In the 21st century, the surfing world witnessed several ways of generating a rideable wave outside the ocean.
However, for decades, artificial wave technology has followed a familiar formula.
Someone builds a giant pool, installs complex machinery, moves enormous volumes of water, and creates a wave where no ocean exists.
A Russian company called Surfinity is taking a different path.
Instead of constructing a purpose-built surf lagoon, the company has developed a system designed to turn existing lakes, reservoirs, and artificial water bodies into surf destinations.
The technology relies on a moving device that generates waves as it travels across the water, creating a setup that looks less like a traditional wave pool and more like a cross between a cable park and a surfing reef.
Surfinity shares a similar background with Finland's very own Artwave, one of the smartest, least expensive, most compact, and most mobile wave-generation systems on the planet.
SurferToday.com tested it and enjoyed the ride, somewhere in a forest in the middle of the Nordic country.
Now, Surfinity seems to be moving the same way and beyond the drawing board.
The firm already operates a surf park near Moscow and says its technology can be installed almost anywhere in the world where suitable water conditions exist.
Shall we see how it works?
A wave created by motion
At the center of the system is a hydrodynamic device known as a "plow." Yes, you read it well - a plow.
The plow travels along a cable stretched between two stations positioned at opposite ends of the riding area.
As it moves, the plow pushes water aside and creates two symmetrical wake waves, one on each side of its path.
The effect resembles the wake generated by a boat, although Surfinity's system is designed to produce the waves continuously along a fixed route.
The company says the plow travels in a straight line from one end of the riding zone to the other.
When it reaches the end, it slows down, stops briefly, then accelerates back in the opposite direction and repeats the cycle.
It's the motion of surf.
The setup consists of a motor station, a return station, a cable connecting the two, and the plow itself.
Compared with many modern surf park technologies, the mechanical layout is relatively simple.
Two different surf experiences
Surfinity produces what it describes as two distinct types of waves.
The first are wake waves, which form directly behind the moving plow. These waves are similar to those ridden in wakesurfing, where a surfer rides the wake behind a boat.
The difference is that Surfinity creates two waves at the same time, allowing riders on both sides of the plow's path.
The second are breaking waves. They appear when the wake reaches specially shaped shallow areas near the shoreline.
As the water encounters the changing depth, the wave steepens and begins to break in a way that resembles ocean surf.
Surfers can paddle, catch the wave, and ride it much like they would at a beach break.
According to the company, designing the underwater contours correctly is a critical part of the system.
Artificial lakes offer an advantage because the bottom profile can be shaped specifically to improve wave performance.
But you might not need that much human intervention.
Long rides without a wave pool
One of Surfinity's most striking claims involves ride length.
The company says its waves can extend between 985 and 1640 feet (300 and 500 meters), with wave heights reaching up to four feet (1.5 meters). It also advertises rides lasting around 60 seconds under suitable conditions.
At its operating site in Borshchyovo, northwest of Moscow, Surfinity promotes what it calls the longest artificial surfing wave in Russia, measuring approximately 983 feet (300 meters).
The numbers place the system in a unique position within the surf park market.
Many modern wave pools focus on producing highly repeatable, high-performance waves that last only a few seconds.
Surfinity instead emphasizes longer rides generated across a much larger stretch of water.
And that could be extremely cool and appealing to most recreational surfers.
A different approach to artificial waves
The global surf park industry has expanded rapidly since 2015.
Companies such as Wavegarden and American Wave Machines have developed sophisticated systems capable of generating hundreds of waves per hour and a wide variety of wave shapes.
They built facilities that often rely on hydraulic, pneumatic, or electromechanical systems housed within specially constructed lagoons.
Surfinity follows a different engineering philosophy.
Rather than moving water across an entire pool, it creates a traveling wake and allows the surrounding environment to shape that energy into surfable waves.
The result is a system that can use existing water bodies and requires a much narrower footprint than many conventional surf parks.
The company lists a minimum water area of roughly 985 by 165 feet (300 by 50 meters), with an optimal size of about 1310 by 165 feet (400 by 50 meters).
The Russian wavemakers say installations can operate in lakes, artificial reservoirs, rivers, and sheltered coastal inlets. And they only need two weeks to get it up and pumping.
Again, in a way similar to Artwave.
Capacity, power, and economics
Surfinity says its system can generate up to 600 waves per hour and accommodate between 14 and 50 riders per hour, depending on site conditions and wave configuration.
Energy consumption is listed at approximately 100 kilowatt-hours (kWh).
The company argues that the design offers lower operating costs than many competing surf technologies because it uses electric power, requires less maintenance than boats, and does not depend on large hydraulic or pneumatic infrastructure.
Surfinity also claims operating expenses can be significantly lower than comparable systems, although independent verification of those figures is not publicly available.
The business model is aimed at surf parks, hotels, recreation centers, resorts, and waterfront developments seeking to add a surfing attraction without building a conventional wave pool.
Built by surfers
The origins of the project trace back to 2010.
According to the company, the idea emerged after its founders launched what they describe as Moscow's first wakesurf club.
Looking for a way to reduce the costs associated with boat-based surfing, they began developing a dedicated wave-generating system that could reproduce surfable waves without relying on towboats.
The resulting technology is described by the company as patented.
The team also operates surfing businesses beyond Russia, including a Bali-based surf school that dates back to 2008.
Can they make it into the highly competitive wave pool industry?
Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com
por Surfing | News, Headlines and Top Stories https://ift.tt/HWcIyYV