Imagine a guest finishing breakfast with an hour before the rest of the day's plans. They walk down to the water, meet their coach and settle onto an electric surfboard. The first few metres are taken gently. There is time to get comfortable, try again and enjoy doing something new.
That is the opportunity for a waterfront resort, retreat or charter operator: a riding experience that makes the water part of the stay. The board starts the conversation. The welcome, coaching and care around it make the experience worth offering.
Make the water part of the stay
An Awake electric jetboard carries its own propulsion, so riding does not depend on catching a wave. For a property with suitable water and access, that opens up a different kind of activity: a coached introduction close to shore, a private lesson or a shared morning where guests take turns.
A couple might want a private lesson; friends might prefer to take turns and watch each other’s progress. For a charter, the activity could become part of a suitable stop, with the crew managing launch and recovery. Those are different programmes, each worth designing around the people taking part.
The time around the ride matters too. A comfortable place to wait, a clear view of the riding area and an unhurried handover help the activity fit naturally into a holiday. Guests should know where to meet, what to bring and what happens next.
Start with the setting
The first question is where the experience would take place. A beautiful outlook is a good beginning; the operating area needs closer consideration.
Think through the route from storage to the water, a manageable launch and return, the depth needed for the chosen equipment, other water users, and how conditions change during the day. A protected-looking bay may still be exposed to afternoon wind, passing traffic or a changing tide. A coach also needs a clear way to supervise riders and help someone back.
Before opening bookings, establish the relevant permissions, insurance and operating arrangements for that particular location. For a charter, include the vessel's own procedures and the crew responsible for the activity. These decisions shape which boards to offer, how many riders to host and when the experience can run well.
Choose for the first ride
For a programme centred on newcomers, the Awake RÄVIK Explore is a sensible starting point to discuss. Awake designs it around stability and accessibility, with a reinforced construction intended to withstand regular handling. The useful question for an operator is how comfortably a guest can begin learning on it.
A good introduction gives the rider time to understand the hand controller and progress at a pace that suits them. Staff should assess suitability, fit the required equipment and deliver the briefing before the board is powered for the ride. Guests need clear expectations about participation requirements and what is included.
An eFoil offers another experience, with the board rising above the surface on its foil. It can form part of a broader offering where the site, coaching and guest profile suit it. Choosing the initial fleet around the intended experience is more useful than trying to offer every riding style immediately.
Build a rhythm your team can deliver
The guest's booking occupies more time than the ride itself. There is the welcome and briefing, equipment fitting, launch, coaching, return and preparation for the next person. Leave space for a guest who needs another explanation or a little more time to feel comfortable.
For a new operation, a limited programme is a useful way to learn. Agree who leads the activity, who can assist, how conditions are assessed and how cancellations are handled. Then test the whole guest journey with the team before filling a timetable.
The commercial plan should include staff time, equipment care, charging, servicing and days when riding cannot go ahead. A session price only becomes meaningful when those parts of the day are understood.
Give the equipment a proper home
Walk through the proposed storage and preparation area before ordering a fleet. Boards need suitable support and a practical carrying route. Equipment needs somewhere to be inspected, rinsed as directed and dried, with battery handling and charging organised around the manufacturer's instructions for the exact equipment supplied.
Charging deserves its own plan. Confirm the approved chargers, suitable electrical provision and an appropriate charging location with the relevant specialists. Build turnaround around the required checks and actual charging arrangements; a full schedule should not depend on rushing them.
Compatible Gen-4 RÄVIK jetboards and VINGA eFoils can share Awake's Flex 4 battery and controller system. That can be useful when planning a mixed fleet, but simultaneous riders still need separate powered setups. Establish the exact compatibility, spare equipment and battery requirements with the team when specifying the package.
Awake's after-ride guidance calls for fresh-water rinsing without high pressure and complete drying. Give that work an owner and a place in the schedule. A simple equipment record helps staff track inspections, issues and servicing, particularly when several people work across the week.
Plan the experience around your property
Bring us a picture of the setting, the guests you expect to host and the way your team works. Those are useful starting points for a discussion about boards, preparation, support and the questions that need resolving before launch.
Our Awake Sessions programme is developing coached riding experiences across Australia and New Zealand, with updates available through the waitlist. A property or operator enquiry is a separate conversation about what could work in your setting.
Questions from operators
Can a resort use Awake boards for guest activities?
Awake offers boards for waterfront and commercial watersports settings. The programme still needs suitable equipment, competent supervision and operating arrangements agreed for the location. Talk to us about the intended use before choosing a fleet.
How many boards and batteries should we start with?
Start with the number of riders you can supervise well and the full time needed between bookings. Fleet and battery requirements follow from that programme, the chosen models and the charging arrangements.
Can we offer both jetboards and eFoils?
Potentially. They provide different riding experiences and need appropriate water depth, equipment and instruction. The right mix depends on your location, guests and team; a focused starting programme may be easier to deliver consistently.