Check out Kelly Slater's Surf Ranch in pictures
Kelly Slater built the ultimate wave pool. Here's what it looks like.
Welcome to Surf Ranch
Kelly Slater's Surf Ranch is in Lemoore, California. It's nowhere near the ocean. A hydrofoil generates 4- to 5-foot waves so surfers can have a thrilling ride for 45 seconds.
Daybreak
At 8 a.m., surfers and swimmers are getting ready for a full day of waves. On top of the wave pool itself, the Surf Ranch has a hot tub and another lake where visitors can kayak or stand-up paddleboard.
Wave pool diagram
The wave pool explained in one image. On the left hand side is where the board room and main buildings are located. The entrance to the pool itself is also on the left hand side.
Surfers travel down the ramp into the water, jumping on a jet ski to take them to the right place in the pool. A control tower in the middle of the lake is where the magic happens and the operator can choose what type of wave to deploy.
Calm before the storm
The wave pool is quiet and calm before the hydrofoil rolls through on the right-hand side. Surfers are protected from the foil with a net and barriers.
Kelly Slater
Slater with one of his boards.
Surf storage
Each surfer gets a cubby with their name to store their board, towel and other belongings.
Kelly Slater's cubby
Enough said.
Surf conditions
Just like a regular ocean surf report, the Ranch posts conditions of the day.
Here comes the wave
This is Slater's favorite "soliton wave" traveling down the pool. The jetski rider keeps an eye on surfers as the wave passes through, radioing back and forth between the control tower as needed.
Signatures
One of the surfboards in the board room has signatures and tributes from previous visitors.
Time to wax
Branded stands so surfers can wax their board of choice.
Prepping the board
A surfer waxes his board before taking to the waves.
Photos and awards
Photos and award memorabilia from Slater's 20+ year career.
Dog days
It's not just surfers who can enjoy the Surf Ranch.
Tractor
A tractor sits at the entrance to the wave pool.
Adam Fincham
This is Adam Fincham, expert in fluid dynamics and a professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering at the University of Southern California. He helped Slater develop and craft his perfect wave.
Wetsuits
Outside the board room, a rack of wetsuits available for surfers.
Boards 'a plenty
A selection of boards designed by Slater.