Kelly Slater Wave Pool Quietly Debuts ‘Split Wave’ Setting in Mesmerizing Drone Clip (Video)

Originally posted on SURFER | By Dashel Pierson | Last updated Apr 30, 2026 4:17 AM ET

The main difference between the Kelly Slater Wave Company, and all the other prominent, players in the space vying for a piece of the pie, it the technology.

Compared to most others, the KS Wave Co. uses a hydrofoil to push water through the basin, which is contoured to create different opportunities such as barrel and air sections.

But the thing is, one person could ride the wave themselves. Unlike other pools with a-frame peaks and multiple waves in one set, Slater’s offers only one long one ever few minutes. But now, at Surf Abu Dhabi – Slater’s Middle East venture, there’s a new setting.

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In the mesmerizing clip seen from a drone angle, Surf Abu Dhabi wrote:

“Split wave from above.

“One wave, two surfers, both get exactly the same opportunities for turns and barrels. A perk for private groups.

“We find that splitting can take the pressure off trying to complete the entire wave, surfers feel more confident to really push on each section.”

It looks as if they’ve taken the normal wave, then somehow managed to split peak in two as it peels through the pool, then creates two different rides.

As for Kelly’s other wave pool side hustles, the one in Austin, Texas recently hit snag due to $4.6 million in unpaid construction liens.

“Austin Surf Club appears to halt construction, owes $4.6 million in liens,” reported the Austin Business Journal. “Over the last several weeks, construction has halted at the 333-acre Austin Surf Club. The future private surf and condominium park near Austin’s airport that is attracting some of the country’s biggest names. Now, contractors working on the exclusive project have filed $4.6 million in construction liens for work done.”

Hopefully it all gets resolved soon.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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