Jet Powered Surfboards 1
Coming soon to a surfing lineup near you: jet-powered boards designed to make paddling, catching and even riding waves easier and more enjoyable.
“Wavejet” surfboards, after 10 years of development, are set to debut as part of a U.S. demo tour this summer. They’ll sell for $4,500 apiece, or about five times the cost of an ordinary board, and enable surfers to paddle at two to three times their normal speed.
It’s hoped the boards will pique the interest of surfers of all levels, but they figure to be most attractive to aging surfers with waning arm strength and perhaps lifeguards who would benefit from swifter access to victims during rescue operations.
Purists, of course, will cringe at the notion, as they cringed 15 years ago when “tow surfers” began to catch waves while being pulled from ropes behind jet-powered personal watercraft; and more recently when the standup, or SUP phenomenon began.
“I’d say about 95% of the people are going to say, ‘This is amazing and cool,’ but you’re always going to get those people who are angry about anything new coming into the sport,” said Steve Walden, a Wavejet board designer whose shop in Ventura, Calif., will serve as the primary outlet facility.
Great Idea but way to expensive.
Why not build your very own and use one of your favorite boards.
Check out http://www.jetpaddle.com for DIY details