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Innovation
“Everyone was getting waves… That’s what you want in a wavepool.”
Updated: May 18, 2024 02:12 PM EST
A surfer enjoying AllWaves’ innovative wave pool technology in Belgium.
AllWaves
A Belgian startup, AllWaves, is making waves — quite literally.
Surfing has skyrocketed in popularity recently, even making its debut at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. The Knokke-Heist-based company has unveiled a patented system that brings waves and the thrill of riding them closer to people.
“I’m thrilled to see the positive responses of the market,” AllWaves founder and CEO Steven Nauwelaerts said in a statement. “As a passionate surfer who has spent years working in renewable wave energy, it’s a dream come true.”
The hidden mechanics behind the perfect wave
AllWaves’ innovation simulates ocean waves using a durable textile pillow. Through a sophisticated hydraulic system, this pillow moves up and down, creating an infinite variety of wave patterns.
“Our wave generation knowledge is captured in intelligent algorithms with infinite wave variability. A simple push on the app makes the desired wave roll,” Nauwelaerts told SurferToday.
From expert barrels to gentle, rolling waves suitable for beginners, the system can generate customizable waves up to six feet (1.80 meters) high, all at the touch of a button.
Submerged four meters below the surface and out of harm’s way, the technology generates a wave every seven seconds, ensuring a continuous flow of surfing opportunities.
The company claims its proprietary pillow technology utilizing the hydraulic system is the most energy-efficient in the market.
Surfing with safety and sustainability
One of AllWaves’ key selling points is its emphasis on safety and sustainability. The unique design of the wave basin, with its 360-degree gently sloping “beaches,” not only creates a natural aesthetic but also ensures surfers can enter and exit the water with ease, eliminating the risks associated with vertical walls and hard corners.
“There were a lot of people in the pool …, and everyone was getting waves,” remarked Blair Conklin, a three-time United Skim Tour champion who tested the technology. “That’s what you want in a wavepool.”
Notably, the company’s test center in Knokke-Heist powers its waves entirely with renewable energy, ensuring a carbon-neutral footprint and aligning with the global push for sustainable practices.
Commercial applications and future expansion
AllWaves’ vision extends far beyond recreational surf parks. With its low operating costs, the technology could feature in a myriad of applications, including water parks, professional practice venues for surf federations, and even mixed-use real estate developments.
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While the location of AllWaves’ first commercial wave pool remains undisclosed, Nauwelaerts has already hinted at plans for at least one facility in Belgium, in addition to numerous international locations.
The company’s R&D site in Knokke-Heist currently serves as a demonstration hub, where surf park developers can witness the technology firsthand and experience the surfing paradise AllWaves has created.
AllWaves looks intent on riding the crest of a wave that could reshape the future of surfing worldwide.
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Amal Jos Chacko Amal writes code on a typical business day and dreams of clicking pictures of cool buildings and reading a book curled by the fire. He loves anything tech, consumer electronics, photography, cars, chess, football, and F1.