The Great Indoors

Waikato University’s “maverick oceanographer” Professor Kerry Black is one step closer to making surfing an indoor spectator sport with the launch of Versareef in Orlando, Florida. While several pools around the world already feature modest artificial wave systems, Versareef will be the first to produce swells worthy of the world’s best surf beaches. “Our innovation has the potential to turn surfing into a stadium sport where spectators can watch top surfers compete on an international circuit,” says Black, who is currently fine-tuning the technology at Florida’s Ron Jon Surf Park. His groundbreaking project is the result of five years researching wave conditions in the Pacific region.