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The sun floats low in the morning sky, and a stiff offshore breeze blows open a perfect empty barrel as you paddle past the shoulder. That would make a great picture you think as the moment collapses in a bubbling mass of foam lost to the shore forever. Now imagine that same barrel filled with your best buddy in his most spectacular surfing experience to date. What an insane image?gone!

Not so fast suckah! GoPro, a little company with a big idea, has rendered these Kodak moments attainable with its tiny, technological titan called the Digital Hero Camera. For too many years, surfers have had to choose between riding waves or shooting photos. Encased in an airtight plastic housing, The Digital Hero Camera affords surfers the chance to shoot pictures while they surf.

Make no mistake,The Digital Hero Camera is not for professionals. There is no focus feature, and the camera is very light sensitive. On the other hand, for amateurs looking to take some fun shots while in the field, in the water, or on the slopes; The Digital Hero Camera rules.

The Trial

I tried this little digital dynamo on a clear day under full sun. The surf was small, but I was able to catch a few waves and grab a couple shots. The first thing I noticed was how light and easy to handle the camera felt. At times, I honestly forgot I was wearing the camera. Fitting securely on my wrist, The Digital Hero Camera posed zero resistance for me when paddling.

I was worried the camera might be floppy or be a hindrance while surfing, but neither of those assumptions came to fruition.

In fact, GoPro?s Hero comes with a ?surfer ring?(as well as a ski glove adapter strap)that holds the camera flat and motionless until you are ready to shoot.

Out of the twenty pictures I took that day, fifteen were solid and five were fodder for the delete button. However, this outcome may have more to do to my inexperience with the GoPro Hero rather than any failure on its part. Also, the camera offers a nifty video feature just in case you want to catch that one hot move or perfectly peeling wave.

Then, when the perfect moment arises you are ready. With an automatic ?shut off? feature, you do have to activate the camera before you can click a photo, but with a little practice, this poses no problems, and the quick release ?surfer ring? puts the camera in action in a split second. I had some special fun trying to get a shot in the tiny barrels on that sunny afternoon, snapped a few unridden waves, but also produced some shaky shots due to the inherent instability of the ocean.

The Verdict

Running on a single AAA battery (included), The GoPro Hero is easily loaded and unloaded of its digital contents via a handy USB cable (included) and safely protected by its waterproof plastic housing. It is light and secure when strapped on, and barely noticeable once you get used to it.

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