Awake RAVIK 3 & RAVIK S - Review 2023

Ride Anywhere

One of the biggest problems that surfers and wakeboarders face is not being able to practice their sport when there are no waves or a boat pulling them. RAVIK tackles this with two electric surfboard models.

The RAVIK 3 is a beginner model for those looking to ride and begin to carve, whereas the RAVIK S is an advanced electric surfboard that’s designed for shredding.

The earlier model, the RAVIK ONE is a more stable board, whereas the model 3 opens up for more freeriding.

Thanks to the various throttle sensitivity modes the board is easy to use for a variety of skill levels, from beginners to advanced riders. The RAVIK 3 in particular is stable and sturdy on the water and it is surprisingly easy to ‘pop-up’, even for those with little to no surfing or wakeboarding experience.

The intuitive app is easy to connect to the hand-held controller and allows riders to experience all throttle sensitivity settings. Once on the water, the hand-held controller is simple and safe. As soon as riders fall into the water the kill switch activates. Getting on and off the board is also easy, the handles help to pull yourself up and out of the water and reconnect the kill-switch leash.

It’s so much fun, yet very demanding physically. The duration of a session gives you enough time to whip around and feel the burn in your legs. That’s to say the natural limit of the battery is just right.

Suitable for a yacht or cottage this luxury item lives up to the hype.

Speed and Control

With a top speed of 35mph, there is no denying that the RAVIK 3 and RAVIK S are powerful boards. This might be a little bit intimidating, especially for novice riders, but there is nothing to worry about. Awake has ensured their boards are easy to use, and most importantly very safe.

Before getting on the board you will need to connect the phone app with the board using Bluetooth. This is simple and allows you to select the riding mode from; Eco, Sport, and Extreme mode. The throttle sensitivity dictates the speed and power of the board once on the water.

In order to control the board, you have a small hand-held control that is easy to hold on to. Unlike other jet-powered boards, the RAVIK’s control is operated using your thumb rather than your index finger. This means that you can use your fingers to grab onto the board while at the same time engaging the board’s controls.

To activate the board you need to plug the magnetic kill switch into the board and press the trigger down once on the handheld controls. When this is done, a number of lights will show up on the board indicating how much battery life you have.

Next, you lie down on the board and slowly accelerate to pick up enough speed to move either onto your knees and stand up from that position. Alternatively, if you’re a seasoned veteran of board sports, you can pop up from the lying-down position. You really get the feel of the power as you can reach some serious speeds with this board, accelerating up to 30mph in just 4 seconds.

Safety First

At the core of their design, the Awake RAVIK boards have a number of integrated safety features. For example, the exchangeable batteries have three layers of safety features based on automotive standards that allow for stable and functional performance. Additionally, all the parts of the board are completely water-sealed meaning that you should have no problems with water damage happening to your board.

One of the best safety features of the Awake boards is the kill switch. This switch must be attached to both the rider and the board for the board to have power. If the rider falls in the water, the kill switch instantly stops the board and it will only restart once the rider has safely re-attached themself to the board. Additionally, if the board flips upside down, it will automatically turn off.

Another well-thought-out safety feature is that the board slows down when low on battery, letting the rider know that it’s time to start heading back to shore. In addition to this, when close to running out, the battery will stop. The rider can then restart the board–knowing it’s on reserve power–and can expect to travel up to 500m before the battery is completely dead.

The boards also have a passive cooling system that cools all the components when you are riding, allowing you to charge your battery directly after riding without the fear of it overheating.

The Awake RAVIK boards have a safety system that monitors the condition of the board, focusing on energy consumption and temperature. Awake incorporates cloud-based technology to remotely update each board’s system so that the boards always have the latest software and product upgrades regardless of the model or year the board was purchased.

RAVIK 3 vs RAVIK S

When we went up to Stockholm we had the chance to test out both the RAVIK 3 and the RAVIK S. Although both boards look very similar and even weigh about the same we found that thanks to changes to the design features of either board you get a different experience.

The RAVIK 3 is the 3rd generation model of the original RAVIK board and offers riders a blend of racing speed and cruising comfort. The RAVIK 3 is easy to use and get used to even for people who have no experience with watersports. With a narrow tail and dynamic nose rocker, this board provides a comprehensive riding experience.

The RAVIK S has a much more pronounced nose rocker and deeper channels under the board than the RAVIK 3. The RAVIK S offers a much more intense experience allowing you to cut, carve and slice through the water with maximum maneuverability meaning that you’ll need to build up your balance before you master this board.

Ultimately, and based on our experience we recommend the RAVIK 3 for anybody looking for a comfortable, fun, and comprehensive board that is really easy to use but difficult to master. On the other hand, we would definitely recommend the RAVIK S for experienced water sports enthusiasts, especially people with experience in surfing, kiteboarding, or wakeboarding.

Features

The Awake RAVIK boards provide a number of innovative features that make them stand out from other electric surfboards.

• Exchangeable batteries: One of the best features of all the Awake RAVIK boards is that the batteries are compatible with all boards. Batteries can also be easily switched out, allowing you to ride for more than one battery’s worth.
• Magnetic kill switch: A small magnetic kill switch keeps the board ultra-safe. The kill switch cord is attached to the rider and as soon as the rider falls off the board it immediately stops.
• Bluetooth controller: The handheld Bluetooth controller is ergonomically designed for comfort and to ensure gradual and controlled speed control.
• Optional Bindings/Footholds: The footholds are a great option as you can remove them for beginners, or add them if you wish to try out more serious maneuvers like carving or tricks. They also mean that the board is excellent for jumps.
• Nose rocker: Each board has a unique shape, including the nose rocker. This ensures all boards can break through chop and keeps the board stable in all water conditions.
• Carbon fiber and kevlar hull: The unique V-shaped hull is made from lightweight and durable materials carbon fiber and kevlar. These durable materials ensure you can still take a few bumps without damaging the board.
• Linear jet system: The linear jet system provides excellent surface grip as it minimizes air suction in choppy waters. This results in a consistent and intuitive riding experience.
• Watertight: All aspects of the board are completely watertight and sealed, this increases the durability but also makes it very low maintenance when not using it.

Price/ Quality Ratio

The RAVIK boards have high price points, however, thanks to Awakes’ dedication to constantly innovating the products the price is decreasing significantly year by year. Awake have worked hard to ensure their boards are constructed using high-quality and reliable materials.

Once purchased, looking after your RAVIK boards is easy, they are designed for effortless and safe fun. The battery packs are reliable and the app is constantly being improved by technicians to ensure your Awake boards run smoothly.

Overall, excellent quality materials and innovative features justify the expensive price.

Do we recommend it?

Yes! We definitely recommend both the RAVIK 3 and the RAVIK S Awake boards.

The RAVIK 3 is more suited for beginners to board sports that have little experience surfing or wakeboarding. Although thanks to the varying throttle sensitivity speed it is also a great fit for those who are experienced riders/surfers/wakeboarders.

The RAVIK S is a little less stable therefore is perfect for experienced watersports enthusiasts who want to improve their carving skills and practice tricks.