Why are wave pools great?

In 2018, the first World Surf League Founder's Cup of Surfing took place, where the world's top surfers gathered at Kelly Slater's wave pool to compete in teams. This event changes many things for surfing and I will try to list them in this article.

Location, location, location

Unlike surf spots, wave pools can be located anywhere in the world, as long as there's enough land to build them. This allows people who live far from the coast to experience the joy of surfing without having to travel to the nearest beach.

Training

With tens of waves per minute and multiple wave types, surfing technology is the perfect tool for surf training. Waves allow surfers to repeat a manoeuvre at will, just like in judo or tennis.

Creativity

With the ability to shape waves, wave pools allow surfers to try new manoeuvres. Something we don't see much in surfing compared to skateboarding, where skateboarders invent new modules to try new manoeuvres.

Health issues

Some surf spots are polluted. This invisible pollution directly affects the health of surfers. Wave pools allow people to practice their favourite sport in clean water.

Sharks

Some surf spots have become inaccessible because of potentially dangerous animals in the water.  Remember when Mick Fanning punched a shark? Unfortunately, these encounters don't always end happily. Wave pools allow surfers to surf safely and leave the animals alone.

Crowd

Tired of crowds? Tens of waves per minute increase the potential number of waves available per surfer, compared to a natural surf spot where there's a lot of competition for access to waves, especially when the perfect swell is coming in.

Availability

A wave pool can be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year! Finally, after a long day at work, you can surf in the evening.

Services

A wave pool offers many services in one place: bars, restaurants, surf shops, surf equipment rental, pet or child sitting, showers and sometimes a jacuzzi!

Innovation

Want to try a new surfboard design? Shape it, get in the water, test it and get feedback in hours instead of weeks for every type of wave!

The lineup

In a wave pool, you don't have to paddle and do duck dives to get to the lineup. You just walk to it. Easily.

There are probably a lot of things that wave pools change for surfing and we've only scratched the surface.

See you in the water!🏄