The ever-spreading tendrils of AI have finally reached the lineup. While digital citizens have long become accustomed to the technology invading seemingly every service imaginable (whether it makes sense or not), surfers have mostly been spared.
But no longer.
The development comes courtesy of another oft-maligned technology: wave pools. In a recent press release, Endless Surf announced a partnership with Flowstate – a company that uses AI to analyze and sort video. Together, they hope to create products for “personalized wave delivery, immersive media, coaching and progression, and operator intelligence.”
The first collaboration between the two companies is called The Mixtape. At its core, the technology is simply a way for surfers to select personalized waves at an Endless Surf-powered park. Before a session, riders pick out the wave types they want, then Flowstate-powered software identifies them in the lineup and sends the waves their way. In theory, it should allow surfers of different levels to use the pool at the same time and receive waves tailored to their skills and preferences.
“The Mixtape brings together the two most advanced technologies in their respective fields to make an already unique Endless Surf experience even more personalized,” said Endless Surf President Paul Chutter. “Surfers can share long rides with their friends and family while each getting the wave they want, and operators gain an entirely new session product they can offer their guests. After nearly two years of development, The Mixtape is the first example of what we can create by bringing these technologies together.”
“Surfing with friends or family usually means everyone needs to want the same type of wave, or you end up surfing separate sessions,” added Flowstate CEO Luke Wallace. “The Mixtape changes that. Each surfer selects their wave, the technology identifies them as they paddle up, and Endless Surf delivers it — no tapping in, no wearables and no RFID required. The whole process happens seamlessly in the background, wave after wave.”
