Exciting new way to ride the waves

Chris Booth cruises along Pilot Bay on his wakeskate pulled by his hand-made wakewinch. INSET: Andrew Gordan, left, and Chris Booth with the wakewinch. Photo / John Borren

It's not a wakeboard or a skateboard - it's a wakeskate.

Seen along the shores of Mount Maunganui over the past few weeks the rider on the wakeskate, basically a wakeboard without bindings, is pulled back towards a "wakewinch" which hauls the rider and board through the water for a short ride.

The 150m ride only last up to 30 seconds but has proven to be a fun addition this summer.

Chris Booth, wakeskate and wakewinch builder, said he had seen videos online for the board and contraption and investigated getting one in New Zealand.

However, the winches for the ride cost up to $2800 so he decided to try to make his own.

The 25-year-old found plans online for the contraption and started making it.

Two weeks later, he and his friend Andrew Gordan built the contraption at almost a fifth of the cost.

"We took it to Waipuna Park first but used a longboard and did a few test runs along the grass to see how it was working. Then we made modifications and took it out for its first water test at the Mount Beach."

Since then the duo have had a lot of interest from friends and beachgoers.

"Everybody thinks it is a kontiki [a fishing line hauler] which catches fish."

The heaviest man on the board so far would have been about 120kg so the 6.5 horse power motor winch could "handle a big boy", he said.

Mr Booth, owner of local filming company Christopher Mark Productions, said he loved it because he and his friends could head out for an afternoon or evening and have a good time at a minimal cost.

"It's just cool, people come along and have a watch and have a bit entertainment. As much as it is fun for us, it's fun for others to watch. It's not something you do see everyday. They get to see the carnage and the crashes which happen too."

Although he said there has been no major incidents on the board just yet.

"That's the benefit on doing it on the water compared to skating on concrete which is more dangerous so you can get away with a bit more."

Mr Booth was hoping to get a longer rope for the board in the near future.