Sydney Wavegarden location revealed
A little-used carpark at Homebush Olympic Park was last night revealed as the latest site for a Wavegarden wave pool.
At present the the carpark is reserved for overflow parking though Sydney Olympic Park Authority have spent the last 12 months calling for tenders to develop the site. Wavegarden beat a proposed Crocosaurus Wildlife Park and skidome to win the tender.
URBNSurf, the Australian license holders of Wavegarden, say the park will create a "vibrant, urban, beach club setting". In the water, Wavegarden's wavefoil tech will produce a pair of 1.7m waves that break for 17 seconds.
The devlopement ties in with infrastructure work happening around the old Olympic site, and Wavegarden hope to take advantage of a light rail connection with an expected 350,000 visitors each year.
Surfing NSW has given it the green light as it "opens up the door to create more surfers."
Wavegarden Sydney will open in 2018.
Comments
WTF?
Surfing NSW has given it the green light as it "opens up the door to create more surfers."
Just what we need! More surfers!
We're going to see a whole new breed of surfer soon - The wave pool surfer. They'll be in the Olympic team, be able to schralp a mechanical wave but wont be able to make it out the back on a 2 foot day
Ha ha the old two edge sword ..........
may they never venture to the ocean
If this succeeds then this just may help councils to be convinced to build / modify reefs on the coast. Just as they do to create dive wrecks.
How funny seeing the negative comments so far. You don't think surfing will continue to grow as a sport? You're all still living in the world of "perfect surf at my local beach with no 'visitors' allowed and don't tell anyone where it is" era. That was over years ago if you lot hadn't noticed.
Spot on! The only sensible comment yet.
Thirds
Zooming -
Said like a true pig trapped in a crowded, cramped sty .
Marking time till its slaughter day.
Rage , rage against the dying of the light you muppet.
May sound a bit melodramatic.....
Maybe go find a secret spot for yourself and see how you feel when the sty pigs try to crowd that out.
Death by Instagram and selfy.
I probably sound like a grumpy bugger to you , but you sure sound like a spinelessly compliant and accepting Caring and Understanding Nineties Type.
Bit off the mark there Blowin - Surfed all over the North Island of Enzed from '66-78 then came to these fair shores and have enjoyed countless waves in Victoria and north and south of Sydney up until about 6 years ago when I focused on photography. Gave up on Queensland after a couple of trips up there in '78 & '79 - it was a rat race in the water even back then with dole bludgers galore. Been there done that with all the localism bullsh*t and know that you can still easily find uncrowded waves if you're prepared to get up early (in Sydney) or travel 1-3 hrs up or down the coast. It's all about showing respect Blowin - to your fellow surfer and the environment. Pretty easy really - though still too hard for many. Only difference is I read weather maps in newspapers for most of my forecasts and the modern day seaweeds now have it in the palms of their hands.
Trying to figure out your comment Zoooming, are you ok with 'telling everyone where it is' cause its now a free-for-all sport? ...Doesn't gell with your last comment about driving out of Sydney in the hope to get uncrowded waves.
I'm just saying you won't stop surfing from growing (to do that is selfish) and you can't stop people from exposing breaks (look at the access to forecast and GPS info they have these days) but despite that you can still can get uncrowded waves (just don't expect them at peak times/weekends at your local Sydney break). To expect uncrowded surf, whenever you feel like a session, is again selfish (funny how a lot of surfers have that character trait in droves). So you use your brain - get up for the dawn patrol and also be prepared to travel a bit. Nothing wrong with that - it's all part of the fun. I've lived on the south side of Sydney since the early 80's. Once I found THAT point break 40 or so mins south I pretty much made it 'my local' and surfed it more times than the Bra, Bronte or the Nulla which were much closer to where I lived. I blended in with the locals at that point, shared the waves and never had hassles - respect and patience helped heaps. I watched the Sydney crowd blow in at times, usually after the dawn patrol, and sometimes saw the lack of respect - they'd often missed the best conditions anyway. Growing up surfing Raglan/Indies during the 70's in Enzed kind of spoilt me for point breaks. And when I had the time on my hands for holidays etc I never had problems planning a trip and scoring waves - usually never had to go further than 3-4 hours north or south of Sydney while Phillip Island was just a tad further. I'm sure right now, today, there are plenty of great, uncrowded waves to be had - with a bit of thought they're there for the taking.
is this the Snowdonia model that is in Wales?
Will be great heading down there for a wave or two on a warm Summer’s evening or when there has been a flat or onshore spell. Looking great for the future. Thank goodness that the few who resist change don’t stop the rest of us from enjoying it. Opens up a lot of possibilities for people who don’t tend to surf so much like the elderly and people with disabilities.
Right on bolts... At the time flo rider came out everyone shat themselves then too... It's faded! Just nice to see a seemingly quality artificial wave ( in comparison to one foot onshore mush). The Wave rider will bring fun to many people, mainly westies!! And if u wanna pay to have a go then why not! ? Personally I won't use it but that's coz I'm spoilt for options - most negative viewpoints come from frustrated idealistic surfers who can't get their head around surf culture of today and can't realise it simply is what it is. Go surfing, say gday to someone and smile!
really?
you think the elderly will be lining up to buy a ticket to surf in a tub when a free ocean is right nearby?
you sound like an astroturfer.
By elderly I'm thinking, as an example, 60 + year olds with bung shoulders or stuffed up backs and necks who can't paddle much; not 90 year olds who need a walking frame. Anyways, I'll definitely be making use of it and look forward to seeing people of all ages and abilities down there.
Haha some people on this forum may take offence you calling 60+ elderly
If you feel like surfing in a water theme park then go for it. Its not a resistance to change I just don't see the soul in it. Its the ocean that's the reason I surf. And yes if it keeps surfers away from the ocean then great, I don't know of any surfer who wants more surfers in the water, that's just shite. The only people who want more surfers in the water are the major labels that fucked surfing in the first place! Just saying.
i'm not heading to the suburbs to have a bunch of westies call me an eastie and throw my duffel bag into the water.
Hahaa! Gold chook!!
As long as you don't spill ya orange mocha frappochino ;)
Ditch the duffel bag and get yourself a bumbag mate - then they'll think you're one of their own
They must have a good filter for the pool because a lot of people like a piss in their wetsuit.
Fair enough, technology is proven, site is central, large population surrounding. No different to the number of pool/leisure centre/fitness centres being put up by councils in expanding suburbs Australia wide - except it's surfing!
So I can see the benefit of having the waves to ensure quality coaching, nutting out biomechanics in turns, yes sections for beginners too. It will empower people, so where's the harm?
The prospect of lit up night surfing - a bit like if you work in Vancouver over winter, pay up $500 (when I was there) for a season ticket to Grouse, 15 mins out of CBD ride up the gondola to the lifts, ride from 5pm till lights out at 10pm every night after work if you want all season. Bliss.
Coaching? Biomechanics?
I'll just go surfing, thanks.
Wouldn't mind trying the night surfing.
How far would that be from the future Badgery's Creek Airport ?
It's around about 30 kms away, so a decent slog. At any rate I imagine there'll be a number of wavepools to choose from by the time Badgerys Creek gets built.
Quite funny really is this another slant on Melbourne-Sydney rivalry?.
Melbourne if they are smart should act as though they are going to do a crap Wavegarden as planned, but behind the scenes should get busy talking to Kelly and hold out and get the real deal.
Wavegarden compared to what Kelly has proven is possible, is like comparing an old black and white TV with a big new high definition flat screen TV.
Is there a website where you can see the designs of the pool and how they create waves? I have seen Webbers technology on his videos, wave gardens doesn't look like anything special what about Kellys?
Gregg are you out there
Gregg can you hear me ??
WTFuck is going on man
Wave Pools being built everywhere..........where is yours ?
Where the fuck is he? Has he missed the boat in Aus?
350,000 per year. almost as many who frequent snapper on a weekend!
How frequent can they create the wave. 1 per min?
Waterslide parks were tremendous fun. There used to be a lot of them. Multiple slides with a person shooting down each slide every 10 seconds. Often well patronised. 90% have folded. A lot easier just to sell the land for residential.
Believe it when you see it. The economics of these things are in fantasyland so even if the construction does go ahead all you fans had better get in quickly. I would give it two years to bankruptcy.
That's real glass 1/2 empty logic. Check the reaction to Slater's opening sessions at his pool today. What do you do for a surf when it's flat or dribbling onshore for 2-3 weeks at a time. Spend hundreds of dollars on gas driving round looking for surf? Seems there could be a fix for that now.
Kelly Slater’s Wave Pool Finally Opens Its Doors!
http://stabmag.com/news/kelly-slaters-wave-pool-finally-opens-its-doors/
the reason surfing is so popular is because it's so easy, any dickhead can do it
I'm hearing the cost maybe around $80 per session. Good luck but me thinks this may not get off the ground.
Brown barrels for rich westies! (This makes no sense at all).
I see new form of mutant inland surfers with undeveloped arms and an aversion to salt water.
is that garryG in the lifetower cullinthekooks!