Brazilian surfer Filipe Toledo tests Wavegarden's The Cove technology. Credit: Wavegarden.
Making Waves Noel Dempsey and Nigel Benton assess the potential of destination surf parks
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ssuming the Tokyo Games go ahead in July, surfing will be one of over 30 sports making its Olympic debut. The sport’s long-awaited arrival on the Olympic stage is widely seen as representing a massive opportunity to generate interest in surfing, with World Surf League Chief Executive, Erik Logan saying the potential is “historic”, representing “a truly transformative moment for surfing”. Of course, more interest in surfing means more participants, and with Australia already having 2.5 million surfers many popular breaks can regularly be crowded. While surfing doesn’t require infrastructure or the need to join a club (no entry fees are required!) being restricted to the coast and dependent on wave conditions has prompted a small number of entrepreneurs and innovators look to use technology to create perfect and consistent waves over the last decade or so. However, this has not been without challenges. While artificial wave rides like FlowRider stationary wave machines have proved relatively popular in waterparks, aquatic facilities and as standalone attractions, they have never truly become mainstream with Australia, perhaps surprisingly, never having more than half-a-dozen locations. Commenting on the adoption of the FlowRider concept, Paul Chutter, President of WhiteWater, the home to FlowRider stationary wave machines, stated “FlowRider attractions, although not a true surfing experience, exist for a reason and we are happy they do. “Maybe not as sought after in Australia, they do have a strong sport following around the globe, especially in areas without
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access to surf. Sheet waves offer another chance for people to get outside and partake in a board sport experience like wake surfing, snowboarding, or skating, and it gives first timers an easy way to experience the unique exhilaration of standing up on a board.” In addition, surf creating artificial waves as pioneered by the now liquidated New Zealand-company ASR Limited proved unsuccessful – although reefs based around sunken vessels have proven a benefit for scuba divers. Emerging as a solution, lagoon-style wave pools and destination surf parks are seen as having the potential to not only broaden surfing participation but to be the centrepiece of tourism and real estate developments echoing the way golf courses have driven commercial and residential developments in past decades. Kelly Slater Wave Company 11-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater has said that wave pools will take surfing mainstream, ‘democratising’ a sport that has only ever been available, by and large, to those lucky enough to live close to the coast. Internationally, Slater’s own Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch in California is perhaps the world’s best known facility. With Slater’s wave generating technology now majorityowned by the World Surf League, the venue has already hosted WSL sanctioned events and is a regular stop on the pro tour. With only seven other publicly accessible artificial wave pools in the world, Coolum on the Sunshine Coast has been advanced as a potential location for the first Kelly Slater attraction outside of the USA.
