Industrial Design & Prototyping
eWakesurf
Embedding jet thruster technology into a wakesurf board
Background
The eWakesurf board is a product concept that demonstrates how we can augment the sport of wakesurfing with water jet thruster propulsion.
The result of this study is an electric wakesurf board prototype that gives riders an on-demand boost, helping riders stay in the wake, do new tricks, and return to the boat.
Challenges
The small size and weight of modern wakesurf boards make downsizing and integrating jet propulsion into a wakesurf board a big challenge. Doing so without compromising the surfability or board ergonomics is even more complex.
Boost use cases
We identified multiple scenarios where boost could be effectively applied, primarily for saving the wake and returning to the boat after a wipeout. During testing we found that the boost also increases the usable area behind the boat, allowing for wider carves, wake transition, and surfing further back.
Prototyping, testing, iterating
Creating functional prototypes allowed us to validate the concept and truly measure board performance through real tests on the water. We iterated through multiple versions to quickly improve the mechanical design and rider affordances for a feasible product configuration.
Conceptual product design
We imagined what the eWakesurf product could look like if packaged up into a consumer-ready product. The design is informed by all the learnings and experiences gained from real world use of the prototypes.
