Artificial Wave Pool Allows Surfers To Enjoy The Best Waves Ever

Kelly Slater is considered by many as the greatest surfer of all time – and now he has come up with something that will surely be an amazing training place for his future successors.

First unveiled in 2014, Slater’s Surf Ranch is a 20-acre resort located in the desert-y Lemoore, California. It features a wave pool capable of delivering the best waves for surfers – through the use of modern technology.

Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch is dubbed as the “Disneyland for surfers”.

As you will see on the video below, the blue, 100-ton hydrofoil on rails moves along side the 700-yard pool and generates “perfect, tunnel-shaped waves” at will, which, as most surfers know, is a rare occurence when you’re out there in the ocean.

“This thing was built to be a perfect wave, more of something you would draw or imagine in your mind,” said Slater.

Surfers can choose the kind of wave they want, depending on their skill level.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a professional surfer when you’re at the Surf Ranch. You can choose the type of wave you want (which can range from 2 to 8 feet) and how frequent you get them.

Adam Fincham, fluid dynamics expert and professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering at the University of Southern California, was approachd by Slater for the project and they later recruited engineers, scientists, surfers, and wave experts to make it happen.

Fincham explained about the unique wave pool:

“They might say, ‘I like the beginning of that wave, but I like the end of that one.’ It’s just like video editing. You can do whatever you want.”

The waves are controlled from a tower by a wave operator.

According to reports, the Surf Ranch cost $30 million to design and build in 8 years.

At the moment, the surfing paradise is not open to the general public yet but is exclusively used by friends, family, and surfing competition participants.

Watch the video here: