It’s not every day you hear about a world champion wakesurfer leaving one of the biggest names in gas-powered boats to join a brand-new electric brand, but that’s exactly what Austin Keen just did.
Today, Arc Boats officially announced that Keen, the world champ skimboarder, wake lord, and all-around creative force in waters ports, is their first-ever athlete ambassador.
If you’ve followed Keen’s career at all, you know he’s always been a step ahead. From skimboarding behind boats before that was even a thing, to riding at Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch, to turning a spontaneous boat wake hijack into one of the most viral videos in surf history, he’s consistently shaped where the sport is headed. And now, he’s lending his name and energy to the electric wave.
To be honest, I had questions when I first heard the news. The switch from MasterCraft to Arc felt quick. I haven’t had the full sit-down with Keen yet, but from a quick chat and what Arc shared, it’s pretty clear what drew him in.
The boat he’s now riding is called the Arc Sport. It’s fully electric, has instant torque, real-time ballast tuning, programmable wave profiles, and can go four to six hours straight for wake surfing. If you’re just cruising, it can get up to 24 hours. No gas. No fumes. And here’s the big one…no engine noise.
That last part is a game changer, especially for anyone creating content on the water. Keen mentioned how important that is for his Celebrity Surf Series, where he teaches musicians, athletes, and creators how to ride, all while filming with podcast mics running. Getting clean audio on a wake boat has always been tough. Now, without engine noise, he said it’s the best boat experience he’s ever had on top of all that it can be fully charged in an hour?? I will have to vet these claims because it all seems too good to be true. Not to mention the fact that you don’t have to deal with oil changes, way less maintenance and price point wise considering the savings, it’s pretty competitive compared to you g25s and centurions at the same level.
The Arc Sport also comes with 360-degree cameras and a retractable roof, so you’re getting a premium ride with actual innovations that matter for both riders and creators. Keen’s not just endorsing it — he’s helping shape the future models, giving feedback and collaborating on original content.
This partnership makes a lot of sense. Keen’s built his entire career by reimagining what’s possible on water, and Arc is clearly trying to do the same with how boats are built. It’s cool to see an athlete and a company aligned not just on performance, but on the future of the sport.
There’s more to dig into, and I’ll catch up with Keen soon to hear the full story behind the switch. But for now, it’s safe to say Arc is a brand worth watching and electric wake surfing might be a lot closer to the mainstream than people think.
You can check out more at arcboats.com, and keep an eye out for new Celebrity Surf Series episodes featuring the Arc Sport in action on Austin Keens youtube. His latest episode featuring UFC star Justin Gaethje! Actually go listen to the audio, you can hear the engine noise a lot, I think arc will be a game changer for Keen’s show!
