We know the Surfr. board mount has been a popular choice for many riders, but after careful consideration, we’ve made the decision to discontinue it. This means we won't restock the board mount. Here’s why and what this means for you.
Why was the board mount discontinued?
While the board mount offered some unique features, it had its limitations, particularly in terms of accuracy. The main issue lies in its placement on the board, which made it more prone to manipulation. think board flips, kicks, and other movements that could artificially inflate or deflate jump height.
But we’re not saying the board mount was a terrible option. It offered some fantastic benefits:
Tracking edging and angles
Live multiplayer and onboard coaching (exclusive to Surfr.)
Find your board feature (only available with Surfr and SIM)
Live display for immediate feedback (exclusive to Surfr.)
These features, especially live multiplayer and onboard coaching, are great for riders looking to progress quickly. While accuracy is important, kiteboarding (and water sports in general) is not solely about true height measurement. It’s about progression, fun, and the experience.
Why shift focus to watches and phones?
We’re constantly balancing accuracy and functionality. While the board mount was fun and had its perks, it lacked the accuracy potential that we see with watches and phones. Over the years, we've realized that watches (like Apple and Android) and phones offer more reliable tracking with higher accuracy potential, especially when measuring jumps.
Here’s the key difference: With a board-mounted sensor, your jump height can be affected by leg and arm movements, making the data less consistent. This isn’t unique to Surfr as all tracking systems face this challenge. However, the location of the board mount made it more manipulable than other tracking devices. That’s why we decided to refocus our efforts on improving phone and watch-based tracking.
What does this mean for board mount users?
For now, the board mount is still supported, but as we look toward the next 1–3 years, we expect board support to phase out from the Surfr. app. We’ll continue to improve tracking accuracy with watches and phones, which are less manipulable and offer a more reliable experience.
What's the best alternative?
We highly recommend making the switch to a phone or Apple/Android watch if you haven’t already. Not only will you get more accurate jump measurements, but you’ll also have access to features like onboard coaching, multiplayer mode, and much more.
Looking forward: What’s next?
While board mounts will gradually be phased out, we’re putting a lot of energy into innovating for watches and phones. The goal is to create the most accurate and feature-packed experience for riders, with advanced options like real-time coaching and live multiplayer, while still focusing on accuracy.
In the long run, the Surfr. app will rely on watches and phones as the primary way to track your sessions. These devices offer better accuracy and consistency for jump measurement, and we believe this shift will help us deliver the best tracking technology possible for riders worldwide.