The Wave Garden Bristol “First Look”

The Wave Garden Bristol “First Look”

The Wave Garden Bristol “First Look”

The Wave Bristol Has released its first short video of the waves produced by wave garden specifically wave garden cove technology and we got say its looks incredible. ever since the first idea of the wave bristol came about we have been watching closely and anticipating what it would look like would the waves be big would they be powerfull would they end up something disappointing like the surf Snowdonia project that for must of us surfer isn’t really what we looking for. The Wave Bristol, on the other hand, intreeged the hell out of us and sparked our dreams about what a true wave pool surf session could be. Pumping waves every 8 seconds up to 1.8 meters high for 1 hours and even the potential to get barreled is every surfer Disney land. and this video just goes to show we haven’t been disappointed one thing is for sure after seeing this video I will defiantly be signing up to get some right at the wave as soon as it opens.

 

The Wave has teased out tastebuds before with a few clips of the eave getting made and what it would look like then it’s finished and just like the graphic design of the waves the drone video gives you a real sense of the size and scale of the waves that can be produced.

Just like the rising tide of the wave bristol, our anticipation has been building since the first glimpses of the area. now all we need is just to see the size of the wave and some people surfing it to get in to fully froth mode. one thing is for sure this is going to be a game-changer for British surfing and really open up surfing in the UK to a whole new generation with consistent waves beeing churned out daily I can only imagine where this will take the British surf scene.

with other surf gardens coves and pools planned for the coming years in Scotland and London, the UK will potentially be a world leader in wave pools and has set the standard for what’s possible. seeing this only get me excited for the future and especially to catch a few of these sometime soon 

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Epoxy Surfboards are Better For wave Pools?

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Epoxy Surfboards are Better For wave Pools?

Whats Better For Wave Pools (EPS Or PU) 

If you haven’t been hiding under a rock for the last 2 years then you have probably seen the explosion of wave pool video hit the internet from Kelly’s Surf Ranch with endless peeling perfection to BSR Park, N Land in Austin or even the massive plunger wave from surf lake in Australia. Hear in the UK we have our very on and the world’s first commercial wave pool Surf Snowdonia that has been sending waves since 2016. These wave pool videos sent goosebumps down your spine the first time you watch them, the dream we never thought possible came true, its like seeing Disney land for the first time with the endless possibilities for perfect waves you could say its every surfer dream to ride perfect unbroken waves with no one on it but you, what’s not to like. 

With this explosion of new wave pool technologies and more and more wave pool popping up we wanted to ask the ultimate question on everyone’s lips, What’s the best surfboard for wave pools?

 

Now you might be thinking there is no difference from the wave made in the ocean and the waves made in a pool, but there are some subtle differences that will make a big difference to your surfing. If you take the wrong board you might not surf as well and potential for missed waves but if you get it right and take the right board with you, you’ll have the time of your life.

Firstly we have to define what’s the difference between a sea ocean wave or a wave pool wave? 

Saltwater vs. Freshwater

It really comes down to these 2 things how salt water reacts is different to fresh water and they have slightly different characteristics most wave pools are made with fresh water and if you didn’t already know, freshwater and saltwater have different buoyancy characteristics. Saltwater has 1.6 lb’s (725 Grams) more buoyancy than freshwater. This affects surfing in a huge way as the surfboard that has the correct amount of buoyancy for you in the ocean won’t have the right amount in a freshwater pool. There lies the problem

So to fix this problem you will need a board with a little extra float in buoyancy or Litres volume meaning that you will need more foam and buoyancy in your board in a freshwater wave pool. If you don’t want to change your dimensions the best way to get the same performance is to decrease your surfboards foam density. One of the easiest ways to do this is to use an EPS foam and Epoxy Construction board.

The EPS foam is a lot of lighter foam and has a lower density that PU foams 

Most surfers are turning to Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) construction for their wave pool quivers. For many years the majority of surfboards have been made from Polyurethane (PU) but because the EPS foam is lighter in weight the surfboard weight is less and will have higher volume and more buoyancy. This is so so imported when considering what surfboard to use for a freshwater wave pool.

Ideal Wave pool Surfboard Characteristics

When thinking about the best wave pool board you have to look at the wave pool like you would any other ocean wave. What characteristics does the wave have and what would be the preferred characteristics you would need from board to surf it well. Just like you probably wouldn’t use the same board for a 1-2 foot beach break as you would a 6-10 foot barrelling reef break.

 

Most wave pools at this current time produce a wave that is in the region of 2-4 feet the wave shape is usually sloppy and unless its Kelly’s surf ranch it’s not going to be more than a 10-15 second ride. Because of the freshwater and saltwater differences in buoyancy, you are going to need more Litres volume or Different foams like EPS and Epoxy Instead of PU And polyester.

 

Small wave board

Shorter in length, 2-3 inches and thicker than your traditional saltwater board will help heaps. Hight volume and flatter rocker also give it plenty of speed in your turns on weaker waves 

 

Higher volume

More volume should help counteract the salt water fresh water buoyancy issues or surfing in a wave pool, it will also help you stay in the pocket a little better.

Epoxy Eps Construction

Epoxy boards are more durable and have a springier responsive flex characteristic than PU boards sit lower in the water and are more sensitive and have a more dampened flex characteristic when surfing.

Light Weight – Heavier boards will bog down in most surf pools and with a mall area to play with you need all the speed you can get.

Groveler based shape

These are going to be the best as they will allow the best of both works for most average surfers, speed power and flow with the extra width and thickness will help keep the board moving even if the wave doesn’t have to much power

Flatter rockers

This is highly recommended especially in the UK wave pools as the waves predominantly don’t have so much power so keeping the flatter rocker will help with plaining speed

High Volume than usual adding on 2-3 more litres that your normal saltwater board should help keep you floating about right

The Perfect board for a wave pool is?

A board that’s light in weight and very lively under your feed you want quick response time and lighting reaction to maximise your time on the wave flatter rocker and more volume in the centre which can help generate speed will give you the edge over other boards. EPS boards will be a better option as they are lighter, more buoyant, more forgiving, and geared toward generating speed. When the worlds best surfer competed at the surf ranch a lot of the worlds best opted for EPS Epoxy construction as it fitted their best needs of the wave for high-level performance

our recommendations

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Kelly Slaters Wave Pool Full Story !!

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KELLYS WAVE

The 11-time world champion of surfing, Kelly Slater made dreams come true for almost any surfer on the planet, when he released his first “Kelly’s Wave Video”. it was the stuff of dreams and our wildest dreams at that! Perfect man-made waves that were consistent, had power, barrels and not mention… up to 40 seconds long. When that video broke into the surfing world, it also came with its fair share of haters of course, for the change it might cause in the future and how surfing, as a sport will progress from this point on. One thing is for sure though surfing will never be the same.

 ‘The New Yorker’ talks about how the wave pools have changed surfing history, how everything before them is now from one era and everything post-wave pools is another and he’s right. For as-long as there has been a world tour, surfers have travelled all over the world surfing perfect and sometimes pretty crud waves, but the anticipation of a swell, an event and how unpredictable the waves will be is the exciting thing about watching as a spectator. Having the events only on when the conditions are optimal also gives them the element of uniqueness and excitement. But with wave pools being able to turn on waves every 2-3 minutes like clock work, delivering the same wave every time, it can take away that exciting and mysterious part of surfing culture. The sheer terror as you watch someone pull in to a super heavy unpredictable wave, over a shallow reef makes it gripping to watch. The WSL (World Surf League) tested an event at the surf ranch and of course it’s mesmerising to watch, but i can’t help but feel that a little bit of the magic is lost, when you know you’re going to get the same wave as the person before. Some of the drama and the unpredictability is lost as a spectator.

Don’t get me wrong, i think Kelly’s Wave Pool and wave pools in general are an incredibly cool thing, i hope they will be good for the progression of surfing, but as they say in the video, if someone that has grown up surfing in a wave pool, only ever known perfect waves, in a controlled environment, then decides to paddle out in the ocean, in a constantly changing environment, where skill and experience are key, especially when it comes to paddling and surf safety – This is where the potential for wave pools to be a problem exists. They might create a proficient surfer in a wave pool, but also a potential casualty or risk to others in the ocean.

Which ever way you look at it, wave pools are coming so we will have to embrace them what ever the outcome. 

 

WAVE TECHNOLOGY

Kelly’s wave pool isn’t the only one on the market trying to catch our attention and potentially paying good money to have our surfing fix. Weber Wave Garden and a few other companies are all improving, building test pools, their first commercial facilities, trying to be the first to crack the market and be one of the first to conquer this whole new business opportunity.

For wave pool manufacturers the idea isn’t about just creating waves for surfers, it’s about expanding an industry that has long been associated with coastal communities, expanding to land locked areas, to increase participation and potential revenue. Can you imagine if surfing had the kind of numbers participating that football or basketball has?! It would be immense and that’s were the gold rush lies in the wave pool game. Each company wants to be the first in the market to become an established, superior wave pool and an industry leader.

Even with the power of Kelly Slater at the helm of one of the worlds most perfect wave pools, it has no doubt spurred other companies to up their game with wave pools and the surfers representing them. Companies working with different technology, working towards a commercial wave pool, that can produce a lot of waves consistently is the ultimate goal and as you can see from some of these wave pool clips, these companies are pretty close to creating something special.

Being in the UK we are pretty lucky, we were the first country in the world to have a commercial wave pool, built for the public use. Surf Snowdonia, built in Snowdonia, Wales uses wave garden technology, to propel a small 2ft wave over the duration of about 15-20 seconds of ride-able wave time. This like most wave pools was the first of its kind, so a lot of things have been learnt since then, especially with target audiences and who is visiting these wave pools. As much as we all want massive barrels and perfect peeling waves, the beginner market is were companies like Surf Snowdonia are making their money. They have been pretty much fully booked since they opened and there’s a reason offering a safe, guaranteed wave for people to learn in is very appealing. After spending 3 years as a surf instructor i know it can be difficult to get the right conditions to teach in, some days it’s too big and dangerous and some days it’s flat. But guaranteed waves sound pretty perfect from a beginner point of view and even more so for surf schools.

The UK will also make history by 2020 as one of the only places in the world with 3 wave pools; “The Wave” being built in Bristol, utilising The Wave Garden Cove technology, to create different types of waves more suited to intermediate and advanced surfers, as well as being a prime location for a lot of surfers from Devon and Cornwall to travel to, which has the largest surf community in all of Britain. The UK will also have another first as London prepares to have its very own wave pool, which i can only imagine to be fully booked on completion. With these wave pools in surfing, who knows were surfing in the UK could be in a few years time.

 

Surf Snowdonia 

The Wave Bristol

The Wave London 

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From its first videos in 2016 kelly has played willy wonker and his wave pool factory almost showing people the incredible wonderland know as the ranch. Its pretty much the dream of every surfer on the planet to push a button and have perfect waves all to yourself. just it took the best competitive surfer of all time to make it happen. once you have seen those endless perfect barrel sections there is no going back those perfect almost memorising barrel shapes has been the dream of pretty much any surfer and still is to ride that wave.   since it was made only a hand full of people have been able to surf it obviously kelly and his mates as well as a few other pros that showed us the future of surfing. but what about for us mear mortals what would it feel like if we were to surf the wave??? Well, this is exactly what a couple of average goes get the ride of a lifetime and the barrels of their life surfing Kelly’s magical wave. I can only hope someone buys on in the south coast of England

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