Surf Flex Lab research team members Magda Krzyzanowska and Pawel Krzyzanowski are among the researchers developing next-generation surfboard fins designed to reduce shark encounters without sacrificing performance. Photos: UOW.
Surfers may soon have a hidden bodyguard beneath their feet, thanks to local innovation.
Researchers at University of Wollongong (UOW) Surf Flex Lab are leading a world-first project to embed shark-deterrent technology directly into surfboard fins, helping surfers stay safe from predators without sacrificing the speed and flex of a high-performance ride.
The Surf Flex Lab joins heavyhitters Gowing Bros Ltd and UNSW Sydney, contributing to the design, manufacturing and real-life testing of new shark-deterrent technology for surfers.
The researchers will use advanced composite manufacturing techniques to create smart composite fins embedded with shark-repellent technologies, including miniaturised sensors, electromagnetic systems and illumination features that increase surfer safety while maintaining board performance.
The task isn’t just to repel sharks, but to do so without killing board performance, according to Surf Flex Lab director Professor Marc in het Panhuis.
“Surfers won’t adopt safety innovations if they come at the expense of flex, responsiveness, and manoeuvrability,” he says.
“Fins usually weigh between 70 and 100 grams, so there’s not a lot of weight to play with. Anything you change will impact the weight, which in turn affects the flex. Incorporating something inside the fin can also change its flex behaviour.
“That’s the core engineering challenge, and it’s one we’re very excited to work on.”
Surf Flex Lab director Professor Marc in het Panhuis says there’s a delicate science behind engineering tech into a 100-gram fin that surfers will still want to use.
Beyond the design, the lab is developing the automated tech needed to bring these fins to the global market.
But the true test will happen in the water. The UOW team will lead extensive performance assessments and field trials to make sure the technology stands up to industry standards and the realities of real-world surfing.
It’s not entirely uncharted territory for the Surf Flex Lab. Eight years ago, the team trekked to the world-class breaks of the Mentawai Islands to put 3D-printed fins through their paces.
Their method is part “blind taste test”, part data-crunching: while a diverse team of male and female surfers provides the “feel”, onboard sensors provide the facts.
“So when surfers say they’re going faster or doing more critical turns, we can actually measure that,” Prof in het Panhuis says. “With sensors contributing to what’s sometimes called the gamification of sport, we quantify the subjective experience using statistical methods.”
The project, co-funded by the Australian Composites Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (ACM CRC), is a proof of concept to demonstrate marine safety applications.
While starting with fins, the broader goal is to explore how this technology could be used across different ocean users, including swimmers, lifesavers, paddle boarders, canoeists and boaters.
It follows a summer of increased shark activity along the NSW coast.
ACM CRC CEO Luke Preston says the initiative demonstrates the practical impact of advanced manufacturing and has strong commercial potential.
“Innovative composite manufacturing and technology can have life-changing impacts,” he says.
“By embedding functional technologies into lightweight, composite materials, we can support both innovation and practical application, delivering the next generation of surfboards at a time when shark attacks are apparently on the rise.
“This is a world first that is strengthening the capabilities and resilience of Australian surfboard manufacturing, giving us a competitive edge in a crowded global market.”
