Wave riding, as we all know, is a breakthrough between innovation and boldness. Riders drive the boundaries of human courage as board shapers have had to continuously improve tools and materials to tackle giant waves. Enter the ever-evolving sport, Kai Lenny – the innovator, who has recently blasted into the spotlight with an unprecedented big-wave gun design that has the surfing world excited and in frenzy mode.
In a YouTube video entitled “Meeting the Future–Next Gen Big Wave Torpedo,” Lenny reveals the design process as well as the work of his shaper. The board has a distinct form that Lenny thinks could turn large wave surfering into a different experience.
“There is no end to big-wave paddle surfing if we just follow the track of technological progress”-says Lenny in the video and everybody gets bowled over by the hull of the new board.
What strikes me is the form of the nose of the board. It departs from the classic tip of big-wave guns and instead has a thicker, curved form that closely resembles poorly racing standup paddle boards (SUPs). This is Lenny’s way of inspiring the efficiency of SUP nose shapes, as they are designed to push water while paddling and maintaining buoyancy.
But, that was not the end of the wisdom of Keith and Lenny. Acknowledging the critical function of aerodynamics at big-wave drops, they got their inspiration from hydrofoil designs. Hydrofoils have a reputation for being able to lift out of the water when speeds are high ensuring low drag while maintaining high performance. Essentially, Lenny believes that implementing these rules would enable machine-generated waves to be steep and very fast.
The video features the production of the board and emphasizes the collaborative design process between Lenny and Keith. The shaper refers to the difficulties of counterbalancing performance with endurance, which remains a crucial component when dealing with life-threatening waves.
The excitement is growing, though some questions naturally appear. Could a narrow rounded board survive the relentless battering and pounding of a huge surf? Would the hydrofoil elements work as expected once being built from concept?
Surfers of the world hold their breath, awaiting the answer. Big wave surfers have a reputation for pushing boundaries and Lenny is quite a pioneer. He intends to put the board to the hardest test on the day of the first serious swell of the season.
Big-wave gun technology may advance significantly if Lenny can skillfully handle a massive wave on this unconventional design. It would be an honor for Keith’s molding prowess as well as for Lenny’s spirit of pioneering.
On Lenny’s social media channels, the surfing community will be captivated, waiting for footage of the board’s first ride in actual big-wave circumstances. Kai Lenny has undoubtedly created a dialogue and brought back the innovative spirit of big-wave surfing.
