On a device that looks more like a flying carpet than a surfboard, Don Montague displays that the future of surfing is no longer just taking place in coastal areas. His 'Jetfoiler' hovers above the water and is driven by an electric motor.
‘’Jetfoiling is very easy, everybody can do it. With a remote control in your hand, you control the speed of your Jetfoiling board. When you have enough speed, you just lean backwards and the board will rise out of the water’’ says the San Francisco based inventor.
Don Montague is a windsurf legend from Hawaii and for years he worked on the technological improvements of wind- and kitesurfing gear. He is the founding father of the kiteboat, a catamaran that flies above the water and is powered by a huge kite. With his kiteboat he plans to set a new world record time by sailing between Los Angeles and Hawaii in three days.
Maybe one of his most impactful inventions to date is in the field of green energy. Makani (which is the Hawaiian word for ‘wind’), produces green energy by tapping into high altitude with kite-like aircrafts.
Don sold the company to Google X in 2013.
Dutch filmmaker Bob van de Gronde from Eyeforce closely follows Don Montague’s adventures. "Don called me and said he was coming to the Netherlands with his new invention, so we invited him to test his newest toy in the famous canals of Amsterdam. Unfortunately the police wasn't as enthusiastic about the idea as we were."
When Montague's Jetfoiler will be available to the public is still unknown.
To see long cut check out the Eyeforce website: http://eyeforce.nl/video/citysurfer
Video: https://vimeo.com/211282330