WSL SURF RANCH FOUNDERS CUP

Project: WSL Surfranch Founders Cup

Location: Lemoore, CA

Clients: WSL & Kelly Slater

Event Background: Kelly Slater's artificial wave machine was put to the test over a weekend at WSL Founders' Cup of Surfing competition in Central Valley. Twenty-five of the world's best surfers competed on perfect machine-created waves in a half-mile long wave pool situated 100 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean for the first time in WSL history. Each team composed by region and consist of two women and three men. The teams included representatives from the US, Brazil, Australia, Europe, and a world team.

Execution: For the inaugural surf founders cup at Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch, Beese and his team worked directly with the WSL & WaveCo Architects to develop a new festival design. From site planning in 3D and 2D to concept and design development of the concert, surf zone, VIP and Athlete Lounges to conceptual design for art installations, shade and exhibit structures. A variety of architectural developments and a restaurant featuring a viewing platform that cantilevers over the surf site have been proposed as well as surf exhibit and VIP lounge structures, to be installed in the future while the surf events at the surf ranch will grow.