NZers Adapt US Weather Data for Unique Surf Intel

SEPTEMBER 2005

NZ Surfers Adapt U.S Weather Data to Deliver Unique Surfing Intelligence

surf2surf.com - New Zealand’s premiere surf website, has tapped into the same source data used by the United States Navy to predict ocean swell generation and wave size and created a unique piece of technology which delivers state of the art information to surfers nationwide.

Branded with the name PULSE, this new application of technology is about to change the good old surf check forever. The company has spent the last two years evaluating the data against surf2surf’s real-time national surf reports and has found it to be highly accurate in predicting surf.

Online PULSE features an easy-to-use graphic interface complete with animation buttons which control the data feed of animated wave, wind and swell period maps.

PULSE uses new technology and code to utilise United States Weather Service Wave Data. The data is organised, and then transformed into a visual map animation which displays colour coded wave height, direction, period and winds. It allows the viewer to see the formation and movement of ocean wave systems, and gives them the ability to zoom in around NZ waters. The data is based on United State Weather Service NOAA computer models which analyse global pressure data and output detailed wave data.

“However, I do want to emphasise that we are still combining tried and true surf watching information with PULSE,” says Paul Brunskill, co-director of the small Mt Manganui company Greenroom Surf Media, who own Surf2 Surf and have developed PULSE.

“We still utilise 10 paid surf reporters who are positioned strategically throughout the country feeding back daily close to shore, real wave height information. We are also breaking new ground by positioning robotic web cameras at key surf breaks which offer real-time multiple views of the surf.”

The company believes PULSE is also an important tool for boaties.

“We are particularly excited about its application in areas of marine safety,” says Peter Morse, Greenroom Surf Media co-director.

PULSE is hosted on the website www.surf2surf.com on the home page. Allow time for downloading.

ENDS

BACKGROUND ON SURF2SURF AND GREENROOM SURF MEDIA

Greenroom Surf Media are the brains behind not only www.surf2surf.com plus PULSE but they also launched the legendary and groundbreaking Wavetrack New Zealand Surfing Guide book last year.

A 550 page bible of New Zealand Surfing, this book features every good surf spot in New Zealand in graphic detail. All breaks feature detailed individual maps, along with in-depth information about weather, hazards, tides, wetsuit info and a handy industry directory.

"The book has been really well received by surfers. We meet surfers daily, from New Zealand and around the world who rave about it. In fact the book has really put NZ on the map as a quality surfing destination," says Peter Morse, co-director Greenroom Surf Media.

PULSE, SURF2SURF.com and the Wavetrack Surf Guide combine to give surfers a great resource of information and real-time data when it comes to hitting the beaches of New Zealand.

www.surf2surf.com
www.newzealandsurfingguide.com

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