A decade long project by 11-time World Champion, Kelly Slater, is set to revolutionize surfing around the world. Slater, collaborating with a team of engineers at Kelly Slater Wave Co. (KSWC), has created a man-made solar powered, never-ending wave.
In a sport dominated by individuals who grow up near the coast, this innovative training wave will open the doors to land-locked surfers who may not have opportunities equal to those who live near the coasts. Slater’s vision has the potential to spark a rise in surfing participation around the world from young children to adults seeking a thrilling experience.
@KSWaveco and I have built the first world-class, high-performance, man-made wave! #FreakOfTechnology #KSWaveco pic.twitter.com/VbkJtMsP92
— Kelly Slater (@kellyslater) December 18, 2015
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Social media was set ablaze with excitement and curiosity after the release and the technology is being backed by some of surfing’s most popular names. One of its supporters is 18-year old rookie phenom, Kanoa Igarashi. “I’m in shock. I feel like I just won something,” said the Huntington Beach native after his first day on the wave. “That’s super exciting to me, knowing that thing is going to stick around for a while.” Kanoa’s public admiration for the wave is sure to attract more and more established and aspiring surfers to its remote location in Lemoore, CA.
Surfing’s governing body, the World Surf League also realized the vast opportunities that Slater’s man-made wave can provide and has taken action. WSL’s parent company, WSL Holdings, announced the purchase of a majority stake on May 24th. The partnership is tied together with the future plans of utilizing this technology to build a world network of high-performance training facilities with WSL branding.
So does this mean that surfing fanatics will see Slater’s man-made wave featured in WSL competitions in the near future? According to CSL Commisioner, Kieren Perrow, the possibility is certainly not out of the question. In an interview with Surfline, Perrow delivered a promising answer “We need to spend some time working on how to adapt the wave and refine the technology to suit what we need for a CT-level event,” said the former CSL surfer. “But obviously, the beauty is that everyone can see the potential is there, and what has already been achieved is amazing.”
Both parties agree this technology will positively impact surfing by generating more attention and participation around the world. Also speaking to Surfline, CSL CEO Paul Speaker even briefly hinted at the potential to market to TV broadcasters to bring surfing competitions to households everywhere. “The potential for this surpasses what we right now can recognize as possible,” he said. “The amount of people, the amount of enthusiasm, the exposure for our athletes…TV partners are going to be able to — for the first time — turn us on and off live at 1 o’clock on Sunday afternoon. Also, it’s no longer limited to geographic location. We can put [pools] in places where we know it’s important to grow the sport, in emerging markets.”
The man-made wave is inevitably going to give surfing a new edge, but Slater has made one message to address any concerns. “It’s not meant to replace anything,” he told Surfer Magazine. “I’ve always said this is a supplement to surfing in the ocean, and something for fun. I guess it could help the sport grow more quickly, similar to the way skateparks have grown skateboarding, and the potential for the Olympics can’t be overlooked.”
Surfing will be up and coming thanks to the dedication and passion that Kelly Slater and his team at KSWC invested in their decade long project. Teaming up with WSL seems to be the “cherry on top” for the sport of surfing altogether.