Surfing instruction apparatus and method

Abstract

Riding a surfboard on sizeable waves is generally very demanding and time-consuming to learn. Beginners tire quickly when paddling against incoming surf and repeatedly fall when first learning to catch and ride waves. A motorized surfboard wirelessly controllable by the instructor, the student, or both facilitates instruction and practice on a floating board moving at variable speeds in a relatively safe, controlled calm-water setting. This system provides an intermediate learning environment between dry land or still water and the vastly more challenging ocean surf. Later, in a surf zone, the board's motor propulsion assists with paddling so that the student can concentrate on wave-riding. Inland-dwelling students can use this system to learn to ride a board on an existing nearby lake, river, or large swimming pool before a holiday trip to the seashore or an artificial-surf pool.

1 . Apparatus for surfing instruction, comprising:
 a motorized surfboard with a propulsion system and a wireless receiver configured to control the activation state of the propulsion system, and   an instructor's wireless transmitter in communication with the wireless receiver to control the propulsion system,   where the instructor's wireless transmitter is configured to control a motion of the motorized surfboard through water from a position off the motorized surfboard.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a rider's wireless transmitter in communication with the wireless receiver to control the propulsion system from a position on the motorized surfboard. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , where the rider's wireless transmitter is wearable and comprises actuators positioned on a rider's transmitter-operating hand. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , where:
 the wireless receiver is configured to recognize an override signal taking precedence over any other wireless signal received, and   the instructor's wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the override signal following an instructor's demand.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a wireless communication link between the rider's wireless transmitter and the instructor's wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , where the wireless communication link comprises a voice channel. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a board-data transmitter embedded in the motorized surfboard, configured to transmit information collected by integrated sensing elements, and   a board-data receiver configured to receive the information from the board transmitter and accessible to at least one of the instructor and the rider,   a processing element configured to interpret the information from the board-data receiver, and   an output device to present the information interpreted by the processor in a human-comprehensible form.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a storage element connected to the processor and configured to store the information interpreted by the processor. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , where
 the information comprises one of the group consisting of fuel level, battery charge level, motor power level, board speed, temperature, and board pitch or roll angle, and   the output device comprises one of the group consisting of a real-time display, a display associated with the storage element, an audio speaker, and a haptic transducer.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary wireless transmitter remote from, but communicating with, at least one of the group consisting of the motorized surfboard, the rider's wireless transmitter, and the instructor's wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         11 . A method for surfing instruction using the apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising:
 placing the motorized surfboard of  claim 1  in a natural or human-made body of water;   arranging for a student to mount the motorized surfboard;   using the instructor's wireless transmitter of  claim 1  to activate the propulsion system of  claim 1  and cause the motorized surfboard, carrying the mounted student, to move across the surface of the water.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising instructing or observing the student in the practice of at least one of surfing balance, paddling, wave-catching, takeoff, pop-up, weight-shifting, or maneuvering on the motorized surfboard as the propulsion system moves the motorized surfboard across the surface of the water. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , where the water is too calm for unmotorized surfing. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one of:
 operating the propulsion system at variable speeds according to the student's skill level,   operating the propulsion system in a pulsed or otherwise variable mode to simulate the changing forces of waves and currents, and   directing the propulsion system to work against the student's paddling to build strength for paddling against incoming waves.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising recording at least one of
 the instructions given to the student,   the student's comments, and   the student's performance.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one of
 monitoring information from a board-data transmitter, and   recording information from the board-data transmitter to review with or without the student at a later time.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing a rider's wireless transmitter to the student, and   teaching the student to control the propulsion system using the rider's wireless transmitter while riding the motorized surfboard.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising communicating with the student over a wireless link between the instructor's wireless transmitter and the rider's wireless transmitter while the student is on or near the motorized surfboard. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising taking control of the motorized surfboard from the student by activating an override switch on the instructor's wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , where the water has waves of a suitable size for unmotorized surfing, and further comprising at least one of:
 using the propulsion system to propel the motorized surfboard against breaking waves to reach a zone of sloping swells,   using the propulsion system to reach a necessary speed for catching a wave, and   controlling the propulsion system to help the student evade hazards in the water.