Artificial Waves // GQ Magazine

I wrote an article about Kelly Slaters Surf Ranch and The Wave Bristol for GQ Magazine, you can read it here: https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/is-kelly-slater-surf-ranch-the-future-of-surfing

Artificial waves have been around for more than 30 years, but commercially sustainable facilities still elude the industry and remain surfing’s Holy Grail: an environmentally friendly everlasting wave for an endless summer. Kelly Slater’s high-performance Surf Ranch is the latest and arguably greatest attempt to achieve this. It combines the latest science and engineering to create the longest rideable, man-made open-barrel wave in the world, set in Lemoore, California, a farming town 100 miles from the ocean. Ten years in the making, Slater’s wave pool technology allows competitors to surf without the risk of flat spells or interruptions from local sharks (the latter having become more common at recent surfing events in Australia and South Africa).

Is this the future of the sport or are we at risk of destroying the soul of surfing?

To continue reading, click here: https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/is-kelly-slater-surf-ranch-the-future-of-surfing