A dream of surfing in the Okanagan has come true for one 琉璃神社 man.
Three years ago, Ryan Fisher purchased an electric surfboard with the goal of skimming along the waters of Okanagan Lake.
After many crashes and splashes, Fisher finally conquered the surf and considered himself proficient at the electric board.
鈥淕rowing up in the Okanagan surfing, surf culture was always something I thought was the coolest thing on earth. But not being able to do that, that was a market that needed to be started,鈥� said Fisher.
This past summer, Fisher started OK E-Surf and is teaching those who are curious how to ride the waters of the Okanagan. The electric surfboard is run on a lithium-ion battery, the same as a Tesla, and runs through jet propulsion like a sea-doo or a jet ski.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very much like surfing or snowboarding, where you are right on the water or snow. But unlike surfing there isn鈥檛 a sense of urgency to get up to catch a wave鈥asically the way I teach it is you ride it like an electric boogie board and then get up at your own pace,鈥� explained Fisher.
Depending on weight and speed, the board lasts for about an hour. The board propels forward with a remote button and the rider is leashed to the device.
Derek Sloos, an avid surfer who has ridden waves at home and abroad, is also one of Fisher鈥檚 new students.
鈥淭his is a unique experience that I have only come across here in the Okanagan,鈥� said Sloos.
While he said the one-and-a-half-hour lesson was fun, it was a bit challenging and tiring by the end just due to 鈥渢rying something new.鈥�
However, it is easy breezy compared to surfing, according to Sloos.
鈥淲ith surfing, there is a wave approaching and there is timing involved and force of nature. But, with this it gives you more time and opportunity to get up at your own pace,鈥� said Sloos.
Fisher is offering lessons all year long, saying he has surfed every month in the Okanagan except November.
鈥淚 like to just explore now, it鈥檚 about exploring new places鈥xplore the world on the board,鈥� he said.
Learn more at okesurf.ca.
