Measurements of the hydrodynamic pressure on a surfboard fin during surfing

Abstract The popularity of surfing has increased during the last 20 years with the growing number of river waves and artificial wave pools. For these different surfing conditions, hydrodynamic characteristics of boards and fins and their optimization become interesting for industry and science to an...

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Main Authors: Stefan Kniesburges, Nina Punger, Bogac Tur, Michael Zöllner, Marc in het Panhuis, Michael Döllinger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94834-0
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author Stefan Kniesburges
Nina Punger
Bogac Tur
Michael Zöllner
Marc in het Panhuis
Michael Döllinger
author_facet Stefan Kniesburges
Nina Punger
Bogac Tur
Michael Zöllner
Marc in het Panhuis
Michael Döllinger
author_sort Stefan Kniesburges
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The popularity of surfing has increased during the last 20 years with the growing number of river waves and artificial wave pools. For these different surfing conditions, hydrodynamic characteristics of boards and fins and their optimization become interesting for industry and science to analyze the biomechanics and physiology during surfing. In this work, a measuring system was developed assembled of four small pressure sensors included in a 3D-printed fin within a 2-fin configuration. The measurements were controlled by an acquisition board mounted into a surfboard. The system was initially tested in a water tank and exhibited a high accuracy of measured pressure. Afterwards, a surfer surfed the instrumented surfboard on a river wave and performed three cycles of surfing from one side of the wave channel to the other. The results showed a pressure difference between both sides of the instrumented fin that produces periodical lift forces directed away from the surfboard. Thereby, the maximum lift force was produced during the surfer’s motion from one side of the channel side to the other. It is assumed to increase the stability of the surfer’s back foot in combination with the right fin producing a lift force in opposite direction.
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issn 2045-2322
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spelling doaj-art-d5d7212d399e4bb99c44bd93427465162025-08-20T02:49:26ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-94834-0Measurements of the hydrodynamic pressure on a surfboard fin during surfingStefan Kniesburges0Nina Punger1Bogac Tur2Michael Zöllner3Marc in het Panhuis4Michael Döllinger5Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-NürnbergDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-NürnbergDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-NürnbergInstitute of Information Systems, Hof UniversitySurf Flex Lab, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, University of WollongongDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-NürnbergAbstract The popularity of surfing has increased during the last 20 years with the growing number of river waves and artificial wave pools. For these different surfing conditions, hydrodynamic characteristics of boards and fins and their optimization become interesting for industry and science to analyze the biomechanics and physiology during surfing. In this work, a measuring system was developed assembled of four small pressure sensors included in a 3D-printed fin within a 2-fin configuration. The measurements were controlled by an acquisition board mounted into a surfboard. The system was initially tested in a water tank and exhibited a high accuracy of measured pressure. Afterwards, a surfer surfed the instrumented surfboard on a river wave and performed three cycles of surfing from one side of the wave channel to the other. The results showed a pressure difference between both sides of the instrumented fin that produces periodical lift forces directed away from the surfboard. Thereby, the maximum lift force was produced during the surfer’s motion from one side of the channel side to the other. It is assumed to increase the stability of the surfer’s back foot in combination with the right fin producing a lift force in opposite direction.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94834-0
spellingShingle Stefan Kniesburges
Nina Punger
Bogac Tur
Michael Zöllner
Marc in het Panhuis
Michael Döllinger
Measurements of the hydrodynamic pressure on a surfboard fin during surfing
Scientific Reports
title Measurements of the hydrodynamic pressure on a surfboard fin during surfing
title_full Measurements of the hydrodynamic pressure on a surfboard fin during surfing
title_fullStr Measurements of the hydrodynamic pressure on a surfboard fin during surfing
title_full_unstemmed Measurements of the hydrodynamic pressure on a surfboard fin during surfing
title_short Measurements of the hydrodynamic pressure on a surfboard fin during surfing
title_sort measurements of the hydrodynamic pressure on a surfboard fin during surfing
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94834-0
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AT michaelzollner measurementsofthehydrodynamicpressureonasurfboardfinduringsurfing
AT marcinhetpanhuis measurementsofthehydrodynamicpressureonasurfboardfinduringsurfing
AT michaeldollinger measurementsofthehydrodynamicpressureonasurfboardfinduringsurfing