The Machinery

Every wave-pool technology

Seven systems power every operating artificial surf park on earth. Hydrofoil sleds, pneumatic caissons, central plungers, electro-mechanical panels. Here's how each one makes a wave — and where you can go ride it.

Aerial illustration of a Wavegarden Cove electro-mechanical wave pool with a peeling right-hand wave and submerged wall modules.

Wavegarden Cove

Electro-mechanical

The high-volume, high-variety benchmark. If you've surfed a Cove, you've surfed the closest thing to an ocean.

Waves/hr
1000
Max face
7.2ft / 2.2m
HQ
Aizarnazabal
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Illustration of a Kelly Slater Wave Co. hydrofoil surf pool producing a long rifling barrel down a narrow lake.

Kelly Slater Wave Co. (KSWC)

Hydrofoil

The wave that changed everything. Fewer sets per hour — every one a 50-second point break.

Waves/hr
15
Max face
11.2ft / 3.4m
HQ
Los Angeles
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Illustration of a PerfectSwell pneumatic wave pool by American Wave Machines with an air-ramp section and a surfer going airborne.

PerfectSwell (American Wave Machines)

Pneumatic

Pneumatic peaks and air ramps. The wave pool that made airborne surfing a stadium sport.

Waves/hr
120
Max face
5.9ft / 1.8m
HQ
Solana Beach
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Illustration of an Endless Surf pneumatic wave pool by WhiteWater West with a head-high wave breaking down a sculpted reef bay.

Endless Surf

Pneumatic

The deepest programmable menu of any pool. Built by WhiteWater West.

Waves/hr
120
Max face
7.9ft / 2.4m
HQ
Richmond
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Illustration of a Surf Loch pneumatic wave pool in a desert setting with an overhead barreling wave and palm-fringed shore.

Surf Loch

Pneumatic

Pneumatic depth. The deepest wave menu in North America, tuned by ex-pros.

Waves/hr
70
Max face
7.9ft / 2.4m
HQ
Palm Springs
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Aerial illustration of a Surf Lakes central-plunger wave pool sending five simultaneous concentric waves outward from a circular lagoon.

Surf Lakes

Central plunger

A central plunger sends five simultaneous breaks radiating outward. One pool, five wave zones.

Waves/hr
5 breaks × ~10/hr each
Max face
8.2ft / 2.5m
HQ
Yeppoon
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Illustration of a Swell MFG pneumatic wave pool in the Arizona desert with an A-frame wave and saguaro cactus silhouettes on the horizon.

Swell MFG

Pneumatic

Beschen, Bushey and Gunn's pneumatic platform. First commercial install at Revel Surf, Mesa.

Waves/hr
90
Max face
6.6ft / 2m
HQ
Mesa
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Illustration of a UNIT deep-water standing wave with a surfer riding a stationary green wave on a real shortboard inside an indoor facility.

UNIT Surf Pool

Pneumatic

Deep-water standing waves and, from 2026, a 50-metre Dynamic traveling wave.

Waves/hr
90
Max face
6.6ft / 2m
HQ
Baden-Wurttemberg
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Illustration of a Premier Surf Systems pneumatic private-club wave pool with a traveling head-high wave and a small group of surfers.

Premier Surf Systems

Pneumatic

Private-club-focused pneumatic waves, capped at 20 surfers per session.

Waves/hr
120
Max face
6.6ft / 2m
HQ
United States
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Illustration of an EpicSurf deep-water standing wave by Aquatic Development Group with a surfer carving a stationary teal wave.

EpicSurf

Pneumatic

Aquatic Development Group's deep-water standing wave. Real shortboards, not sheet-wave foam.

Waves/hr
Continuous
Max face
5.9ft / 1.8m
HQ
Cohoes
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Illustration of a Ka'ana Wave Co. CM7 deep-water standing wave with a surfer on a shortboard and evergreen British Columbia mountains behind.

Ka'ana Wave Co.

Pneumatic

Canadian deep-water standing wave. Real shortboards, right off the Trans-Canada Highway.

Waves/hr
Continuous
Max face
5.9ft / 1.8m
HQ
British Columbia
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