Jetboard



A jetboard is a motorized surfboard, where the rider controls the speed using a handheld remote control (wireless or tethered) and uses the bodyweight transfer to maneuver the board. The driveline typically consists of a water jet module (similar to what is found in a PWC), and either a combustion engine or a battery powered electrical motor.

Use
Jetboards remove the difficulties of conventional surfboards as they can be ridden without wind or waves. There is also no need for paddling, as the boards can be ridden at the touch of a button. Compared to traditional surfing, jetboarding can be easily learned and allows the user to become proficient in a short time. This makes this water sport suitable for a large audience of different physical conditions, ages, experience levels and riding styles. In addition, jetboarding can take place on lakes, rivers, canals, seas and oceans alike, making it further accessible to larger groups of people. In addition to private ownership, rental operations are becoming available at places resorts and boating hotspots. Furthermore, jetboards have found a niche as recreational accessories for yacht, sailing boats, and catamarans, adding to their appeal among water sports enthusiasts.

Alongside other electrically powered board embodiments, such as efoils, jetboards are gaining in popularity worldwide and are poised to become a permanent addition to traditional water sports.

History
Motorized surfboards have existed as hobbyist projects in various designs since at least the 1930’s, originally in the shape of regular wooden surfboards with small engines attached. In the 1960’s, the first commercially marketed jetboards were launched. The Jet Board, developed by Alfred Bloomingdale, is perhaps the most well-known. While it contains several features prominent in today’s keyboards (such as a magnet leash kill-switch ), it can be discussed whether the product was in fact a jetboard, seeing as its main purpose was to relieve a surfer of the paddling part of wave surfing. Another inventor, George Carter, introduced his product Surfjet in the same year. Development of various motorized surfboards continued throughout the twentieth century,  but it wasn’t until electrification was introduced in the 2010’s, that jetboards started to become relatively widespread. By means of electrical DC motors and rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, companies like Radinn, Lampuga, Jetsurf and Onean have been developing jetboards that are much easier to maintain and use, compared to their combustion engine ancestors, in addition to becoming very powerful and fast

Competition
Since 2012, jetboarding races has been organized by the MotoSurf World Cup, based in Czechia. In the competitions, petrol powered and electric jetboards compete in separate classes. Notably, as of 2019, the sport gained official recognition from the Union International Motonautique (UIM), which itself has been recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 2010.

Regarding racing rules, the International Federation of Motorized Surfboards was established with the aim of promoting safe usage of motorized surfboards, regulating competition events, formulating rules, governing racing, and furthering the interests of its members. These rules are intended to provide a framework for fair and safe competition, with strict enforcement expected.