MAXIM Australia February 2022

In the world of extreme sports, there are few things as formidable, and hazardous, as big wave surfing. By big we’re talking 20 feet high or more, something nearly impossible for outsiders and casual riders to comprehend. American legend Shane Dorian, who quit championship competition surfing in 2003 to go all in on big waves, calls them “the ultimate challenge,” noting, “They can also present the ultimate life-or- death situation.” He makes the remark in the foreword to one of the most impressive photographic tributes to the sport ever published, Big Wave Surfer: The Greatest Rides of Our Lives, new from Rizzoli and authored by another surfing legend, Kai Lenny. The book profiles the world’s top competitors on the big wave scene, accompanied by jaw-dropping imagery. “It is hard to define…

Equipped with bulletproof deckhouse, this sleek new 79-foot yacht from Turkish company Mazu is equal parts superyacht and cruiser — and popular with crims worldwide. Turkey is a global hotspot for superyacht design right now, so this vessel is in high demand with rich civilians, too. Beyond there is the open foredeck which has three uses: a dining area for 12, a sunbathing area, and an open-air cinema — and what’s more superyacht than an outdoor cinema? Renowned interior designer Tanju Ozelgin wanted to create an interior more in tune with land architecture than nautical, so he went with a 19.3 foot beam and freestanding furniture to keep things roomy below deck, with room for three cabins — a master’s suite, VIP suite and a twin. He also utilised an inviting lighting…

Some call it the Tesla factor, but auto engineers and designers continue to push EV technology forward — and it doesn’t seem to be slowing. In the maritime industry however, most ships still rely on fossil fuel engines, but that could soon change if groundbreaking electric platforms like the Sunbeam Concept ONE keep making the cover of Yachts Weekly. Aside from its wind-driven ability, this catamaran utilises an EV propulsion system. At the top of the hulls, photovoltaic cells generate electricity for the engines and all other electrical equipment onboard. With favourable weather, the solar panels in strategic locations across the ship keep the batteries ever ready. It’s all about harnessing the wind when needed, and switching to the electric motors when loaded. Below deck, you’ll find a futuristic control centre and…

For such an expedition, there is only one option, the new Triton 13000/2 TE (Titanic Explorer), which is the world's only deepest-diving, acrylic-pressure-hulled submersible. Not only can it dive past 13,000 feet to the buried ship thanks to the Direct Drive system, its Gull Wing design and 4,000 metre depth rating make it the perfect for exploring the marine life or testing out your fishing lures under pressure. With the wings retracted, it is more streamlined for maneuvering around incredibly tight spaces. When the wings extent to their 6 metre max, the LED lighting and external cameras come out to play, ideal for scuba work, scientific study or playing David Attenborough. That massive see-through acrylic sphere which is essentially the cockpit becomes practically invisible once immersed, providing panoramic views with zero distortion…

German aviation startup E-Volo is teaming up with Asian ride-hailing app Grab, to launch the world’s first autonomous air taxi project out of a small, egg-like multicopter known as the Volocopter. Users will be able to order a flight using a smartphone; just don't expect inter city travel, the company likes to keep it local. While a traditional helicopter uses one rotor to provide lift and a tail rotor to prevent spinning, the Volocopter has 18 smaller rotors that give boost without causing any spinnage. Navigation is done by changing the speed of the individual rotors. With a range of 35 km and airspeed of 110 km/h, it can be flown using only a joystick, with over 100 microprocessors assisting with stability and control. Even if the mechanics go south, the Volocopter…

Earlier in my career, I believed that machines were “obviously” the lesser choice. I’d argue that they only required you to overcome resistance, not control it. I believed that machines were “too stable” and that people who used them lacked the intestinal fortitude to learn how to use free weights correctly. As a Team Free Weights advocate, I stood behind Paul Chek’s quote: “Machines are like sleeping pills for the nervous system”. Thankfully, both myself AND technology have evolved, and if you asked me what the best way to get big and strong is now, you’ll get the much more open and objective answer, “That depends.” WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Current science suggests that muscles get bigger and stronger when they’re exposed to unaccustomed levels of tension. The magnitude of that…