Today, I want to talk about a unique startup that combines data analytics, machine learning, and surfing.
Most of its employees are surfer-data specialists who merge their hobby (surfing) with remote data work.
Surfline is a company founded by American surfer Sean Collins. Its mission is to help surfers catch the perfect waves.
500K+ downloads on Google Play
7M+ visits to the website monthly
I use Surfline myself to check how good the surfing conditions are on any given day. For example, if the conditions are "Poor," there are no waves, or the waves are too high, it's not a good day to surf, and it's better to plan something else.
How does the company forecast surfing conditions? Three key points:
👉 Data Collection.
Information is gathered from ocean buoys, weather stations, and satellites.
👉 Modeling.
Initially, Sean Collins made forecasts based on what he could calculate on paper.
Modern models involve billions of calculations, considering thousands of different variables. These models are constantly improving.
👉 Visualization.
The collected information is translated into "surfer language" and visualized as dashboards on the website and in the app (see screenshot).
This startup is an inspiring example of how data can improve the quality of life. It also shows that work and hobbies can coexist harmoniously when you build a career around your interests.
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