AI, Facial Recognition Tech Coming To A Surf Park Near You
The technology surrounding the surf park and wave pool world right now is crazy, and not only are the waves themselves getting better, but so is the “used experience,” as a developer might say. Last month the folks at Wavegarden in Spain unveiled their “CheckMySurf” platform, which uses AI tech, including facial recognition, to provide surfers with video and replay services. Basically, 4k cameras capture every ride, are able to tell who’s who, then show them on large, onsite LED screens, as well as provide the surfers with their clips to share later.
“The new video tech is really amazing,” said Italian surfer Leo Fioravanti, who tested it out at Alaïa Bay in Switzerland. “You just review your wave on the big screen and then try to implement improvements on the next wave. It helped me get the backflip dialed, just check my Instagram.”
Beyond the video, the platform also provides wave details, time until the next wave, and of course, advertisements and branded content.
“We have been very focused on creating a practical system for surfers to review their waves and improve their ability, while delivering an intelligent and easy solution for surf park operators,” Josema Odriozola, Wavegarden's CEO, said in a press release. “Having the system connected to the wave-making machinery and large outdoor screens is by far the best option.”
Odriozola sees this as just the start of what AI can do to enhance the man-made surf experience.
“Currently, we are developing an automated biomechanical 3D coaching tool,” he adds. “The AI breaks down the motion of the surfer’s body to extract structured data from each video frame. It analyzes the biomechanics of surfing maneuvers and offers valuable improvement recommendations.”
With more than 25 years of writing about surfing, the ocean and action sports, Jake Howard continues to share stories, profiles and issues that shape the surfing world. One of the premier subject-matter experts in the field today, he's savvy in the ways of print, digital and social media, his breadth of work is expansive. Getting his start writing Surfline surf reports and recording the phone reports for 976-SURF in the late '90s, Jake served as the managing editor for Surfer Magazine in the early 2000s before moving on to launch RedBullSurfing.com and cover surfing for ESPN and the X Games. Over the years, Jake has also enjoyed time behind the edit desk at The Surfer's Journal, as well as the World Surf League, where he worked as the Senior Editor for a number of years. Beyond producing editorial content, Jake has served as a digital marketer and copywriter for iconic surf brands such as Quiksilver, Roxy and Rip Curl. Writing thousands of pages of copy for Surfline, he has deep SEO experience as well. The surf columnist for the San Clemente Times, Jake continues to dedicate himself to the culture and history of the sport through his involvement with the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center in San Clemente.