Surf Stats Startup VORTEX Aims to Transform Competitive Surfing

VORTEX, a startup focused on surf statistics, is collecting extensive data on competitive surfing to potentially reshape how the sport is approached by surfers, coaches, and fans. The company is logging every maneuver from events on the 2026 Championship Tour, aiming to provide insights that could influence strategies and betting practices.

Founder Alan Boyd, who has a background in engineering and design, has meticulously recorded over 400 heats and 12,000 maneuvers by hand to develop proprietary algorithms. VORTEX captures more than 100 data points on each wave, allowing for a detailed analysis of competitive performance that goes beyond traditional metrics.

In its early public launch, VORTEX has already gained attention, with its statistics referenced during broadcasts, and has attracted a growing following on social media. The startup's predictive tool has shown promising results, accurately forecasting the outcomes of heats 73 percent of the time during the Fiji Pro. As the surfing world begins to embrace data-driven decision-making, VORTEX could significantly impact how surfers prepare for competitions and how fans engage with the sport.