The Samsung Galaxy Surfboard! - video

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Swellnet Dispatch

Way back in the day Layne Beachley had Ken Bradshaw send intel from the bushes, and more recently Ricardo Toledo - father of Filipe - is heard booming instructions from the stands, while Mason Ho knows which Pipe wave to catch 'cause Papa Mike runs a beach towel semaphore from the top verandah. But let's face it, each was/is a crude method of communication. So trust Samsung, the veritable owners of surfing, to devise a digital solution to an age old problem.

Ken, Ricardo, and Papa Mike can toss their analog ways and communicate via a few taps of the thumb, just like Charlie Medina here with Gabs (who following last year's Gillette campaign is proving to be the prince of on point advertising).

Comments

mattlock's picture
mattlock's picture
mattlock Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 10:42am

absurd

gunther's picture
gunther's picture
gunther Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 10:46am

looks like a late april fools day prank...go champ!

tonybarber's picture
tonybarber's picture
tonybarber Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 10:54am

surfing alone … geez now where would that be.

mattmenzies's picture
mattmenzies's picture
mattmenzies Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 11:10am

Once upon a time there were people who didn't like the idea of telephones and complained about those until they owned one and got use to the idea.
Then the Mobile came out and people complained because they don't like to be contactable all day - every day; got use to the it and now say they can't live without them.
Some people will critique this technology now, but it might save them from the danger of a rogue set or a shark possibly. The technology could also prove advantageous to the adaptive surfer - because he's getting the messages telling him there is a set coming, or paddle over to the right to get better waves or time to come in and swap over. It'd be advantageous in comp surfing too !
After writing this - I see where the purist comes from, but nowadays boards usually have 3 fins and leg ropes.

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 1:53pm

You must work for Samsung because this is everything surfing shouldn't be.
The danger of a rogue set!?
Fuck me

yocal's picture
yocal's picture
yocal Thursday, 12 May 2016 at 8:12am

Hahahhahahahahahah looking down & reading a screen while in the lineup probably increases your likelihood of being smoked by a wide set or spotting a bait ball getting chomped nearby. I bet the likelihood of copping a fin chop from another surfer because you aren't paying attention increases by a factor of 10 as well...

But as for being able to "hit the lip with more power" "Now Medina!" you can see the amazing results... Medina lands an air-reverse on a crappy wave like never before!

The only benefit I can see of this technology is for other surfers. It might help to reduce the noise a seppo sponsor makes off the bow of his tinnie when trying to get magazine shots of his new young guns team in the lineup while your trying to have a session with ya mates "Go deeper Taylor, go deeeeeperrr!"

spenda's picture
spenda's picture
spenda Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 11:19am

The perfect accessory for tearing apart waves in your local wave pool

sypkan's picture
sypkan's picture
sypkan Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 11:20am

some of us marvel at the ability to be contactable all day, but are more than happyto live without it

I watched the whole vid waitimg for a twist, a punchline a decent wave maybe, but nothing

there has to be a joke with that enthusiasm in the blurb surely

ChillWinstaaan's picture
ChillWinstaaan's picture
ChillWinstaaan Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 11:57am

I can't wait to text "SHARK!!!!" through to it

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 12:21pm

Ha ha! Beat me to it.

'I don't want to alarm you but put your feet up and start paddling to shore'

'PS You were ripping champ'.

'PPS, can you pick up the dry-cleaning on your way home'.

the chase's picture
the chase's picture
the chase Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 12:16pm

Surfing is a escape from the technology and bullshit off the day to day work. Why would you want this.

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 12:23pm

I can just see Freeride and Blindboy now, they'd be foaming at the mouth.

I reckon this one might just tip 'em over the edge.

lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 4:59pm

I'm looking forward to Sheepdog's expertise telling us all about the conditions up north while he's out surfing SA. ;)

thebeard's picture
thebeard's picture
thebeard Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 12:28pm

Awesome! Can't wait to hook this baby up to my drone and make areal videos of myself while checking out the latest sales deals from surf stitch.... Wait is that fucker dropping in on me! I'll text him just now what kind of an asshole he is! Even though I was just sitting texting my mates and looking at videos of Tatjana Webbers ass, I was first in the line up.

If this is the future of surfing count me out. Fucking Samsung.

noshow's picture
noshow's picture
noshow Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 12:57pm

Only a matter of time before wetsuit manufacturers are following suit and building next-gen wetties with an accommodating 'stiffy pocket' for watching redtube on one of these ridiculous accessories

mk1's picture
mk1's picture
mk1 Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 1:13pm

Where do I order?! Oh my god I need this so bad! Wind and wave height info - that would help so much in the water!! Cant wait to be fully connected to some blue pixels!! Visionary !!!

fitzroy-21's picture
fitzroy-21's picture
fitzroy-21 Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 1:40pm

I'm f@#$%^g speechless.........don't know where to begin.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 1:42pm

No need for speech, Fitz, just laugh.

southey's picture
southey's picture
southey Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 3:00pm

No quicker than this "Vital " gadgetry reaches our hands , i'm sure there will be ways to corrupt it .( I can't beleive they didn't mention GPS so you know definitely that you are on " the spot ") . But since its " the champs' " , I'm sure there will be hecklers hacking the system , to send messages of support like " nice poo man stance bottom turn , gimp " .... etctera

Nick Bone's picture
Nick Bone's picture
Nick Bone Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 4:06pm

I would live to have live feed for medina when i watch the comps :)

ojackojacko's picture
ojackojacko's picture
ojackojacko Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 3:46pm

F*ck - it really works. He got a message to hit the lip harder and he made the next wave. I'm buying one. Does Charlie come bundled or is he extra?

[Long time lurker but first time poster - Samsung has pushed me over the edge.]

Nick Bone's picture
Nick Bone's picture
Nick Bone Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 4:05pm

Any guess as too why medina is involved? As its the 'Samsung WSL' is there some little clause in the contract saying you must do ludicrous ad or did Samsung just throw a heap of cash at medina?
"Should i take up this offer of destroying surfings soul papa for a quick buck, papa?"
"NOW MEDINA!!!"

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 4:15pm

Gabs is sponsored by Samsung.

Nick Bone's picture
Nick Bone's picture
Nick Bone Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 4:42pm

Haha. Well thats the end of that chapter

ThazL's picture
ThazL's picture
ThazL Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 4:20pm

2 points
A. I'm 90% sure this is a joke
B. You could achieve the same thing with a water resistant smart watch (which is already available)

fitzroy-21's picture
fitzroy-21's picture
fitzroy-21 Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 4:47pm
ThazL wrote:

B. You could achieve the same thing with a water resistant smart watch (which is already available)

Pppfff, that was yesterdays technology.............keep up with the times bro, this is now, we must have it.

lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 5:01pm

Live conditions of the sea is my favourite part.
Wind direction, height, frequency.

I'm sorry, but you don't need a Samsung to know which way the wind blows.

lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 5:10pm

Was that you that added the sneaky 'Shave your arms, Champ' to the screen shot on the front page link, Stu?

Nice work. :)

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 5:12pm

I'm glad someone noticed!

lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 5:14pm

Most people just click straight through from the comments link I'd guess.

Coaster's picture
Coaster's picture
Coaster Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 8:16pm

So I was out at my secret surf spot on my new Samsung Galaxy surfboard, all alone in the ocean, and I glanced at the screen looking for my coach's feedback on my last wave and it said "no signal".

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Wednesday, 11 May 2016 at 8:29pm

Ha ha! Classic.

(or 'you have reached your data limit, please paddle in')

rooftop's picture
rooftop's picture
rooftop Thursday, 12 May 2016 at 1:22am

Half the reason I surf is to get away from screens, phones and all that shit I find myself endlessly plugged in to. Can't you leave me one last corner of the world where all that I can be tuned in to is the natural elements? I don't want a screen to tell me the wind conditions. I want to feel it on my face and see it on the water.

Wankers.

grug's picture
grug's picture
grug Thursday, 12 May 2016 at 4:00am

sweetgoddamnbabyjesusmotherfuckingjesuschristosaurusalmightyvirginmothermaryandtheholyghostandtherestoftheforsakenfuckingholytrinityapologiestoanyoffendedchristiansactuallynofuckthatsometimesextremeblasphemyisjustifiedbecauseyoucan'thurtthefeelingsofafairytalecharactersanywayfuckinggrowupbutreallyiamkindasorryijusthatesamsung

Did I anyone else see fabby gabs punt over a shark with the rest of 'surfing' on his shoulders? He just needs a fonz haircut...

Batman called, he wants his fucking board back.

Sein's picture
Sein's picture
Sein Thursday, 12 May 2016 at 8:54am

I reckon the screen would last 2 seconds. Surfers like medina would have the screen covered in wax and be stomping on it all the time when they slide their foot forwards doing airs. He does it in the clip. Also, how heavy would the front of the board be?

crg's picture
crg's picture
crg Thursday, 12 May 2016 at 8:01pm

Gimmick/Real? Who knows or cares...but if this is the lengths and direction that WSL major sponsor is going then it's all in trouble. Trying so desperately to find a return on their investment with this? Dirk will surely drop his backing come renegotiation time...there's just nothing to sell proportionate to the expense of the tour. Look at Redbull...plenty of cash...target market...and won't touch the tour with a ten foot pole...

bishmann's picture
bishmann's picture
bishmann Thursday, 12 May 2016 at 8:21pm

What a crock of shit ,I'd rather sell my soul to satanism than have anything to do with that wank ..... Where has it all gone wrong !