NoShark – Disrupt introduces free shark deterrent surfboard designs


This section of SportTechie, “Sports Tech Wire”, contains original press releases issued by various companies and industry organizations. The releases are reviewed by the SportTechie editorial staff to ensure relevancy to the sports technology industry.  For information and access, send your name and email address to info@SportTechie.comScreen-Shot-2015-10-16-at-8.16.21-AM1
BONDI BEACH, Australia, 1 March 2016: Disrupt, a Sydney-based digital ‘Design Your Own Surfboard’ startup, has today launched its free NoShark design option – a line of shark deterrent patterns for the underside of surfboards.

After a spate of recent shark attacks globally, Disrupt CEO Gary Elphick and his team felt compelled to do something to help potentially limit risk for their customers.

“There are a number of things you can do to limit the risk of shark attack including not swimming with jewelry, not swimming at dusk and use stripes to stop yourself looking like a seal as well as the recent ‘Clever Buoy’ deployed at Bondi,” Mr Elphick said.

“However surfers have been subject to an alarming number of shark attacks globally this season, none more publicised than the attack on world champion surfer Mick Fanning, and as a result we’ve been asked by a number of customers to introduce something to help distinguish them in the water,” he said.

By using hard-edged and bold geometric patterns on the bottom of the surfboard, it is hoped the design makes the board and surfer on it less likely to mistaken for sea life that might otherwise be a natural food source for the shark.

“There has been research into the best ways to minimize risk for surfers and along with existing electronic aids, this has been suggested as one of the best ways to increase surfer safety,” Mr Elphick said.

“As Disrupt is a design your own surfboard platform we offer people unlimited design options on their Australian made surfboards so we’re proud to be helping our community by giving away NoShark for free, now and forever,” he said.

For more information and to register as a beta tester, head to: www.disruptsurfing.com/noshark/

About Disrupt: Disrupt is a ‘design your own’ surfboard platform based in Bondi Beach, Australia. Founded in 2014 Disrupt has helped thousands of people around the world design their own surfboards. Disrupt is a graduate of muru-D, was voted top 20apps in Australia by OzApps, a finalist in the Australian small business awards and winners of the 2016 Australian Digital Summit.

For more information please contact:

Gary Elphick, Disrupt CEO – Gary@DisruptSurfing.com – +61 450 261 558