On-location atop the beautiful bluffs of Laguna Beach, Ca.
Enjoi
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Behind the Scenes – Swell Summer 11′ Photoshoot
Billabong Pro Rio Update – Swell’s Fantasy Surfer Challenge
The 2011 Billabong Pro Rio started the elimination rounds this morning. Yesterday’s bumpy yet powerful surf made the boys hone their skills in to knock off the host of local Brazilians who grew up surfing the slop.
Despite the Brazilians all but sweeping the field at lowers, only defending champ Jadson Andre won his 1st rd heat, while the rest of his countrymen battle it out in the elimination rd today. The surf forecast calls for conditions to clean up, with sustained pulses of south. The swell and the waiting period end soon, so expect tons of action in the next couple days.
As for the SWELL office challenge, round two in Rio may decide who wears a bike-lock around their neck for an entire work day and a surf session.
Here’s the Fantasy Surfer teams around the Swell office.
Morgan’s Approach: “If it doesnt kill you, it makes you stronger, but walking around in Rio…that will kill you”
Bill’s Approach: “One lucky pump could change a surfer’s life…kinda how I was convinced”
Dave’s Approach: “T.Knox is makin the final. No more poop stance, slob airs and fist pumping ”
Michael’s Approach: “If I have to wear a bike lock around my neck, everybody will suffer with me”
Watch Billy pay the piper for losing the challenge for the last event at Bell’s Beach. This time the loser wears a bike lock around their neck, that video should be classic.
Stay tuned.
To create your own Fantasy Surfer team, click here
Water Spouts & Flash Floods Slam into Honolulu
May 2, 2011 – Violent weather hit the Ala Moana Harbor causing heavy rain, hail, severe lightning, and dual water-spouts. After hours of this activity, 60,000 Honolulu area residents were left without power, while fire-crews responded to dozens of flooding reports. As far as we know there were no injuries.
These photos were taken by a friend of SWELL as the dual water-spouts enter the Ala Moana Harbor.
If these water-spouts reach land they are considered tornadoes. Notice the airplane in the background. Could you imagine if it was carrying passengers escaping the destruction of tornado alley!? Scary sight.
WaveJet – Introducing The First Jet-Powered Surfboard
Just when tow-ats and SUPs get outlawed from most line-ups, Wavejets are here for watermen lookin for a boost. WaveJet is the first company to bring a miniaturized jet drive to market for surf boards, SUP’s, rescue boards, kayaks, kite boards, and boat tenders.
Wavejet is powered by an integrated twin-lithium ion battery pack with internal twin drives, unlike the dangerous internal-combustion driven propellers of motorized surfboards from the past. It’s capable of 20 pounds of thrust, has a continuous run-time of over 30 minutes, activated through a wireless wrist controller and recharges in a standard wall socket.
Steve Walden, master shaper and craftsman has been building and perfecting longboards for over 45 years, and is considered “the father of the modern longboard.” Here’s his take on the Wavejet: “WaveJet’s propulsion drive will dramatically enhance when, where and how we surf due to conditions and location. WaveJet’s PWP is really amazing, it is an assist system that allows you to catch more waves and get extra speed thru sections. It gives you the energy you need to paddle distances. Think of PWP as a power pack for your ride.”
-PWCs banned and it’s too big to paddle at Mavs or Ghost Trees…enter the Wavejet.
-Don’t have a boat, but want to surf Hollister Ranch…enter the WaveJet.
-Tired of grovelling for two hours without ever seeing a clean section…enter WaveJet
-Busted your arm, but need surf to stay sane…get a Wavejet!
So, if you’re prone to jump on the hater bandwagon, remember what Laird said about SUPs, “A kook on a shortboard is a kook on a SUP, surfers who respect the rules of the road shouldn’t get heckled if they’re being safe and courteous.”
Founder/Inventor Mike Railey of Del Mar Ca, breaks it down down:
Q. What is the technology that WaveJet is built on?
A. Patented Personal Water Propulsion (PWP) technology invented in the US is a revolutionary, one-of-a-kind system. It’s a clean, quiet, battery-powered miniature jet drive that can be plugged into any WaveJet-ready personal watercraft, including surfboards, standup paddle boards, kayaks, inflatable’s, belly boards, DPVs and operated with a wireless controller (wrist).
Q. How fast is a WaveJet?
A. Manufacturers will be able to offer boards that run about an hour and fifteen minutes and those pods will have a top speed of about 6 mph. There is also a higher performance pod with a top speed of 10 mph that will have a run time of about 40 minutes.
Q. How much does a WaveJet weigh?
A. A WaveJet pod will add about 14 lbs to a surfboard. Surfers that are testing WaveJet powered boards say they love the additional control and balance they get from the additional weight. If you think about it, boards float on water, so once you put 20 lbs of thrust in a board, weight becomes your friend and the WaveJet becomes your jet powered assist.
Q. How does a rider control the board?
A. We put leading edge wireless technology developed by WFS Defense into an oversized wrist control. The system is very unique because the signal must travel under water. If you fall off your board the WaveJet powers off.
At $3,500 per board, we wont see packs of Wavejets filling the line-ups right away, but you can bet we’ll see surf pioneers around the world using Wavejet technology. Look out for the first line of Wavejets from Walden Surfboards mid September.
For more info, visit Wavejet.com
See more Wavejet videos here
Whats your opinion of the WaveJet? (Remember Laird’s words)