August 23, 2024

State-of-the-art travel surfboard a game changer for surfers

New research partnership will see UOW Surf Flex Lab work on collapsible design

Surfers are known to traverse the globe looking for the next best wave, but it is not, inherently, a travel-friendly sport.

Large, unwieldy boards can be difficult to juggle, with surfers having no choice but to leave their most valuable possessions in the hands of airlines.

An innovative new project bringing together researchers from the University of Wollongong (UOW’s) Surf Flex Lab is aiming to provide a creative, yet state-of-the-art solution for surfers around the world.

Professor Marc in het Panhuis (pictured), Director of the Australian Institute for Innovative Materials at UOW and Founder of the Surf Flex Lab, is working alongside researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW (Sydney and Canberra),  and Gowing Bros (Surf Hardware International based in Coffs Harbour) as part of the Australian Composites Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (ACM CRC) to design and manufacture a collapsible travel surfboard.

The project has come to life with the financial support of investment company Gowing Bros, who identified a market opportunity for the product.

The team of researchers working on the ACM CRC project will identify and develop advanced manufacturing techniques for increased board laminating quality, and will adapt automated processes for core shaping, composite material deposition (glassing) and finishing.

Through technology informed design, performance characteristics such as flex, damping, rebound, and feel will all be part of the process. The aim is to retain the board’s high quality while reducing manufacturing costs.

Professor in het Panhuis said the Surf Flex Lab team will contribute their extensive research experience and capabilities to the project, to create a pioneering surfboard unlike no other.

“Surfing is a sport enjoyed by people of all ages, from all parts of the world. Surfers love to travel in a sustainable way, love to search for the perfect waves in the most incredible places. But it can be cumbersome to travel with surfboards, particularly if an airline is not surfing friendly. Surfboards are expensive and can be fragile, so the risk of having a board damaged while travelling is always a concern,” Professor in het Panhuis said.

“The potential design and manufacture of a compact and lightweight travel board will allow surfers to conveniently transport and store their surfboards while maintaining high performance standards.

“This is an exciting manufacturing opportunity, a chance to use cutting-edge research to create an Australian-made product and industry. By infusing science and engineering into surfing, we are not just catching waves, we are changing the ways surfers move through the world and connect with their environment.”

Compliance and standards testing will take place to ensure the surfboard meets regulations and market expectations. Surf athletes will even be engaged for field trials and the provision of professional feedback.

John Gowing, Executive Chairman of Gowing Bros, said the whole team are excited to bring the vision to life.

“These premium travel boards are an exciting potential for national and international markets, offering enhanced durability, performance, and sustainability,” he said. “This means no more lugging around sizable, weighty boards for travelling surfers, including, potentially, our athletes.”

Run by surfers, for surfers, the Surf Flex Lab captures the intersection between sport and science, focusing on performance, materials, and sustainability.

What began as a project examining how 3D-printing fins could improve a surfer’s performance and experience in the water has grown into a comprehensive research laboratory that is foremost in the world in the field of surf engineering.

Led by Professor in het Panhuis, the Surf Flex Lab encompasses experts from the fields of surfing, engineering and science, bringing together multidisciplinary capabilities to create a state-of-the-art research lab that is changing how we view and approach the sport of surfing.

UOW is committed to addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which provide a shared blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for everyone. This project addresses Goal 9, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and Goal 12, Responsible Consumption and Production.