Much like the man himself, the Kelly Slater Wave Company stands at the forefront of surfing innovation, forever changing the sport with its groundbreaking artificial wave technology. Founded on a decade-long journey into recreating the world’s best ocean waves, the company has developed a system that produces the longest open-barrel, high-performance man-made waves.This next-level technology eliminates the unpredictability of ocean surfing, allowing both veteran and novice surfers to hone their skills in a controlled environment. Free from concerns about the tides, coral reefs, rocks, and sharks, riders can focus purely on perfecting their technique. The company’s crown jewel, Kelly Slater Surf Ranch in Lemoore, California, showcases this technology in action, offering a truly unique surfing experience.
Born from the vision of a surfing legend, the Kelly Slater Wave Company (KSWC) has transformed the world of surfing, bringing perfect waves to landlocked locations and redefining the sport’s possibilities. This innovative company is the brainchild of Kelly Slater, widely regarded as the greatest professional surfer of all time.
Kelly Slater’s journey to creating the perfect man-made wave began long before the company’s inception. Born in 1972 in Cocoa Beach, Florida, Slater started surfing at the young age of five. His natural talent and dedication to the sport quickly became known to all, and by his teens, he was already winning competitions. Slater turned professional in 1990 and went on to dominate the sport, claiming an unprecedented 11 World Surf League championships.
Throughout his career, Slater’s passion for surfing extended beyond competition. He became increasingly interested in the science behind wave formation and the possibility of creating the perfect wave in a controlled environment. This curiosity, combined with his desire to make high-quality surfing experiences more accessible, laid the foundation for what would later become the Kelly Slater Wave Company.
In 2005, Slater took the first steps toward realizing his dream. He assembled a team of engineers, scientists, and businessmen to explore the possibility of creating an endless, perfect wave. This wasn’t just about building another wave pool – Slater’s vision was to recreate the power, shape, and feel of world-class ocean waves in a controlled setting.
The team embarked on a journey of extensive research and development, diving deep into the complexities of fluid dynamics and wave generation. They set up a state-of-the-art research laboratory in Los Angeles, complete with a working model of a circular wave pool. This became the testing ground for their groundbreaking ideas.
After five years of intense work and countless experiments, the Kelly Slater Wave Company was officially launched in December 2010. The company’s core innovation was a wave generation system that could produce what they described as “the world’s first natural, deep water, world-class wave.”
The recent launch of the second Kelly Slater Wave Pool marks a significant milestone in the advancement of wave pool technology, showcasing the visionary progress achieved in the realm of artificial surfing waves. Additionally, the exciting announcement that the venue will host the WSL longboard competition in 2025 further solidifies its position as a global hub for cutting-edge surfing events, highlighting the technology’s impressive evolution and widespread recognition on an international stage.
What set KSWC’s technology apart was its ability to generate waves on the outside of a large circular pool, which then propagate onto an inner island where they break endlessly. This design allowed for the creation of longer, more consistent waves than traditional wave pools could offer.
From the beginning, Slater and his team envisioned KSWC as more than just a wave-making company. They saw it as a platform to reimagine the entire surfing experience. The company’s plans included creating unique destinations that would feature not only world-class waves but also beaches, restaurants, bars, pools, conference facilities, and retail spaces.
This holistic approach aimed to make the surfing lifestyle accessible to enthusiasts worldwide, regardless of their proximity to the ocean.
The success of the Surf Ranch has had a significant impact on the surfing world. It has been used for professional competitions, including World Surf League events, bringing in a new dimension to competitive surfing. The technology has also opened up possibilities for bringing never-before-seen surfing experiences to inland areas, expanding the sport’s reach and popularity.
The company’s vision became a reality with the creation of the Kelly Slater Surf Ranch in Lemoore, California. Unveiled to the public in 2015, the Surf Ranch quickly became the talk of the surfing world. It featured a 700-yard long, 70-foot wide wave pool capable of producing waves that could be ridden for 52 seconds – longer than most ocean waves.
Looking to the future, the Kelly Slater Wave Company continues to innovate and expand. Plans for new facilities in different parts of the world are in development, with the goal of making world-class waves accessible to more people.
Through the Kelly Slater Wave Company, Slater has managed to merge his passion for surfing with cutting-edge technology, creating a legacy that extends far beyond his competitive achievements. The company stands as a testament to Slater’s vision and his desire to share the thrill of riding perfect waves with surfers around the world.
In 2010, our very own Big Sky founder, Michael Schwab, was invited to go see their prototype facility and caught a glimpse of the incredible potential that Kelly Slater and The Kelly Slater Wave Company held. Memories of his own surfing adventures came rushing back, igniting his passion for this groundbreaking concept of creating a man-made wave. Without hesitation, Michael reached out to Kelly Slater, fully convinced of the possibilities that lay ahead. He offered his support should they ever be in need of visionary investors to help propel their vision forward.
As time passed, the idea continued to grow, and with it, Slater’s desire to expand and bring on new investors. It was during this phase that Slater’s thoughts circled back to a conversation he had with Michael in 2010, where the seeds of possibility were planted. Recognizing the alignment of their passions and shared vision, Slater approached Michael, eager to secure his investment. Without hesitation, Michael seized the opportunity and joined forces with The Kelly Slater Wave Company in 2013.
In a groundbreaking move that sent ripples through the surfing world, the Kelly Slater Wave Company was acquired by WSL Holdings, the parent company of the World Surf League, in 2016. This strategic merger united Slater’s revolutionary wave technology with the WSL’s global reach and commitment to showcasing the world’s best surfing.
The acquisition marked a pivotal moment in the sport’s evolution, promising to bring perfect, consistent waves to diverse locations worldwide. By combining KSWC’s innovation with WSL’s established platform, the partnership aimed to elevate competitive surfing, expand the sport’s accessibility, and introduce new opportunities for athletes and fans alike. This union of visionary technology and global sports management set the stage for surfing’s exciting future.