Draft:SurfLoch LLC
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SurfLoch LLC (formerly Surf Loch LLC) is an American wave technology company based in La Jolla, California. The company is an engineering firm dedicated to the research, design, manufacturing, installation, commissioning, and promotion of wave-generating systems and lagoons for both commercial and private surfing facilities. Its systems are operational at the Palm Springs Surf Club in Palm Springs, California and at RiF010, a surf facility installed within a historic canal in Rotterdam, Netherlands.[1][2]
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Last edited by Twistnturns999 (talk | contribs) 2 days ago. (Update) |
Company type | Limited liability company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Wave technology |
| Founder | Tom Lochtefeld |
| Headquarters | La Jolla, California, United States |
| Website | surfloch |
History
SurfLoch represents an evolution of Wave Loch, a company Lochtefeld founded in 1991, transitioning from sheet-wave attractions such as the FlowRider and FlowBarrel toward pneumatic wave generation systems capable of producing ocean-like breaking waves suitable for traditional paddle-in surfing, drawing on hydrodynamic research conducted with the hydraulics laboratory at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.[2][3] In 2014, WhiteWater West acquired the FlowRider business from Wave Loch, after which SurfLoch became the primary entity for Lochtefeld's pneumatic wave research and commercial development.[2][4]
In 2014, Lochtefeld demonstrated the SurfLoch SurfPool concept at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) annual trade show.[5] By 2020, the company had ten projects at various stages of development across Australia, Spain, Germany, and five locations in the United States.[6]
Technology
SurfLoch uses a pneumatic system in which compressed air is cycled through large watertight concrete chambers, known as caissons, positioned along the deep end of a pool. The chambers displace water to generate wave pulses that travel across the pool and break over a contoured pool floor. By firing the chambers in different sequences, operators can produce waves that break left, right, or as a central peak.[3][7] Pools such as the one at Palm Springs Surf Club use 12 chambers; larger designs can incorporate up to 24, with wave heights typically ranging from 2 to 6 feet.[1][7] Wave settings are managed via software from Siemens' Xcelerator portfolio, which the company uses to model wave behaviour prior to construction and to monitor system performance across its installations. A MindSphere-based system manages water quality monitoring.[8][9][10]
Notable projects
Palm Springs Surf Club
The Palm Springs Surf Club, located in Palm Springs, California, operates a wave pool powered by SurfLoch's pneumatic system. The facility was developed on the site of a former water park in the Coachella Valley and was reported by The New York Times in 2020 as an early commercial proof of concept for the technology. The pool can accommodate up to 25 surfers at a time.[2][11]
RiF010
RiF010 is a surf facility located in the Steigersgracht canal in central Rotterdam, Netherlands. The project involved constructing a concrete basin inside an existing historic canal and installing SurfLoch's pneumatic wave system, powered by wind energy sourced from the North Sea. The facility opened in July 2024 and was described by Fast Company as notable for being situated within an active urban canal environment. The pool can accommodate approximately 20 surfers and 18 learners simultaneously.[12][13]