Artificial Wave Creation

Artificial Wave Creation & Coastal Wave Enhancement

Exploring Surf Wave Quality as a Public Coastal Asset

SurfingEconomics partners with governments to explore the strategic potential of artificial and enhanced surf wave creation along natural coastlines.

Many coastal regions have miles of shoreline, yet only a small fraction of consistently high-quality surf. This is often due to factors like close-out beach breaks, unfavorable bathymetry, excessive exposure, or rocky seabeds that limit wave shape and usability.

Our role is to help governments identify where wave quality could be dramatically improved—and to explore conceptual, replicable approaches inspired by real-world examples that already exist today.

This work is exploratory, collaborative, and grounded in decades of surf experience and pattern recognition.

The Core Idea

Not all great waves are purely natural—and many of the world’s best surf breaks exist because of human-made coastal structures, often unintentionally.

Examples include:

  • Harbor jetties
  • Sand dredging and deposition
  • Breakwaters and groynes
  • Piers and pilings

In many cases, these structures accidentally create world-class waves by shaping swell direction, refraction, sand movement, and wave energy.

SurfingEconomics helps governments ask the right questions:

Could similar principles be applied intentionally, responsibly, and strategically—without harming the coastline or community?

Our Role

SurfingEconomics is not an engineering or oceanography firm.

We act as:

  • A strategic surf and coastal ideation partner
  • A translator between surf dynamics, public agencies, and technical experts
  • A facilitator of feasibility discussions and concept development

We bring 30+ years of surf experience, combined with economic and marketing strategy, to help governments explore what might be possible—before large technical investments are made.

What We Do

1. Coastal Wave Opportunity Review

We start by evaluating a region’s coastline through a wave-quality lens, including:

  • Existing surf conditions and limitations
  • Close-out zones and underperforming stretches
  • Swell exposure and prevailing conditions
  • Human-made coastal structures already in place
  • Sand movement, dredging history, and access points

The goal is to identify locations with latent potential, where relatively small interventions could create outsized improvements.

2. Pattern Analysis from Real-World Examples

Rather than starting from theory alone, we study existing surf breaks that were created or enhanced unintentionally.

Notable examples include:

  • Santa Cruz Harbor Mouth (CA)
    A near-perfect right-hand barrel formed by a harbor jetty.
  • “Murph Bar” – Santa Cruz (CA)
    A high-quality A-frame sandbar created by repeated dredging and sand deposition.
  • Sand Spit – Santa Barbara (CA)
    A jetty-influenced wave known for long, clean rides.
  • The Wedge – Newport Beach (CA)
    A powerful, barrelling wave formed by a harbor jetty reflecting wave energy.
  • Sebastian Inlet (FL)
    A world-class inlet wave shaped by jetties and tidal flow.
  • Pier Breaks (Southern California)
    Consistent, repeatable surf created by pilings interacting with swell and sand.

These examples prove a simple point:

Wave quality can be dramatically altered by structure, sand, and geometry.

3. Conceptual Artificial Wave Scenarios

Once opportunity zones are identified, we collaborate with stakeholders to brainstorm conceptual wave-enhancement ideas, such as:

  • Strategic reef or structure placement
  • Modified breakwaters or jetty extensions
  • Intentional sand deposition patterns
  • Seasonal or adjustable coastal features
  • Hybrid natural–artificial solutions

These are conceptual discussions, not engineering blueprints.

The output is a set of plausible scenarios that governments can later evaluate with:

  • Coastal engineers
  • Oceanographers
  • Environmental agencies
  • Regulatory bodies

4. Economic & Tourism Impact Framing

If a concept shows promise, we help frame it in terms decision-makers care about:

  • Surf tourism growth potential
  • Extended visitor stays
  • Off-season travel demand
  • Local business stimulation
  • Event and media opportunities
  • Return on public investment

This bridges the gap between surf theory and public-sector justification.

Why Governments Explore Artificial Wave Concepts

Artificial or enhanced surf breaks can:

  • Create new tourism assets without expanding shoreline footprint
  • Concentrate surf activity in managed zones
  • Reduce pressure on fragile natural breaks
  • Unlock underutilized stretches of coast
  • Differentiate destinations globally

When done responsibly, surf wave enhancement becomes coastal infrastructure with cultural and economic value.

Sustainability & Responsibility First

SurfingEconomics approaches this work with clear guardrails:

  • Environmental impact comes first
  • No promotion of reckless or damaging interventions
  • Alignment with coastal management plans
  • Respect for local communities and access
  • Collaboration with qualified technical experts

The goal is exploration, not exploitation.

Who This Is For

We partner with:

  • Coastal municipalities
  • State and provincial tourism agencies
  • Federal coastal planning bodies
  • Port authorities
  • International governments with surfable coastlines

If your region has long coastline but limited high-quality surf, this work can help uncover new possibilities.

Let’s Explore What’s Possible

SurfingEconomics helps governments think differently about surf—not as an accident of geography, but as a strategic coastal asset.

Artificial Wave Creation & Coastal Wave Enhancement
Exploratory partnerships grounded in surf experience, economics, and responsible planning.