Ryan Hargrave gliding through one at The Ranch. Photo: @patstacyphoto
Artificial waves have been all the hype the past few years, with Kelly Slater Wave Co.’s Surf Ranch topping the list, stirring up the most interest. And when the waves aren’t firing for the pro surfers of the world, visitors can pay exorbitant amounts of money to have their turn at it. Meanwhile, others like Ryan Hargrave get lucky. As a lifeguard who also works water safety for the WSL, Ryan gets his occasional free runs at The Ranch, and last month he took to the pool with a hand plane.
Here’s a short conversation with Ryan about the finer details of bodysurfing at The Surf Ranch:
Share a brief bio about yourself.
I’m a 20-year lifeguard from North County, San Diego that now does water safety for the WSL and other big wave strike missions. I’ve always been drawn to the simple joys of your body gliding in the water.
So how did you end up surfing The Ranch with a hand plane?
I began body surfing at The Surf Ranch because some days that’s the only opportunity we get for water time. The pool only cranks out a certain number of waves per day and they are usually all accounted for by the guests. If you can’t surf, bodysurfing is the next best thing.
And how does surfing that wave on a board compare to bodysurfing it?
The interesting part of bodysurfing The Ranch is the ability to have the same wave every time — something you rarely get in the ocean. This allows you to figure out technique, speed, and distance covered. You can start off from a certain pole number and begin to play with body movements to achieve greater speed or distance covered. The wave is incredibly fast so using a hand board is the right tool to make the tube section at the end.
Talk about the Freshwater Pro and how unique that is.
The Freshwater Pro is a fun event. It’s awesome to open the doors to allow the public to come see the resort for the day. The entire operation is overwhelming. The competitive structure allows surfers to perform a run on the same wave as others, treating a wave more like a half-pipe run where maneuvers are compared evenly to others. It allows the surfers to push the envelope and makes comparing the each ride easier. It’s awesome to share the facility with others and the crazy science that went into building it.
Editor’s Note: Find more from Slyde Handboards here.
