Last Updated on March 5, 2017 by Editor
The 2017 Surf Expo in Orlando, Florida was the place to be this past January to see all the latest technology in surfing, paddleboarding, sail fishing and other related sports. Among the many exhibitors was Quickblade, a company that used the occasion of this year’s show to introduce exciting new technology that brings paddleboarding into the information age. Quickblade has introduced their new Smart Paddle with a host of performance-enhancing features built right in.
The Smart Paddle comes fully equipped with an impressive technology package developed by an Israeli company that goes by the name Motionize. You may have already heard of this company if you are an avid paddleboarder who likes technology. One of Motionize’s earlier products makes it possible to turn any Quickblade stand-up paddleboarding paddle into a smart paddle by connecting a Bluetooth enabled device that will track certain metrics as you move through the water. The Smart Paddle takes the technology to the next level by embedding it right into the paddle.
In Depth: The QB Smart Paddle from Quickblade Paddles on Vimeo.
Like Having a Coach with You
Quickblade’s Smart Paddle is designed to make paddlers better at what they do, according to Motionize vice president of marketing Roei Yellen. He recently told Digital Trends that the “smart paddle offers features that help paddlers paddle while staying much more balanced between strokes.”
The Smart Paddle has built-in sensors to track a whole host of metrics including distance travelled, speed, and calories burned. More importantly, it provides instant feedback that Yellen claims is almost like having a coach with you on the paddleboard. With its built-in technology, the paddle is able to keep track of:
stroke efficiency
stroke rhythm
angle of attack (the angle at which the blade enters the water).
All the data collected by the device is analysed by an associated smartphone app to give instant, real-time feedback to the paddler. The paddler can then use that information to change what he or she is doing to boost performance. Both iOS and Android are supported, by the way.
Making the Sport Better
Motionize and Quickblade have teamed up to bring great technology to the sport of stand-up paddleboarding, technology that is only making the sport better. Yellen says that any existing Quickblade paddle can be fitted with the company’s add-on device to make it a smart paddle, offering an option to paddlers who don’t want to invest in the new Smart Paddle.
Both Motionize and Quickblade are high on the potential of the Smart Paddle technology given the popularity of stand-up paddleboarding right now. Also known as SUP, stand-up paddleboarding is one of the fastest growing sports in the world, according to Digital Trends. Millions of people enjoy it because it is great exercise and a lot of fun.
If you are looking to improve your paddling performance but cannot afford to hire your own coach, the Quickblade Smart Paddle might be the next best thing. Quickblade expects the new paddle to be ready for sale in March.
