium III powered surfboard :slight_smile:

With many thanks to Pierre who’s Swaylocks Lam just fit in so well…

Yes, its under the hotcoat. I carefully cut out the top glass & d-cell, leaving the glass under the d-cell intact. Set it in epoxy w/microspheres. Carefully sanded the top a bit - hell, its fiberglass of somekind, right? - and glassed right over with my finbox patch. Then hotcoat…smooth as a baby’s bottom. :slight_smile:

53

Will a digital board be just right for virtual surfing?

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Generations to change? That may well be true of much of the surfboard culture, but only because of the resistance to change. There have been many innovators that have made efforts to move the sport, culture, industry, material, techniques and expressed forward thinking ideas, who are then criticized in the process.

I think it worth while to ask oneself as individuals “what have I personally done to move surfing forward” with regard to any of the for-mentioned topics. Complacency breads stagnation.

Generations to change? Look at the electronics industry. Do you remember the first home computers? Look at cell phones. Look at the aerospace industry, Look at the new materials available… carbon fiber, Kevlar, better foam, hydrodynamic fin systems. In order to advance, one must be willing to look forward. I too love the “classics” but also embrace the new technology. One can either be a far thinking leader or be satisfied with the status quo. I know what my choice would be.

As Bert said…big things will be coming. Yes, you are correct! As things advance, I think the changes will accelerate. These should be exciting times, not to be feared. Hang on!!!

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One can either be a far thinking leader or be satisfied with the status quo.

The designer in me digs what Bert, Greg, Blakestah, Roy, Paul, Dale, etc. are doing with their higher tech or alternative surfcraft (and fins). The surfer in me has been too busy having fun with my current “status quo” boards to have had time to think there might be something better out there. I suspect this is true for most surfers and that’s why none of the advancements that come along have managed to displace the poly boards we’ve had since I was born. Surfers are just too busy being stoked on surfing and can’t image being any more stoked even if they got a more modern-tech board.

I have often thought there could be better shapes for certain wave conditions, because I’ve surfed lots of different board types over the years. But I had never thought much about different materials until I discovered this forum.

I suspect that surfers will always think more about shapes than materials because the differences in different types of boards (thruster vs. fish vs. single vs. longboard vs. crusier, or perhaps even well shaped 6’3" thruster vs. hack shaped 6’3" thruster) will be larger than the difference between the same style of board made in traditional poly and made in epoxy or carbon fiber or with special shear flex characteristics or whatever. I mean, on certain days or at certain waves, you can bring the most high tech 6’3" in the world and it’s still going to be out surfed by a beat up old 60s longboard. (I think we can define “out surfed” as either, higher scoring in a contest, or “more fun”, or both at the same time). And likewise on other days, we will have more fun and surf the wave better on a 6’1" off-the-rack CI Flyer than on even the most advanced 9’0" Sunova longboard. Of course the most advanced Sunova longboard is going to out surf that 60s longboard: but for whatever reason, surfers are used to thinking about the shape compared to other shapes and aren’t used to comparing similar shapes of different materials (yet).

So I don’t think it’s so much that surfers are afraid of change or stuck in the past or whatever. It’s just that their minds focus on the shape and size of the boards they choose to surf more than the materials they are made of.

56

I don’t disagree with your stoke on boards, new or old. I just think that the shapes have reached an upper limit utilizing the standard foam, glass and poly. I think those shapes can go beyond where they are today with the exploitation of some of the new materials and technologies. Why would one place a limit on where things could be? We would all be driving a fuel injected horse & buggy…

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Change is too fast for some, too slow for others. It’s a natural system of checks and balances.

58

Back to the Future and the Future is NOW! I still ride this Aquajet! Got it in '72. Yikes!

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I visited a plastics manufacturer a few days ago and saw the craziest thing. It was a cast of a car made of high impact plastic. now heres a question, why doesnt someone make a surfboard out of that? its high impact resistant, rigid yet some flex to it, and CLEAR. Now wouldnt that be cool, a clear surfboard. (just hope your leash doesnt come off)

60

Been following the dialog regarding Hollow surfboards and especially Hollow cabon fiber boards for some time. if you guys really want to know the complete history of the hollow board from Tom Blake to now (2005) check out this “blog” by the ageless surf expert and “world’s greatest surfer”…J.J. Moon!

http://hollowboards.blogspot.com/