Surfboard

If airplane wings have moveable control surfaces, why don't the wings of hydrofoiling boards? Well, the XFoil 2 does, resulting in what is said to be a much smoother and stabler ride than anything offered by its "old school" competitors.

Surfers seem like a fairly eco-minded bunch, which is why it's ironic that most surfboards are made of petroleum-based, non-recyclable expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam. The Sea Mink is different, in that it's made of 3D-printed recycled plastic.

While there are now a number of jet-propelled electric surf boards, a few new arrivals on the scene still do stand out. The TKO 001 is such a beast, sporting carbon fiber construction, a 45-minute runtime, and a top speed of 55 km/h (34 mph).

Surfers may seem like a pretty laid-back bunch, but that doesn't mean there aren't any surfboard thieves amongst their ranks. The surfinlock was designed with that fact in mind, as it allows surfers to lock their boards up like bikes.

Swedish extreme electric surfboard maker Awake Boards has added a new premium electric surfboard to it award-winning range, which promises more power, faster acceleration and better response for sharper turns, higher jumps and faster rides.

While pretty much all surfboards have fins that improve their directional stability, those fins are typically fixed in one position. Dilling SurfCraft boards are different, though, in that their fin pivots with the surfer's back foot.

Sweden's Awake Boards launched its 35 mph Rävik premium electric surfboard in 2018, and has now announced the second generation ride at Boot Düsseldorf last week – the Rävik S.

Surfer Joseph Abrantes didn't like his roof rack's straps messing up the wax on his board, nor did he enjoy hearing them flap and buzz in the breeze while on the highway. His solution was to create his own product, the strapless WaveRaxx system. It's presently on Kickstarter.

​Hear that? Nope? Me neither, but the silent, high-speed electric surfboard is now most definitely a thing, coming soon to a reasonably smooth set of swells near you. The latest to hit the waves is the Awake Rävik, a 35-mph, full carbon stand-up beast with a wireless hand-held throttle.

​Elon Musk isn’t averse to thinking outside the square when it comes to branded merchandise. The latest example? A limited edition Tesla surfboard crafted, in part, with the same materials used in its cars. ​​

​Interfering with a shark's sensory system is one of the ways scientists believe we may be able to keep beachgoers safe. Now researchers in Australia (where else?) are exploring a new way of deterring these apex predators, by fixing lights to surfboards to obscure their view.

​If an ongoing crowdfunding campaign is successful, the likes of Lampuga, Radinn and Aquila could be in for some competition. Blea Surf recently hit Kickstarter, with its relatively low-priced Blea Shark electric surfboard.