surfingramps.com.au is leading the way with methods to develop artificial surfing reefs

Design with nature to build artificial surfing reefs and wave focusing sand slugs (photo John Veage)

Surfing Ramps - coastal design & solutions

A surfing ramp is a gently sloping platform on the sea-floor of a surf spot. A surfing ramp is the most important element to successful surfing because it is the shape and form of the sea-floor that influences the breaking patterns of incoming waves.

www.surfingramps.com.au has three goals:

1.) to preserve and protect existing surf spots

2.) to create new surf spots (temporary & permanent)

3.) to improve existing surf spots

Sand Slug gives surfers the break they need... writes Damien Murphy in the Sydney Morning Herald

wave focusing sand slug

Sutherland Shire Council (SSC) provides information on the Wave Focusing Sand Slug for Cronulla Beach (Maintenance Dredging of Port Hacking) - the project has been re-scheduled to early 2012, see SSC Media Release 13oct11 (1pg pdf)

Photo courtesy, John Veage

Beach Nourishment for Surfers

Cronulla Beach will officially trial Andrew Pitt's sand placement configuration designed to create a temporary Wave Focusing Sand Slug (re-scheduled to early 2012) read more... A wave focusing sand slug at Cronulla (2pg pdf 201kb)...and His Dump Site, Our Playground (14pg pdf 2mb).

Bathymetric Survey, Cronulla

Andrew Pitt surveyed Cronulla Beach using a depth sounder + GPS and prepared a Bathymetric Survey Map (1pg pdf 286kb) that shows the underwater topography, from the shoreline out to depth of 11m.

Sand Dune Sightline Plan

At the invitation of Terry Fitzgerald and the North Narrabeen National Surfing Reserve Committee, Andrew Pitt prepared a Dune Sightline Plan (3pg pdf 2mb), with three objectives: open sightlines to popular swimming locations to assist rescue response, improve beach safety and return sand to board riding zones.

Surfing Ramps are involved in all aspects of surf spots:

assessment and appraisal of existing surfing spots
remodeling of incipient (almost) surfing reefs and hazardous surfing reefs
designing new surfing reefs, by way of excavation/removal of materials, or by addition/installation of materials, either natural (preferred) or artificial surfing reefs, or via beach nourishment..

Surfing Ramps approaches design from an environmental perspective, ‘designing with nature'. Every surf spot is unique. Every site is unique. The Surfing Ramps design process is driven by environmental factors, including: existing bathymetry (seafloor topography) and wave climate; and social factors, the human perspective, including surfer needs and access. Yet ultimately, the physical features inherent to the seafloor of a site should determine the construction methods and materials. The objective is minimal environmental impact for maximum surfing benefit.

The final design shape of a new surfing reef or a renovated surfing reef should be determined by two separate process:

Identifying existing bathymetric features of strategic significance, for example channels and submerged ridges. Review and reference to the bathymetry (sea floor maps) of existing surfing reefs, for example at www.surfingramps.com.au we have maps to more than thirty surf spots, including: point breaks, swell magnets, small wave spots, big wave peaks, bombora's, bombora controlled beachbreaks, boulder field reefs and sedimentary stone reefs.
Listening. Listening closely and intently, to what surfers say they want and need from their local surf spots. Tuning in to the local knowledge, wisdom of the surfing elders, energy of the surfing youth. Local surfers are the end users, their input is paramount. Successful design - interprets all this information - and delivers to it.