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Kelly Slater's Wavepool Is Officially a World Tour Stop

The Surf Ranch in Lemoore, CA will be featured on the 2018 CT schedule

By Dashel Pierson
  • Published:November 17, 2017
  • Views:19,153
It was inevitable. Like a John John Florence World Title, or death.
It was something we all knew was coming, but today, the World Surf League made it official: Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch in Lemoore, CA will formally be featured as a CT stop in 2018.

Via press release, CT athlete representative Ace Buchan said: “I have no doubt that both the quality of the wave and the experience is befitting of hosting a world-class CT event. The ocean will always be our home, but as we grow, having the opportunity to showcase and share the stoke of surfing to new audiences and schedule with pinpoint accuracy the huge match-ups and drama of the WSL is really exciting.”

In other words, expect to see a scheduled event, perhaps airing on a major sports broadcasting network, and the finals going down like a World Series Game 7, only with a nominal fraction of the viewership. At least, for the first year. But this is just the first steps into the final frontier, as the WSL attempts to penetrate the mainstream market. And we’ll just have to wait to see if it sticks.

Almost two months ago, the WSL held a private “test” event at the Surf Ranch with a select group of current CT surfers. By the looks of it, everyone converted into disciples of the pool. And Kanoa Igarashi, who placed fourth in the mock competition, prognosticated this: “I guarantee there will be at least one event here next year. Whether it’s a specialty event or a CT. This event wasn’t just a one-off. Everyone will remember this day for the rest of our generation at least.”

More implications of a CT wavepool event concern surfing’s inclusion in the 2020 Olympic Games. Officials have said the event will be held at Shidashita Beach, just outside of Tokyo. But talk of an artificial playing field has long been swirling. And what better way to show the IOC the viability of the technology than an official event?

Of all the vague uncertainty that comes with a groundbreaking development like Slater’s wavepool, there’s one thing that’s absolutely clear: this is just the beginning.

The full 2018 CT schedule will be released next week.
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Ryan Chavez 11/22/2017 07:44 PM   * PREMIUM MEMBER - Real Name

WSL is a joke now.... The new set up is so sad... RIP WSL

Darin Daly 11/22/2017 05:26 AM

So boring after first few heats by each surfer. Lame, like watching people go down a water slide...

Tyler Frey 11/22/2017 04:11 AM   * PREMIUM MEMBER - Real Name

Would rather have Trestles.

brian carr 11/22/2017 03:43 AM   * PREMIUM MEMBER - Real Name

they traded this for trestles...I bet the trestles locs are stoked..yeeew!

Kittyelliotttttttttt 11/21/2017 10:20 PM

Great if you have money, friends and connections. If this will only be open to the select few then keep it off social media. Or better yet, open your rich boy bool up to wounded warriors or veterans. Just a thought...you could even use it as a tax break since that's all you care about.

FRANK CARONNA 11/21/2017 07:00 PM   * PREMIUM MEMBER - Real Name

Its going to be very similar to watching a skate or snowboard event. The one thing that makes surfing unique from the rest is you cant predict Mother Nature and the diversity the ocean offers. To me this will be boring event from a surfers point of view and way rather see the events that were removed than a wave pool event. I think it should just be a specialty event and keep the real waves for the tour events. Sorry WSL, but this might end up being boring,but I guess we'll see and hope Im wrong

curtis klapp 11/21/2017 06:28 PM   * PREMIUM MEMBER - Real Name

I feel like aerials will gain importance and tube sections will be weighted less

Phil 11/21/2017 04:43 PM

No Fiji. But added Indo.

squid108 11/21/2017 05:11 AM   * PREMIUM MEMBER - Nickname

Fake president, fake news, now fake surfing - devolution in the USA.

casey patelski 11/20/2017 11:48 PM   * PREMIUM MEMBER - Real Name

Interesting how all the interveiwed pros are stoked on the Ranch wave, and how the "complainers" are on this blog. If it was a bad thing, the people who surfed it would say so, but they're all stoked about it. All the negative is from the people who never surfed it. Tells all of us exactly the truth and happiness from this marvel of engineering is a success, and not a failure like words are from the complainers. Limited minds will stay limited. You aint seen nothin yet!

rich 11/20/2017 11:35 PM

Kelley just trying to one-up Laird on ruining our sport, they don't care- just a couple sellouts.

Fake news 11/20/2017 08:18 PM

this is so stupid.

crusty 11/20/2017 07:36 PM

Add actuators that allow the bottom contour to be changed from the control booth, & setup some pre-programmed bottom shapes so the contestants have to read and contend with changing surf that they cant anticipate (e.g., add sections, a non-barreling part, etc.). Then it wont be a repetitive wave. As for having to 'read the lineup', having to wait 15 minutes for a wave is what makes surf contests boring NOW. I think heats that enable 10 rides in 15 minutes will be better to watch.

Buoyant meat 11/20/2017 05:16 PM

Man this thing is gonna be a trip. I imagine it'll be more like watching snowboarding or skateboarding. Guys will have "runs" and it will have more of an x games/Olympics Vibe. Kick flips and weird rotation/grab combos will become the norm. It'll really benefit super technical small wave guys. Should be cool.... But different.

Aints 11/20/2017 04:04 PM

Kookslams gets several hundred thousand clicks in hours, wave pool article can't even get ten thousand in days. Any questions? Ask Bobby.

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