GB2512645A - Board for water sports - Google Patents

Abstract

A board 1 for water sports is provided that allows a user to more effectively propel the board through the water. The board comprises a first and second foot rest 2 and 4 that are slidably mounted on the rear half of the board and a first and second arm support 6 and 8 that are slidably mounted on the front half of the board. The first foot rest is coupled to the first arm support and the second foot rest is coupled to the second arm support such that movement of each foot rest produces a corresponding movement of the coupled arm support. The first foot rest may be coupled to the first arm support by means of a first flexible rod 10, while the second foot rest may be coupled to the second arm support by means of a second flexible rod 18. A method of using the water sports board is also disclosed.

Description

1 BOARD FOR WATER SPORTS

3 Field of the invention

The invention relates to the field of water sports, more specifically the field of boards 6 for water sports.

8 Background to the invention

Coastal water sports, such as surfing, and body-boarding, for example, utilise the 11 waves and breakers that are generated in coastal areas. The participant must propel 12 themselves from the shore, out past the breakers, before riding the waves back to 13 shore.

In certain weather conditions, such as those with high wind, for example, the waves 16 and breakers increase in power and size. Typically, the larger the waves, or the more 17 powerful the waves, the more exciting the experience of participants in the water 18 sport. However, in such conditions, it can be difficult for participants to manoeuvre 19 themselves into a position where they can fully utilise the waves. Therefore, participants may not be able to fully utilise the more powerful waves, or not be able to 21 participate at all if the waves are too strong.

23 Therefore, participants are prevented from enjoying their sport to the extent that they 24 would like.

2 In addition, it is often necessary to propel a board through the water to allow the user 3 to travel between two locations, for example. The use of a paddle which is fixed to 4 the board or other instrument to aid propulsion is often undesirable as it becomes superfluous to the user, especially if they wish to participate in a water sport when 6 they arrive at their destination. In these instances, the user is forced to propel 7 themselves using their arms as the main form or propulsion, which can be slow and 8 tiring.

Therefore, some aspects of the present invention aim to aid participants in water 11 sports to more readily propel and manoeuvre themselves through the water before, 12 during or after they participate in their sport.

14 Summary of the invention

16 According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a water sports board, the 17 board having a front half and a rear half, and comprising a first foot rest, a second 18 toot rest, a first arm support and a second arm support; the first foot rest and second 19 toot rest slidably mounted on the rear halt of the board, and the tirst arm support and the second arm support slidably mounted on the front half of the board; wherein the 21 first foot rest is coupled to the first arm support and the second foot rest is coupled to 22 the second arm support such that movement of one foot rest produces a movement 23 of the respective arm support.

Typically, with known water sports, a user lies on their front on the board and uses 26 their arms to propel the board through the water. With the present invention, a user 27 may lie on the board, with their arms in contact with the arm supports, such that their 28 arms (or possibly paddles held by the user or attached to their arms) extend into the 29 water, and to push one or both foot rests, thereby causing forces to be applied to their arms by the arm supports, which in turn cause their arms (or paddles attached 31 thereto) to push against the water in a rearwards direction, driving the water sports 32 board forwards. Therefore, the provision of foot rests, the movement of which is 33 coupled to the movement of arm supports allows the power of a user's arms to propel 34 the board through the water to be supplemented (or replaced) by the power of the user's legs. Typically, the legs of a person are stronger than the arms of that person.

36 Therefore, the legs of a person typically can produce more power than the arms of 37 that person.

2 Accordingly, the ability to supplement (or replace) the power generated by the user's 3 arms to propel the board through the water using power generated by the user's legs 4 allows the user to propel the board more effectively and comfortably. Therefore, a board according to the present aspect of the invention may allow the user to propel 6 the board through the water faster and with less effort than would otherwise be the 7 case resulting in the user being fresher, or less tired, when they reach their 8 destination, and therefore able to enjoy their chosen water sport to a greater extent.

Typically, rearward movement of one of the foot rests is coupled to rearward 11 movement of the corresponding armrest. The path of movement of the foot rests 12 need not be parallel to a longitudinal axis of the board and may have a lateral 13 component, or even possibly describe a curve. Similarly, the path of movement of 14 the arm supports need not be parallel to a longitudinal axis of the board and may have a lateral component, for example, said paths may describe a curve such as an 16 arc. In embodiments where the path of the or each arm support describes an arc, the 17 axis of the arc may be located adjacent the shoulder of the user.

19 Typically, the user synchronises the movement of their arms with the movement of their legs. In this way, the coupling of the movement of the first and second foot rests 21 to the movement of their respective arm supports allows the user's arms to be 22 pushed by the arm rests, thereby providing more power to the stroke. Alternatively, 23 the synchronous movement allows the legs of the user to partially or fully power the 24 movement of the user's arms, thereby allowing the user to provide less power from their arms, for the same propulsion produced.

27 In this way, the action of the arm rests, responsive to the user pushing on the foot 28 rests, may enhance the strokes of the user to propel the board through the water.

The first and second arm supports may be curved. The first and second arm 31 supports may be curved towards the rear of the board such that the user's arms are 32 supported within the curve of the first and second arm supports. The first and second 33 arm supports may be arranged such that the user's arm (for example their inner 34 elbow or upper arm) is located adjacent to the respective arm support.

36 The first and second foot rests may comprise a first portion against which the user 37 can push to move the foot rest, and a second portion operable to retain the user's 1 foot close to or against the first portion of the foot rest. In this way, the user may push 2 against the first portion to supplement the movement of one arm lying against the first 3 arm support when producing a stroke. The user may then pull against the second 4 portion with their foot to return the foot rest (and thereby the first arm support) to its original position, ready for a second stroke.

7 Typically, the first foot rest and the first arm support are slidably mounted on the 8 same side of the board (i.e. the left side or the right side of the board viewed from the 9 top surface of the board, which a user lies on in use), and the second foot rest and the second arm support are slidably mounted on the same side of the board such that 11 movement of the left foot of the user supplements the movement of the left arm of the 12 user, and movement of the right foot of the user supplements the movement of the 13 right arm of the user.

However, in alternative embodiments, the first foot rest may be slidably mounted on 16 the opposite side of the board to the first arm support such that movement of the left 17 toot of the user supplements the movement of the right arm of the user, for example, 18 and the second foot rest may be slidably mounted on the opposite side of the board 19 to the second arm support such that movement of the right toot of the user supplements the movement of the left arm of the user.

22 The first foot rest and/or the second foot rest may be slidably mounted to the board.

23 The first toot rest and/or the second foot rest may be configured such that during use 24 the foot of the user retained in the first foot rest and/or the foot of the user retained in the second foot rest is oriented at an angle to the top surface of the board. The first 26 foot rest and/or the second foot rest may be configured such that during use the foot 27 of the user retained in the first foot rest and/or the foot of the user retained in the 28 second foot rest is oriented at an angle of at least 20 degrees to the top surface of the 29 board, at least forty degrees to the top surface of the board, or preferably at least 40 degrees to the top surface of the board. For example, during use the foot of the user 31 retained in the first foot rest and the foot of the user retained in the second foot rest 32 may be oriented at an angle of 45 degrees to the top surface of the board.

34 The provision of a first foot rest and/or a second foot rest which is configured such that the feet of the user are oriented at an angle to the top surface of the board 36 provides a more comfortable position for the user to adopt when using the board.

1 The first arm support and/or the second arm support may be configured to fold into 2 the board once the user has propelled the board to the desired location. The first arm 3 support and/or second arm support may be configured to retract into the board once 4 the user has propelled the board to the desired location. In this way, the top surface of the board may comprise fewer obstructions to hinder the user during participation 6 in the water sport of their choice.

8 The board may comprise a brace to resist sliding of a user along the board while they 9 press either or both foot rests. The brace may be located on the front half of the board. The brace may be located such that during use the shoulders of the user are 11 in contact with the brace and the arms of the user are in contact with the first and 12 second arm supports. The brace is typically located on the centre line of the board 13 (i.e. the line running down the middle, from the back of the board to the front). The 14 first and second arm supports are typically located on opposite sides of, and spaced apart from, the centre line of the board. The brace may be located forwards of the 16 first and second arm supports or the brace and the first and second arm supports 17 may be arranged in a line extending transversely across the board.

19 Preferably, the brace is a shoulder brace, for example it may comprise left and right shoulder engaging formations. During use, the head of the user may be inserted or 21 rested against the shoulder brace such that the shoulders of the user abut the 22 shoulder brace. Alternatively, the brace may comprise a chest support.

24 The provision of a brace enables the user to push the foot rests without slipping, thereby allowing the board to be propelled with greater force than would otherwise be 26 the case. This can be especially important as water sports boards typically become 27 wet during use.

29 In embodiments where the brace is a chest support, the chest support may comprise a chest engaging surface which extends forwardly and upwardly. (By forwardly and 31 upwardly we refer to directions relative to the orientation of the board in normal use 32 on water). A chest support which extends forwardly and upwardly allows the user's 33 upper body to be raised from the waist to the shoulders. The chest support may 34 extend forwardly and upwardly over a longitudinal distance of at least 10cm to provide gradual incline. The chest support may be wedge shaped. The chest 36 support may raise the user's head and upper body, thereby allowing the user to more 1 readily look in the direction they are travelling whilst providing a better angle tor the 2 arms of the user to propel the board through the water.

4 The board may be a surf board. The board may be a body-board. The board may be a body-board comprising a viewing port. The viewing port may allow the user to look 6 through the board, below the surface of the water.

8 The board may be a rescue board (i.e. a water sports board which is suitable for use 9 by life guards or similar to rescue swimmers in distress). The board may comprise handholds for rescued swimmers to grip the board.

12 The board may be adapted to be propelled through the water whilst the board is 13 submerged or partially submerged, for example it may have a buoyancy such that it 14 will typically be submerged or partially submerged during normal use. The board may be adapted to be propelled through the water whilst the user is submerged or 16 partially submerged.

18 The first foot rest may be coupled to the first arm support via a coupling member.

19 The second foot rest may be coupled to the second arm support via a coupling member. The first foot rest may be coupled to the first arm support via a coupling 21 member and the second foot rest may be coupled to the second arm support via a 22 coupling member.

24 At least one coupling member may comprise a rod. Preferably, the rod of the at least one coupling member may be flexible. The rod of the at least one coupling member 26 may be rigid.

28 The at least one coupling member may comprise a plurality of rods. For example, the 29 at least one coupling member may comprise two, three or four rods. Preferably, the rods within the plurality of rods are coupled to each other to allow movement of the 31 first or second foot rest to be coupled to the first or second arm support respectively.

33 The at least one coupling member may comprise a pneumatic system.

Preferably, each of the at least one coupling member is mounted to the board. The at 36 least one coupling member may be mounted to the board in such a way that the at 37 least one coupling member is movable relative to the board. Preferably, the at least 1 one coupling member is mounted to the board such that the coupling member is 2 movable longitudinally along the board.

4 For example, the at least one coupling member may be a rod mounted to the board via a tube that allows the rod to travel along the tube. Alternatively, the at least one 6 coupling member may be a rod mounted to the board via a rail or similar.

8 The at least one coupling member may be mounted within the board. The at least 9 one coupling member may be recessed within the board. It may be that at least half of the coupling member is retained within the board during use. It may be that at 11 least two thirds of the coupling member is retained within the board during use.

13 The provision of a recessed coupling member, or a coupling member retained within 14 the board allows the board to be freer of obstructions that may hinder the user when participating in the water sport of their choice.

17 The first foot rest and/or the second foot rest may be slidably mounted to the rear half 18 of the board via the at least one coupling member. The first arm support andlor the 19 second arm support may be slidably mounted to the front half of the board via the at least one coupling member.

22 The at least one coupling member may be biased towards a first position, such that 23 movement of the coupling member away from the first position is resisted. For 24 example, the at least one coupling member may be biased towards a first position corresponding to a position where the respective foot rest is at its most forward 26 position on the board. Alternatively, the at least one coupling member may be biased 27 or resiliently biased towards a first position corresponding to a position where the 28 respective foot rest is at its most rearward position. The most forward position would 29 typically correspond to a location where during use a user's legs are drawn towards their body. The most rearward position would typically correspond to a location 31 where during use a user's legs are fully extended or most extended. The at least one 32 coupling member may be biased by a resilient member, such as a spring.

34 Typically, the first foot rest and the second foot rest move independently such that movement of the first foot rest and first arm support is independent of movement of 36 the second foot rest and second arm support.

1 However, it may be that the first foot rest and the second foot rest are coupled (for 2 example, by a coupling element which extends between the first foot rest and the 3 second foot rest, or between the first arm support and the second arm support, or 4 between the coupling elements coupling the first arm support to the first foot rest and the second arm support to the second foot rest) such that the first foot rest and the 6 second foot rest move together, and movement of the coupled first and second foot 7 rests produces movement of the first and second arm supports.

9 The first foot rest and the second foot rest may be coupled such that the first foot rest and the second foot rest move in opposite directions.

12 It may be that the board of the present aspect of the invention allows the user to 13 propel the board through the water at least fifty per cent faster than a standard board 14 for the same energy expended. The board of the present invention may allow the user to propel the board through the water at least one hundred per cent faster than a 16 standard board for the same energy expended. The board of the present aspect of 17 the invention may allow the user to propel the board at least one hundred and fifty per 18 cent faster than a standard board for the same energy expended. The board of the 19 present invention may allow the user to propel the board at least two hundred per cent faster than a standard board for the same energy expended.

22 The board may comprise a raised surface such that during use, the pelvis of the user 23 is raised. The raised surface may provide a more comfortable surface for the user to 24 lie upon during use.

26 It may be that the majority of the top surface of the board comprises an anti-slip 27 surface to allow the user to obtain purchase on the board during use in the water 28 sport of choice. That is, the majority of the top surface may provide a high friction 29 surface to allow the user to obtain grip on the board. The top surface of the board may comprise at least one area that comprises a low friction surface. Preferably, the 31 at least one area comprising a low friction surface is located during use adjacent to 32 the knees of the user such that the knees of the user may slide along the at least one 33 portion during each stroke. The at least one area may comprise a first area located 34 on one side of the board and a second area located on the opposed side of the board, such that during use one knee of the user rests on the first area and the other 36 knee of the user rests on the second area. Alternatively, the at least one area may 1 comprise a single area that extends across the top surface of the board and during 2 use both knees of the user rest on the single area.

4 The provision of a low friction surface adjacent to the knees of the user during use allows the knees of the user to freely slide across the surface of the board ensure that 6 the minimum energy is expended in moving the knees of the user across the board, 7 and therefore, allows more energy to be used to move the first and/or second foot 8 rests.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a paddle for use with 11 a board according to the first aspect of the invention, comprising a blade, a handle 12 opposed to the blade, a fastener adjacent to the handle, and a gripping portion 13 adjacent to the blade, wherein the paddle is mountable to the forearm of a user such 14 that the handle is oriented along the user's forearm and the user's hand is located adjacent to the gripping portion.

17 If a user wishes to propel a board across a body of water, they typically are required 18 to either use their hands or to bring an implement such as a paddle or similar. If the 19 user propels the board with their hands, the board will typically be propelled slowly due to the low surface area of the user's hands and arms only being able to push 21 against a small volume of water. If a paddle is used, the user can more readily propel 22 the board at a higher velocity for the same energy expended due to the larger surface 23 area of the paddle blade. However, if the user then wishes to use the board to body 24 board or surf, the user is left with a cumbersome paddle that must be held or otherwise retained.

27 The provision of a paddle that may be mounted to the forearm of the user via the 28 fastener and gripped by the user adjacent to the blade of the paddle allows the user 29 to propel the board effectively, whilst at the same time ensuring that should the user wish to use the board, the paddle is already secured in such a way as to not interfere.

32 The fastener may comprise a hook and loop type fastener, such as VELCRO (RTM).

33 The fastener may comprise a buckle-type fastener. The fastener may comprise a tie 34 such that the paddle may be tied to the forearm of the user.

1 Preferably, the user is provided with a paddle according to the invention on each 2 forearm. In this way the user may utilise both arms to propel the board through the 3 water.

The gripping portion may comprise a handle and during use the user may grip the 6 handle. The gripping portion may comprise a pouch and during use the user may 7 insert their hand into the pouch.

9 The provision of a gripping portion allows the user to obtain good purchase of the blade of the paddle and thereby the user may more effectively drive the blade of the 11 paddle through the water. In this way, the user may propel a board faster and more 12 effectively than would otherwise be the case.

14 According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of use of a water sports board, comprising the steps: 16 providing a water sports board according to the first aspect of the invention; 17 a user lying on the board such that the first toot of the user is in contact with 18 the first foot rest, the second toot of the user is in contact with the second foot rest, 19 and the first arm of the user is resting against the first arm support and the second arm of the user is resting against the second arm support; 21 the user pushing against the first foot rest of the board with a first foot to move 22 the first foot rest from a first position to a second position; 23 the first arm support pushing against the first arm of the user to drive the first 24 arm of the user through the water; and moving the first foot rest from the second position to the first position.

27 Preferably, the method of use further comprises the steps: 28 the user pushing against the second foot rest of the board with a second foot 29 to move the second foot rest from a first position to a second position; the second arm support pushing against the second arm of the user to drive 31 the second arm of the user through the water; and 32 moving the second foot rest from the second position to the first position.

34 The steps of moving of the first foot rest and the second foot rest may be carried out one after the other (sequentially), or at the same time (synchronously).

1 It may be that pushing against one foot rest pushes both arms of the user to drive 2 both arms of the user through the water.

4 Preferably, the method comprises the step of mounting a first paddle to the first arm of the user, and the movement of the first foot rest from the first position to the second 6 position drives the first paddle through the water.

8 Preferably, the method comprises the step of mounting a second paddle to the 9 second arm of the user, and the movement of the second foot rest from the first position to the second position drives the second paddle through the water.

12 Therefore, the method may enhance the strokes of the user to propel the board 13 through the water.

Where the water sports board is a surf board, the method may comprise the step of 16 subsequently surfing on the water sports board, which may be carried out with the 17 first andlor second paddles remaining mounted to a user's arm or arms.

19 According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus (a kit of parts) comprising a board according to the first aspect of the invention, and at least 21 one paddle according to the second aspect of the invention.

23 Preferably, the paddles of the second aspect of the invention are used together with a 24 board of the first embodiment of the invention. In this way, the additional power provided by the coupling of the arm movement to the leg movement of the user is 26 amplified by the greater surface area afforded by the paddles of the second aspect of 27 the invention such that the user is able to propel the board through the water at a 28 greatly increased rate.

It may be that the use of the board of the first aspect and the paddles of the second 31 aspect provides a greater increase in power applied to the water by the user than 32 either one alone.

34 Preferably, the apparatus comprises a board according to the first aspect of the invention and two paddles according to the second aspect of the invention.

37 Preferably, the apparatus is used by the method of the third aspect of the invention.

2 Description of the Drawings

4 An example embodiment of the present invention will now be illustrated with reference to the following Figures in which: 7 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a board according to one embodiment of the 8 invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a board according to one embodiment of the 11 invention; 13 Figure 3 is a top view of the board of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a board according to one embodiment of the 16 invention; 18 Figure 5 is a perspective view of a board according to one embodiment of the 19 invention; 21 Figure 6 is a perspective view of a board according to one embodiment of the 22 invention; 24 Figure 7 is a front perspective view of a pair of paddles according to one embodiment of the invention fastened to a user; 27 Figure 8 is a side perspective view of a paddle according to Figure 4 fastened to a 28 user; Figure 9 (a) and (b) are top views of a board according to one embodiment of the 31 invention being operated by a user; 33 Figure 10 is a top view of a board according to an embodiment of the invention being 34 operated by a user; 36 Figure 11 is a top view of a board according to an embodiment of the invention being 37 operated by a user; and 2 Figure 12 is a top view of a board according to an embodiment of the invention being 3 operated by a user.

Detailed Descriijtion of an Example Embodiment 7 With reference to Figures 1 to 3, a board 1 comprises a first foot rest 2, a second foot 8 rest 4, a first arm support 6 and a second arm support 8. The first and second foot 9 rests are in the rear half of the board.

11 The first and second arm supports are in the front half of the board. The first arm 12 support and second arm support are curved towards the rear of the board such that a 13 user's inner elbow may rest within the curve of the arm support. The first foot rest 14 and the first arm support are located on the left side of the board (viewed from above the board in normal use, facing forwards), and the second foot rest and the second 16 arm support are located on the right side of the board.

18 The first foot rest is coupled to the first arm support by a first flexible rod 10 (acting as 19 a coupling member). The first flexible rod is mounted to the board via a tube 12 that allows the rod to move from a first position 14 to a second position 16. The second 21 foot rest is coupled to the second arm support by a second flexible rod 18 (acting as a 22 coupling member). The second flexible rod is mounted to the board via a tube 20 that 23 allows the second flexible rod to move from a first position 22 to a second position 24.

24 The first foot rest is movable along a first path and the second foot rest is movable along a second path.

27 Accordingly, longitudinal movement 40 of the first foot rest along the first path moves 28 the first flexible rod along the tube, which thereby moves the first shoulder rest, and 29 the movement of the second foot rest along the second path moves the second flexible rod, which thereby moves the second shoulder rest.

32 The board further comprises a chest support 26 (acting as a brace) mounted between 33 the first and second arm supports. The chest support comprises a wedge-shaped 34 support oriented with the thin end of the wedge 28 towards the rear of the board 30, and the thick end of the wedge 32 towards the front of the board 34. Accordingly the 36 chest support has an upper surface which extends forwardly and upwardly.

1 The first and second foot rests comprise a foot seat 36 (acting as a first portion 2 against which the user may push to move the first and second foot rests respectively) 3 and a foot retainer 38 (acting as a second portion operable to retain the user's foot 4 against the first portion of the foot rest).

6 An alternative example of the board is shown in Figure 4. The first flexible rod 102 7 coupling the first foot rest 104 to the first arm support 106 and the second flexible rod 8 108 coupling the second foot rest 110 to the second arm support 112 are embedded 9 within the board 100. The first and second foot rests comprise straps 114, 116 (acting as a second portion operable to retain the user's foot against the first portion 11 of the foot rest) and foot plates 118, 120 (acting as first portions against which the 12 user may push to move the first and second foot rests respectively). The board 13 comprises a shoulder brace 122 (acting as a brace) having a shoulder supports 124 14 against! and is located between the first and second arm supports.

16 The top surface of the board comprises an anti-slip surface that provides additional 17 grip to the user. In addition, the board comprises two areas 126, 128 that do not 18 comprise an anti-slip surface. During use, the knees of the user rest on these two 19 areas such that the knees of the user may more freely slide over the surface of the board during a stroke.

22 A further alternative example of the board is shown in Figure 5. The board 200 23 comprises the features of the example shown in Figure 4, with the addition of a view 24 port 202 through which the user may view beneath the surface of the water. For example, the board may be particularly effective in clear, shallow water to view fish 26 andseabed.

28 Another example of the board is shown in Figure 6. The board 300 is suitable for use 29 by lifeguards in coastal regions, such as beaches, for example. In addition to the features of the board shown in Figure 4, the board comprises handles 302 arranged 31 around the periphery of the board to allow swimmers to hold on to once they have 32 been rescued by the lifeguard, for example. The board is longer than the boards of 33 Figures 4 and 5 During use, with reference to Figures Oa and Ob, the user lies face down on the board 36 304, with their feet between the toot seat 306 and toot retainer 308 of the first 310 37 and second 312 foot rests, their chest against the chest support 314, and the inner 1 elbow of each arm resting against the first 316 and second 318 arm supports (shown 2 in Figure 9a, for example).

4 The user may then paddle the board forward using their arms as normal. However, if the user requires a more powerful stroke, the user pushes against the foot rests with 6 their feet. The foot rests then move towards the rear of the board, causing the 7 respective arm supports to move towards the rear of the board via the flexible rods.

8 In this way, the arms of the user are pushed towards the rear of the board by the 9 respective arm supports, providing supplementary power to the user's stroke.

11 Once the stroke is complete, the user pulls their feet towards the front of the board 12 320. Each foot pulls against the respective foot retainer to move the foot rest towards 13 the front of the board. The movement of the foot rest moves the attached flexible rod 14 322 which thereby moves the attached arm support. In this way, the arm supports are returned to their original position, ready to begin the next stroke.

17 Alternatively, with reference to Figures 11 and 12, the user may move the toot rests 18 324, 326 asynchronously, such that the movement of the first foot rest 324 is 19 opposed to that of the second foot rest 326. For example, when the first foot rest is moved by the user towards the front of the board 328, the second foot rest is moved 21 by the user towards the rear of the board 330.

23 With reference to Figures 7 and 8, a paddle 400 comprises a blade 402 and a handle 24 404. The handle comprises an arm strap 406 (acting as a fastener). The blade comprises a handle 408 (acting as a gripping portion). The arm strap comprises a 26 hook and loop type fastener.

28 In alternative embodiments, the arm strap comprises a buckle type fastener or a tie.

The paddle is attached to the fore-arm of a user by orienting the paddle such that the 31 handle of the paddle is along the user's fore-arm and the blade is adjacent to the 32 hand of the user. The handle is then strapped to the user's fore-arm and the user 33 may grasp the handle of the blade.

In this way, the user is provided with a paddle to enable them to more effectively 36 propel a board such as a surf board, whilst allowing the user to use their hands when 37 required without having to store the paddle first to free the user's hands.

2 Most advantageously, a user is provided with two paddles and a paddle attached to 3 each arm to enhance the stroke made by each arm when propelling a board such as 4 a surfboard.

6 Advantageously, the paddles of this embodiment can be used in combination with the 7 board of the first embodiment to allow the user to provide both a convenient way to 8 use a paddle (or two paddles if one is attached to each arm) and to supplement the 9 power of their strokes with the power of their legs.

11 For example, Figures Ya, 9b and 10 show the board of the first embodiment being 12 used in combination with the paddles of this embodiment. In this example, the user is 13 moving both feet and arms synchronously to drive the paddles mounted on the user's 14 left and right arms through the water at the same time. In this way the user's arms move in strokes similar to those used when a user is swimming using the butterfly 16 stroke.

18 Figures 11 and 12 show the board of the first embodiment being used in combination 19 with two paddles of this embodiment. Figure 11 shows the user moving the left foot and arm forward whilst moving the right foot and arm backward and the paddle 21 attached to the right arm is being driven through the water. Figure 12 shows the user 22 moving the right foot and right arm forward whilst moving the left foot and arm 23 backward, and the paddle attached to the left arm is being driven through the water.

24 In this way the user's arms move in strokes similar to those used when a user is swimming using the front crawl stroke.

27 Once the user has reached their destination, the user may stand up on the board 28 and, in embodiments where the board is a surf board, surf back to shore, without 29 having to remove the paddles, or to stow the paddles away, either fixing them to the board or otherwise. In this way, the user may transition from propelling the board to 31 surfing very quickly. In addition, the user does not need to be concerned about 32 whether the paddles have been stowed correctly.

34 Furthermore, the paddles, or the handles of the paddles, are typically shorter than conventional paddles or rowing oars, as the user's arms function as extensions of the 36 paddle handle.

1 Further variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention 2 herein disclosed.