The news of Kelly Slater Wave Company’s recent adaptation – the addition of dedicated air sections at the end of both the left and right – has come through in drips and drabs. First rumors, then confirmation via Instagram by Albee Layer and Josh Kerr (the two the WSL and KS Wave Co. recruited for R+D), and now video evidence.
It’s funny to think that the strategy that the WSL and KSWC have employed to make the upcoming Surf Ranch Pro in September more exciting is essentially making the perfect artificial wave prematurely close out – in other words, making it worse. But, sometimes perfection isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Maybe what surf fans really want is to see the world’s best battle it out in conditions they can relate to.
Whether the new air sections will rescue the event in September or prove just as predictable as the Founders’ Cup remains to be seen. Until then, look for more aerial aficionados to score invites and drop clips from the pool in Lemoore.
