Comments on: Kelly Slater Makes Waves – no, really

By: tony (ty) carson big island

tony (ty) carson big island — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:55:46 +0000

I’m not a hater, just voicing my opinion, but I do believe money is motivating these people. And, Wow, wavepaks is on a mission to build a surf park and their intent is not to replace the ocean, (like they really could), and they want to build a artificial surfing destination for all to enjoy, (for a price). And once again, when you leave, someone will probably smile and say “thank you, hope you had a good time, come back again sometime , and oh, just one more thing, don’t forget to bring your wallet”, (to pay for your soulless, artificial experience). Maybe they will even have a tanning booth for you, so you can get some artificial sun also. Peace

By: WAVEPARKS LLC

WAVEPARKS LLC — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 02:22:27 +0000

WAVEPARKS LLC is on a mission to build a surfing park in South Florida! Our intent is not to replace the ocean. We plan to build a surfing destination for all to enjoy. Please visit our web site to see how you can help be a part of this project. Thanks!

WAVEPARKS Team

By: Viz

Viz — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:20:31 +0000

Tony Carsons a hater. Whoever thinks its all about the money your dumb.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 05 May 2011 21:07:16 +0000

Tony,

I never said it would, just that it would be nice to have that option. Right now down under it’s coming in to winter, I leave for work while it’s basically dark and I come home with 45mins before dark if I’m lucky and that only going to get worse for the next couple of months. Over winter I would be pretty happy to get a surfing fix through the week, even if it was only in an artificial setting.

Personally I’m not a religious person but I do enjoy the ocean in all it’s various moods and that will never be recreated artificially.

By: Tony Carson Big Island

Tony Carson Big Island — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 04:42:55 +0000

No one, is ever going to be able to recreate, the stoke of paddling out into the God given free ocean, feeling the salt water and the sand beneath your feet, the sense of freedom you have when your in the ocean, and all the other good vibes that go with it. If you want to pay someone for an artificial experience, that’s up to you. Peace.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 01:31:38 +0000

Personally I see this as the result of modern day living, people living faster and longer lives, and this is catering to that fundamental change. Call it crass commercialisation of the sport you love but ppl have been talking about this sort of thing for years. Probably starting with surfers looking at lakes and other landlocked bodies of water with what appear to be perfect point break set ups.

I for one have often daydreamt at the possibility of creating a wave by some means enabling me to surf that landlocked point. I think for me the idea originated with wanting a wave that I could create down to the tiniest details of size, power, speed, shape and sections that was offshore everyday and could be ridden anytime by only my friends and I.

The financial enormity of creating a wave like that basically demands that unless you are one of the top 1% of the worlds income earners, the only way to see it to fruition is by commercialising it, finding the right investors but they will only invest upon a sound business plan involving payback/return on investment plan etc etc. Thus the need for commercialisation and marketing.

In some respects it’s a self defeating dream, the very reason for wanting it is now gone along with the crowds of people required to make it a viable option. Having said that, despite the fact I have been surfing for 25 years, I’m so busy at work trying to earn enough money to live close to the ocean on the northern beaches of Sydney that I generally don’t get home in time to go surfing through the week. Bit of a cruel catch 22.

If someone was to provide me with the option of having a great surf whenever I wanted regardless of the tide, time and wind direction I would be onto it like a flash. If the cost of the technology reached an achievable level I would consider moving inland and building my own like the new wavegarden in Spain.

By: Tony Carson Big Island

Tony Carson Big Island — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 03:44:29 +0000

Has Slater flipped out or what, (or has all that money gone to his head), or is he just that lame, (or greedy), that he thinks most surfers grow up, wanting to have a surf park.
I would consider myself a somewhat hardcore surfer, having been surfing for over forty years, and I’ve never once felt like I wanted a surf park, just the opposite, I think it is one of the lamest ideas ever.
I think any real surfer,(worth his salt), would feel the same. Like I said earlier, half the stoke of the surfing lifestyle, comes form being in the free, God given ocean, (that no one can buy}, feeling the salt water and the sand beneath your feet, and all the other good vibes that go along with it. And Slater knows, your going to have to open your wallet for him, and pay for it, which is probably the most repulsive part of this money making scheme. No one, I repeat, no one, should ever have to pay anyone, to ride a wave,(artificial or not), what a soulless experience, open your wallet, give someone your money, to ride a wave. And when you leave, Slater, or one of his buddies, will probably say to you, “hope you had a good time, we enjoyed your company, be sure and come back again sometime, and oh, just one more thing, don’t forget to bring your wallet, (so we can stuff ours”), and, to pay, for your soulless experience”. Tony Carson Big Island

By: Tony Carson

Tony Carson — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 08:11:11 +0000

In this article, Kelly Slater’s partner and co founder says “the (commercial) opportunities for these application are tremendous” translation (maybe big bucks for someone, maybe for Kelly). One definition of commercialism today is “the tendency to turn everything into an {object} or service sold for the purpose of generating a profit {money). This seems like the last thing surfing needs today, more people {especially surfers themselves} trying to take something they once probably loved, {surfing}, and turning it into an {object} to be sold and prostituted to the masses to stuff their own wallets. Tony Carson Big Island

By: Tony Carson

Tony Carson — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 07:11:29 +0000

Screw Kelly Slater, now he”s trying to cash in on a artificial wave, like he has”nt made enough bucks already from pro surfing, which is basically just a tool by surf companies to promote surfing to the masses, so they can sell someone in the midwest a surf tee they don”t really need. This is just a bad idea, if some one is really hardcore, they are going to pay their dues like we did, and log some hours in the ocean and learn to surf. Most of the fun from surfing comes from being in the free God given ocean, that no one can buy, feeling the salt water and the sand beneath your feet, and all the other good vibes that go with it. Well, I”m sure he might get a crew from the yuppie bunch, who might want to try and be cool and try this. Kelly is as screwed up as these guys who claim exclusive wave rights and want you to open your wallet for them, and pay to ride a wave that they think they own. No one should ever have to pay to ride a wave. Now Kelly wants you to open your wallet for him, for an artificial experiance . No thanks. Tony Carson Big Island

By: Del

Del — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 11:51:16 +0000

Noooo, what’re you doing Slater? Isn’t the search and the wait part of our connection to what we love. Everything is on tap now and nothing, it would appear, is sacred anymore. On the plus side it may empty the line-up a bit!!