... is Dave Kalama's suggestion.


www.supracer.com/dave-kalama-inflatables/


Not sure if he's serious or just stirring the pot. But allowing any board length at any race so long as it needs inflating would certainly mix things up a bit. Racers would be free to strategise board length depending on conditions and the course. No doubt there would be a massive amount of R&D thrown into inflatable design by all the brands if that became the race standard. And it would also solve the travel challenge.

HumanCartoon said..
...with starts from "board rolled up in bag" (and standardised big-bore pumps)

No fair. Takes you 5 minutes to pump up a board to 18psi. I'm still going half an hour later.

He is taking the piss surely!

All on the same class of pump up like the one design in windsurfing early days then it just comes down to the best water man / women . The ding repair guys are going to be a bit sad I think

John4F said...
Inflatables will make competing world wide much more feasible as the travel costs decrease enormously.
Also non sponsored SUPpers can compete in several locations whereas now only sponsored SUPpers can compete as the travel costs are way too high.

It costs no more to travel with a board at a max $200 so costs is really no excuse.

racing inflatable boards has a place but at the top level no.