Best Surf Highlight Detectors
AI tools that automatically find the best moments in your surf footage. No more scrubbing through hours of video.
Filming surf sessions is easy. Finding the good moments in hours of footage is the hard part. That's where highlight detection AI comes in.
The best highlight detectors understand what makes a moment worth keeping - not just motion or speed, but actual quality surfing. Here's how the top tools compare.
Top Tools for Surf Highlight Detection
Surf Buddy Shorts
AI trained specifically on surf footage. Understands waves, rides, and what makes a clip shareable.
Pros
- Surf-specific AI (trained on waves)
- Distinguishes good rides from wipeouts
- Automatically creates vertical clips
- Multiple highlights per session
Cons
- Currently in beta
- Focused on surf only
- No manual highlight adjustment
GoPro Quik
GoPro's built-in highlight detection based on accelerometer data and motion analysis.
Pros
- Free with GoPro
- Uses camera sensor data
- Works offline on device
- Quick processing
Cons
- Generic "excitement" detection
- Can't distinguish wave quality
- Often picks wipeouts as highlights
Insta360
AI highlight detection in Insta360 app. Good for 360 footage reframing.
Pros
- Good 360 footage handling
- Auto-reframe feature
- Decent motion detection
Cons
- Insta360 cameras only
- Not surf-specific
- Mixed results with water footage
Manual Scrubbing
The traditional approach - watching all footage yourself to find highlights.
Pros
- Complete control
- No AI mistakes
- Works with any footage
Cons
- Extremely time consuming
- Easy to miss moments
- Editing fatigue sets in
Why We Recommend Surf Buddy Shorts
Surf Buddy Shorts is the only highlight detector built specifically for surfing. Our AI understands waves, not just generic motion.
Wave Intelligence
Our AI knows what a good wave looks like. It doesn't just detect motion - it understands surfing.
Quality Filtering
Automatically filters out paddling, sitting, and wipeouts. Only the moments you'd actually share.
Fast Processing
Hours of footage analyzed in minutes. Get your highlights while the session is still fresh.
Ready to Go Viral?
Transform your surf footage into viral shorts automatically. No editing skills required.
No credit card required
Instant Results
Get viral-ready shorts in minutes
Platform Ready
Optimized for TikTok, Reels & Shorts
AI-Powered
Smart wave detection & editing
Ready to upgrade your Surf Highlight Detection?
Upload your footage and let AI find your best waves
Open beta - No credit card required