My
Dream
People often ask me, Bob! Davis! How did you come up with the idea for
Wave Blades? Since I'm limited to five hundred and sixty two words
or less its going to be hard to keep this from being a advertisement, but
here goes. It all started one rainy summer day 1987 in Long Beach
New York during one of our nor'easters. The swell was running eight to ten
foot, ( that's from the front of course ) and everyone and their brother
was out surfing and bodyboarding. Since I was the only bodysurfer
that could get out in a hundred mile radius I was made into the token buoy
marker. Everyone used my head as their bottom turn marker. Not
having the speed to beat anyone on the takeoffs or even in the wave I was
left to eat alot of wakes. That's when I realized I needed to make
something that would increase my speed but not hinder my bodysurfing style
like most hand boards i.e. hand guns or swimming paddles. I tried those
and they just limited the way I usually ride. You see, I like
riding with one arm back or both arms under me. I like to dolphin
in the wave and on my takeoffs so hand guns were totally out of the question
and those swimming paddles come off when your arms go back. I tried
gluing a five millimeter glove to a speedo paddle. It worked
O.K. but it still kept grabbing an edge and ripping back. I said
to myself Bob! Davis! Can I make a board that's lightweight,
streamlined, easy to wear, adds speed and thrills and won't take away
from the pure pleasure of bodysurfing. And the heavens
parted, the winds went off shore at five knots, the waves became
a perfect eight foot with a forgiving shoulder, and the sea peacefully
whispered back, YES ! YES! YOU CAN BOB! YOU CAN DO
IT! I went right to it and designed an aerodynamic structure. Something
that gave each finger control over the movement of the board.
I decided to make the outside rail longer then the inside so more weight could
be placed on it giving you the ability to hold a higher line in the wave
. I designed the inner rail smaller so that it would be easier to swim
with. I created a soft palm support to cushion the bumps and give you something
to crab onto so that you can hold onto the board when it seems like
it might come off. The board is injected with foam all around a five fingered
three millimeter glove and then shaped by hand . The finished product is
a hydro dynamically designed cross between a UFO and a Manta
Ray. This board cannot come off your hand once it is on unless you want to
take it off. After a week it becomes an extension of your body. After ten
years of getting input from everyone I have ever met, the Wave Blade
has changed considerably. I have tried not to let my ego get in the
way of hearing and using good ideas. That's why the Wave Blades are always
changing and I like it that way. Its all about sharing ideas and having fun
doing what you love. And I love boadysurfing. |
