Awake RAVIK 3 Electric Surfboard Reviewed in 2025

The Smoothest Cruising eSurf

The experience on the Ravik 3 is clearly smoother and seemingly more efficient than any other electric surfboard.

Comparing the chines of the board’s design reveals how it differs from a Jetsurf or any inflatable competitor. The way the jet shoots out just below the board at a slight angle, rather than directly out of the back lifts the board out of the water a bit, we can only surmise.

Whatever the engineering of the Ravik 3, the experience is a solid one. With greater buoyancy for more stable starts and a top speed of 34 mph, $12,000 is a reasonable price for an eSurf that caters to beginners, yet still can thrill the rippers.

Awake produces two lines of products, each with an electric surfboard and electric foil. The 3 Series, with the RÄVIK 3 electric surfboard and the VINGA 3 eFoil, is a more stable platform.

This thing is fun. Pure, undiluted, ear-to-ear grinning fun. It’s so easy to ride, so fast, and very responsive that it’s impossible not to love this machine.

Most RÄVIK owners claim that it is their all-time favorite water toy.

The S series, on the other hand, is aimed at adrenaline junkies and experienced riders looking for products to allow them to carve and push the limits of the sport. Still, the R3 is a lot of fun and, with the optional footstraps, carving and racing becomes viable.

The board, fins, leash for safety and controller, in a bag that can protect it, make the Ravik 3 a nice package.

Riding Options and Fun Factor

The key is that the RÄVIK 3 has a much different shape than other eSurfs that we’ve tested. In actuality, this is more like a wakeboard than a surfboard. It’s powerful engines planes easily with hard chines, and an aggressive rocker that makes it responsive to hops. It’s easy to make sharp turns and tricks on the R3.

Closest comparisons will usually have the R3 side-by-side with Radinn’s Freeride. Truth is that the performance profile of the R3 puts it’s somewhere between the Freeride and Radinn’s Carve.

Packing this much motor (11 kW) and battery power (up to 2.8 kWh) into a 5-foot, 8-inch board makes it powerful but slightly hefty. Lugging this 88-pound board around on land takes some getting used to. When getting it to the water, most folks will carry it with two people or carry the battery separately to make it easier to manage. The board seems to be missing a handle or strap near the back. It’s easy enough to manage if you have longer arms, but otherwise, you might find getting to the water awkward.

Setting up the board to get going could not be simpler. The large battery snaps and locks into place. The wireless thumb controller has a wrist strap, and there’s a leash that acts as a safety stop or dead man’s switch. It can go on either the left or right side of the board, with a strap that attaches to your belt or vest. This should suit pretty much any riding style.

While the board comes with foot bindings, you can get up and cruise without them. Unlike the Jetsurf Electric, Awake’s has a foam deck pad that offers more freedom for casual riders. For high-performance tricks, simply attach the bindings before your ride. We love the flexibility this allows for different outings and different riders.

On the other hand, the deck pad is busier than other esurfs. The battery latch and safety leash can get in the way of beginners, but you get used to it.

Once afloat, your opinions of the RÄVIK will start to change. What was bulky and unwieldy to carry on land now seems a magic carpet capable of anything. At 71 liters, the volume of the board isn’t that buoyant. Like a surfboard, you’ll need some speed to get up. A few minutes of practicing boogie board style will make anyone a quick master of the thumb controller. It also gives you a good idea of how much power you’ll need to get up and how the board handles overall.

Now it’s time to stand up. Those experienced with surfing or foiling will have only a bit of trouble on the RÄVIK 3. But, believe it or not, most novices get up after a few first attempts. It’s forgiving and stable but still a blast to ride.

The thing that really sets the RÄVIK apart from the competition is its powerplant. The jet is much more substantial than the competitors we have tested. This produced powerful, even thrust that is uninterrupted in all water conditions. When a chop picks up, or you’re playing in waves, other boards tend to stop and start as air is sucked into the jet. Never once did we experience this with the RÄVIK.

The top speed of 36 mph also reflects the power of the engine. And, it’s placement just under the back of the board delivers both more solid thrust and, apparently, cooling of the motor.

Overall, the RÄVIK feels like being on a wakeboard with a jet. It’s responsive, and making tight turns is no problem at all. For those nervous about trying it out, Awake’s expert rider and product manager, Flo Garbaccio, has put together a series of how-to videos on YouTube that are well worth checking out.

The RÄVIK 3 is set up to be customizable to suit different riders. It’s a blend of performance and cruising that’s super easy to use but will take time to master. There are many opportunities to grow with this board, and it offers plenty of performance to keep most riders very happy for a long time.

If you’re looking for maximum performance as an experienced rider, the RÄVIK S is likely better suited. It has a more pronounced rocker and deep channels, making for a more intense grinding, riding experience. That keeps long-time watersports enthusiasts happy from when they purchase the board and many years after.

Battery and Ride Time

There are two battery options for the RÄVIK 3, the SR and XR. One great thing about the company’s product lineup is that they maintain battery interoperability. In other words, the same batteries work in the RÄVIK 3 and RÄVIK S eSurfs and the VINGA 3 and VINGA S electric foil boards. The company calls this the Flex System.

The two batteries differ only in capacity—the XR is the extended-range option that gives you a longer ride time. That’s important in the eSurf because it uses more power and is less efficient than the eFoil. In our opinion, if you’re buying a RÄVIK 3, you should consider the XR battery. The standard SR battery is a good option for the eFoil, which is more efficient and uses less power, giving you a nice long ride.

Awake advertises that the SR battery lasts up to 40 minutes, while the XR can extend your ride to as many as 60. Our testing didn’t quite bear this out. We could only get about 40 to 50 minutes out of an XR battery and around 30 minutes out of the SR. Admittedly, however, we were running fast and hard.

Plus, battery range is a lot like fuel mileage estimates in automobiles, with many factors at play. Ambient temperature, wave conditions, battery age, rider weight, and riding style will all affect how much you get out of each charge.

The included fast charger for the battery is a large piece of kit. It does its job well, however. Recharging these huge batteries only takes about two hours.

Beyond the basic indications on the hand controller, the battery has a secondary set of safety features to let you know it’s time for a recharge. When you’re approaching empty, a speed limiter kicks in that slows you down and lets you know it’s time to head back.

Once the battery is nearly done, the board stops completely. You can restart it once, but at this point, you know you can only make it about 500 meters back to shore before you have to start swimming.

Hand Controller and App Settings

If we have to pick one weak link in the whole RÄVIK experience, it would be the thumb controller. For those used to the trigger-grip style that comes with most eFoils, this thumb controller takes a little getting used to.

One gripe is a simple stylistic one. These boards are made in Sweden, and they’ve designed the grip to be easy to use when wearing a thick wetsuit. If your hand is gloveless, the grip will feel bulky and a little awkward. In the end, erring on the side of too big is probably the way to go, but it’s still noteworthy.

Next, the controllability functions of the hand controller are pretty limited. The small LCD screen displays the battery percentage and whether or not you’re at full speed. The thumb controller increases power to the motor within ten speed settings.

But the app is easy to connect and gives you a lot more options. Of course, you can’t use the app while you’re out on the water flying around at 35 mph, so these settings have to be made before you launch. It allows you to set the “rider mode” of the board, giving you a choice between Eco, Sport, and Extreme. Each of these modes increases the ten speed settings on the thumb controller, meaning that the board has a total of 30 different speed settings altogether.

So, pressing your thumb down will jump you up to one of the next speed settings, but it won’t change which mode you’re in. You can set Eco mode for the kids or a leisurely ride through a quiet anchorage. But you’ll never be able to select maximum performance on that ride until you return to shore, open the app, and change the setting.

Big deal? Not really. Ultimately, an advanced rider could just leave the board in “Extreme” mode and blast off. All of this adds to the versatility of the board. Set it up in Eco mode and just use the foot pad for relaxing tours of quiet coves. Set it to Extreme the next day, mount the foot bindings, and practice your jumps and carves in the open water chop.

Finally, the kill switch is easy to use and effective. It’s magnetic and snaps to one of the two ports on the battery. The recesses are deep, with a rubber gasket to improve its grip. It’s difficult to accidentally pop out, which is important since you might be moving your feet around. But, if you fall off the board, the switch comes out, and the power is shut down. The kill switch is attached with a long lanyard designed to go to your belt or vest.

Price and Quality

The RÄVIK 3 is obviously a premium product. The technology doesn’t come cheap, and the battery alone is a high-tech kit. Compared to Radinn and some of the other electric surfboards we’ve tested, the RÄVIK 3 is still on the high end.

As of June 2023, the RÄVIK 3 sells for $13,900 (USD) with the standard SR Flex battery and $16,900 (USD) for the extended XR battery. This price is higher than the Radinn boards but generally on par with the Jetsurf offerings.

In terms of quality, you really couldn’t ask for more. All components of the board, battery, and controller are completely watertight, meaning you should never have any problems with water ingress. The hull is made from carbon and Kevlar fibers for maximum strength.

Awake is also deeply committed to customer service, ensuring that these boards will last for the long haul. Software updates are pushed through the cloud and the connected app, ensuring owners can always access the latest updates and features.

In the end, the outstanding quality of the product and the amazing experience it offers make it worth the high price tag.

Do We Recommend the Awake RÄVIK 3?

Is the RÄVIK 3 worth it? If you’re in the market for the ultimate jet-powered water toy, we think so. Compare it to a wakeboard, a foil, or even a jet ski. No matter how you look at it, the RÄVIK beats them all in some ways. It’s a blast to ride and fun for everyone who tries, making it great for anyone from beginners to experienced riders. It’s portable, quick to set up, and low maintenance. Oh, and did we mention that it’s a blast to ride?

The only caveat goes to experienced enthusiasts who have a lot of time wakeboarding, surfing, or generally shredding it on the water. In this case, you’ll want to look at the RÄVIK S for a maximum-performance alternative carefully.