Ever wondered why laid-back surf dudes are as buff as gym addicts? It’s because surfing is really hard work. Getting the knack takes hours of fruitless labour, a bellyful of seawater and a succession of humiliating beach-side wipe-outs. Welcome, then, to the engine-powered Jetsurf. A surfboard-jet ski-wakeboard hybrid, the Jetsurf was developed by Formula One engineers to be piloted from an upright position, with your feet in straps and using a hand-held control that cuts out if you fall off. The ultra-light carbon fibre board is propelled by a two-stroke engine (86 or 100cc) and the most advanced of three models, the Pro Race, can hit 57km/h. It doesn’t rely on waves so you can use it when surf conditions are poor – and you’ll be able to tell when that is by the surfers glaring at you from the beach.
€12,500, jet-surf.com