AMERICAN WAVE MACHINES/PERFECTSWELL
STATUS: Currently operational at a handful of surf parks around the world
WAVES: Most sessions are divided into two halves – 30 minutes for lefts and 30 minutes for rights
LOCATIONS: Japan, the USA and Brazil
PerfectSwell uses a pneumatic system similar to Endless Surf, SurfLoch and others. While there are nuances to the systems that come through in the patents and are obvious to engineers, it’s basically air pushed against water to create waves. The pneumatics are housed in chambers hidden in a central wall. Software controls the firing sequence of the chambers and the timing as well as the pressure of the air. The result is the creation of waves of many different types. At Waco Surf, Skudinsurf AD, Surf Stadium Japan, Boa Vista and Saö Paulo Surf Club, PerfectSwell creates both lefts and rights, but only one direction at a time. Their smaller system in New Jersey at the American Dream Mall offers a split peak wave.
Waco Surf in Texas as well as the Brazil wave tanks have become internet darlings thanks to the wide array of air waves the system can create. Famous branded waves include the Freak Peak, the Seabass Ramp and Mason Ho’s tube-to-air setting. Waves in Waco average 30-60 yards/meters, and tend to be semi-hollow to hollow and performance-oriented although short intermediate and beginner surf is available from the system as well. Rides at Waco Surf run about 10 seconds in duration with New Jersey clocking in at between 3-8 seconds depending on the setting. The design creates 120 -160 waves per hour which come in three-wave sets at between 1:10-1:30 apart. Waves created are roughly 2-to- 6-feet but can go bigger.
