YEW Slyde Handboarding at Kelly Slater's California Surf Ranch 🙌🏻

Artificial wave pools have been all the hype the past few years, with Kelly Slater's Surf Ranch topping out the interest list.

A host stop on the WSL Championship Tour, the wave reaches speeds of 20 mph and heights of 8 feet. The 1st Fresh Water Pro, took place Sept 19-21st 2019 in Lemoore California.

When the wave's aren't firing for the pro-surfers of the world, customers can pay $10,000++ to surf for an hour.  Others like Ryan Hargave are the lucky ones.  Since he does water safety for the WSL, he gets his occasional free runs, and last month he took a Slyde Handboard along for the adventure.

Read the inside scoop:  The Surf Ranch, & EPIC Handboarding experience.

Tell us a brief bio on you

I'm a 20 year lifeguard from North County SD that now do 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. 

How did you come about handboarding at Surf Ranch?

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, body surfing is the next best thing.

How does the wave compare when handboarding at Surf Ranch vs surfing?

The interesting part of bodysurfing at 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. 

What 3 things are you most looking forward to at the 2019 Freshwater Pro?

The Fresh Water 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 preform 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 for tricks and makes comparing the surfers run to others evenly.  It's awesome to share the facility with others and the crazy science that went into building it.

All photos in blog thanks to @patstacyphoto

Cheers to Ryan & The Surf Ranch crew for taking bodysurfing/handboarding to the next level.  Shop ➡️  SlydeHandboards 2020 Collection