Here's
the editorial by Adam Vaughn from Stuff Mag
Forget skiing, skydiving and surfing: we've just tried the latest
greatest thing in water sports and it's called the Pumpabike.
Billed as a human hydrofoil, the machine propels itself across
water simply through the motion of the rider jumping up and down
like a kangaroo on amphetamines. Arriving at Stuff HQ in a bag
the size of an over-sized guitar, the whole caboodle took 15 minutes
to assemble using a few allen keys and screwdrivers. Once built,
you simply prop it at a 45 degree angle to the jetty you're standing
on, stick one foot on the Pumpabike's platform, curl the other
around the edge of the jetty and gently lower it down toward the
water. The second it hits the surface, it's time to push off for
all you're worth: a bit like starting at red lights in manic central
London when cycling.
Once
you've left shore, you need to start bouncing frantically. The
knack, however, is rhythm rather than power: if you lose your
rhythm, you dive underwater faster than a German U-Boat dodging
the RAF.
If
you do manage a bit of speed - and we ended up skimming fast enough
to over-take rowers - you can take a break from pumping for 2-3
seconds and glide blissfully.
It's
the most fun we've had in a wetsuit for years, though you do need
a fair bit of fitness and strength in your legs to keep skimming.
The other downside is that, although it floats, it's a bit of
a drag pulling it back to shore when you sink in the middle of
your patch of water (the Thames in our case).
Once
you're more accomplished, however, you'll soon be pulling tight
turns, returning to terra firma and jumping off so someone else
can jump on while it's still in motion.
Essentials
Pumpabike
Price: £599
On sale: Now
Contact: Pumpabike
