Are Motorized Surfboards the Next Big Wave of Recreation Technology? Mike Klingaman - The Baltimore Sun
go to original January 25, 2017

JetSurf Uncovered: A new way to ride (JetSurf-Official)

Fast, cutting-edge and pricey, the $12,000 motorized playthings have already wowed the rich and famous — including singer Justin Bieber and British Formula One racing driver Lewis Hamilton — as manufacturers seek to widen their appeal among everyday thrill-seekers and would-be James Bonds.

"This is a totally new water sport, for which you don't need wind or waves," said Julio Grullon, marketing director of JetSurf, a New York firm which produces the boards. "You can ride them in lakes, in large-sized pools or at the beach."

Moreover, in places with massive swells, like Hawaii, the motorized boards needn't be towed out to sea past the big waves. A two-stroke, 10.3 horsepower engine built into the carbon-fiber board has the oomph to reach speeds of 36 mph. The "tank" holds a half gallon of gas, enough for a 45-minute run.

The boards work in as little as two feet of water, and stop if the surfer falls off.

Will they catch on? Longtime surfers think not.

Read the rest at The Baltimore Sun

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