The nature of big wave riding means that if you come off on a really big one then its more likely than not that you wont be comming back up again, this is especially true for cold water breaks where the water is denser and waves heavier.

A small lightweight backpack fitted with a balisticly launched grappling hook and a small compressed air cannister would help give big wave surfers the confidence to break the 60ft barrier.

The whole unit would need to be extremly lightweight and flexible, the way it would work is when the time comes to bail the surfer pulls a ripchord wich blasts the grapling hook down into the reef where it catches and reels the surfer in, this pulls him down untill he clears the turbulence, he pulls out his air cannister and waits for the set to end before he releases the grapling hook and makes for the surface.

This would probably only need to be used in the most dire circumstances, but it would give people the confidence to ride bigger surf knowing that they have a way out if they need it.
-- Gulherme, Oct 22 2002

Shipstern http://www.tassiesu...m/Photo_Gallery.htm
I think its fairly obvious wich wave i'm talking about. [Gulherme, Oct 22 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]

Psst http://www.surfline...fline/lola/home.jsp
[thumbwax, Oct 22 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]

Unidentified Surfing Objects and more flicks http://content.surf...ent/video/index.jsp
[thumbwax, Oct 22 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]

Hey G. The whole point of surfing is that the surfer is using his courage and physical ability to do something that on the face of it, is bloody impossible. When I first got in the water with a board, I couldn't lie on it let alone paddle the thing. The thought of paddling into a wave, standing up and riding the thing was so far removed from my reality it did seem impossible. But, after days, weeks, months and now, years, of pure bloody minded effort and application, I developed my mind, body (including ALL of my sphincters) and technique to a point where standing on a surf board (6'5" T&C fave) and twatting down the line above rocks or reef, is not just real, its fuuuun! Jetskis have their place for the big wave boys but really mate,lets not encourage the kooks to think they can do it with technology. Keep the machines out of the line-up. But you already knew that, eh, bruv?
-- briandamage, Oct 22 2002


Sounds dangerous to me and what about the reef?
-- skinflaps, Oct 22 2002


I know where your comming from braindamage, but these guys are going to go and tow in to waves this size anyway, its impossible to do without a jetski, I live near a big wave spot myself, the heaviest wave in Australia, guys paddle in out there but they are only 1 or 2 locals and a couple of pros, normal surfers like you and I wouldnt even consider taking on this wave (link) when this wave gets up 25ft + even those guys don't surf it, with this system it would allow the crazies to surf bigger waves without the fear of dying, well not as much fear anyway, If your not surfing the waves then you have no right to go and say who can do what on them.
-- Gulherme, Oct 22 2002


B R I A N damage, if you don't mind. And who said I was normal? Dammit.
-- briandamage, Oct 22 2002


sorry brian, I wa looking at the word without reading it, what so you are a big wave surfer? There is only so far you can push the human body then you need technology to give it a helping hand.
-- Gulherme, Oct 22 2002


Its all relative A 2ft wave was a big deal as a grommet. probably wouldn't bother with it anymore tho'. I think the thing I'm trying to say is this. the thing that is special to me about surfing is this. Its not like any other thing I've done. Its not a team sport, where you try to do better than someone elses team. You arn't trying to beat someones 'score'. You are doing it for 'you'. For your mind, your spirit, your health, whatever. How many times have we gone to the beach to find a 6 ft, howling onshore, pissing down with rain, no-one else stupid enuff to get out of their car, and we thought 'bugger it, I'll have a paddle anyway. And an hour or so later, your freezing (I'm in NZ), you caught one wave, got fully punished a dozen times, your girlfriend has got the shits with you and you will be emptying your sinuses of salt for the next 5 hours. But will you be back again, on your arvo off when you should be doing something 'constructive'? Course you (we) will. "cos we LOVE it. And 'cos we love it, that means we don't WANT to make it easy. We like the fact that its HARD and COLD and sometimes PAINFUL and thats what separates a 'Surfer" from a bloke with a surfboard and a jetpack. Innit? And as far as your last sentence goes, we havn't even scratched the surface yet.
-- briandamage, Oct 22 2002


I have to say that I totally agree with you, but there are some areas that are outside our ability, in any thing up to 8 ft I feel comfortable, 8-10 foot and I feel decidedly uncomfortable 10+ and I might paddle out for a look but I would think twice about catching anything, and bigger than that and I'll sit back and watch the carnage, but right now there are huge waves, I'm talking HUGE going unridden, dosen't this seem a waste to you? Nobody can tackle them, It is phisically impossible to paddle into these waves, to break the 60ft barrier its going to take somthing special thats outside what the human body can provide, once that barrier has come down people will start doing it more frequently.
-- Gulherme, Oct 22 2002


"Damn-fool way to commit suicide ..........."
-- 8th of 7, Oct 22 2002


Could you have some kind of suddenly inflating bouyancy aid like those they use for avalance protection?, (bug encapsulating sphere) or would this be flummoxed by the wave power?
-- Zircon, Oct 22 2002


Au Big Air - It's the best way to commit suicide
-- thumbwax, Oct 22 2002


If you had some sort of flotation device you would get trapped in the white water, you need somthing to get you below it.
-- Gulherme, Oct 22 2002


How about an oxygen-filled board & a leash that acts as an oxygen supply transfer? I love the taste of fiberglass and resin in the mornin'
-- thumbwax, Oct 22 2002


A cheater board: a segwey-like tip feedback system responds by shifting board ballast around and steering the board to compensate.
-- RayfordSteele, Oct 22 2002



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