Shane & Jackson Dorian Visit Kelly’s Surf Ranch

Shane Dorian and son Jackson have a go on Kelly’s wave pool.

Posted on December 9, 2017

With all the recent wave pool happenings like Kelly’s Surf Ranch being named as a stop on the WSL world tour and wave pools popping up all over the place, there’s been a lot of talk, both good and bad regarding surfing outside the ocean.

Surfers everywhere have watched as countless pros cracked turns and pulled into pristine tubes at Kelly’s surf ranch. Top WCT competitors and other pros alike made a mess of Wavegarden’s Cove. But since no surfer is allowed to pump down the line in these pools unless otherwise invited, it’s opened the door for a lot of down talk on the subject from people that haven’t yet been granted access.

Isn’t surfing about having fun, getting stoked with your friends, going new places and trying different things? Sure, the WSL has dropped Trestles and Fiji and added Kelly’s surf ranch. The WSL is a show- a show that we all love, but a show nonetheless. They’re exploring new frontiers of professional surfing, which is what we as spectators look to industry leaders for.

Cloudbreak and Trestles are amazing places, we’ve seen the top 34 push surfing to its limits at these spots, but evolution in an industry is unavoidable. While you’re sitting there at your desk working, put yourself in the shoes of one who works as a pro surfer. Surfing is their job and finding new ways to expand their platform is the same thing as expanding your business. Surfing may not be a business at its core, but the WSL is.

So, we look to guys like Shane Dorian, a legend in our world, for a more positive outlook on what’s happening.

Now, most people aren’t quite the surfer that Shane is. As someone who was part of the momentum generation along with Kelly, Rob, Ross, Taylor, etc. He charges some of the biggest waves in the world and is truly an influencer. How does he feel about wave pools and bringing surfing to middle America? Well, just by looking at the cover of this clip it seems that he has no problem with getting barreled in a wave pool.

“I think its really neat to be able to share the surfing experience with way more people in the future. I see it as, if people are getting stoked, then it’s a good thing.”- Shane Dorian

If we wanted to stop there, we could.

Sure, as surfers we like to covet our local and secret spots, but, wave pools aren’t secrets, and sharing is caring right? What Shane says makes a lot of sense. Getting barreled like that at the touch of a button would bring a smile to even the saltiest of locals.

Kelly had Shane visit the ranch along with his son, who is also Kelly’s godson, Jackson. When adults look for truth and sincerity that isn’t shrouded in ego we look to children. The first five seconds of this clip shows how we all feel inside when we look at a wave like this, whether its KSWC or Snapper Rocks.

Jackson’s Dream Time from Kelly Slater Wave Co on Vimeo.

At first, snowboarding wasn’t allowed on mountain resorts. After it was accepted, the first terrain parks were built at Vail resort, in Colorado, for a different style of riding. When mountain resorts started building parks a lot of OG guys were against them- they were freestyle riders, looking for powder turns and natural terrain. Fast forward roughly 20 years and pretty much everyone that rides has hit the park.

In the beginning, everything is questioned and criticised. Where would snowboarding be today without terrain parks?