What's the next great wave-riding device?

General Discussion
1

There are many and varied versions of the act of surfing, and the  devices used to “get a ride”…

We have Longboards, Shortboards, Alaias, SUPs, Hydrofoiled body boards…and miriad increments of the shape of each of these.

 

Without getting into a bunfight about the value or otherwise of any one of the existing variants…

Anybody want to volunteer a guess at whats next? Legit or fad driven, whatever…

 

I put forward  “Catamaran Inline skate boots” …one on each foot, scoot like skates, piruoette like Catarina Vitt…bring-em on Olympics 2012? Or, faceplants/splits and the emergency ward enmasse?

Josh

www.joshdowlingshape.com

 

2

Josh.

I see it everyday!!!  

  More and more, kite-surfboards showing up on the beaches around here,

Apperently kiteboarding is the “fastest growing water sport” from related magazine articles…

You can literally ride a surfboard for 3,4,5,6 hours straight, per session, not just a 20 to 30 second ride…

 The speed at which you kite-surf is dictated by kite size / board shape, and wind speed…

I don’t live by the ocean with it’s great surf spots  …(wish I did!!) … Now I can experience the thrill of a wave ride, with the added benifit of wind power…

You guys should build slightly stronger versions ( deck areas) of your current surfboard lines and sell them to the ever increasing kite board public…

If you think ;    I’m a noob, full of shit,…oh well…

I love being a member of Sways, but the days of a wind blown session being a BAD thing have passed…

 You guys in areas with lots of kiters, surely must see this!!

I’m working on kite -tacking a kitesurfboard, as an alternative to a windsurfer style, jibe stance switch… The posibilities are endless…

Put straps on the kite surfboard and you can boost huge airs, back rolls, whatever…

Most of you will say that’s not “real” surfing…I must say agian,… Oh well…:slight_smile:

 

Cheers Kiterider…")

 

 

 

 

3

I see soft, donut shaped surfboards as the next big thing… “spinners” will be the move… instead of wax will be edible sticky frosting…  sold in giant tubes.  Oh, MAN, I’m outta maple…gotta go to the surf shop.

4

Hey Kite,

Add that to the list...yeah, duly noted...BUT...

Kitesurfing's not new...so...

 

INVENTORS please...whats next?

Josh

www.joshdowlingshape.com

5

Keith Keith keith...

6

Sorry Josh.

I didn’t realize you were looking for extreme alternatives… No surf shoes here…lol

At the beaches I ride, 1 to 2% of the kite boarders are riding a true “surfboard” style of board, most riding wake board shapes…

The potential sales of inovative kite “surfboards” must perk you interests…???

I’ve read all the "lagging economy,  , Chinese “pop out”,     “hard times for shapers in the U.S,”  posts, on this group…

 

All I’m suggesting is you sell  equipment outside your established boundaries…

 Kite surfers pay at least  $1000 a kite, and are more than willing to pay 700 to 1000 for a quality board…

 

 

Josh,   

I’ve been following / admiring   your boards for some time, and I think this would be a great alternative market for you… …personally…

Kite boarders love “cool” graphics and a quality product, and yours ranks well.up there…

 

Cheers Kiterider…")

 

 

 

7

Sorry Josh.

I didn’t realize you were looking for extreme alternatives… No surf shoes here…lol

At the beaches I ride, 1 to 2% of the kite boarders are riding a true “surfboard” style of board, most riding wake board shapes…

The potential sales of inovative kite “surfboards” must perk you interests…???

I’ve read all the "lagging economy,  , Chinese “pop out”,     “hard times for shapers in the U.S,”  posts, on this group…

 

All I’m suggesting is you sell  equipment outside your established boundaries…

 Kite surfers pay at least  $1000 a kite, and are more than willing to pay 700 to 1000 for a quality board…

 

 

Josh,   

I’ve been following / admiring   your boards for some time, and I think this would be a great alternative market for you… …personally…

Kite boarders love “cool” graphics and a quality product, and yours ranks well.up there…

 

Cheers Kiterider…")

 

 

 

8

Perhaps some sort of clear plexi tubular housing that covers you from the hips up and holds air - so you can bodysurf underwater like the photos of Laird and Rasta , and watch the wave unfold .

Whatever we can think of , Greenough’s probably already done it anyway !

And kiterider I hear ya on the kitesurfing , it’d triple a guy’s fun time around here !

9

Hi again Kite,

No need to say sorry, no offence taken...not at all, and I definately don't rankle at your suggestion.

The thing with kitesurfing and making them is not so much that I would'nt go there out of any prejudice, but rather  because I haven't ! One tends to go with the sphere one moves in. In my case its been straight-up "normal" surfing...Yeah, It'd be being brave, attempting to make a crossover.

Josh

www.joshdowlingshape.com

 

 

10
Inspired by last years Pipe Masters, where few dropped in backside standing up, or even bothered to bottom turn.  
 
A strap is worn about the hips and buttocks that holds a fin protruding sideways from out of the riders heel-side hip, used while dropping in pigdog, as the ass of said rider drags through the wave face, and, (hopefully), the tube proceeds to obscure the rider from view, subsequently, the rider hopefully reappears, dissengages said fin, and actually stands up, (to a chorus of cheers)   Coming soon to a pipeline near you.
 
Sickdog
11

Hey Sick,

That makes me think:- How about tow-in barefoot! Imagine that, like those mad water-skiers with NO SKI, but towed into waves skidding along on the soles of yo' feet?

 

Josh

www.joshdowlingshape.com

 

 

12

Tow -in ,,,,,,,Kite -in,,,,,, it's all the same,... Except with a kite ,  you can re-generate the momentum power  again and again , with only the wind  as your  "engine"...

Wind Power,..... It's  been around for a long time,,,,, so the concept is not that exciting....

Enough  beakng off............... Go with whatever float's your boat..........

Kiterider.....")

13

Now that's where two small 'boardskis' would stand a chance, towed in. Like snow skiing has these really small, almost skate size skiis.

 

Barefoot into a big Fiji barrel........that I've got to see.

14

The new sport of TSR (Tandem Surf Rafting) will overtake SUP’s in popularty next year!

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15

WOOO!

Let's see how far we can get pitched! And how about rating the facial contortions on the way down?

 

Josh

www.joshdowlingshape.com

 

16

This photograph has not been retouched or altered in any way...

 

17

 

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18

I love Photoshop.

I think this might evolve into the next big thing in DIY watercraft:

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19

[quote="$1"]

 

[quote="$1"] INVENTORS please...whats next? [/quote]

[/quote]

Josh, At the start of my inventions I think about how many ways a craft and man can go together. ( and not in an unholy manner )  

 Ive thought about the different modes  of wave riding from the variations of standing, kneeling, sitting and prone.

 How many ways can a person stand on a board ? what are the different ways of kneeling or lying ?

 But to come up with a new device/product thats feasible, youd have to look at the different ways of connecting man, vehicle and wave.

 Standing is the best mode or way to ride because of its versatility and control, but prone is the easiest, making it the most consumer friendly and therefore its likely to be the fastest way to get something up and running.

I know SUP is its own sport but its mode is standing but with a paddle/poodle/puddle added.

I can suggest a progression of SUP riding might be to use double ended paddles, like a kayaker. (If it hasnt been done before.)

A new feasible device for shortboard riding will be harder because of the critical balance and high skill level already attained by riders, they wont take on anything that isnt as refined as the modern board. The hydrofoils Ive been farting around with are different but not refined to where they offer a comparable experience.

However I do see room to move in the longboard domain. It offers the versatility of the standing mode and it has a craft that is large enough for a wide variations in add-ons. Not like adding an extra fin but like trying 3D design changes like moveable deck pieces, split hulls or adding extra surfaces or inbuilt systems that react to the wave. Something new would need new thinking.

 To find the next great wave-riding device its easier to look back and grab an obscure forgotten idea,or add something from a similar sport.

 Maybe rekindle kneeboards?

 Actually the bodyboard Drop Knee stance is a good one for advancement as its a step up from boogieing but retains a lot of the easy benefits of prone riding. Its the newest mode too, one knee up, one down.

Itd be easier to pick a mode of riding and work from that. I'm always keen to think tank.

 

 

20

 Yeah the double paddle bit's been done already.....

How about an ARK?

 Or maybe an inflatable dragon named Odie?