Wave Pool Mag

Artificial Wave Real Estate is a Thing: Insights with David Likins

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0200

David develops and operates surf-centered real estate and club projects. He describes his work as figuring out where artificial wave facilities can function as part of a larger business, especially in residential communities and private clubs. That includes evaluating land, working with capital partners, finding local development partners, planning operations, and making sure the surf component can be supported by the surrounding economics. His earlier work included executive roles in the ski industry, serving as chief operating officer at Surf Ranch and later helping reposition Waco Surf. In those roles, he focused on resort operations and customer-use patterns. At Meriwether, he is now applying that approach to projects featuring Endless Surf technology in Baja, the California desert, and other markets.

Surf Park Employment and Jobs at Wave Pools Rise Globally

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0200

New platform Wavepooljobs connects wave pool employment at surf parks, currently listing nearly 100 roles across global operators in a growing industry. We speak with creators Paolo Formenti and Bruno Gujer.

Surf Park Design: What Goes Into Creating a Great Wave Pool Experience

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Bill Duncanson came up surfing the beaches of New Jersey, working at one of the area’s core surf shops before architecture became his second passion. Over time, those two paths merged.

Today, through BAR Architecture and Design, he’s carved out a unique niche designing surf lodges and surf parks—combining architectural thinking with a surfer’s understanding of how these spaces should feel and function.

In this podcast, we dig into what makes a good surf park design, what makes a great one, and where some parks still fall short.

Five Projects Across a Fistful of Continents with Archipelago

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0200

One year ago, I sat with Eneko Elosegui at a restaurant overlooking the ocean near his home in St Jean De Luz, a Basque seaport famous for jai alai, artisan patisseries, and being one of the oldest whaling ports in Europe. Today’s meeting was less picturesque; instead, carried out remotely on a generic conferencing platform. But the subject matter was lively and somehow more inspiring than a plate of Poulet Basquaise and a view of the Atlantic. How? Well, announcing that you have 5 surf park projects in the works and shovels in the ground is a huge deal. In this podcast, Eneko shares how being raised in the family development business, becoming an engineer, working at Wavegarden and surfing, have all merged together into his current role to take on the world of wave pools.

Pulse Check: The State of the Industry with Skip Taylor

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0200

In Episode 87 of the WavePoolMag Podcast, with Skip Taylor of Surf Park Management we dig into some industry secrets and insights from someone who's been in the game longer than most. This conversation touches on the evolution of the space post COVID, including increased capital costs, residential versus turnstile developments, booking systems, water filtration and, uh, bowling. What does this all mean for the estimated 15 parks opening this year? Find out.

Citywave USA Aims for More Surf Parks in the USA

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0200

In the early days, artificial standing waves struggled for recognition outside of Munich, Germany, and a few niche surf communities. But today’s advanced systems closely replicate the feel of natural river waves. These next-generation wave pools now offer unique advantages that are reshaping how the waterpark industry views artificial waves.

Citywave, originally born from Germany’s river-surf scene, has expanded to 20 installations worldwide. To support growth in the U.S. and select territories, citywave® USA was formed and is now backed by legacy venue leader Aquatic Development Group (ADG). With more than 50 years of expertise in water attractions, ADG now oversees CityWave USA, providing in-house engineering, design, manufacturing, and installation.

This partnership adds a substantial amount of weight to ADG’s commercial offerings, while creating an entry point for Citywave USA into the world of aquatic attractions.

WavePoolMag spoke with Bruce Quay, Chief Operating Officer of ADG, and Andrew Limbocker of CityWave USA to learn what developers can expect as each company expands further into the surf park space.

The Wave Transition With Owner & CEO Julian Topham

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Julan Topham is used to storms. He’s put on multimillion-dollar festivals, like Boardmasters, for several years and knows that something as wonderful and sublime as rain can make or break an event. He knows that big, expensive productions (which is what a wave pool is, really) are exposed to the whims of the climate, both literally and figuratively.

Media outlets pounced on the tumultuous changeover of ownership that closed the gates of Bristol's best-known attraction and left employees and surfers wondering what was to come next. Much of the post-mortem dialogue focused on whether the changeover was some Machiavellian financial maneuver or a simple fiduciary update. We’ve heard from both sides, and there is no middle ground. Which means neither will be happy with whichever story is told. And whichever side you land on, the one undeniable fact is that Julian and Sea Level Wave Company Limited are now the owners of The Wave Bristol surf park. But for us, the real question is, how will Julian run this large, multimillion-dollar facility? We explore this and much more in our latest episode of the WavePoolMag podcast.

CEO Savant Troy Warfield on Steering Surf Lakes

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Where is Surf Lakes now? According to the company, eight live-wire projects are being developed across several countries. The company relocated its financial headquarters from Australia to the USA in 2024. In 2025, it went full throttle, with an investment agreement with US Capital Global Partners and the appointment of Troy Warfield as CEO. Troy is kind of a business superman, with experience at British Airways, Avis Car Rental, Kimberly-Clark, Topgolf, and other familiar names. This business boullabaise of experience at successful, unrelated to surfing companies around the world, is a good thing as the wave pool industry finds its feet. Drawing from other business wins is what will ensure longevity and success in the space. Join us for some lessons with Troy as he steers the company into the future.

Blake Hess at Atlantic Park: Building Surf Parks and Teams

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Blake is such a wellspring of information on all things surf parks that it was difficult to stop with the questions. That said, this hour-long talk answers such potential development hazards as, well, I mean, what do you do when your wave machine sits idle on a boat for several weeks due to a local port strike? And how do you handle the domino effect of delays?

What's Happening With The Palm Springs Surf Club?

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Equal parts promise and postponement, SoCal’s first wave pool benefited from stellar branding and relentless Insta reels from some of the best surfers on earth. And all of this during lockdown. Then, beginning in January 2024, came the endless tease of openings and closings.

We learned quite a bit during this podcast with Chance Gaul and James Dunlop, details that can only emerge through conversation. Teasers: We found out that the tech’s been upgraded, the wave menu has more than 200 settings and that their core clientele wants slabs.

From Dream to Daily Grind: The Lost Shore Surf Park Business Story

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0200

What happens when the dream of opening a wave pool becomes a 9-to-5 reality? In his fourth appearance on the WavePoolMag podcast, Andy Hadden of Lost Shore Surf Resort gives us an unfiltered look at what it really takes to launch and run a surf park. From the bright-eyed optimism of 2019 to the operational fatigue of 2024, we’ve seen every version of Andy. This episode pulls back the curtain on the business side of Lost Shore and the hustle behind artificial wave success.

Gold Coast Wave Pool Project

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Do you really need Mick Fanning on board to make your wave pool project successful? You need Mick for the zest and allure that attracts aspiring punters to take the plunge at your facility. And you would be hard-pressed to find a more professional, well-spoken athlete representative who just so happens to also be an investor. In this episode of the WavePoolMag Podcast, we speak with Luke Altschwager, Managing Director of Palm Valley Surf Park, who has partnered up with Mick to build the Gold Coast’s first wave pool.

Our discussion covers the project’s current status, including funding milestones, some revised master planning, and wave technology selection (spoiler alert: It’s Endless Surf). Luke also shares unique insights learned from visits to other global surf parks and how mixed-use developments might be the solution for several up-and-coming projects.

How Do Surf Parks Deal With Risk?

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Paul Chivers is kind of the opposite of how I expected him to be. For whatever reason, I pictured a nervous, sweaty man constantly looking up at the ceiling for loose acoustic tiles or poorly wired lighting. But he isn't like that. He appears to embrace things with typical Aussie swagger and bravado. Whereas I thought having a neurotic outlook on life would be a job asset when it comes to being a risk facilitator, Paul proved me wrong.

In this podcast he tells us that 99.9% of the time, your surf park project team will get it right. However, it's when the randomness of the universe shows up that you need to be prepared. For this reason, there are people like Paul who put things into perspective and break down all the factors of "what could possibly go wrong." Join us on the most neurotic podcast yet on WavePoolMag.

Looking Back at the Invention of Kelly's and Toward the Future of a New Technology

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:15:00 +0200

Remember that magical moment in December 2015 when Kelly unveiled his wave pool to the world? In this episode of the WavePoolMag podcast, we dive into the full backstory behind that unforgettable day. We speak with Alex Poirot to learn more about working with Kelly, his first impressions of the now-famous wave, and the significance of that moment in surfing. You'll also hear how Alex and Brett Portero are pioneering an entirely new technology at Crest Surf Clubs.

What Makes a Great Guest Experience? Lee Wood at Lost Shore

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 00:45:00 +0200

In this episode, we dive into an educational conversation with Lost Shore's Surf & Hospitality Director Lee Wood. Raised on the rugged Scottish coast and shaped by two decades in Ireland’s surf scene, Lee shares how he built an entire team for the surf park in just four short weeks, customized coaching techniques specific for wave pool conditions, tweaked beginner-friendly settings and heaps more. Plus, you'll find out what Lee looks for in new hires to help guests stay happy. Tune in for a soulful, salty, and entertaining look at Scotland’s surf future.

What It Took to Launch Revel Surf: Matt Gunn’s Big Reveal

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 16:00:00 +0200

Before their grand opening, Revel Surf had to get sign-off from agencies who’d never even seen a surf park. What if inspectors expect a flat-bottom pool—but your tech depends on complex, surf-specific bathymetry? Welcome to the world of Matt Gunn, co-inventor of SwellMFG, the wave tech behind Revel Surf.

Matt’s classic Californian: chill on the outside, no matter the chaos inside. If he was freaking out over Maricopa County not understanding wave pool bathymetry, he wouldn’t show it. And when Canon Beach breaks ground in Texas on the group’s second project, he’ll face a whole new set of county regs.

We caught up with Matt as Revel Surf kicks into high season to see how his nerves are holding up after betting millions—and his brand-new tech—on a single day of inspection. Spoiler: they passed. They’re open and thriving.

We also dig into the mechanics behind SwellMFG, Arizona’s budding surf scene, and how to build community around your project.

Amy Hunt of Waco Surf Dishes About the Skills Needed to Run a Surf Park

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Does anyone remember those Bartender school commercials they used to run on daytime TV? It was a specific school for a specific task - serving drinks. The wave pool world does not have a university program. Surfing does, but not surf parks. Those who excel in this space tend to have a background cobbled from hospitality, resort and adventure tourism experience.

And then there are some people who just have a sensibility that allows them to excel at whatever they decide to apply themselves to. Amy Hunt is such a person. The level of knowledge and moxie to deal with the many layers, nuances and chaos control to run a surf park, Amy has in spades.

And this is something I’m finding out as we talk to more wave pool operators around the world. The skills needed aren’t so much about having a wave pool-specific background, although in some years there will be a certificate for that - the skill set combines qualities like unicorn communication abilities along with creative problem solving meshed with hyper attention to detail. I discovered this thread during our conversation with Amy. She learns quickly, cares about the details and works tirelessly. The wave pool at Waco Surf is just one, small component to a 500-acre ranch that includes a cable park, lazy river, water slides, cabins, ponds, an island with lemurs and more.

In this conversation we are gifted keen insights as she drills down the details of operation at what is today, America’s favorite surf park.

Building a Wave Pool in the Middle of a European City with Tom Lochtefeld

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:30:00 +0200

We were lucky enough to catch Tom Lochtefeld at the RiF010 wave pool in central Rotterdam. Tom shared with us how this unique project came into being and why it took 11 long years to complete.

Flowstate: Revolutionizing Experience with Luke Wallace

Wed, 28 May 2025 16:00:00 +0200

Bryan talks with Luke Wallace, CEO and Co-Founder of Flowstate, the premium AI-powered camera system reshaping how surf parks capture and deliver video content. Luke explains how Flowstate automates video recording, detects maneuvers like snaps and barrels, enables surf competitions, and enhances the coaching experience. He also shares how the team is expanding from wave pools into snow and beach environments through their mobile broadcast solution.

How Do You Design a Wave Pool? Bringing the Munich Pool to Life

Fri, 16 May 2025 00:00:00 +0200

The machine powering the transformation of German surfing is an Endless Surf 34 caisson wave pool, or ES34 to those in the know. To bring this beast to life, much of the heavy design and programming was done by the talented hands of Clément Ginestet and Axel Terradillos. WavePoolMag wanted to know how the dynamic duo dealt with the stress of bringing a multi-million dollar project to life, as well as how the process of designing a wave pool works. We know that engineers live and breathe CFD models, but what about those little cosmic surprises that occur when the randomness of the universe shows up unexpectedly? In this conversation, Clem and Axel allow us a unique view into the nailbiting debut of the first Endless Surf wave pool.

Why Change Your Surf Park's Wave Settings? The Wave Bristol Did Just That

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0200

How do you overhaul the surf experience without disrupting your most loyal riders? What does it take to redesign wave settings that help surfers progress more naturally? And how do you test, tweak, and communicate those changes—all in time for the start of surf season?

In this episode of the WavePoolMag podcast, we head to The Wave in Bristol where a major shift has been made: the familiar Waikiki wave is out, and a brand-new "Improver" setting is in. But what exactly changed—and why?

Listeners will get a behind-the-scenes look at how The Wave's team approached the challenge, from refining takeoffs to reshaping session flow. Was the change worth it? How did regulars react? And what happens when you ask your own staff to surf for four straight days in freezing water?

Tune in to hear the full story behind one of the most ambitious surf setting revamps to date.

The collective wave pool wisdom of Craig Stoddart and Damon Tudor

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0200

In this podcast, we speak with Damon Tudor (former CEO of URBNSURF) and Craig Stoddart (co-founder of The Wave) about their journey and their exciting new Bahrain Surf Park project. Their partnership wasn’t sudden; over six years, they regularly exchanged insights on artificial wave technology, surf school structures, and maintenance systems. Despite operating in different markets — one with a mature surf culture and the other requiring broader appeal — they found common ground. Now, they’re bringing Middle East wave pools to life and ttaking on the challenge of introducing surfing to Bahrain, where half of the 1.5 million population can’t swim.

On a Mission to Surf as Many Wave Pools as Possible

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Mike Goldy’s has spent $15,000 on wave pool sessions. In return he has surfed 15 different wave technologies at 23 different standing and traveling wave pools across eight countries. What is the draw for this wonderful, possibly OCD-afflicted human? Is it the good vibes in the lineup, the guaranteed waves, the pumping soundtracks and close proximity to high-end coffee beverages? In this episode Mike shares what it’s like to be surf-obsessed in Baltimore and how that has led to his current mission - to surf as many wave pools as possible.

How AllWaves is Changing the Game for Surf Park Operations

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0200

We learned about AllWaves last year on a visit to Belgium with Blair Conklin and crew in tow. During our visit, we saw firsthand the wave pool’s potential, documenting the unique circles of swell pumped out by its submerged bouncy pillow wavemaker.

Since then, the Instagram-sphere has blown up—not with clips of pros doing amazing airs, but with videos of gentle, perfect, rolling beginner waves.

Marie-Laure Clement of AllWaves shares how market demand is shaping the next step for Knokke-Heist’s wave pool technology.

Mitch Crews: Senior Director of Surf Experience at Surf Abu Dhabi

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Where do regular people eat in Abu Dhabi? I mean, it can't be a 5-star dining experience for every meal - maybe in the glossy press materials, but not for the average visiting human. But that's how many perceive this place. Former CT surfer Mitch Crews shares what it's like surfing, working and dining on a budget at the world's newest Kelly Slater Wave Co. creation.

"My team has become like family to me and they're all, you know, a bunch of crazy surfers from around the globe. And it does feel like an authentic surf trip. I encourage everyone to at least give it a shot because once you've experienced that you know what it's all about. We're pretty proud of what we've done here and hopefully, we'll see many people's faces coming through."

The layered complexities of commercial development with Joe Dale of The Wave

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Joe Dale serves as the Head of Commercial at The Wave in Bristol. In his role, he develops strategies to attract visitors to The Wave. Easy, right? Well, no. Joe has been instrumental in addressing the challenges of leading a business in the emerging wave pool sector. As the industry evolves, Joe's insights in this discussion highlight the connection between business growth and the consumer’s interest in distinctive recreational opportunities that, if done right, create a vibrant customer base.

A surf club that shapes and helps the micro cosmos of desert surf culture

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:15:00 +0200

The Coachella Valley Surf Club emerged hot on the heels of a handful of wave pool announcements for the desert east of Los Angeles. What started as an organization to introduce desert kids to the wonders of surfing has evolved into a philanthropic exercise to provide scholarships to students at the Desert Mirage High School in Thermal.

Dave Hilts runs the organization and tell us, “Well, you know, the Coachella is very diverse socio-economically. And you have a mix of extremely wealthy people here. And then you have the East Valley, Coachella, in the school that I've been working with, you've got basically, the sons and daughters of farm workers and service workers. So you have a very diverse culture of people and incomes. That is where we've been focusing. Our efforts are in the East Valley where the kids could use the most help.”

Drop into this fascinating micro-culture of desert surf in this latest episode…

Andy Hadden on bringing Lost Shore Surf Resort to life

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 00:15:00 +0200

Andy Hadden is pumped. We're sitting on the edge of the wave pool that he spent over a decade bringing to life. Today, all those blueprints, civic meetings and artist renders have disappeared into the ether to be replaced by the real, three-dimensional entity that is Lost Shore Surf Resort. In this episode we pick Andy's brain to uncover the surprises one can expect in the magic place when your dream goes from concept to concrete.

"Entertainment is about everything in one place" – Adam Saks on the Cannon Beach effect

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 16:00:00 +0200

On site at Revel Surf in Mesa Arizona earlier this month we spoke with COO Adam Saks – a creative hospitality veteran who brings a refreshing New York realness to his work. It was pre-opening and Maricopa County was running through its final inspection list (spoiler alert, they passed and are open as of today.) Adam walks us through the Cannon Beach journey, which many of us are familiar with, but really piqued our interest with his innovative take on how surf invigorates a space. Here, in the stripmall-landia of the greater Phoenix area, a wave pool radically distinguishes a destination which rolls over into higher retail occupancy and rates.

“Our rents in this 30 acres are a bit more than those across the street. It just is. And that's not a secret. Prospective tenants could go and call upon the real estate broker for the retail space across the street, and they can call our broker and they will get two different numbers. What we have found is that we're 100% leased. So people here are willing to pay a premium rent to open their business close to the water. Like I said, what Cannon Beach is going to be in a couple of years with everything that we're bringing to this corner and the fact that very little of that exists in Southeast Mesa. Entertainment is about everything in one place. That's what the world has become.”

Bringing Germany’s first wave pool online

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 16:00:00 +0200

Jonas Boehm-Tettelbach is an imposing figure. He's Lurch height with a backwoodsy hairstyle and beard – put him in greasy overalls and he could be cast as a moonshiner in a Tarantino film. However, his manner is the furthest thing from Duck Dynasty bravado. Jonas speaks in a quiet, measured tone. And, it turns out, he also knows his shit.

Having been with this wave pool project alongside his father, he's seen it all during the evolution of O2 SURFTOWN MUC from concept to concrete – a process which took five-and-a-half years (a relatively short time when compared to many other surf park projects.) In this podcast Jonas shares some of those hard-earned insights, the kind that can only be learned by bringing Germany's first wave pool to life.

Cannon Time: Argentina’s new wave poolers

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 16:00:00 +0200

Joaquín Lozada and Ezequiel Fernandez Lobo from La Ola Group, based in Argentina, are spearheading a technology that uses underwater air cannons to generate surf. The company plans to build their first wave pool adjacent a famous church just outside of Buenos Aires. If successful, their technology will rub shoulders with some of the major players in the highly competitive wave generation game.

Wave pool pioneer Cheyne Magnusson opens up about the Palm Springs Surf Club, his history and more

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 16:00:00 +0200

There are only a handful of people on the planet with as much wave design experience as Cheyne Magnusson. He’s part of an obsessed, laser-focused elite squad of wave designers - individuals who can take a multi-million dollar piece of equipment and shape waves. His journey started nearly a decade ago when he was at Body Glove and the boss asked, “what can we do with wave pools?” He went on to shape the wave program at Waco, create the Palm Springs Surf Club and now, as we learned, branch out into more new projects (spoiler alert, he names locations). We joined him in Palm Springs on location at the newly re-opened Palm Springs Surf Club.

Surf park knowledge nuggets with industry vet Jessica Mahoney

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Jessica Mahoney’s professional life has crossed paths with WavePoolMag a few times now, first at ADG and later as COO at Surf Park Summit. Over the years, she has amassed a databank of knowledge in the industry from the tech side to the consumer side and all points in between. We had a nice long chat with Jessica to discover what wave pool operators can do to improve their business through facility offerings, amenities, seasonality planning, branding, and much more. Dig in for an accelerated learning package in this latest WavePoolMag podcast.

Days of Futures Past: Phil Roberts’ influence on the look of today’s wave pools

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 16:00:00 +0200

Philip Roberts is always in close orbit to surfing’s greatest inventors. Mentored by water park guru Dick Croul (Wild Rivers) he’s brought the ideation of Tom Lochtefeld to life while acting as the grounding cable for Boogie Board inventor Tom Morey. In the late ‘80s, Surfer Mag offered him a project to paint, as they put it, “the future of surfing.” The gig was for an illustrator to bring a floating reef concept to life. From there he expanded into futuristic wave pool designs, much of which has become the blueprint for concepts we still see today. We wanted to pick Phil's brain to learn how he consciously or unconsciously seeded the future look of surf parks.

The best wave pool movie ever and surfing’s lasting influence with John Philbin

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0200

John Philbin’s best-known movie parts were in Children of the Corn, Tombstone, Point Break and, of course, The North Shore - that classic 1980s film about an Arizona wave pooler who goes to Hawaii. In this podcast, John talks about how he landed the role of Turtle (hint: he had to audition 7 times) and the movie’s lasting effect on a generation. As a core surfer he’s also well-placed to measure changes to surfing and the “life” many have sacrificed so much to be a part of and speak to how wave pools, surfing and their overall perception have shifted within popular culture.

“You don't you don't have to be a bum to be a surfer anymore. I was telling my friends that you can be rich and be a surfer. It's a thing that's happened. The game is out man, but it used to be like, “yeah, I'm going to sacrifice everything in my life for this feeling of riding energy in the water.” And that's what it used to be like when I was a kid. You used to have to be a lifeguard or a firefighter to be a surfer. Now, you can put in hours and be a CEO of a company and be a surfer. You look at Mark Zuckerberg or someone and you're like, fuck, you know? Are you kidding me? Yeah. The richest man in the world, what he really wants to do is ride a wave because he’s discovered what we’ve known all along.”

Asking URBNSURF if your second wave pool is easier than the first

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 00:30:00 +0200

There’s a mantra in the wave pool space that the development, opening and operation of parks will get easier as more facilities open up. That’s why the unveiling of URBNSURF Sydney is a pretty big deal. The launch makes the URBNSURF group the only entity to have two surf parks in operation. We wanted to find out if the company simply copy/pasted Melbourne to a new location or if they had to start from scratch. Was it easier this time around? We spoke with the one person most qualified to answer this question, URBNSURF Sydney GM Shaun Hutchinson.

The AllWaves Story: Outside-the-box wave pool imagineering

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 00:15:00 +0200

Steven Nauwelaerts of AllWaves refers to competitors as "collegues," a refreshing take in a sector that grows more competitive each day. Steven has a unique view of the space. He spent years doing the one thing that might be more difficult than creating surfable waves in a confined pool – extrancting energy from ocean waves. Steven is one of the few people to turn the equation on its head and make the transition from wave farmer to wave pooler. Perhaps it’s this ability to see waves in all their forms that allows a higher-up view of the surf park space. Steven’s design AllWaves lit up global news feeds last month with the unveiling of his technology in Belgium. WavePoolMag was there to test out the new pillow technology and learn more about this very different wave generation system.

Ideas and implementations: URBNSURF CEO Jennifer Vandekreeke

Sun, 09 Jun 2024 16:00:00 +0200

The first thing we noticed at URBNSURF Sydney was that everyone wore a name badge. “Dude maintaining the pool” now has a name (it’s Keith by the way.) This simple customer experience measure hints at the kind of changes Jennifer Vandekreeke has in mind for Australia’s premier surf park business. In her previous roles, she drove growth for travel and leisure companies, notably Carnival Cruise Lines. Having taken the reins from Damon Tudor, we were curious to find out how Jenn’s experience making big, giant boats profitable (hint: wave pools are also just big, expensive pieces of machinery as well) parlay into the world of surf parks.

How this big wave surfer will transform Bavarian surfing through o2 SURFTOWN MUC

Mon, 13 May 2024 03:30:00 +0200

I'm at the construction site at o2 SURFTOWN MUC with Michi Mohr. He's a large, intimidating figure with thick hands and a disarming smile - warm, sincere and just a tad goofy. We walk around the construction site while wave pool maker Endless Surf runs a multitude of tests. Michi stops to pick up an empty box for the recycling bin, cleans up an errant Firewire demo board and eyes the area for other disarray. But it's a construction site. I mean the park isn't even completed and here's Michi making things as orderly as possible which, if we're being honest, isn't possible at this point in time. I wanted to find out why this surfer, who left Bavaria decades ago to chase waves around the world, had returned to Munich to become Chief Surfing Officer and how his way of running things will work here at a wave pool just a stone's throw from the airport.

Find out how to build a wave pool in a canal in the center of Europe’s busiest shipping city

Thu, 02 May 2024 16:00:00 +0200

Edwin van Viegen is leading a wave pool development in the center of Europe's busiest port city, Rotterdam. He has been working on this project for several years and experienced the usual surf park ups and downs. But this wave pool, Rif010 (pronounced riff-ten) has the unbridled support of major city planners and various local government agencies - a major win for any project. As such, it's moved relatively quickly, at least by European bureaucratic standards, to cross the finish line once it opens this summer. We wanted to find out how a brave idea like building a wave pool in downtown Rotterdam came to be. Edwin was gracious enough to share his story.

Plans and dreams to create a wave pool: “This is a story about failure and what not to do”

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 16:00:00 +0200

Wave pool projects require perseverance, as they involve a significant amount of time, effort, and the all-mighty dollar. Nick Robinson talks about the hurdles he faced during his bid to build a wave pool in Portugal. He discusses the process he went through to find suitable land, choosing the right technology for that land and navigating the ever present cultural differences. Nick shares some war stories and offers advice for those swept up in similar projects.

Key tips from Nick

• Extensive research is crucial for wave pool projects, including choosing a technology, land requirements, and financial planning.

• Partnering with experienced property developers and building a strong team is essential for success.

• Securing funding and having a clear financial plan is crucial for the long-term viability of the project.

• Staying updated on current wave pool projects and collaborating with industry professionals provides valuable real-time insights and opportunities.

AI video capture of your sessions with Luke Wallace of Flowstate

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 16:00:00 +0200

Luke Wallace is the CEO of Flowstate, an AI video capture system adopted by many of the world’s wave pools. We spoke with Luke to find out how a variety of factors came together perfectly to create a platform that records each and every one of your waves during a surf park visit. In the process, the system has opened up new social, coaching and safety possibilities.

Beyond The Wave – The Nick Hounsfield Interview

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Did you know that Nick Hounsfield comes from a family of inventors? He didn't invent the wave pool at his surf park. No, Wavegarden did that. But he's constantly focused on how things could work. It's like a constant invitation to daydream. We learned this early on but only now have gotten around to poking at this side of Nick. In this conversation we dig into the creative side of wave pooling and explore the current state of the wave pool space and, of course, Nick's excitement for the future.

Matt Hyslop on feasibility studies for new surf venues

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Can a passion project like a wave pool have blind spots to reality? Matt Hyslop from Colliers International talks with WavePoolMag about his role in conducting feasibility studies for new surf venues. Matt highlights the importance of visitor forecasting and understanding the potential market when planning for a new wave pool. He also lets slip some of the ideal locations and the different business models that work. Matt also talks about those red flags that can arise during the development of a wave pool project.

The backstory to Wave Park South Korea and its effects on K-Surf

Sat, 16 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Hear Euna Kim's firsthand account of Wave Park's inception in Siheung-Si, South Korea. With her mastery of languages and a newfound passion for surfing, Euna played a pivotal role in navigating the intricate journey from vision to reality. She'll reveal how Wave Park has become a cornerstone in the evolution of Korea's surf culture and delve into the complexities behind establishing this groundbreaking surf destination. Join us for an enlightening discussion on the multifaceted process of bringing Wave Park to life

Surf Park Summit achievements with Chris Kluesener

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 00:30:00 +0200

In this podcast our guest Chris Kluesener sights on the wave pool space through the Surf Park Summit lens. We touch on the newness of the uniqueness of the industry and why his company’s annual gathering continues to connect people and grow. Chris quips that the real estate industry is bustling with 4 or 5 trade associations yes, “Is it really that hard to build a house? Wave pools are much more complicated and to date we have zero trade associations.” Take the industry’s pulse with Chris and I as Surf Park Summit gets set to return September 30 - October 2, 2024. You can sign up for thier newsletter right here.

Barton Lynch on wave pools, their potential and oh so much more

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 01:30:00 +0200

In our latest episode we catch up with 1988 world champ Barton Lynch who many of us know as the live wire WSL commentator. From our side of this interview we relished hearing an unbridled Barton expanding his thoughts beyond the WSL broadcast two-minute cap as he shares his insights into the early days of the pro tour and how that generation had to scrap hard to make the pro tour dream happen. And while he also talks about his new video game, the ongoing BL Blastoff grom comp and a few other side bites, the heart of the conversation is, of course, wave pools. From the early Allentown ASP days to his relationship with Surf Lakes to how Kelly Slater has created the only place in the world where surfers mentally will their friends to totally blow a wave.

How to manage a wave pool with URBNSURF’s Shaun Hutchinson

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Shaun Hutchinson is Group Operations Manager at Urbnsurf. Most of the day he’s tucked back in the office redlining in the tasks department, but we coaxed him out long enough to do a podcast. During our half hour conversation we learned just how complex and layered managing a surf park is.

Hazel Geary – CEO at The Wave, Bristol

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 16:00:00 +0200

We returned live to the middle of a sheep paddock in bucolic Easter Compton to check in with the new CEO at The Wave, Hazel Geary. In this podcast we explore the similarities and differences between the Leisure, Beauty and Well-being Industries and Surf Parks. Are we really that different? Yes and No. Hazel digs in with a fresh level of sophistication gleaned from years in the fitness industry. In the process we discover many nuanced learnings that our wave pool industry can benefit from.

Find out how Flowstate uses AI to enhance the surf park user experience

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 16:00:00 +0200

How does one go about training a machine to recognise each and every individual surfer? Flowstate have created an AI powered capture system that records each guest’s surf experience. And the amazing thing is that it works without RFID wristbands or board stickers. In this podcast we dig in and learn how Chris, Mike and the crew at Flowstate have built a system that recognises those minute nuances that separate and define us each individually as surfers. By developing this “style fingerprint” Flowstate have created a system that provides surf park guests with keepsake video clips of their wave pool sessions. Dig into the podcast to learn how Flowstate do what many consider to be an impossible task.

In the surf park trenches – Matt Gunn of SwellMFG

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Revel Surf park is the wave pool powered by Swell MFG. It is the focal point of the 37-acre mixed-use development at Cannon Beach in Mesa, Arizona. In this episode, we have a wonderfully frank discussion with Matt Gunn, who along with his partner, built this wave technology. The journey one takes from obsessing on, and then building a new technology is not for the faint of heart. Matt shares fascinating stories of real-world R&D failures, triumphs and flat-out stoke as his crew prepares to open up to the public in Spring 2024.

And just how is the wave pool space evolving? Surf Park Summit returns

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0200

In this episode, we have a lively chat with the always-on-point Dr. Jess Ponting Jess is one of the brains behind Surf Park Summit, the annual wave pool dreamer, doer and developer convention. The Summit runs September 18-20 in San Diego, California.

Just around the corner: Scotland’s first surf park with Andy Hadden

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 16:00:00 +0200

Many of the surf parks scheduled to open soon have been in the works for nearly a decade or more. Their architects are the original crop of dreamers and doers - the devout wave poolers in a long-term relationship with artificial wave technology. Andy Hadden wed the wave pool dream back in 2013 and is now eyeing the completion of Lost Shore Surf Resort, a 52-module Wavegarden Cove near Edinburgh. Despite the global ebbs and flows experienced by everyone these past few years, the project is marching toward a completion date of September 2024.

“We were relying heavily on this becoming an Olympic sport,” said Andy. “I think that was something that most of us could see coming. But still, you know, it's a bet. You could call it that. We had to go through two major planning applications, which is something that, you know, all the developers have to go through. So that meant knowing locally exactly how to navigate those choppy waters. And then fundamentally, you have to raise a heck of a lot of money and then you have to have the aptitude and desire to run one. So there's definitely a reason that surf parks aren't more numerous today. There are definitely going to be more later. You know everyone that's built a wave pool is wanting to build another one - I think that speaks volumes.”

Atlanta's first surf park has a unique approach

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

The “City in a Forest” is well-known as the filming location for "The Walking Dead," music stars like Ludacris and Usher, horrendous traffic and a major launch point for the Civil Rights movement. And now, it might become known as the home to Georgia’s first wave pool. Spencer Broome and crew are driving the concept of Surf ATL, a wave pool with a broader vision of inclusivity and return. In this episode, Spencer explains why the most successful surf park is the one that satisfies both investors and the local community.

Dave & Mike tell how they became owners of their own surf park

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 00:30:00 +0200

Dave Taylor and Mike Schwaab own Waco Surf, the Sputnik of surf parks in America. The facility launched in the early days of the wave pool race has since gone through many changes. Enter DT and Mike, two average guys who worked incessantly to fulfill their dream of owning a wave pool. Here is how it all happened.

Ikaika and Greg from The Lineup at Wai Kai address the challenges of running a wave pool in Hawaii

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

The Lineup at Wai Kai is unique in the wave pool world. To make a chlorinated rapid wave work in the birthplace of surfing is a tall order. Getting a skeptical community to support that project might take even more skill and moxie. But since opening this year, the world’s largest rapid wave has integrated into the community here on the West Side of Oahu. How? In this episode we speak with Ikaika Kaulukukui and Greg Champion who, along with many others, have worked tirelessly to ensure that this wave contributes to the local community in a variety of ways and ultimately finds a place of belonging in Wai Kai.

Ander Wynne-Edwards walks us through the entire wave pool building process

Sat, 06 May 2023 16:00:00 +0200

Ander Wynne-Edwards is the Director of Operations at Endless Surf. He’s worked for Whitewater West for the past two decades building and commissioning large-scale wave pools – pneumatic wave pools in particular. In this episode, he walks us through everything that goes on in the time between a project breaking ground and rolling out the first set of waves. Ander also divulges what kind of things make a job go smoothly and conversely, some of those challenges posed in this unique project niche.

Editor-in-chief at STAB Brendan Buckley

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0200

What is the premiere surf platform's take on wave pools? In this episode, we gather insight into the wave pool scene from the editor-in-chief at STAB Brendan Buckley. While we normally talk to wave makers and doers, Buck’s contribution to the wave pool discourse is on the culture, that unique confluence of salt and pool water. We hit on how ocean surfing is already changing due to the availability of wave pools as well as touching on points where the romance between the two is thwarted.

Blake Hess – The ultimate surf park manager

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:00:00 +0200

Blake Hess is a rare individual in that he is one of only a handful of people who know how to run, manage and develop a surf park. In the few years that wave pools 2.0 have been a thing, Blake has been deeply involved. He helped bring NLand online its first and only year and then he moved on and managed the lucrative ins-and-outs at Kelly’s. Now he is guiding three new American projects as they come on line. In this podcast Blake shares with us what happened at NLand, why Eddie Vedder is a great guest and where America’s next wave pool will be.

Jess Ponting dishes all those little details that explain why this space is limitless

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:45:00 +0200

Dr. Jess Ponting joins us to touch on several projects and points including Stoke Certification, Surf Park Summit, the new Consumer Trends Report and more.

But the heart of the convo comes during his big-picture view of surfing. “People aren't used to thinking about a surf park as a legitimate recreation facility in a community," he says. "And there's, you know, a certain cultural cringe about the frivolity of surfing and how could we possibly allocate resources to something as frivolous as surfing? And the answer is because surfing is really good for people and it can be a real economic driver for communities and it doesn't have to be a drain on environmental resources.”

More surf park insight than you can possibly handle with Skip Taylor

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Skip Taylor is the guy we call when we’re stumped as he is one of the few veterans working the nascent wave pool landscape. This industry being what it is, he’s up to his elbows in NDAs so getting him to spill is basically impossible. That said, Zooms with Mr. Taylor are like a perpetual cocktail hour where the conversation is easy, funny and punctuated with sharp insights. We always emerge with more knowledge and insight. In this episode Skip spills the beans on a few off-radar topics, dives into some gory specifics and delivers on his latest project, The Lineup at Wai Kai.

Brad Gerlach on the intersection of wave pools and Wave Ki

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Brad Gerlach held down a very successful pro career during the ASP’s 3-to-the-beach era, finishing ranked at #2 in 1991. He then went on to pursue big wave riding, winning an XXL award in 2005. At some point, Brad merged martial arts and surfing fundamentals in a new training regimen called Wave Ki. In a nutshell, it’s practicing movements on land over and over again until those motions become engrained in your memory. Then, when you surf, you tap into this databank of movements without really thinking about it. We wanted to learn more about how this dry-land training can help surfers improve their wave pool game.

Julie Kline explains how EpicSurf can democratize surfing

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0200

In this episode we speak with Julie Kline of EpicSurf whose goal is to bring the benefits of sliding along a wave to everyone. The deepwater standing wave revolution will allow more waves in more places than ever before, bringing surfing to people who ordinarily might not have the chance to become surfers.

Angus Forrest explains why Rip Curl jumped into the deep end

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0200

In Rip Curl’s Search campaign, we are teased with images of empty lineups from far-off, exotic locations. So how does a company that built its core messaging on the nearly unattainable aspect of surfing, align itself with surfing in wave pools? In this episode, we speak with Angus Forrest, marketing manager for Rip Curl Australia and New Zealand, and discover how it’s really not that much of a stretch. During the discussion, we learn why Rip Curl identified surf parks as the next growth step for the company. We also get a sneak peek at how their tech gear will adapt and evolve in wavepools worldwide.

Brandon Lowery

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 13:00:00 +0200

Brandon Lowry is the interim CEO at USA Surfing, the definitive amateur organization for surfing in America. He’s been involved in the pool scene for more than a decade, working with Greg Webber and BSR Surf Resort early on. In this episode we explore not only how wave pools can better Team America, but how pools will change the face of global surfing.

Evan Slater and why surf marketing matters in the wave pool space

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0200

While we’ve been watching the surf industry shrink since 2008 – it’s never quite come back to where it was – we’ve also been watching the wave pool space accelerate with nothing but limitless possibilities. In this episode we learn how Billabong and other surf brands are courting the wave pool space. Evan Slater, VP of Marketing at Billabong, shares his insight into the complexity of branding in the surf park space and why “there’s more to it than just getting as many people as possible to stand-up on surfboards.”

What wave poolers need to know with Nick Hounsfield

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Quick Update with Nick Hounsfield of The Wave. We’ve had Nick on the show before and The Wave’s history is well documented. For this episode of the podcast we branched out to explore community and how The Wave is helping diversify the lineup.

“We’re starting to see people of very different backgrounds come here, rather than feeling like it’s constantly a middle class white playground which would make me feel like I failed. So I want to make sure that diversity is embedded from the start.”

What the surf park world can learn from the golf club set

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Luke Altschwager is the Managing Director at Parkwood Village on the Gold Coast of Australia. He’s a former pro golfer currently merging resort know-how with surf park potential via the Club at Parkwood. Well-spoken and sharp-witted, Luke walks us through the similarities and the gaps between surf and golf as we explore how future wave pool developments can learn from this established leisure blueprint.

The subtleties you don’t see in the Surf Lakes plunger system with Kit Sidwell

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 03:15:00 +0200

In this episode, Surf Lakes engineer Kit Sidwell explains some of the nuances, history and basics of why the stone-in-a-pond wave machine concept works.

Alternative wave pool construction with Myrtha and Endless Surf

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 16:00:00 +0200

In this episode, Paul Chutter of Endless Surf and Roberto Colletto of Myrtha Pools dive into how they are changing the process of wave pool construction. Myrtha uses a pre-fab steel-and-pvc technique that simplifies the wave pool building process and reduces project time. Too good to be true? Give it a listen.

Wave intervals are more important than you might think

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0200

In our latest podcast Nick Robinson dives into the hot new topic of intervals in wave pools. Joining Nick and editor Bryan Dickerson are Baptiste Caulonque and Clement Ginestet of Endless Surf wave pools. The four explore the intervals inherent in popular surf systems and how that affects the surf itself, the customer experience and ultimately operating expenditures. It’s a fascinating dive into an area that is just now being recognised as a crucial component to surf park operations.

Quarterly pool chat with editor-in-chief Bryan Dickerson

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 16:00:00 +0200

Nick Robinson chats with WavePoolMag editor Bryan Dickerson about the latest happenings and goings-on in the wave pool world including upcoming projects, rumors and pipe dreams. The two also map out what wave pool contests could and should look like...

Aaron Trevis on the state of Surf Lakes five years in

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 16:00:00 +0200

Aaron Trevis has been tinkering away for well more than five years on Surf Lakes. He built small 1:25 and 1:10 prototypes of the plunger to see if the idea could work. It did. Fast forward to today and licensing has been fast with Surf Lakes selling territories in Hawaii, China, the US, and elsewhere. In all, the company says they have 19 projects in the works with more to be confirmed. WavePoolMag Podcaster Nick Robinson speaks with Aaron to cover the progress in Yeppoon and map out his company’s expansion into the global wave pool marketplace.

Meet the person behind Brazil’s first wave pool, Oscar Segall

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 16:00:00 +0200

Oscar Segall is the human behind Fazenda do Grama, Brazil and South America’s first surf-focused wave pool. In this episode podcaster Nick Robinson uncovers the how and why of Segall’s master development. The Wavegarden Cove is the central component to the private development and is only accessible via membership or residency. It could also herald the arrival of wave pools replacing golf courses en mass as future real estate developments copy Oscar’s business plan.

CEO Damon Tudor mapping Urbnsurf’s growth

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 16:00:00 +0200

Urbnsurf Melbourne has been open for a little more than one year. In that time the gates have been shut more often than open. By not pumping out waves to a happy public on the daily, their learning curve for building a thriving, profitable surf park has been incredibly steep. CEO Damon Tudor shares with us an accelerated master class in wave pools, outlining the company’s plans including key targets in Sydney, Perth and elsewhere in Australia. Find out how he expects to get the job done.

Surfloch one of the "big six" wave tech providers

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 18:00:00 +0200

Surfloch is one of the larger wave tech providers having originally made a splash with the sale of the Flowrider system to White Water. Tom Lochtefeld has led Surfloch into a new era of wave creation coming up with a powerful system for creating top quality surfing waves. He has proved it in the Californian desert at Palm Springs with ex-BSR wavemaker, Cheyne Magnusson and his team at the Palm Springs Surf Club.

Check out the video of their incredible few months when the test tank was open: https://vimeo.com/463513131

We also talk about lots of other things and Wisemans surf lodge down in Australia https://www.wisemans.surf/

I hope you enjoy it and next week we have Aaron Trevis with an update from Surf Lakes!

Stay well,

Nick

The intellectual side of surf parks with Professor Jess Ponting

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 17:15:00 +0200

Jess Ponting relates his early days in Fiji and then working his way around the Pacific to San Diego. He ended up there for life becoming an Associate Professor at San Diego State University and is the Founder/Director of Center for Surf Research. He has an impressive resume:

Dr. Jess Ponting is considered the leading academic and consultant in sustainable surf tourism. He holds the world’s first Masters and PhD degrees to focus specifically on this topic and is the world’s most published researcher in the field with 14 scholarly journal articles, 2 books, 2 book chapters, and 21 conference presentations. He is an Associate Professor in sustainable tourism at San Diego State University where he founded the Center for Surf Research in 2011 – the world’s first research center to focus specifically on sustainable surf tourism. He also co-founded Groundswell Educational Travel, a company that facilitates university students studying sustainable surf tourism in world class surfing destinations; STOKE, the world’s first certification program to focus specifically on surf and snow sport tourism; and SurfCredits, a program to raise money for non-profit organizations in surf tourism destinations.

Dr. Ponting sits on the board of many surf related organizations including World Surfing Reserves, National Surfing Reserves, and Sustainable Surf. He has provided sustainable tourism consulting services in 11 countries and has advised the governments of several countries on the regulation and management of surf tourism.

Life at The Wave in Bristol with Nick Hounsfield

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 19:00:00 +0200

Nick Hounsfield had a background in healthcare and is the chairman of Surfing England, having long been involved in the governing body. His dream to build a wave pool in a field outside Bristol has captured the attention of thousands, if not millions of people around the UK and the world.

He chats with us about the highs and the lows, not just of the inception period but also about ongoing operations and the plans that The Wave has for the future. Exciting stuff!

How to create a wave pool in Norway

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 17:00:00 +0200

I can picture Daniel teaching volleyball on Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro and wondering how these guys can fly in from Norway and enjoy such an amazing quality of life. So, being a man full of initiative he figured it out, jumped on a plane and moved to Norway to study. He had no choice but to work hard and get his degree, which he did. It was an incredible challenge, but he overcame it and is now a thriving member of Norwegian society and has embarked on another major challenge: creating the first wave pool in Norway.

Listening to the challenges he has set himself and is overcoming them, I couldn't help but be hugely inspired. I know you will be too. Listen to the end, it wasn't planned but he has an amazing story about a world champion surfer.

Check out Sunnnfjord Waves https://www.sunnfjordwaves.com/

Daniel referenced this film about cold water surfing in Iceland: http://www.underanarcticsky.com/

Hoddevik Surfing Beach https://goo.gl/maps/yAqitm3oDinCWmXn6

Wavegarden update: 43 projects around the world!

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 16:00:00 +0200

Catching up with Wavegarden is an exciting conversation. We discuss the traditional diamond shaped "Cove" and how it could be modified to fit different locations and topographies. We talk energy and how the Wavegarden is more efficient than any of it's competitors. We talk about some of the key projects that they're working on around the world and Séan lists the "next to market" contenders. It's definitely an exciting company to be working for!

One point that really stood out for me was when Séan outlined some details of the Fazenda do Grama project in Brazil. Fascinating!

Scott Bass: well skilled surf journalist chats about his wave pool stories

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 08:00:00 +0200

Scott Bass hails from San Diego and runs his own surf show: "The Boardroom Show" Check it out over here https://boardroomshow.com/ It's a solid surfing podcast and an excellent show where Scott brings people together around the stoke of surfing.

We get to chat about his experiences in the following pools:

Kelly Slater's Surf Ranch
Typhoon Lagoon in Disney World
NLand in Texas (now closed)
BSR in Waco, Texas

It's a great chat and he's an incredible personality. Thanks Scott!

Research and experimentation - the Wave Prizm story

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 12:00:00 +0200

Mark has built a brand around making waves. It's called https://www.waveprizm.com/ , however he is not about to compete with the major players at this stage. In this long conversation Mark recounts how his life led up to his current experimentation with wave machines and discusses his claim that he can make bigger waves that are currently on the market.

It's a long chat, that gets very technical in places and some great stories are told in others. I'd love to hear your opinion, but podcasts don't really have a space for comments :(

Keep listening, this episode was late due to some technical glitches but we'll be back with Scott Bass this Thursday!

A helicopter's view of wave pool projects today

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 18:00:00 +0200

We have an amazing page on our website over on www.wavepoolmag.com called the surf planner. It details all the projects in the space that we've written about and there are potentially quite a few others under wraps.

In this chat Bryan and I head through all the projects we're aware of and proceed from the point of view of the companies who provide the technology:

Kelly Slater Wave Co.
Wavegarden
American Wave Machines
Surf Lakes
Surf Loch
White Water

We also mention the other smaller companies like: Wave Prizm, Swellspot, Swell MFG, Wave SEG, Ola wave pool, Webber Pools, Okahina. Additionally we discuss sheet waves vs RAPID waves (TM - just kidding) and the companies involved in that space.

It's the perfect primer on wave pools for 2021!

The concept of Endless Surf

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 19:00:00 +0200

Andrew Thatcher grew up surfing in the warm waters off Durban, South Africa and came to live in my home town, much further south before leaving for the USA back in 2000.

The happiest coincidence occurred when a family connection to Tom Lochtefeld landed him a job at the legendary wave maker's Surf Loch and Wave Loch company. Tom had created the Flowrider and Andrew helped to spread the piece of joy all around the world. Flowriders are in a wide range of places, from cruise liners, to restaurants, to water parks and as stand alone venues.

We talk a lot about Endless Surf, White Water's "new" product. It's essentially not new as they have been making waves for over 30 years when they built Typhoon Lagoon in Disney World and more than 400 other pools around the world.

It's a fascinating company, with equally absorbing products. You'll enjoy this one.

Cheers,

Nick

Ryder Thomas and the Punta Cana project

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 16:00:00 +0200

Ryder Thomas is a fun, engaging character, and while he was sitting in a cold grey day in New York, I jumped on a call with him from my base down here in Portugal.

We had a long and super interesting conversation all about the inception story of his company Pegasus Lodges, his relation to the Paris wave pool project and then his project down in the Caribbean at Punta Cana. Get this, it has not one but TWO pools to surf.

We talk about how Swell International evolved out of this and another exciting project which is going down in the Azores, Portugal. Listen up, it's a good one!

-Nick

The imminent opening of Switzerland's new pool

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 02:30:00 +0200

Adam Bonvin had a dream a long time ago and worked diligently to create it. His story is an inspiring one, where someone with a completely different background to that of a big time property developer and armed with a passion for the sport envisaged a completely new tourism offer.

He is on the road to opening that dream in April 2021 and not even Covid can stop him! Good luck for the launch Adam, it was very motivating to hear your story.

Nick

Surf coaching in a pool with Surf Simply

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 16:00:00 +0200

Rupert Hill set up "Surf Simply" from scratch over in Costa Rica. He has made a remarkable success of it, going from zero to hero in over 10 years. It's been a long hard slog but he is on top of his game now, offering surf weeks for over $6,000 per person and boasting a two year waiting list. That's an incredible achievement. Well done, Surf Simply!

Nick picks Ru's brain about surfing and how the coaching aspects changes when you eliminate nature's whims from the equation. Learning to surf and improving your surfing in a pool becomes a whole lot more effective... or does it?

What do you think?

More surf in the desert - Mesa Arizona!

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 22:00:00 +0200

Matt Gunn became disillusioned with the total lack of waves after moving out to Arizona from his native California. Being starved of surf certainly drives you crazy, but would you be crazy enough to build a wave machine AND a wave park?

Matt's certainly not crazy, but he's really committed in a quiet, dedicated kind of way. Backed by a big hitters like Shane Beschen and others... well, he's bound to succeed!

Good luck, Matt, it was good fun chatting to you and I'll see you at the launch!

Nick

Surfing in the heart of Paris!

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 16:00:00 +0200

The Paris project has been a fascinating combination of public and private co-operation and Baptiste has been working as a consultant in the thick of all the agencies working hard on the project.

The promise of perfect machine made waves in the middle of a large capital city hasn't been realized yet - will Paris be the first to market? These large undertakings are notoriously riddled with problems, let's get under the skin of this one with Baptiste.

Interestingly "Le Vague Grand Paris" has chosen their wave technology and after initially working with one of the leaders in the industry, they switched to a newcomer. We discuss how that went down.

Thanks for listening to www.wavepoolmag.com/podcast !

We'll be back in two weeks,

Nick

Surf Park Management with Skip Taylor

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 16:00:00 +0200

We discuss Skips background, the wave pool industry as a whole and how he started Surf Park management. Probably the best story was when he flew down to some country in Central Americat to the location of a proposed surf park and was shocked to find a sex store and a gun shop neighbouring the property. Location is pretty important!

We dig into his Turtle Bay Hotel project on the North Shore of Hawaii after he did the turnaround there: ramping up mountain biking trails, helping Hans Hedeman to uplift his surf school, he brought in the APP Stand Up world tour, created restaurants and bar venues with lifestyle programming. His business partner, Kate and him met and then went to the 2017 Snowdonia Surf Park Summit. They presented their new concept of 3rd party management and consulting within wave pools and it was well received by the industry.

We also discuss:

Coral Mountain with Kelly's Wave and private residential projects
Surf training and a fully enhanced progression program.
A deep insight into the wave park creation process and a how to for people who want to get into the space and who to call.
Diversity of new technologies that are coming in to the market: wave in your backyard...

How hard is it to bring a wave pool to Berlin? Find out.

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 16:00:00 +0200

In 2014 Berlin was set to plant a Wavegarden Lagoon plow system at an old airstrip outside of town. When the plan was axed by the local council Eirik Randow got all frothy and took it upon himself to do something. In 2016 he kicked off a program to bring the new Wavegarden Cove technology to Berlin. “In the beginning of projects like that you don’t have a very good understanding of what you’re getting into,” he tells us. Find out how the phrase “When in doubt, paddle out” has kept him redlining these past four years on a project with many unknowns. Nick Robinson finds out what it will ultimately take to bring waves to Berlin.

Shane Beschen on his career, City Wave, DSRTSURF and wave pools

Fri, 17 Jan 2020 16:00:00 +0200

Check out www.wavepoolmag.com/podcast for the show notes.

New York! Smoking a barrel on Long Island

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 09:00:00 +0200

Brett grew up surfing in Long Island, New York and I caught up with him online to talk about the project he has been working on for over four and a half years. Apologies for the audio quality, (it's tough when you're doing these things over the web), however, you can hear him pretty clearly. Let us know on our Instagram if you have any questions about the park and we'll ask him on to answer them.

Hang on for the end of the podcast where I discuss the "state of the industry" - 5 parks open, 1 imminent and 7 under construction plus another 30 or so in the planning process.

Sophie Everard ventures into The Wave (Bristol)

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 11:00:00 +0200

Sophie Everard is a journalist, passionate snowboarder and surfer who has worked extensively within action sports media for more than ten years and is a published writer for industry-leading snowboard titles. She has also set up a brand called "Mad to Live" through which she promotes a positive, modern message of female empowerment with original content. Attached to the content brand is a series of wildly successful women-only retreats in various places like Portugal, Morocco, Costa Rica, Bali and England.

Read more on www.wavepoolmag.com/podcast

Andy Hadden's journey towards a wave garden in Scotland

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 16:00:00 +0200

We get the full story on Andy Hadden's seven year journey in creating another jewel in the Wave Garden crown. By the time this surf park is constructed it could well be the seventh wave garden in operation around the world.

Andy relates the story leading up to where he is at now - a massive journey already but still far from over. Exciting times for the wave pool industry!

Chas Smith: Surf blogging's bad boy weighs in on wave pools

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 14:00:00 +0200

Chas Smith is a smart guy. Originally from California, he moved to Oregon and commenced his surfing career at age 10. He earned a bachelor’s degree in intercultural studies (1998) and a master’s degree in linguistics (2001) from Southern California’s Biola University; Smith’s studies included semesters spent studying Arabic in Egypt and English at Oxford University.

That short bio is taken from Matt Warshaw's Encyclopedia of Surf, check it out: https://eos.surf/entries/smith-chas/

Chas and I discuss a wealth of interesting subjects surrounding his life and wave pools. Here are some of my questions, listen up for his answers:

Establishing personal context:

Which surf media publications have you worked for. How was it?
Can we dig DEEP into the story of Beach Grit. How did you involvement start, was it with a call from a friend and then an office meeting, or a few whiskies in a shady bar.
You wrote a book about Hawaii. Have you ever returned to the North Shore afterwards?
You were a war reporter? Have you seen your Wikipedia page or did you edit that yourself?
Do you aspire to be William Finnegan, surfer and war reporter (author of Barbarian Days)?

Artificial Waves

Let's get into serious detail here: Chas Smith, Kelly Slater and a dislocated shoulder? What did you experience as you arrived at the gate of Kelly’s Surf Ranch before those wooden gates opened?
Signing the NDA at Kelly's. What's the point of inviting press over and getting them to sign an NDA?
I heard a rumour that you have a wild card for the reality TV series: The Ultimate Surfer. Is this true?
Have you been to BSR? Planned a trip to Jersey?
What's your take on Urbnsurf down under?
Here's the deal, imagine some billionaire wires you 50m US for you to construct your dream wave park. Give me a helicopter tour. Would it be next to an airport like Urbnsurf, in a field with camping tents like Bristol, in a mall like Madrid is planned to be? What would your dream park be?
What's the wave tech and why?

The Future of Surfing

The growth of surfing is like a double edged sword. On the one hand, you have more opportunities for people to work passionately in the space that they love, on the other hand you have more kooks polluting the breaks. How do you feel about the growth of surfing?
How will wave pools play a role in that growth?
A lot has been said about surfing's inclusion in the Olympics in 2020. What kind of real impact do you feel it will bring to the sport?
Do you feel that Tokyo should be in a pool?
If you achieve your hell bent mission on destroying the WSL, what will the BEACH GRIT LEAGUE look like? Would you employ Elo to do the content and Chris Coté to commentate?

Why Greg Webber has been in the wave pool industry for over 15 years

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 14:00:00 +0200

Has Greg Webber been at this game longer than anyone else? Maybe not, but he sure has a ton of fascinating insights and excellent ideas surrounding the wave pool space. You can check him out on www.webberwavepools.com Before we kicked off the interview Greg inferred to me that he had no problem in my drilling him about the fact that he essentially broadcasts the fact that his wave pools are the best in the world but none have been built. Well, hold your horses, hopefully, a Webber wave pool is taking shape in Orlando, Florida right now and a V-reef is under development near Perth, Australia.

Webber Wave Pools show notes

We kick off with some light banter about girls and waves.
Smacking into a German near Currumbin, Australia at 10 years of age.
Right-hand rip banks at Bondi on a coolite surfboard.
Dead friends and absence of control when he was a kid and surfing at South Head, Sydney.
Surf trips to Bali, Hawaii and getting Malaria in Indonesia.
11:30 Webber Wave Pools
Thinking about wave machines and a video from a U.S. University kicked off the idea of getting a patent for his creations.
Greg talks about patents and patent law and hints at his tussle with Kelly Slater.
Webber Wave Pool's three different wave solutions: wave system, v-reef, v-wall.
Greg quickly mentions Penrith Wave Pool.
Ocean Sports Development (Anthony Brown) is discussed in more detail. They have three projects, one of which is in Orlando, Florida hopefully breaking ground in January 2020.
40 wave pools from all wave tech makers by 2025.
He talks about conical tubes and the foam ball itself.
Cheaper wave pools will make them much more accessible and expand the sport a lot more.
Webber wave pools create a Kelvin wake similar to the wave behind a boat.
V-Reefs at Triggs Beach near Perth, Australia and the benefits of V-reefs.
An aside about Beach Grit and the state of modern surf journalism. We mention Nick Carrols "New Sarcasm" article.
Back to V-reefs and how they fit into the bigger picture of floating cities which is a real thing. Check out what the United Nations says about it. Oceanix is spearheading the drive.
The profit involved for developers in V-reefs and how they impact the property price of beachfront developments.
An oversupply of waves...
Greg mentions Tom Blake

Las Vegas gets a wave pool!

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 15:00:00 +0200

We interview Tim Curry, known as TC, who is setting out on the arduous venture to create an oasis of surf in the parched desert surrounding Las Vegas. I am sure the Las Vegas population will be STOKED to hear this and the millions of visitors to the city will be able to practice their cutbacks alongside the locals.

Many of you out there may be dreaming about creating your own wave pool in your area. Hopefully, this relaxed chat with TC will put it into perspective for you and feed you with a few insights. If you're unsure of where to start on your journey get in touch with Wave Pool Mag. We'll be able to help you out.

Show notes

Growing up in Newport / Huntington Beach and Vooli.
TC jetted into Vegas in 2004 - he tells us why...
Land acquisition, rezoning and the "Fun Agents".
How TC first heard about wave pools - we talk about Kelly Slater's original video which is fast becoming the starting point for many people's interest in the wave pool space.
TC explains his concept of a beach in Las Vegas and we discuss the appeal of surfing to aspirational surfers.
How TC fully realized that he wanted to create a beach in Las Vegas with surfable waves and the current lack of opportunity in the city.
What stage he is at with "The Beach Las Vegas".
We go off on a tangent about wave pool competitions and compare them to skateboarding.
Going public with the project and not being fearful of public lash back, like in France in mid-2019.
Procuring the land for "The Beach Las Vegas" and discussing various elements like Crystal Lagoons, dog beaches and the challenges of setting up such a large development. We chat about the 3D renderings from the SURFLAND project in Brazil and Sheraton's history in wave pools with their project at Oceandome in Japan.
What's the process when you're engaging ambassadors in the business?
What's the timeline for the Las Vegas beach? 3 years...
Why surf is growing so radically at the moment and what will the effect of wave pools actually be?
We compare skateboarding, wakeboarding, flow riding and snowboarding to surfing in a pool.
We talk about residential development on the beach at Las Vegas.

Wavegarden: Creating an idyllic garden filled with waves

Thu, 31 Oct 2019 14:00:00 +0200

“Wavegarden”, the sound of that name evokes a zen-like space where waves roll endlessly through green spaces pulsing with lush natural life. As if you didn’t know, it’s actually a company created way back in 2005, that sits deep in a northern Spanish valley. It’s a richly forested and abundant area ravaged by harsh Atlantic winters and pounded by massive waves during the cold, rainy months. It is from this secret hideaway that Sean Young chats to us all about the history of Wavegarden, how he came to join the exclusive firm and how they came to be operating in all four corners of the planet.

Immersed in surf: URBNSURF Melbourne

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 13:00:00 +0200

Hey guys, it's Nick coming to you from a warm and autumnal Algarve in Portugal. The swell is picking up down here and I managed a great session where these glassy beauties where peeling off a hard sand spit. Stoked again after along break! The other day I called up Australia and got to chat to Andrew Ross. It was a great conversation, not just because he's such a down to earth relaxed professional but because he's opening one of the first two Wavegarden Cove's in the world. It's quite tense watching both Bristol and Melbourne (as I do), releasing tidbits about the boxes they're ticking and the milestones they're hitting and gliding by. It certainly isn't always smooth sailing but lets dig deep into Andrew Ross' life and find out how URBNSURF came to be.

In deep with Aaron Trevis, founder of Surf Lakes

Sat, 19 Oct 2019 16:00:00 +0200

Find out how the Surf lakes technology was born from the founder himself. Aaron Trevis talks candidly of how the idea came to him, how he pulled a team of incredible people together and built a wave wonderland in Yeppoon, Australia.

Looking at the explosive wheezing of a mad max style contraption may appear intriguing but when perfect waves barrel out onto the five reefs, one is hooked! There is a heap of sheer determination that has been ploughed into this project, we uncover it all in this episode.

The first dedicated surf park in the world!

Fri, 18 Oct 2019 16:00:00 +0200

Andy Ainscough relates the story of how Adventure Park Snowdonia (originally launched in 2015 as Surf Snowdonia) was conceived, built and run. Many pitfalls lurk in a wave pool developers timeline and Andy was lucky enough to overcome them all and now surfs regularly in his creation. The beauty of it is, tons of surfers join him every day in this rustic Welsh valley. It's an iconic place to surf, I know its definitely on my list.

How Wave Pool Mag started

Thu, 17 Oct 2019 16:00:00 +0200

Welcome to our first episode! We start with Bryan Dickerson who founded www.wavepoolmag.com in 2018 and has experienced rapid growth on the platform. During the half-hour chat we learn about Bryan's surf journalism background and how he created the site. We talk about the state and history of the surf industry and how the "wave pool space" came about. It's a pretty big business right now with a lot of money being spent on many projects around the world.

We hope you enjoy the idea of the podcast!

Wave Pool Mag Trailer

Thu, 26 Sep 2019 16:00:00 +0200

Nick welcomes you to the podcast and explains who we will interview, when we will release a new episode, how long they will be and why he is doing this.

"I'm really stoked to be at the forefront of sharing wave pool news and views from many of the global players in the surf lagoon industry. It's a fascinating alternative property development to traditional golf courses and there are so many big issues to discuss. In the words of the WSL CEO, surfing is now at a major inflection point. Why? Due to the proliferation of cool surf images on social media, inclusion of surfing in the 2020 Olympic Games and because of the rise of the machine driven wave pool.

I really hope you enjoy all the hard work Bryan, myself and our team are putting into this."

Thanks,

Nick

Algarve, Portugal September 2019