The inside wave: high-tech helmets

Coaching surfers has always been more challenging than getting land-based athletes up to the mark.

Real-time coaching (RTC) was out of the question as the surfer had to catch a wave, paddle in, watch the video replay on a laptop, receive the coach's feedback then paddle out again.

Now a former professional waterski coach has come up with a solution, providing instant communication while the surfer stays out in the line-up.

Enter the Headzone, a waterproof helmet with an earpiece so the coach can relay feedback to the surfer from the beach.

Surfers - who still stubbornly measure boards in feet and inches - are eagerly embracing the technology.

Comprising a microphone and transmitter for the coach and waterproof radio receivers and headphones built into the helmets for the athlete, the Headzone eliminates elaborate hand signals, loudhailers or time-consuming commuting to the beach and back out to the line-up.

"Headzone will put the coach's head on the athlete's shoulders," says its creator, Mark Ellis.

"The coach has a mike and transmitter and can speak to several athletes at once or each one individually. It's going to revolutionise a coach's effectiveness and results."

Headzone's electronics are set in a waterproofing resin and all switches are operated by a magnet. It offers 16 channels and an operating range of up to a four kilometres.

There are two models: hard helmets used for surfing as well as cycling, snow sports and kayaking, and soft helmets such as those used by footballers.

A package comprising two helmets and transceiver costs about $900.

More than 350 units have been sold locally, with another 1150 units sold in Europe and the US.

Grayme Galbraith, the director of Victoria's Torquay Surf Academy, has bought five helmets and says Headzone will be particularly useful in coaching younger surfers.

"Most of the kids can't remember what they had for breakfast, (let alone) what they did on the second-last wave 10 minutes ago," he says.

Mr Galbraith's teenage son Chase, who competes at state and national level in the 14-and-under divisions with his eye on a pro career, is equally enthusiastic.

"It's really good when you are working on a technique on a wave and you hear straight away if you need to change something," he says.

Sasha Stocker, head coach at Surfing Australia's high performance unit, says: "The advancement of elite coaching tools such as this is a step in the right direction and can only enhance the successful coaching of elite surfers and elite coaching practices."

Headzone has been adopted by the NSW Institute of Sport, Westpac Rescue helicopter crews and some AFL and rugby teams for training.

Mr Ellis will attend the US surf expo next month and plans to release a two-way communication model next year.

Source: Headzone