Description
Surf therapy for those suffering from spinal injury, amputation, and PTSD is becoming increasingly popular. While patients enjoy the freedom the ocean gives them, they are often limited by the performance of their board. Currently, all of the boards used in surf therapy programs are designed for stand-up surfing, not a prone approach. This thesis aims to develop and test a new surf vehicle specifically designed for paraplegic surfers. Data will be collected from surfers from the Challenged Athletes Foundation to determine patient needs. Modern planing hull and stand up surfboard design elements and will be incorporated and modified to create a high performance prone surfboard. Design aspects such as outline, bottom contours, and fin placement will be tested by experimental trials. At least two prototypes will be manufactured and tested, then given to foundations that support challenged surfers after completion of the thesis defense. The prototypes will be specifically designed for average California surf conditions. They will also be compared to other designs available to challenged athletes, and should out-perform current designs in a competition format. If the prototypes are successful they can serve as models for board designs for a new niche in the surfing industry.
