Finally, something original and interesting!

www.bansheeriverboards.com/

These guys make a riverboard that is attached to a big long bungie cord looking thing. You take your board, jump in the river, let the current load your rubber band, then shoot up the river like a skim board. Cool!

being able to buy just the bungee rope is cool as well. i have a river surf-board of this type and was looking for exactly such a rope. it's really difficult to find it at affordable prices.

good stuff!

Jeroen, any chance of you writing a review of the bungee? I noticed this as well and it might be a lot of fun on the Dutch flat rivers but 150 bucks is a bit much to spend on a fun thing if it doesn't work at all.

Thanx,

Michiel (and lots of Dutch paddlers who are going to have a lot of fun I hope )

[quote:9e9ac9e473="michielv"]Jeroen, any chance of you writing a review of the bungee? I noticed this as well and it might be a lot of fun on the Dutch flat rivers but 150 bucks is a bit much to spend on a fun thing if it doesn't work at all.

Thanx,

Michiel (and lots of Dutch paddlers who are going to have a lot of fun I hope )[/quote:9e9ac9e473]

I am based in Switzerland, so it'll be too expensive for those guys to send me one from the US I guess. I'll see if our guys in the US would be interested to review one.

btw knowing the wide and slow rivers in holland, you'll need a lot of patience before you'll have the bungee fully stretched

(...brede rivieren traaaag door oneindig laagland...)

Hello –

My name is Robert and I work for Banshee Riverboards. We would love to send a bungee system to Switzerland. Go to the contacts section of the Banshee Riverboards web page and send us your request and a mailing address.

Ok – Here is what you need in terms of a river current. You need a water flow that is at least 3-4 feet deep. The current must be swift enough that you cannot stand in the current without getting pushed downstream. The kind of water that we like best is what is termed “Fast Glass”. We like water that has a fast current but at the same time has a calm surface. Just like wakeboarding or waterskiing, carving a turn or doing a trick is so much better on glassy water. Most any river that is good for rafting or even tubing will have sections that are suitable for riverboarding. Just how slow is that water in the canals in Holland? What time of year is the water running fastest? What is the temperature of the water? We would love to take a trip to Europe and ride for a couple months.

David - Where did you see us? We were in Sacramento riding on the American River last weekend. I bet you saw us in Jackson Hole, Wyoming? Riverboarding is really taking off in Jackson Hole. Banshee Riverboards has a team rider – Will Taggart, who lives in Jaskson. These guys have taken the sport to a new height with Big Spins, 3 Shoves, Ollies, 1440’s. The boards now release from the bungee after the bungee is done pulling you upstream. So you can now get 50 feet more distance per ride. The latest release video will posted on the website very soon.

Jeroen – A river surfboard? What are the dimensions of this board? We have seen guys try to use some wakesurf boards. These generally end up being really slow upstream. Riverboards are thin, light and not a lot of flex. Riverboard rocker is also not as prominent as a surfboard.


Robert
Banshee Riverboards

[quote:4664c0081f="Riverboarder"]Hello –
Jeroen – A river surfboard? What are the dimensions of this board? We have seen guys try to use some wakesurf boards. These generally end up being really slow upstream. Riverboards are thin, light and not a lot of flex. Riverboard rocker is also not as prominent as a surfboard.
[/quote:4664c0081f]

This is what I would call a 'farmer's river surfboard' . It is quite common here in switzerland and has been in use since decades. people mostly take a big heavy rectangular plank/board and build the rope system etc like this:

[img:4664c0081f]playak.com/images/farmers-river-surfboard.jpg[/img:4664c0081f]

The thing is heavy and completely flat of course, so you can forget about any cool moves. Carving and speed is the most you'll get.

As your boards seem to add a whole new dimension to this sport and there's nothing similar available yet, I'm sure there would be quite a good market for it once people see what the baords can do (and try one).