Surfing history often focuses on breakthrough innovations, from Jack O’Neill helping the surf world transition from oil-treated sweaters to neoprene suits to Simon Anderson popularizing the three-fin thruster. Yet the sport’s timeline is equally defined by peculiar design missteps that temporarily captivated the lineup before vanishing entirely. In the context of surf equipment evolution, these historical blunders offer a fascinating look at what happens when ingenuity outpaces actual utility.
While tools like Shane Dorian’s pioneering inflatable safety vests fundamentally altered big-wave surfing, other ideas moved the sport backward. Examining these forgotten accessories reveals a distinct theory of devolution in surf culture.
The Hazardous Legacy of Ocky Straps
For roughly three decades, the standard method for securing surfboards to vehicle roof racks relied on the humble bungee cord, widely known in Australia as the ocky strap. The term derives from the octopus strap, reflecting the multi-limbed elastic design. Despite its ubiquity, the system carried an inherent hazard for anyone loading or unloading a board.
The danger lay in the metal or plastic hooks fastened to either end of the elastic. When tension slipped during the securing process, these hooks frequently snapped back toward the user. Writer Jock Serong characterized them as a vicious hangover from an era when safety standards were secondary to convenience, noting a time when vehicle occupants bounced around unrestrained. Modern roof racks eventually shifted toward longer straps featuring secure metal buckles, largely eliminating the risk of sudden elastic recoil.
The Stalled Promise of Jet-Propelled Surfboards
The concept of motorizing a surfboard has periodically surfaced with promises of effortless wave-catching, bypassing the physical demands of paddling. Around 2010, Cory Lopez championed the WaveJet, a battery-powered propulsion system integrated into the board. Momentum built briefly around the concept, but practical hurdles quickly emerged.
Excessive weight, bulk, reliability concerns, and a steep price tag hovering around five thousand dollars kept the technology from gaining mainstream traction. Over the subsequent decade, similar motorized designs and eFoils championed by figures like Laird faced comparable barriers, remaining heavy and expensive. Though newer modular iterations periodically re-enter industry discussions, battery-powered boards have yet to transform everyday surfing.
Paddling Gloves and the Resistance of Quicksand
In 1987, Brad Gerlach briefly experimented with webbed paddling gloves, wearing them for about a month before abandoning the concept. High-profile surfers including Richie Collins, Marty Thomas, and Glen “Mr X” Winton also adopted the webbed accessories during the era. The theoretical science appeared sound on paper, as the increased surface area of webbed fingers was marketed to boost paddling power by up to twenty-five percent.
In practice, the gloves created an exhausting drag that made repetitive arm movements feel like wading through quicksand. Gerlach noted that the gloves made his arms tired, and webbed gloves quickly disappeared from the competitive lineup.
Detachable Boards and Modular Travel Solutions
As surfers began traveling extensively by commercial aircraft, the logistical challenge of transporting longboards prompted repeated attempts at collapsible designs. Karl Pope introduced the Pope Travelboard in 1964, a concept that evolved over three decades into the Pope Bisect and later the Pope Trisect SUP. Manufacturers continually revisited modular concepts to solve airline baggage restrictions.
Despite persistent engineering efforts, detachable boards consistently struggled with excess weight, performance, and high production costs. Surfers generally found that a fixed snapped board never goes the same. Contemporary European manufacturers like France-based NeWave continue to test modular configurations secured by locking pins and nylon connectors, though overcoming historical performance skepticism remains a persistent hurdle.
The Dangers of Coiled Leg Ropes
Following the invention of the modern surfboard leash in 1970 by Pat O’Neill, manufacturers experimented with variations designed to reduce tangling. This experimentation produced the coiled leg rope, featuring a spring-like design intended to keep the line compact and out of the surfer’s way.
While compact coiled leashes found a home in bodyboarding, their application to standard surfboards proved hazardous. Under tension in open water, the coiled cord could stretch dramatically before springing back at warped speed. The combination of unpredictable recoil and mechanical snap-back made them functionally impractical and potentially dangerous for traditional surfers.
As equipment manufacturers continue to refine modern accessories, these historical missteps remain a reminder that not every technological departure represents progress. Share your thoughts on these vintage surf inventions in the comments below.
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