Surfboard
July 7, 2006 Sandia National Laboratories prides itself on provifind technology solutions to the most challenging problems that threaten peace and freedom for our nation and the globe. It’s accordingly highly appropriate that it has developed an environmentally friendly foam that may also be the answer to surf industry crisis. TufFoam was originally conceived by Sandia materials scientists for NNSA as an encapsulant material to protect sensitive electronic and mechanical structures from harsh weapons environments. It is a water-blown, closed-cell, rigid polyurethane foam that features formulations as low as 2 lbs.-per-cubic foot density. But beyond its use as a structural material, the foam likely has other applications. Clark Foam, the leading manufacturer of foam for surfboard construction, unexpectedly closed its doors late last year because of the impact of ever-tightening environmental regulations on the manufacturing of their polyurethane surfboard blanks. The move led to near-panic, particularly in California, by manufacturers and sellers of surfboards who fear they will not be able to find the high strength-to-weight ratio surfboard blanks necessary to make the boards. Surf historian Matt Warshaw, in an article in the Santa Barbara NewsPress, said “it’s the equivalent of removing lumber from the housing industry.” Read More
November 16, 2004 Surfboard design has been miniaturised with the T-BOARD Surf & Swim bodysurfing device, which straps onto one or both hands to create a wider hydroplaning surface and increase bodysurfing speed. The T-BOARD is designed for use on any kind of wave from 0 to 6 feet high and offers freedom of movement as a swimming aid or in swimming freestyle. The T-BOARD features surfboard-like curves, an over-raised handle and a tri-fin system to give more speed, control and security out on the water. Holding and steering with both hands gives total control, and the T-BOARD is not fixed to your hands so you can just push it aside during critical moments like when the wave closes-out. Read More
Surf's up anywhere with the ULI (Ultra Lite Inflatable) range of surf and bodyboards from the ULI Corp of San Diego. Created by Jim Weir, an avid surfer for over 50 years, the ULI (pronounced ooo-lee) solves key problems faced by professional and amateur surfers alike. Many hard flotation devices can be a hassle to transport and aren't allowed in swimming beaches for fear of injury. The ULI board is fully functional, lightweight, perfectly safe for all ages and, best of all - it simply deflates and rolls up into your backpack when the surfing is done! Read More
The Powerski Jetboard prototype featured in Gizmo magazine during 2002 is finally ready to go into mass production. The Jetboard is a combination surfboard/JetSki incorporating a 25 x 43 x 16 cm high, two-stroke, water-cooled, 45hp engine and an axial flow jet pump into a (slightly larger than average) surfboard form-factor to deliver a stand-up ride over flat water at speeds up to 65kmh. Read More
Almost forty years after first conceiving the modular "Travelboard", Karl Pope has applied his experience as an aerospace engineer to invent the Pope Bisect Stealth - a two-piece, 9-foot 6-inch hollow carbon fibre surfboard... Read More
