Night surfing
Spanish manufacturer Lana releases a limited edition of glow-in-the-dark surfboards.
The ancient Hawaiian sport is becoming increasingly high-tech. After the wave of GPS speed monitoring implanted in surfboards, the latest innovation is that surfers can surf at any time of night. How is this possible? The Spanish company Pukas Surfboards invented a surfboard illuminated with LEDs, light-emitting diodes, the same ones used in traffic lights.
When the lights go out in Europe, surfers continue catching waves. The lights on their boards allow surfers to perform the most radical maneuvers, including barrels, which require good visibility.
Designed by shaper Juan Mari Indo, the surfboards have LEDs integrated into their structure before glassing, the final stage in the manufacturing process where fiberglass is applied. The lights are controlled via a remote control that allows the surfer to choose which light program they want to see: only red, green, or blue lights.
Juan Mari Indo is a pioneer in this technology in the Basque Country and launched the innovation in a limited edition: only four surfboards in the entire world have this technology. The first one equipped with LEDs was used in a nighttime aerial show in Zarautz, Spain, and was a success.
Experts in the field approved the design. Portuguese surfer Tiago Pires tested one of the luminous models in a night surf session, accompanied by French surfer Juan Duru. The third model went to Spanish surfer Aritz Aranburu, who tested the board in the heavy beach breaks of Hossegor, France. However, Aranburu, who was using a 5'6'' model in solid waves of up to 6 feet, didn't have the same luck as the others and ended up breaking the board in half.
Founded in the 70s, Pukas Surfboard is one of the most important surfboard manufacturers in Europe. With over 30 years in the market, it has built a positive reputation, solidifying the careers of surfers such as Sunny Garcia (Hawaii), Adriano de Souza (Brazil), Aritz Aranburu (Basque Country), Ibon Amatrian (Basque Country), Tiago Pires (Portugal), Joan Duru (France), Tim Boal (France), among others.
Now, the only limit for surfers on duty are the sharks.