Wakesurf surfboard training device

Abstract

A training device for balancing on boards is provided. The training device may be particularly suitable for the young, those with low body mass, or those lacking sufficient strength to enable them to stand on wakesurf boards and participate in the pastime of wakesurfing. A wakesurf board training device is disclosed that may include a pair of heel supports, each heel support having a main body configured to be secured to a wakesurf board, and the main body including a heel receptacle configured to receive a heel of a user of the wakesurf board, such that the heel receptacle provides lateral support to the heel of the user of the wakesurf board. A wakesurf board training device kit, and a wakesurf board system are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wakesurf board training device comprising:
 a pair of heel supports,   each heel support having a main body configured to be secured to a wakesurf board,   wherein the main body includes a heel receptacle configured to receive a heel of a user of the wakesurf board, such that the heel receptacle provides lateral support to the heel of the user of the wakesurf board.   
     
     
         2 . The wakesurf board training device of  claim 1 , wherein each main body is adjacent a side rail of the wakesurf board. 
     
     
         3 . The wakesurf board training device of  claim 1 , wherein each heel support comprises a chamfered edge to reduce drag of the wakesurf board. 
     
     
         4 . The wakesurf board training device of  claim 1 , wherein each heel support is U-shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The wakesurf board training device of  claim 1 , wherein the main body further comprises a back portion and a side portion, and wherein the ratio of the length of the back portion of the heel support to the length of the side portion of the heel support is 10:9. 
     
     
         6 . The wakesurf board training device of  claim 5 , wherein the height of the back portion of the heel is at least 3 cm at its maximal height. 
     
     
         7 . The wakesurf board training device of  claim 1 , wherein the heel supports of the pair of heel supports are non-identical. 
     
     
         8 . The wakesurf board training device of  claim 1 , wherein the main body is comprised of rigid or semi-rigid material. 
     
     
         9 . The wakesurf board training device of  claim 1 , wherein the main body is comprised of acrylic styrene acrylonitrile, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, elastomers, thermoplastic elastomers such as thermoplastic polyurethane, polylactic acid, high impact polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, carbon fiber, polycarbonate, polypropylene, closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam, and wood such as cork or wood dust with resin. 
     
     
         10 . The wakesurf board training device of  claim 1 , wherein the main body is configured to be secured to a wakesurf board by attachment means selected from the group consisting of hook and loop, adhesive, and snaps. 
     
     
         11 . The wakesurf board training device of  claim 1 , wherein the main body is configured to be secured to a wakesurf board by means of an interlocking system with a main body portion and a wakesurf board portion, wherein the main body portion and the wakesurf board portion interlock to secure the main body to the wakesurf board. 
     
     
         12 . A kit comprising:
 two pairs of a wakesurf board training devices as recited in  claim 1 , wherein   the heel supports of the first wakesurf board training device are configured to be secured adjacent a left side rail of the wakesurf board, and the heel supports of the second wakesurf board training device are configured to be secured adjacent a right side rail of the wake surf board.   
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein the heel supports of the first wakesurf board training device and the heel supports of the second wakeboard training device are symmetric. 
     
     
         14 . A wakesurf board system comprising:
 a wakesurf board; and   a wakesurf board training device as recited in  claim 1 .   
     
     
         15 . A wakesurf board system of  claim 14 , wherein the pair of heel supports of the wakesurf board training device are releaseably secured to the wakesurf board. 
     
     
         16 . A wakesurf board system of  claim 14 , wherein the pair of heel supports of the wakesurf board training device are permanently attached to or integral with the wakesurf board. 
     
     
         17 . A wakesurf board system of  claim 14  further comprising:
 a traction pad attached to the wakesurf board, 
 wherein the pair of heel supports of the wakesurf board training device are secured to the traction pad. 
 
     
     
         18 . A wakesurf board system of  claim 17 , wherein the traction pad includes a plurality of attachment points configured to receive the heel supports of the wakesurf board training device for use adjacent the left side rail or the right side rail of the wakesurf board.