Author Topic: Bizarre SUP “Kickstarter” - Pele Boards  (Read 12259 times)

levity

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Bizarre SUP “Kickstarter” - Pele Boards
« on: December 18, 2014, 08:34:08 PM »
Not all evolutionary changes are for the better.  Think this species will survive, or is it just wrong in so many ways?  (the first sentence of the article is clearly wrong)

PeleBoard takes a stride toward leg-powered paddleboarding  (www.gizmag.com/peleboard-leg-powered-paddleboard/35291)
By Ben Coxworth, December 18, 2014
 
Paddlesports are a great workout for the upper body, but as far as the legs go – not so much. In the case of sit-down watercraft like kayaks, that situation can be addressed by adding pedals. For stand-up paddleboards, however ... well, it's hard to picture how pedals could be integrated. That's why the designers of the PeleBoard have taken their own approach to leg-powered paddleboarding, with a carbon fiber board that's split lengthwise down the middle.



The two halves of the board are joined together via a sliding rail with stainless steel bearings. Additionally, on the underside of both halves are scute-style flaps.  The idea is that as the user strides forward, that side of the board slides with them, the water pressure causing its flaps to fold up flat against the board. Once it's the other side's turn to move forward, however, the flaps on the first side are back down again, allowing it to stay in place by catching the water.

PonoBill

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Re: Bizarre SUP “Kickstarter” - Pele Boards
« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2014, 09:10:41 PM »
Yet another invention by someone who has no idea what SUP is about. Pretty soon they'll solve that pesky downwind problem too. No one wants to go downwind--there needs to be an easier way to do that.
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pdxmike

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Re: Bizarre SUP “Kickstarter” - Pele Boards
« Reply #2 on: December 18, 2014, 09:42:36 PM »
I'll have to tell that to my legs.  When I've done long paddles or races, they're the first to go--way before my arms.


I haven't seen the kayaks with peddles taking over that sport, either.

pdxmike

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Re: Bizarre SUP “Kickstarter” - Pele Boards
« Reply #3 on: December 19, 2014, 01:51:59 AM »
And I don't have weak legs, either.  In fact, my doctor told me I had legs like an Olympic athlete.  Or wait, actually he said athlete's foot.

mrbig

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Re: Bizarre SUP “Kickstarter” - Pele Boards
« Reply #4 on: December 19, 2014, 06:44:49 AM »
Looky here - a standamaran with a hinge and sliders. Looks like a nordic track gizmotron gone seriously wrong!
Is there a yoga version as well!

And the pickle thread lives on..

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LB Surper

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Re: Bizarre SUP “Kickstarter” - Pele Boards
« Reply #5 on: December 19, 2014, 06:50:36 AM »
Love the fist bump at the end.
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spookini

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Re: Bizarre SUP “Kickstarter” - Pele Boards
« Reply #6 on: December 19, 2014, 08:52:29 AM »
..my doctor told me I had legs like an Olympic athlete.
And an adam's apple like Bruce Jenner's.. 

But that's fodder for a separate thread.  Let's stay on topic here!!
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Zooport

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Re: Bizarre SUP “Kickstarter” - Pele Boards
« Reply #7 on: December 19, 2014, 09:00:15 AM »
Seems like a water-based version of this.  We are seeing these all over Newport these days.




« Last Edit: December 19, 2014, 09:04:49 AM by Zooport »
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surfafrica

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Re: Bizarre SUP “Kickstarter” - Pele Boards
« Reply #8 on: December 19, 2014, 09:06:32 AM »
The guy in that picture is actually me.  I decided not to buy that one and rather hold out for Kirk to come up with a SIMS-influenced version.  Shave off a couple of feet and add a displacement hull, and that thing will rip!
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PonoBill

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Re: Bizarre SUP “Kickstarter” - Pele Boards
« Reply #9 on: December 19, 2014, 10:41:03 AM »
...because our sport doesn't look inelegant enough.
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

Sup-position

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Re: Bizarre SUP “Kickstarter” - Pele Boards
« Reply #10 on: December 19, 2014, 11:12:43 AM »
Additionally, on the underside of both halves are scute-style flaps.  The idea is that as the user strides forward, that side of the board slides with them, the water pressure causing its flaps to fold up flat against the board. Once it's the other side's turn to move forward, however, the flaps on the first side are back down again, allowing it to stay in place by catching the water.
So in theory you don't really need the paddle to create forward motion
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pdxmike

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Re: Bizarre SUP “Kickstarter” - Pele Boards
« Reply #11 on: December 19, 2014, 11:17:58 AM »
In the 70s I had a pair of "Aquawalkers"--styrofoam blocks like thick skis about 5' long.  They had plastic flaps that were meant to do what they described for this board--fold flat against board when gliding forward, dropping down when you pushed back.  The flaps didn't work at all.  All my propulsion was from a pair of raft paddles I used like ski poles.  If you think about it, they shouldn't work well, since they need water moving against them (from the back) to drop down, so you'd have to actually have to have the board slipping backwards before they dropped down enough to make a catch--unless they were so heavy they'd drop down by gravity alone.  It makes me think the designer may have been thinking that paddles work by being pulled backwards through the water, vs. catching the water and remaining in place as the board gets pulled past them.

In any case, there are so many ways to get exercise, and so many elegant (in a design/engineering sense) ways of moving forward, and what they have in common is they've evolved to be efficient whether there's gear involved or not--swim strokes, running, bikes, kayaks, SUPs, skateboards, snowboards--so why resort to weird contraptions or methods that aren't as efficient or as fun as the things that already work so well?  If the Pele Board was faster, more maneuverable and/or simpler than a standup board, I'd respect it more.  But it reminds me of someone going for a run while doing dumbbell curls.
« Last Edit: December 19, 2014, 11:24:38 AM by pdxmike »

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Re: Bizarre SUP “Kickstarter” - Pele Boards
« Reply #12 on: December 19, 2014, 11:52:27 AM »
Paddlesports are a great workout for the upper body, but as far as the legs go – not so much.

Isn't it great when people who have clearly NEVER done something write about it as though they're an authority?
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Re: Bizarre SUP “Kickstarter” - Pele Boards
« Reply #13 on: December 19, 2014, 12:26:29 PM »
Doesn't it seem like the people demonstrating the device are awkward on it?
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spookini

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Re: Bizarre SUP “Kickstarter” - Pele Boards
« Reply #14 on: December 20, 2014, 07:41:45 AM »
The Ellipt-go looks pretty ingenius -- since cycling of course does not work the leg muscles.  Problem solved!

Now if someone would invent an Elliptgo trailer that I can use to tow my Peleboard (and downwind paddlesail) to the water, life would just about perfect.   8)
« Last Edit: December 20, 2014, 07:44:37 AM by spookini »
-- My doctor says I suffer from low kook --
Do sharks attack?  Hope not
Do flying fish hate us?  Hells yes

 


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