Training Session on a Billionaire Toy: Awake's Ravik 3 Left Me Sore and Yearning for More

Folks, if you've been keeping up with the superyacht materials we've been posting on our site, then you have some idea of who Awake may be and what a Ravik board is, let alone what it can do. If you don't, you've got me to tell you all about the pain and pleasure that such a tool can bring, and might I add, there's plenty of both to be had, and that's an amazing feeling.

Awake was born back in 2012 when Co-Founder and wakeboard lover, Philip Werner, decided to approach the wakeboarding industry a bit differently, aiming for an all-inclusive tool to enjoy his favorite past-time. Soon after, the world would be greeted with the Ravik lineup, with the Ravik 3 being one of the toys currently available from this manufacturer. And that's where my story comes in.

I recently shook hands with a European importer of Awake machines, among other brands, Pe Val, and after a few chats, some text messages, and a calendar date, I was ready to experience just what Awake, precisely the reasons why Awake boards can now be found in just about any yacht on the charter market, and why those who can afford this sporty tool, do so without any reserve. Hell, after my training session with Dan Popa, all I wanted to do the next morning was hit the waves all over again.

The day went as follows. Everything began with a coffee by the side of the lake, waiting for the crew to arrive with the toys of the day. After unloading and carrying these babies to a dock, we were nearly set to begin. But first, a wet suit, something I recommend if you really want to stay out in the water for as long as possible. Once I was ready, it was time to begin.

Here's where things get really difficult. Dan walked me through the gist of having to stand up on something like this while I was on the dock, but in truth, to mount your board, you'll do so while it's on the move. Not an easy feat if you don't exercise daily. We plopped the Ravik 3 and Ravik S boards in the water, with me on the 3 and Dan on the S, and it was time to go.

We began by moving slowly through the water, just to help me get a feel for how things flow, and I must say, it's rather neat to be standing behind a jet turbine as you're being pulled along through the water. Now, kick the speed up to around 8 knots (9 mph) or so, and start pulling your way onto the board, flat on your stomach, and prepare your legs for standing up. Dan had me stay in the position for a bit to understand the dynamics of the board, and it helps a whole lot if you've never ridden something like this; it reveals that center of mass where you can keep yourself upright. And now, stand up! If it was only that easy.

The hardest part about standing up from a face-down position is to keep the board balanced as you do so, much like a surfer when catching a wave, all the while holding a remote in one hand, so grip is affected. The secret to this stage is to bump up the speed because the board's underside helps it become more stable as you catch more speed. Once you get over that sensation, it's all smooth sailing. But, to get there, you'll probably have a few conversations with yourself about being scared of all this; it's just water, folks, and even at 15 knots (12 mph), the worst-case scenario is that you'll drink some water.

From when I first got on the board to finally standing up and being able to travel more than 50 yards (45 m), it may have taken me about 30 to 45 minutes. However, it would appear that I'm one of the fast learners because the learning curve for this thing is around three hours, assuming you have no experience with boards of any kind. In around 20 hours, you can start calling yourself experienced. Personally, I've been longboarding since I was 16, so I have that going for me.

From here, it was only smooth sailing and learning the dynamics of something like this. I later found out that this is the preferred toy for the beginner, being one focused on cruising rather than carving with a sporty feel like the S. Awake also markets the 3 as being their "easiest" to use board, and I agree!

A few things you need to know about the 3 are that it can reach a top speed of 55 kph (34 mph), which it hits in 4 seconds, and allows for one hour of constant ride time, made possible by a 1.9 kWh battery, that no, will not electrocute you as you ride! Get over the fear of electronics and water because there's just so much fun to be had. With a weight of 23 kg (50 lbs), you can carry this under your arm from your car to some hidden dock; no jet ski or tender is needed for this one.

As for why I took part in a training session with Pe Val (translates to "On Wave") on something like this, it has a whole lot to do with bringing to light experiences that you don't come across every day. In short, we're going to be covering the Ravik 3 and other Awake toys, and even some hydrofoils, and comparing which is best for what kind of person. Just be warned, you will be sore the next day if you haven't been working out lately.