Surfers love trucks for their versatility both in terms of hauling gear and helping them get to remote surf breaks. So it makes sense that Chevrolet teamed up with boardsports company Hurley for the 2016 SEMA Show to build a surf-themed Chevy Colorado Z71.
Dubbed the “ultimate wave warrior,” Chevy worked closely with Ryan Hurley, creative director and son of Hurley founder Bob Hurley, to help develop this surf-themed off-roader for the show. More than just a poser truck that looks the part, Hurley helped conceive functional additions to the Colorado that surfers and adventure seekers can really use.
“This concept is all about functionality,” Hurley said. “When we discussed the project with Chevrolet, we didn’t want just a truck with our logo on it. It had to offer solutions for the challenges surfers face at remote locations and that’s exactly what it delivers.”
For starters, the Z71 gets a concept suspension lift and upgraded Goodyear Duratrac off-road tires (which all looks very much like a ZR2, a truck we have reason to believe will actually be produced). The upgraded suspension and tires get the truck’s undercarriage up off the trail to reduce clearance issues, and the additional suspension travel makes sure the ride will be smooth. The Seafoam Green exterior gives the truck a clean appearance that stands out but isn’t overly flashy, and there are plenty of Hurley accents throughout the truck, such as a Hurley logo on the front skid plate, Hurley logos incorporated into the side and rear of the truck, and even a Hurley badge on the floorboards of the interior.
When it comes to the surf-focused upgrades, a custom carrier system was built to carry surfboards stop the truck while still allowing access to the bed. Inside the bed, a pull-out Thule rack serves as a place to dry out wetsuits after a surf session and also house additional drinking water containers. Auxiliary LED lighting is found at back as well to provide visibility for surfers during dawn patrol missions. Speaking to Hurley at Chevy’s reveal of the vehicle prior to the start of the 2016 SEMA Show, he explained a little more about his vision for the backend of the truck.
“When you’re getting ready at 4 o’clock in the morning there’s no light, right? So just having external lighting helps solve that problem,” Hurley told us. “If you have a ski (PWC) back there, either in the morning or late in the day when it’s getting dark, if you’re launching a ski in the shore break, like in Baja or something like that, it’s really hard to see. Even if you’re just walking down the trail you can get hurt pretty bad, so just having some lights to shine on the trail or load the ski back up really helps.”
Surfers have always been creative when looking for ways to safely stash their keys during a surf session. Most of the time, a small pouch in your wetsuit or leash is the best bet, but modern electronic keys prove to be troublesome because they’ll short when they get wet. Sometimes surfers will try to find a safe place on the beach or on their car to stash their key while in the water, but this makes car theft a simple proposition (and super sketchy if you’re in remote Baja), especially while the surfer is out in the water for a surf session.
“One of the most interesting things is this RFID key, which basically keeps the key on you and it’s waterproof so you don’t have to worry about leaving the somewhere and getting your truck stolen,” Hurley said. “If you’re leaving your truck on the beach in Baja you’ll be fine.”
The key is basically a waterproof bracelet worn on the truck owner’s wrist, and a simple swipe of the key next to the bow tie on the front grille or tailgate unlocks the truck.
Inside the truck Hurley used Khaki Green and Sand Dune-colored wetsuit material on the front and rear seats, arm rests and door panels so a surfer just getting out of the water doesn’t have to worry about getting fabric or leather seats wet (another Hurley logo is incorporated on the front headrests also). A wetsuit bimini top is also used to provide some shade over the truck bed’s custom rack.
“Overall, we wanted solving for getting in and out of the water, and being in remote regions and getting off the beaten path in search for waves,” Hurley said. “I wanted to provide real solutions for that, and I think that’s what we’ve done with this truck.”
We think so, and we’ll gladly help Chevy and Hurley test this thing out in Baja for the next surf trip.
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