North Shore NewsThe report is the first to measure that whale patterns applied to surfboard fins can improve a surfer’s maneuvers and performance.
Haleiwa, Hawaii, April 21, 2020 — The Surf Engineering Association (SEA) today announced the publication in the scientific journal PLOS ONE of Performance evaluation of humpback whale-inspired shortboard surfing fins based on ocean wave fieldwork.
Lead author and President of SEA Dr David Shormann says that since the discovery that a humpback whale’s unique flipper shape is key to their incredible maneuverability and control, many engineering applications have been tried; everything from wind turbines to bicycle wheels.
“Our paper in PLOS ONE is the first to measure that whale patterns applied to shortboard surfing fins can improve performance, especially during a cutback maneuver,” explains Dr Shormann who has been observing whales in his “backyard” in the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
Co-author Professor Marc in het Panhuis from the Surf Flex Lab at the University of Wollongong in Australia, explains that the power generated during a cutback can be a significant factor in a surfing contest, as powerful turns with high rotation rates tend to receive higher scores from the judges.
The authors used a patent-pending, “Real Whale” (RW) design that allows a designer to apply humpback whale-like flipper patterns to any wing-shaped device. Fieldwork for the project involved surfers of different skill levels surfing almost 2,000 ocean waves from around the world, mostly from the “proving grounds” of Oahu’s North Shore in Hawaii. High-quality commercial fins were compared to carbon fiber RW prototypes manufactured using 3D printing.
“We attached Instrumentation such as a GPS and motion sensor to the surfboards to measure surfing and fin performance,” says Professor in het Panhuis. The team defined, measured and calculated eighteen turn performance values. The key outcomes of the study showed that RW fins resulted in improved power generation and turn rates, while a skilled surfer could improve their performance relative to a top-ranked professional simply by using RW fins.
Dr Shormann believes that combining field work with simulation is crucial for advancing the understanding of how fins deliver and impact performance. “Our team at SEA has also performed computer simulations of RW fins compared to other fin designs. We will present those results June 22 at the International Sports Engineering Association Conference (online due to COVID-19).”
Read the full report along with a selection of photos and video content. Link to PLOS ONE report: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal. pone.0232035 Mahalo Banzai Sushi! Bartender Sofiia handing out free sushi bentos for those in need on Easter Sunday.
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