Wavegarden: The Cove comes alive
Overnight the latest shot in the wavepool battle was fired. A single, tightly cropped photo of Basque surfer Hodei Collazo squatted inside a barrel appeared on the 'net. "Man-made or Mother Nature?" read the accompanying caption on the Urbnsurf Facebook page, "Here’s your first look at the new Wavegarden Cove, capable of delivering 1,000 waves per hour."
Hodei Collazo inside Wavegarden 2.0, better known as The Cove
Wavegarden were the first company to get a working wavepool in the ground, trumping both the Kelly Slater Wave Company (KSWC) and Webber Wave Pools - who are yet to get one built. They're also the first to begin tweaking they're product. The name of Wavegarden 2.0 is The Cove and it differs from the existing Wavegarden technology, which you may recall has two waves breaking toward a central pier where the wave making system is housed.
In contrast, The Cove is roughly diamond shaped and features identical waves - a right and a left - breaking towards the outside.
Artist's impression of Urbnsurf's proposed wave pool at Alfred Cove, Perth
It's unknown at this point how the waves are created, though we could assume they're using the same centrally-located wave making device but causing the waves to break in the opposite direction. Early criticisms of Wavegarden were that the wave bent away from the rider creating a softer lip. That's not an objection that could be cast at the Cove, at least based on the one photo we've seen.
The claim of 1,000 waves per hour is worth considering as it means the machine is generating two waves - a right and left - every seven seconds. Current Wavegarden technology requires six minutes for the lagoon to settle, while reports from KSWC say it's up to eight minutes till the wobbles subside. If the claim is true it means Wavegarden have devised superior wave-dampening technology that would make the pool commerically viable.
A more skeptical reading notes the use of the word 'capable', meaning the number is theoretical and not how the pool will operate. Regardless, Urbnsurf have said they'll "be able to guarantee each surfer a minimum number of waves per session."
It's also worth noting how each of the fake wave enterprises play the media game. Greg Webber focussed on the shape of the wave and talked about technology and patents, though without a working model to point to. Meanwhile, Kelly Slater worked surreptitiously on his design before revealing a fully formed wave pool. As mentioned, Wavegarden got the first pool in the ground and the first two commerical pools running - Surf Snowdonia in Wales and NLand in Texas. They appear to have the upper hand in all respects, yet the latest development is a scripted media move; a partial reveal that whets the palette without giving away too much.
Comments
1000 waves an hour, don't want to get caught inside.
The wave looks like so much fun! What seems overlooked to me in the wavepool developments is that this is still early technology (Wavegarden having the most advanced at v 2.0). Imagine the future of this industry and how the waves will perform in 5, 10 or 20 years. In the meantime I'd be very happy to have a session out there with waves like that! The consistency of the Wavegarden Cove will really enhance the experience too.
1000 waves an hour? Wasnt April fools a couple days back?
1000 waves/hour, assuming they're counting the left and right as separate waves, would be 7.2s period?
Surely they won't be running them that frequently.
Photo looks fun but its pretty easy to take a photo of the shittest wave and make it look good.
so has Webber given up or stuff happening in the background?
The Webber WP might have all the scientific data in the world (and the best theoretical wave), but while it is paired with some video of an old fishing boat in a river, a scale wave in a lab, or a CGI mock-up, it'll never win the marketing campaign and the necessary investment dollars.
Slater Wavepool is already a reality in peoples' minds, even if it isn't yet commercially feasible, and with this latest release from WaveGarden, they too might have joined the heavy weight division.
Nothing like an artists impression. Ive got an artists impression of my old fella which also happens to have the capability please a meny a woman.
Im a bit dubious about the merits of 'The Cove' simply because of the way they've unveiled it. If it's so good then show us a video. Even a wider angle photo to see both waves working at once. What are they hiding?
Look there it goes, the last drop of romance in surfing. Great work all around. Who knows you may even be able to extract a few more dollars before it goes virtual.
Virtual you say...This is you, isn't it blindboy - or should I say - Billy Ray.
Even in their marketing image, above, they've shown at least 50 people in the water.
Users want to see no one in the water, investors want to see hundreds. Maybe the reason why wave pools will never truly succeed.
Pretty sure it is a hoax. That's not Hodei Collazo it's Caio Ibelli in his round 3 heat at Snapper!
http://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/242250/caios-tube-?offset=37&serial...
"superior wave-dampening technology"
.....fake seaweed?
in the man made waterskiing lakes they have a shallow area and grow reeds to damper the backwash the boats make doesnt look great but works.
Fake news, fake waves... How about fake forecasting as a form of crowd control?
I have a feeling that the kids will love these wavepools, just like the old days at the rollerskating rink.
The elephant in the room with all this who ha about wave pools ....is water. Water in this country is not just a tradeable commodity but its also a very hot political issue. ... I know of one such dev application with lots of media hype that was knocked back because of the amount of water required. Cant say where or who it was ...but i know for a fact that was the reason
..... its interesting to watch all the hype . Big question is will any one ever get one approved.....certainly wont happen out west they are fighting over water. Not going to happen in a metro area I doubt they could justify selling the volume required.... then there is regional coastal ..
..and a fight with the greens.....just saying thats all
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