Motorised surfboards are not new, but typically we just see some fellas puttering around a glassy lake on them. Bo-ring. But today, finally, their potential is being realised. Check out braver-than-you big wave guru Garrett McNamara using a WaveJet to tame some giant 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 9kg of thrust and can go 20km/h for about 40 minutes on a full charge. Now, that’s nowhere near as fast as guys can get whipped in behind a jetski (think 50km/h), 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.
