This year marked only the second time surfing was included in the Olympic Games. Part of what makes surfing at Teahupoʻo, Thaiti legendary is its unique shallow coral reef, which causes hollow-breaking waves, perfect for surfing, to consistently form. In the past, judging for competitions at Teahupoʻo was held from a bamboo tower erected on the beach. However, the Olympic planning committee rejected the use of bamboo for safety and legal reasons, insisting that a sturdy aluminum tower be built in the water instead. Many Tahitians were concerned that the construction of such a structure could cause irreparable damage to the coral reef’s ecosystem.

In response, the International Surfing Association (ISA) proposed an alternative way for the judges to view surfers. On December 9, 2023, the ISA released a proposal stating, “We believe a fair and accurate competition can be run, with different technological and operational solutions described in the scenarios below.” The scenarios go on to list using cameras from boats and jet skis, a practice that was already planned by the Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) for television viewings. Long lens cameras positioned at multiple locations along the beach and drone footage would fill in any gaps.

Judges would be seated in a safe aluminum tower on the beach from where they would be able to see every detail of the competition on monitors, just like at any other modern surfing competition. “Judges (would) have continuous or instant access to all possible OBS camera angles, as per the current plan including water/boat cameras and drones,” the ISA plan explains. “Depending on whether a platform on the reef can be used, the four OBS cameras and two boat cameras would ensure there is always a back-up image: Main Tower view plus the Lagoon view, with jetski cam and drones as additional tools.”

It comes as no surprise that the ISA would suggest drone technology as a tool for the Olympic judges as drones have had a huge impact on the world of surfing. For starters, professional and amateur surfers around the world rely on drones to keep them safe in the water. To a shark, a surfer sitting on their board looks like prey. For a surfer in the water, they often can’t see if a shark is within striking distance unless its dorsal fin breaks the surface. The bird’s-eye view a drone provides can easily spot sharks that could pose a threat to surfers. Even if the water is dark and murky, the powerful camera on a drone can spot a shark, possibly saving a person’s life.

Beyond that, surfers also rely on drone technology to get up-to-the-minute accurate wave conditions. As weather can often be unpredictable, a drone can be used to scout sites along a beach for optimal surfing conditions. A step further is how one company has begun using drones to measure waves, a vital aspect for judges scoring competitions.

In 2020, meteorologist Teddy Allen and algorithm expert Milan Curic founded Henet Wave. Teddy and Milan were discussing an article debating whether a surfer needs to complete a ride on an XXL wave at an upcoming event to win the competition. “To us,” the company website states, “the bigger debate should have been the ability to differentiate between a 73 foot wave and a 69 foot wave using subjective methods.” So they designed a drone with sensors that can precisely measure the height of a wave.

But perhaps the biggest impact drones have had on the world of surfing is the renewed popularity the technology has brought to the sport by sharing drone footage of surfing up close. Previously, the only way to get close to a surfer on the water was with a strong lens from the beach, a boat, or a plane. All of these methods pale in comparison to the images captured by a drone.

Unfortunately, those in charge of planning the 2024 Paris Games said that for judging to be fair, a tower had to be erected in the water, as close to the action as possible. So, the aluminum tower was built, with great consideration for the environment in which it would be placed. Surfing has been confirmed to return for a third time at the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, CA. Whether or not drones will be used for that competition has yet to be determined. What is certain, though, is that drones will continue to serve the world of professional, competitive, and amateur surfing for years to come.

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