Make it Easy for First Time Surfski Paddlers – Take the Survey!
[Editor: Tom Schilperoort is a man of many talents - artist, elite paddler among them! Now he's working to reduce the difficulties experienced by beginner paddlers who are starting out. Please help him by answering the survey.]
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Why the Survey?
I'm in my final year of an Industrial Design Degree at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. One of the requirements for the year is for me to do a product design thesis on a subject of my choice. Naturally I chose to focus my creative thoughts into solving a problem within our wonderful sport of surfski paddling, my other passion.
...far too difficult
I've been working with Dawid Mocke at his Surfski School for the past six years now, and a problem that is immediately evident to me is the initial experience beginners paddlers have when they first sit in a ski. Balance, as I'm sure we are all well aware of, is the beginner's greatest challenge. Many budding surfski paddlers are lost to the industry early on simply because they find balancing and paddling a surfski, far too difficult. It is usually only the ones with previous sporting backgrounds, or the supremely stubborn who make it all the way to the start line of our local and international races.
Industrial Design
Industrial Design, for those of you who don't know, is an applied art which focuses on improving the usability and aesthetics of mass-produced products. The role of an Industrial Designer is to create and execute design solutions towards problems of form, usability, user ergonomics, engineering, marketing, brand development and sales. Some good examples of Industrial Designed products included the Ipod, the Coke bottle and the VW Beetle. The picture above is the roto-moulded kayak designed by world famous French Industrial Designer, Philipe Starck in 1998. This kayak sparked a revolution in kayak design.
Aim: Improve a paddler's first experience on the water
The aim of my design thesis is to design a product solution/solutions to improve the initial experience these paddlers have; or more specifically to speed up the development of one's ability to balance and paddle. Basically I want to make learning to paddle surfskis easier, more enjoyable and more effective.
My research has so far taken me
through hull design, body biomechanics and paddling technique, with some
science in between. I am almost at the stage where I can begin the design
process; however I still need to correlate a little more information.
[Editor: The survey is now closed - many thanks to all those who took the time to fill it in!]
I would greatly appreciate if you could take this very brief survey on your initial experience with paddling surfskis, so that I can consider the information in my thought process. If you have any more suggests or information for me you can email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Thanks very much. See you on the water!
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