Flowstate AI: Transforming Surfing with Data-Driven Performance Analysis

Flowstate AI is transforming surfing by integrating Artificial Intelligence into ride capture and analysis. This technology moves beyond simple video recording to offer data-driven performance analysis for surfers.

Evolution of Surf Cinematography

Historically, documenting surf sessions required external assistance, such as a buddy with a jet ski, a shore-based GoPro, or a drone. These methods often presented challenges related to cost, logistics, limited angles, and incomplete coverage.

The Flowstate AI Platform

Flowstate utilizes an AI photo and video capture platform applicable in wave parks, natural beaches, and other environments.

It employs multiple cinema-grade cameras to automatically record surf sessions. These cameras provide synchronized angles, capturing individual waves from various perspectives (front-on and behind-the-peak).

The technology identifies and tracks individual surfers, compiling a visual record of takeoffs, carves, snaps, and barrel runs for each participant. The AI automatically crops, groups, and edits raw footage, producing polished clips soon after a session concludes.

How Flowstate’s AI Functions

The core of Flowstate's system involves computer vision and machine learning models designed for surfing, particularly effective in surf pools.

• Surfer Detection and Tracking: The AI scans incoming footage, detecting surfers through visual cues like body posture, wetsuit, and board shape. It then tracks them across frames. This 'surfer fingerprint' system organizes all clips for a specific rider into a single album, removing the need for wearables.

• Beach Setup Adaptation: For beaches lacking multi-camera infrastructure, a single device mounted on a tripod can be used. The AI performs digital pan and zoom tracking, centering the action and cropping the 4K feed.

• Multi-feed Syncing: The platform can use automated time-alignment to synchronize disparate feeds, such as a drone and a shore-based smartphone, into a multi-cam session by identifying unique wave breaks and white-water patterns.

• Reference Clip Search: Users can provide a 'reference clip,' allowing the AI to search for similar rides across hours of footage.

• Move Recognition: Trained on a large dataset of surf park waves, the AI identifies specific maneuvers (e.g., snaps, cutbacks, barrels). It automatically tags these moves in clips, creating a performance log for surfers and coaches.

Data-Driven Performance Insights

Flowstate aims to democratize the coaching process by automating feedback.

This system allows for rapid analysis of turns and tubes, providing valuable insights for surfers focused on progression. Coaches and surfers can identify trends, such as turn consistency or ride length, enabling more precise feedback and targeted training.

AI in Surf Judging and Competition

Flowstate has introduced automated competitions for wave pools, allowing direct submission of waves for judging without human presence.

The AI is being trained to understand winning ride criteria, moving towards automated scoring combining human insights and machine intelligence.

AI-assisted judging can theoretically provide objective scores based on maneuver counts, execution assessment, ride length, and variety. In controlled wave park environments, this could enable globally scaled contests with standardized scoring algorithms, increasing accessibility and efficiency for the surf park industry.

Human Subjectivity vs. AI Objectivity

The integration of AI introduces a tension regarding the subjective elements of surfing, such as feel, style, and spontaneity, which may not be fully quantifiable by data or algorithms.

Concerns exist about the 'black box' nature of AI judgment, particularly concerning criteria for style and fluidity.

However, AI tools like Flowstate are intended to augment the human experience, assisting in improvement, refinement, and documentation of progression, rather than replacing the core elements of surfing.

The Future of Surfing

AI is presented as an additional tool for surfers, similar to the evolution of surfboards. Its role is to help remember, analyze, and potentially improve future rides, without diminishing the fundamental interaction with the water or the pursuit of flow.