Surfing is one of those sports that relies intrinsically on mother nature. Weather, geography, and a little bit of luck all combine to produce the waves that we crave. The things that create good surf at our favorite surf breaks are out of our control; we do not have power over the direction of the wind or huge low pressure systems far out over the ocean. That is why some clever people have attempted to create surf-able waves, and there are quite a few companies who are developing truly impressive surf parks. Places where wave starved surfers can smack a few lips and newbies can improve their skills. These surf parks can literally be built anywhere, hundreds of miles from the ocean and in the middle of cities. The latest news is that surf parks are getting the go ahead all over the world, from Russia to Peru, New Jersey to the UK. In the near future surf parks could be the answer for those terrible flat spells.
Wavegarden Builds its First Surf Park in Spain
There are quite a few companies who are developing surf parks across the world, but one of the most impressive so far has to be Wavegarden, who built their prototype in the Basque country, Northern Spain. This is the home of the largest artificial wave in existence, creating both left and right breaking waves that peel perfectly for around 220 meters. It is almost unbelievable that this surf park can create 120 waves per hour, enough for plenty of surfers to get their fill. It has been such a hit that another is being built in North Wales, UK, and it should be open to the public by the summer of 2015. On top of that, this is not a beginner wave that experienced surfers will scoff at, it is the real deal. Pro surfers like Dane Reynolds, Taj Burrow and Gabriel Medina vouch for it, so it should be good enough for you! Check out what is possible at Wavegarden by watching the video below.
American Wave Machine Building Surf Parks in New Jersey and Russia
California based company American Wave Machine is responsible for two types of surf park, the SurfStream standing wave and the PerfectSwell surf pool. The surf pool sets a new precedent in surf park design, as the waves here break as they would on a beach or reef. The size and duration of every single wave created can be controlled, and these can be built indoors or outdoors. It literally replicates the types of waves you would surf in the ocean, with the surf pools capable of spanning over an acre of land. If the American Dream Mall in New Jersey is ever finished they plan to build a PerfectSwell surf park the size of a football pitch there. Another of these awesome surf parks is also being built at Sheksna Resort, in Sochi, Russia. If these are a success, and CEO of Body Glove Robert Meistrell believes they will be, surfing could easily become an Olympic sport, as surfers could all surf the same quality and size of wave. Meistrell explains, “You would score people on how they handle six-foot barrels or four-foot mushy waves, like the long and short programs in figure skating.” It could be a year or two before we get to see the first PerfectSwell surf pool up and running, but you can check out the SurfStream standing wave in the next video.
http://vimeo.com/40179647
Are Surf Parks a Real Alternative to Surfing?
No matter what men build to imitate natural wonders, mother nature will always trump us. Even the most advanced snow sports centers cannot compete with a mountain, and in the same way surf parks are no real match for the ocean. That said, these do look a hell of a lot of fun, and having a surf park nearby to catch waves when it is flat down at the beach would be awesome, there is no doubt about it!