At GearJunkie, we’re all about putting the products we showcase to the test — and having fun while we do it. What better way to see how the Segway Xyber performs than to task two professional surfers with racing the e-bikes up the coast, with surf challenges along the way?
Come along for the ride as we find out who will be crowned the king of South Bay in this one-of-a-kind surf showdown.
The Competitors
Professional surfers Hunter Jones and Dane Anderson go head-to-head to determine who will be the king of the South Bay of L.A. A South Bay local, Jones has the home court advantage. But Anderson, a surfer from California’s Central Coast, is ready to give Jones a run for his money.
The Rides
Let us introduce you to the Xyber — a new launch from Segway that Anderson and Jones will be riding to travel to each surf stop along the coast. The Xyber is packed with technology and features, a durable frame, robust tires, suspension, and a 56-mile range on a single battery.
This powerful e-bike accelerates from 0 to 20 in under 3 seconds and has three riding modes. Two 20 x 5-inch tires, coupled with 110 mm of front suspension and 100 mm of rear suspension, provide a smooth ride on a variety of terrain types.
For a full rundown on the specs, check out GearJunkie’s in-depth overview of the Segway Xyber.
The Showdown
Welcome to the South Bay Surf Showdown. Starting in Torrance, the competitors will race two Segway Xybers up the coast, finishing in Playa del Rey. Along the way, they’ll cross through five towns, catching waves and completing challenges at each stop. The surfer who completes the challenges and crosses the finish line with the fastest cumulative time wins.
For each stage, the clock starts when the horn blows and stops when the surfer makes it back to their Segway. Let’s see who came to play and take home the title of king of the South Bay of L.A.
Stage 1: Torrance
The race kicks off in Torrance, where surfers must complete a 360 maneuver and a snap.
“Hunter knows these waves and surfs them all the time,” says showdown host Luke House, “but Dane’s a pretty strong surfer, so I don’t know how this will shake out.”
After snagging the first wave, Anderson can’t get enough speed to nail the 360. Jones has a similar strikeout before he gets a winner.
“This challenge really came down to who got the wave,” says Jones, “and this is my domain.”
Stage one ends with Jones in the lead.
Stage 2: Redondo
Stage two requires a 1.6-mile ride up the coast, followed by a surf challenge where the riders will need to complete two turns on a single wave.
“The waves are a little bit different here, so it’ll be interesting,” says House. “Dan is definitely going to need to try to make up some time.”
Anderson is quick to get in the water and churns out the two turns needed to complete the challenge, plus a bonus third turn for good measure. After making short work of it, Anderson narrows the gap on cumulative time, but Jones still comes out ahead at the end of this stage.
Stage 3: Hermosa Pier
The third stage sends our competitors to the Hermosa Pier for a cold plunge challenge. The surfers will have to strip out of their wetsuits, and, to make things interesting, they’ll need to catch a wave riding switch.
A couple of close misses and a lost board later, Anderson catches a break. Jones isn’t too far behind, but it’s not enough to hang onto the lead. Stage three wraps up with Anderson narrowly ahead by less than a minute.
Stage 4: El Porto
For the fourth stage, the competitors take on what many consider the crown jewel of the South Bay surf scene — El Porto. The surf challenge: complete three turns on a single wave.
“The guys are getting out there for what looks like some pretty classic El Porto conditions,” says House. “They’ve got a decent paddle out, and there’s a lot of water moving around. It’s a bit mushy with the tide, so the shape is difficult to predict. But there are some nugs out there.”
Both contestants try a couple of waves that fizzle out before Anderson gets a break and ekes out three turns in the nick of time. Here are the standings going into the final stage of the competition.
Stage 5: Playa Del Rey
The last stage brings the surfers to Toes Beach in Playa del Rey. Jones and Anderson need to perform two 360-degree turns — a total of 720 degrees of rotation. That’s not all. This challenge must be surfed finless.
“It’s down to the wire,” says House. “With the finless challenge, it’s kind of anyone’s game.”
This classic South Bay surf spot shows the competitors a lot of action, with nice little wedgie waves bouncing off the jetty and plenty to paddle for. But two finless 360s are no easy feat.
Both surfers bag their first 360 off the bat. Ultimately, it’s Anderson who knocks out his second 360, completes the challenge with the fastest cumulative time, and goes home with the glory.
To watch the full South Bay Surf Showdown, head to GearJunkie’s YouTube channel. Or visit Segway’s website to learn more about the sweet rides featured in the competition.
This post was sponsored by Segway.
Read the full article here
