There is something magical about the moment a wave begins to form, how it gathers energy and rolls toward the shore, inviting riders to leave their worries behind. For years, surfers have chased that feeling in oceans, and more recently in man-made lagoons that promise consistent swells. Yet there has always been a quiet frustration hiding beneath the fun: riding waves with family and friends is not as simple as it sounds. A mother who has spent decades carving steep ocean faces has different needs than her daughter standing nervously on a soft-top board for the very first time. An experienced surfer wants fast, hollow, barreling walls; a beginner craves gentle, rolling shoulders with plenty of time to find balance. Too often, those different desires mean separate sessions in separate parts of a park, or one person waiting on the sand while another enjoys the wave of the day. The simple joy of catching a wave together has felt out of reach. Now, two high-tech wave pool companies are using artificial intelligence to change that. Endless Surf and Flowstate have joined forces to create “The Mixtape,” a system designed to allow surfers of every skill level to ride together in the same water at the same time. It is a collaboration more than two years in the making, according to the two companies, and it promises to transform the surf park experience into something more personal, more inclusive, and far more family friendly. Instead of dividing people by ability, The Mixtape invites them into a shared lineup where the wave itself adapts to the rider. The result is a beautiful hybrid: part social gathering, part high-tech performance studio. Picture a family of four paddling into a lagoon, each carrying different expectations, different levels of confidence, and different dreams for the session. Instead of being separated into different zones, they all emerge from the water grinning, because each wave felt as though it had been designed just for them. It is an idea that feels futuristic, but it is arriving sooner than many people realize, and it could change the way we think about surf parks, recreation, and even family time.
At its core, The Mixtape is an ambitious feat of engineering and software design. The wave technology works by factoring in the skill levels of everyone in the group and customizing each wave to match the rider who is about to take off. When surfers enter the water, an artificial intelligence-powered computer vision system identifies each person in the lineup. It recognizes where they are, who they are, and what kind of wave they have selected. That information is sent to the software controlling the wave pool, which then delivers the chosen wave at the precise moment and location for that specific surfer. In other words, the water itself becomes interactive. A beginner might receive a soft, forgiving wave that lifts them gently and carries them toward the shore with plenty of time to stand up. A few feet away, a more advanced surfer can be launched into a steep, powerful wall that offers a chance to carve, generate speed, and even find a small barrel. This happens not in separate sessions, but in the same body of water, at the same time, while friends and family cheer from the lineup. Endless Surf president Paul Chutter highlighted the significance of the collaboration in a statement: “The Mixtape brings together the two most advanced technologies in their respective fields to make an already unique Endless Surf experience even more personalized. Surfers can share long rides with their friends and family while each getting the wave they want, and operators gain an entirely new session product they can offer their guests.” The quote captures both the emotional appeal and the commercial potential. For surfers, the promise is a shared ride with people they love, without sacrificing the quality of their own experience. For park operators, it creates a brand-new product that can attract families, groups, and people who might otherwise feel intimidated by the idea of surfing. This is not just a small upgrade to existing wave pools; it is a fundamental rethinking of how a wave park can serve its guests. The attention to detail, the years of development, and the partnership between Endless Surf and Flowstate suggest that The Mixtape is not a gimmick, but a serious step forward in the evolution of man-made surfing.
Behind the technology lies a deeper emotional need, and the people behind The Mixtape understand that surfing has always been a social sport. Traditionally, surf parks are organized around ability, with separate sessions for beginners, intermediates, and experts. That structure makes sense from a safety and operational standpoint, but it also creates an unintended barrier. A family that wants to surf together might discover that mom and dad are placed in an advanced session while the kids are sent to a beginner class. Friends with different skill levels often end up paddling at different times, missing the shared thrill of catching a wave at the same moment. Flowstate CEO Luke Wallace explained the problem plainly: “Surfing with friends or family usually means everyone needs to want the same type of wave, or you end up surfing separate sessions. The Mixtape changes that.” That change is about more than convenience. It is about preserving the emotional connection that comes from doing something challenging and joyful together. When a child drops into a wave for the first time, the pride on their face is not just for themselves; it is shared with the parent who watches from the water, who cries out in delight. When two siblings who have grown up in the water finally take off on different waves at the same time, they carry that memory into adulthood. The Mixtape makes those moments possible by removing the need for compromise. No longer does one person have to choose between a great wave and great company. The system also includes multi-angle surfing capture and artificial intelligence-powered coaching, meaning surfers can receive feedback on their technique while simultaneously having their ride documented from multiple perspectives. Imagine watching your session from three different camera angles, with an AI coach pointing out where you improved and what you can do next time. Endless Surf and Flowstate say they plan to collaborate on more products in the future, which suggests that this is only the beginning of a larger vision. The companies are not just building a better wave; they are building a more connected surfing culture, one where ability does not dictate who gets to share the ocean.
The first major showcase for this vision will arrive in the California desert, where DSRT Surf, a massive wave park in Palm Desert, is set to open in late-summer 2026. The project is ambitious in scope and design. Its centerpiece is a 5.5-acre surf lagoon, which will become the largest Wavegarden-powered surf lagoon in North America. The sheer scale is enough to impress anyone who has stood before a natural ocean break, but the technology behind it is equally remarkable. The Wavegarden Cove system is designed to generate multiple wave types simultaneously, producing up to 1,000 consistent, ocean-like waves every hour for surfers of all abilities, from first-timers to seasoned professionals. For a region better known for dry heat and desert landscapes, the prospect of a world-class surf lagoon feels almost surreal, yet it is exactly the kind of development that has been spreading across the world in recent years as surf parks become more popular. The Palm Desert location is particularly suited for the technology, because it offers year-round sunshine and warm weather, creating an ideal environment for outdoor recreation. The integration of The Mixtape into a venue like this could be a game-changer. Instead of a surf park being a place where visitors wait for their skill level to be called, it becomes a place where everyone can enter the water together and share the stoke. The operator can offer sessions specifically designed for families, for groups of friends with mixed experience, or even for corporate outings and events. The DSRT Surf project has been anticipated for some time, and the announcement of The Mixtape collaboration adds another layer of excitement. It signals that the wave park will not simply be an enormous pool with artificial waves, but a sophisticated venue that uses artificial intelligence to create personalized experiences at scale. The numbers are staggering: 1,000 waves per hour, 5.5 acres of water, multiple wave types happening at once. But what matters most is the experience of the person standing in the water, looking at the faces of the people they love, and realizing that the ocean, even when manufactured, is large enough for everyone.
Beyond the immediate appeal of riding with friends and family, The Mixtape represents a broader shift in how technology is being used to make recreation more accessible and more inclusive. For a long time, surfing has had a reputation as a sport for the young, the fit, and the fearless. Wave pools have already begun to break down some of those barriers by providing safe, controlled environments where beginners can learn without worrying about rip currents, rocks, or unpredictable weather. The Mixtape takes that evolution one step further by ensuring that people of different abilities can share the same space without feeling either bored or overwhelmed. This has important implications for families with children, older adults, people with disabilities, and anyone who has ever felt excluded from a sport because they could not keep up. The technology does not just accommodate differences; it celebrates them. A grandmother might choose a gentle, rolling wave and spend her ride smiling and waving at her grandchildren, who are simultaneously taking off on faster, more challenging waves a few meters away. After the session, everyone can compare their videos, receive personalized coaching tips, and plan their next visit. The social and emotional benefits are enormous. It can turn a one-time outing into a shared passion, a regular weekend ritual, or a way for distant relatives to reconnect. It also gives operators a powerful tool for attracting new demographics. Surf parks no longer have to be marketed exclusively to hardcore surfers; they can be sold as family entertainment venues, wellness destinations, and community gathering places. The use of AI-powered computer vision and dynamic wave-shaping software may sound intimidating, but the experience is designed to feel effortless. Surfers simply show up, choose their wave, and enjoy. The technology works quietly in the background, observing, predicting, and responding, so that humans can focus on what matters: being present, feeling the water, and sharing a moment with the people they care about. The potential for this kind of experience is immense, and it points to a future where personalized recreation becomes the norm, whether in a wave pool, a ski resort, or any other active environment.
As the surf industry moves forward, the partnership between Endless Surf and Flowstate will be one to watch. The two companies have spent more than two years developing The Mixtape, and their commitment to continuous innovation suggests that we are only seeing the first chapter of a longer story. Multi-angle surfing capture and AI-powered coaching are already part of the offering, and the companies have teased further products in development. It is not hard to imagine a future where surf parks have fully integrated digital ecosystems, allowing guests to create profiles, track their progress, compete with friends, and relive their best rides in stunning detail. Yet for all the impressive technology, the most striking aspect of this announcement is its gentleness. The goal is not to push people harder or make surfing more extreme. The goal is to bring people together, to let a father and daughter share a wave, to let old friends reunite in the water, to let a grandparent try something new in a space that feels safe and welcoming. In a world that often feels divided, there is something beautifully simple about the idea of using advanced artificial intelligence to help people play together. The DSRT Surf opening in Palm Desert in late-summer 2026 will be the first major test of The Mixtape in a huge public venue, and anticipation is already building. Visitors will travel from across California and beyond to stand in the lineup, watching the system work its quiet magic. Some will come for the performance, eager to challenge themselves on the most advanced waves. Others will come for the connection, looking for an activity that the whole family can enjoy without compromise. Whatever the reason, they will be participating in a new kind of surf experience, one that honors the eternal thrill of riding a wave while embracing the possibilities of the digital age. The wave will always be the teacher, but now it is also a friend who knows exactly what you need, right when you need it. That is the promise of The Mixtape, and if this technology works as beautifully in practice as it does in theory, the surf world will never be the same.
