The problem with surfing is having to wait for a decent swell. A backyard tinkerer, Markus Schilcher, removed the wave variable from the equation by creating WaterWolf, an electric-powered surfboard that can hit speeds of 30km/h and can also be used in lakes and rivers. The product was unveiled at the Boot trade fair in Düsseldorf in 2015 and has been available on the market since 2016.
The small startup company is now seeking investors to ramp up production and reduce the price. The MPX-3-2018, the latest model of the WaterWolf, which features bluetooth remote control of the speed and a kill switch system, caught the eye of the judges at the last Ispo fair and became an Ispo Gold Award winner in the Water Sports segment. Currently, the small German company has agents in seven countries including Australia, Canada, Mauritius and the U.S., and gets inquiries from “almost everywhere surfing is enjoyed,” said Schilcher.
We could mention many other Ispo Awards. Another innovative niche product that received the judges' gong was the SnowPlak in the Mountaineering Equipment section. Weighing only 620 grams, the ultralight SnowPlak is a new type of snow shoes that enables a user wearing crampons to swiftly switch from snow walking to mountaineering mode. Developed together with Anena, the French National Association for Snow and Avalanches Study, SnowPlaks are suitable for mountaineering, mountain rescue and hiking.
