Meet the world's cheapest wave pool machine designed by alternative wave hunter Ben Gravy.
With more or less effort and investment, everyone can build an artificial wave pool. The problem is that you really have to want it badly.
Inspired by videos online featuring trucks making their way across flooded streets and creating two-foot waves, the Pennsylvania-born created his concept.
The formula is complicated, and it involves the following equipment and materials:
- A $1,400 Toyota Tacoma beater truck;
- Steel tubes and plates;
- Plywood;
"My thought this whole time has been that we don't really need weight as long as we have surface area," said Gravy.
"The bigger the sled, the bigger the barrel."
So, the goal was to have a plow-style wood surface installed in front of the truck with enough area to push water and create a wave.
After a few unsuccessful attempts, Ben Gravy made and rode his first swamp wave.
But soon after, the truck was sinking in chocolate-brown freshwater, and it seemed like there was no way that engine was getting back to life again.
It Works
Miraculously, the crew was able to revive it, and the wave pool machine was running and back in business.
After a couple of runs, the surfers and the driver had already unlocked the trick to a perfect wake and ride.
Gravy and friends ended up surfing longer than many of the waves the average surfer gets in the ocean.
The project conquered the surfing community's hearts.
People were immediately suggesting new add-ons and advanced tweaks to the original concept.
For instance, replace the flat plywood with a more curved half-moon shape surface and position the board to the side of the truck to minimize the risk of being run over.
Or a snow plow at an angle; or a monster truck that would create the ultimate do-it-yourself redneck wave pool.
In the end, the high-tech wave pool concept developed by Ben Gravy proved to be a success.
The specialist in finding and surfing weird waves has surely made Kelly Slater jealous of his ingenious invention.
Lawsuits for copyright infringement should follow, though.