In Knokke, a surf lagoon was erected with lifelike waves where you could safely learn to surf. Unlike the ocean, the waves here break in the same place every time. It’s the ideal way to master your technique and prepare beginner surfers for the ocean. What few surfers realized is that these waves were powered by Belgian textiles.
Producing continuous waves strong enough to surf on requires quite a bit. No material proved to be simultaneously flexible, durable, and strong enough to generate the needed force – until Pascal Ghekiere from 3D Weaving came along and developed a fabric 16 times stronger than all previously used materials.
Innovation with textiles almost always comes down to weaving technology, but it all starts with chemistry. That’s where new materials—mostly composites—and coatings are developed, opening up unprecedented possibilities for textiles.
A feat of weaving technology
“Innovation with textiles almost always comes down to weaving technology,” says Pascal Ghekiere, CEO and head of R&D at 3D Weaving. “But it all starts with chemistry. That’s where new materials—mostly composites—and coatings are developed, opening up unprecedented possibilities for textiles.”
By selecting the right type of yarn, weaving it smartly and apply a suitable aftertreatment, textiles gain functionalities that other materials lack. Ghekiere explains: “In most new applications, the desired combination is strong, flexible, and lightweight. Carbon is strong and light, but not flexible, which rules it out for many uses.”
16x stronger in every direction
Another crucial requirement is tensile strength—the ability to withstand pulling forces without breaking. The issue with most fabrics is that this strength is reduced by half when the force is applied at an angle of more than 7° to the thread direction. One solution is to weave threads in other directions, but that adds weight. The fabric Pascal Ghekiere developed is a 3D weave consisting of over 20,000 threads and is 16 times stronger than the material used in earlier testing phases for wave generation. At Allwaves’ request, we’re not disclosing further details of the technology behind this groundbreaking innovation.
Professional surfers from around the world weigh in
The results speak for themselves. The surf lagoon was tested and approved by, among others, Blair Conklin, 3-time United Skim Tour Champion. With experience in other wave pools, he described the technology as “amazing.”
Belgian surfer Michiel Van Acker and Costa Rica’s Debbie Zec also compare the take-off to that of the ocean. And all of it in a safe environment—thanks to a Belgian textile innovation.
Note that the lagoon is not active anymore. It was a test environment. You cannot make reservations or visit.
