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[gcs]

Ever seen one of these?

http://socalsurfshotz.smugmug.com/gallery/1682481/1/82550712

[tumak]

No... boy, it sure looks thick! Interesting.

[gcs]

reminds me of those molded windsurfers hulls
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gcs

[PaipoJim]

Looks a lot like what is nowadays called a wave ski although they are usually rigged for sitting down on top like a surf kayak. I think if it has a surfboard type board it's supposed to be a wave ski but if it's more of a kayak hull it's a surf kayak and if you sit inside of it it's still a sea kayak. I'm not sure, everything is so darn specialized now. 50 years ago they would have been described surf skis but those have evolved to a much longer and skinnier craft specialized for races descended from ANZAC lifesaving competitions.

Maybe he is just knee riding his windsurfer. I didn't know they had footstraps so far up on the nose. Pretty beefy hull though. Knee surf kayak?

[bgreen]

This basically is a paddleboard like lifesavers use all over Australia. They paddle them kneeling or lying prone and ride them on their knees, performing turns or often going pretty straight- either trimming on the face or riding straight to shore.

The straps are used to hang onto the wave. In ironman races, which incorporate a board leg, the object is to get to shore quickly rather than length of ride. Consequently they will ride the wave straight in (at times over the falls) and hold onto the straps so they don't lose the board. This would also apply to paddling out. They may have some rescue application as well.

The version in the picture looks a bit shorter than some, though at the junior carnivals - the "nippers" have shorter boards.

They are real wave catchers.

Bob

[gcs]