Paris 2024 Olympics rejects wavepool
When surfing was accepted into the Olympics back in 2016 there existed a distinct possibility that it'd be run in a wavepool. Shidashita Beach, Tokyo, where competition was due to be held, is a low quality beachbreak. Even the most optimistic forecaster knew the XXXII Olympiad had long odds of getting good waves, stretched even further by being completely out of season.
There was a reasonable argument that the most-watched surfing event of all time should be held in good waves. Also, having the Olympic gold medallist decided, not by skill, but by the vagaries of the ocean seemed unjust, and a controlled environment would put paid to that debate.
The Kelly Slater Wave Company (KSWC) quickly purchased land in Tokyo and made lots of noise about it. In September 2018, KSWC President Nick Franklin told Sports Business Daily, "With surfing going into the Olympics, we want to be supporting the markets where the Olympics will be headed." Yet the move was more commonly seen as an attempt to backdoor the Olympics and have it run surfing in their pool.
The Tokyo organisers, however, were adamant their event would be held in saltwater. Since then we've heard little from Nick Franklin about the KSWC Tokyo pool.
Attention shifted four years hence to the Paris Olympics. Unlike Tokyo, Paris has no nearby coastline - the largely unsurfable English channel is 150kms away - and rather than rushing to construct a pool, as they were doing at Tokyo, either KSWC or their European rival Wavegarden could take their time to build a pool and ingratiate themselves with the Olympic movement.
But with over five years to go till Paris that dream has just been quashed. Writing overnight in Wave Pool Mag - yes there is such a thing - Chris Klein quoted Tony Estanguet, president of Paris 2024, as confirming that surfing would again be in the ocean.
“It was decided at the last Paris 2024 Board of Directors meeting not to use artificial waves to host the surfing events, opting instead to use a natural site,” said Estanguet. “We are fortunate in France to have several natural sites that have the experience and expertise to host major international surfing events.”
Those sites are Lacanau, Hossegor, La Torche, and Biarritz. However, it is the Summer Olympics - Paris 2024 will be held from 26 July till 11 August - so, like Tokyo, the dates fall well outside their swell season.
Despite Tony Estanguet's assurances, I expect we'll be seeing more agitation from the wave pool companies, particularly KSWC. Since surfing was accepted into the Olympics it's been viewed as a springboard to greater heights. Athletes want to increase their exposure, sporting organisations want a bigger share of the government spend, and if private companies such as KSWC or Wavegarden were to have the greatest show on Earth run in their pools it would provide legitimacy and a significant branding advantage.
Comments
Ironically, in the last day or so have seen news articles: "Queensland Premier seeks meeting with PM to lock in Brisbane Olympic bid for 2032".
It's another eight years following Paris, but in a country where the WSL have had considerable success at leveraging the government for funds.
Thirteen years away is certainly playing the long game though.
It didn't feel that long ago that KSWC were swinging for the fences with their pools. Land in Japan, firing up the tractors for Palm Beach Florida, and hiring Andrew Stark for Oz roll outs, and now all of that has hit a hurdle(s)....Florida dumped, Japan not happening, nor Paris, and yoo hoo Starky, where are you??
Their most significant event of 2019 is calling Lemoore the Freshwater Pro.
Who's excited for Shidashita Beach!!??
"Shida Surf Spot Russians getting ready for Olympics 2020"
Looks like Middleton on an average day. Surely they couldn't hold a world class event in that! Not that I care too much about surfing being in the Olympics to begin with.
I'm more impressed that there's a Russian surf team in full HPC training mode.
Yep, the Russians are coming as they say!
And to think it wasn't so long ago I was training young conscripts up at Singleton then WA to fight off those nasty "commies" coming via "dominos" to take over Australia. More like pawns in chess than dominos but here we are surfing with Russians? How it should be ... as long as they don't drop in.
I think the grey water will make a nice change from the colour and pageantry of the Olympics.
I know this stretch of beach and surrounds pretty well - when you are living in Tokyo it’s a easy escape for the early riser with wheels. Had lots of fun surfs here even in summer but that’s just relative to not surfing at all. My bet is on a Up and coming QS surfer doing well here as it’s not unlike many marginal QS locations. Certainly no place for old men ( hello Kelly).
Handpicked for kanoa?
Cool. The Russian amateur surfer will say to the pro. “ I must break you “. Slater with his stars & stripes boardies on, will respond “ go for it “. As long as the Russians have some of their glam women on the beach with their powerful stare. I’m all for it.
On a more serious note, if it’s out of season for swell at Japan & France. What will they do if it’s flat?, go mobile?
I'm not a fan of the pools - but for the olympics you would think they are a must have. In all other sports in the olympics there is a level playing field, personally I think it should be the same for our sport. I hope the powers that be, in the olympic movement, know what they are doing, or it could be a disaster for surfing. Maybe thats a good thing ?
Sport! Olympics! Couldn't be any further away from what surfing is really all about. I will probably watch though!!
It should be like boxing - open to amateurs only (I guess in surfing could say QS surfers only), and yeah wave pools make sense for that
You reckon the Olympics will even be around in 2032?
They're so fucking pointless already.
World is meant to end by 2031 (Climate Change Hysterians) so no point planning anything.
You'll be dead by then so it doesn't matter
Hahaha good point. The world has come such a long way since many traditional sports were Tremendously Exciting. But Ay it keeps 'em outta the water,yeh?
Tweak the 100m Wavepool to 45km/hr & bare arsed Bodysurfer claims Bolt's WR.
WR Record doesn't stand...Basher is disqualified for not endorsing WSL surfboard.
Fair call...then cut Bolt down to size & have him run barefoot 100m in boardies
You're all right! A half real Olympic Athlete would be doped & branded as illegal alien.
Hog tied & dead from the waist down WSL Surfletes are ticked off as marine debris.
Surely WSL can see that Olympic Stadium spotlight exposes surfing's achilles heel.
WSL pantomime has backpaddled Surfing as least progressive of all Board Sports.
Eg: Wipeout then remount in a Barrel=[0][0][0][0][0] "That's not the WSL way chap!"
Other board sports dump baggage & ties to flip & soar with anyones but their board.
re: $2 SUP cross demolition already surfs rings around WSL playdoh arena.
Surfers may ditch boring ISA /WSL Wavepools to join SUP's on 'ICF' rad river waves.
Payette Games was an example of Total Water Sport Control...Big $ in remote locale.
Loggerz/SLS/volleyball/Frisbee/Body-Surfing/SUP/Trad Canoe/Kayak/fishing +heaps
WRSA $5,000 Surf Slam- "Hey Ma! Them Pro varmints are shootin our Rapids!"
"Shidashita Beach, Tokyo, where competition was due to be held, is a low quality beachbreak"
I lol'd.
("She-dash-ta", I know, I know...)
tbb was surprised to read that Surfing was included in Paris Olympic Games?
21st Feb 2019 (Paris submitted Surfing inclusion for Olympic program)
24th-26th June 2019 (IOC will vote to grant Surfing a [P] License)...Not yet official?
Dec 2020 (After Tokyo Olympics "Execs may or may not officially confirm Surfing"
Japan Surfing is renowned for Tsunamis + Radioactive Godzilla Jellies...(Wait & see!)
Athleticism (Olympic Ideal) vs Postcards (Cash cow) vs Sporting Wheelies (Politics)
*The Ideal Surfing Athlete (Bodysurfer) Can hardly hide Olympic brown paper bags.
*WSL/Olympic showbags for White Trash Seachange Resorts is new Olympic Ideal.
Beach Volleyball bulldoze squelchy sand dunes for fake beach sand =($20m later)
Why? Well 1992 Beach Volleyball is now #1 Olympic Sport.(Equal Sex...Yes Please!)
France proposes Olympic Surfing Resorts... (Hossegor / Lacanau / La Torche)
How can downtown Wave Pools compete against Olympic Beach Babes in Bikinis?
*Well! Olympics have a nice little bit on the side..."Paralympics!"
est 1964 Paralympics is now #3 World Sporting Event (4,000 entrants/148 nations)
Aussies(SLSA) 7,000 competitors
Lifesaving World Championship (6,000 athletes = 1000 officials)
As such Olympics crave Surf Events & Surfing needs disability access to expand.
Ooh La La! Enter... "Le Wave Pool"
Laws dictate City CBD to be compliant outward to Tourist Resorts as last resort.
Think of the impost to transit 148 Paralympic nations to a dodgy seaside resort.
City Wavepool grants instant affordable sporting access to Jr/Disabled/Sr Surfers.
Consider Surfing is still on [P] plates..
The very minute Surfing is sanctioned then Paralympic Surfing compliance is #1
Oz Govt already run SLSA Nippers in Oz Olympic/Wave Pools with disabled access)
Govt Wave Pool sporting handouts are funnelled by partnering Liberal SLSA Clubs.
Wave Pools hook Dad/Grom dual Year Pass + Many Rescue Craft upgrades @ shop.
Several operating Wave Pools & proposed adopt SLSA format for Govt handouts.
Each Wave-Pool can host 200 strong Nipper Club with all the Govt/Council perks.
Wave Pool Training Facilities Gyms all now donated or funded by Olympic default.
Surfing Australia also run Surf Grom Wave Pools for a handful of Up Town Groms.
Wave Pool future is here & now & we see how quickly the cash cow is milked.
Crew clearly see that city centric Wave Pools don't flow the way of the Surfer.
tbb points out- pool depth,wave shape & length are reshaped to suit Sponsor's Ads.
Sponsors can't yet afford Wave Stadium lined with quick change running ads so.....
Current examples point to a Short Ramp Wave Slam for Billboard Surf Mag Ads.
We all wish wise counsel from our Surfing Overlords...but there you go!
Fukushima anyone?
Something about :https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/03/29/national/seven-years-radioa...
It's not just a little bit., and I'm pretty sure theres a water current that T-intersection on the west coast - the oyashia current (see: google)
The 5 assessments on Fukushima raise some questions about omissions found in most of them. These omissions are contextualised by a cultural reluctance to question authority.
https://thebulletin.org/2014/03/five-assessments-of-the-fukushima-disaster/
Boat wake, or ship wake, may save the Olympians.
lol
Perhaps we need to reinvent the wheel.
Imagine a tsunami. A Huge one. Every surflete has their own helicopter hovering in a line 10 miles of the coast.
All of Hollywood is there to "document" the event. With Don King as the lead commentator, and Michael Obowitz starring a Stryder Waz.
Who will make it the furthest!!!?
Who will bungle the acid drop.
Current statistics say that only one on seven attempts are successful.
Unleash the Gladisurfers. 100 from the field of 700 have landed the acid drop, 600 perish (don't worry, they're mostly from countries that the axis of US warmongers don't like) the upswing is each of these 600 had a Hollywood crew of 20 - a massive blow to the narrative controllers.
( https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2018/06/04/whoever-controls-the-narrative-c... )
Suddenly, the 6 billion people watching the event simultaneously being feeling the air filtering in and out of your lungs, ....... the sounds of the room, ....... the feeling of your skin connecting to whatever on this beautiful earth is currently bearing your body. ....... Taking all the time you need to feel in to how safe you are right now, how few bears are chasing you, how lacking your surroundings are in oncoming tsunamis or walls of flames.
Nothing is going wrong right now.
Put the future to one side for a blessed second and feel how safe and nourished by the world you are, everything working in concert to support your being, and decide for once that you want this, and you want to be here, and you choose life.
Have you checked out the Adam Curtis documentary - Hypernormalisation
Praise be the big picture thinkers.
Thanks Phil, just started on it.
Liberation from Corporate Psychic Colonization: New Subjectivity Awakening in Conscience: https://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/1615424886.html?FMT=ABS
I choose it, I choose it Jack.
Hallelujah!
We got this
France is usually pretty small that time of year....like lake flat.....believe me I know.
North Atlantic can have flat spells for weeks at a time also.
yeh nah, lived in Basque/Landes for 22 years and disagree with you, and believe me I know.
Great links crew! Blame it on 1970's Chariots of the Gods mind control TV.
Faith healers,mind readers,Spoon Benders,microwave ovens all fooled the flock.
Kids snapped Mum/Dad out of it... "Not one of these freaks have psychic powers!"
Fondu Flickerz left shocked that their hosts could raise such cocky thickhead runtz!
Just repeating...we runtz never meant any harm! "All Hail President Spoon Bender!"
In other related news, several Embassy’s from countries not bordered by the ocean have had an influx of inquiries from Australia, Hawaiian & American semi-professional surfers on becoming citizens and far away the nearest coastline is.
Let the passport hopping begin!
If any self respecting , crowd hating surfer thinks that a good show of SURFING at any Olympics will improve their surfing experience post Olympics , that surfer is not joining the dots !
Personally , I couldn't care a fig what average joe thinks of me or Surfing as a Lifestyle/Sport , never have and never will .
Selfishly , I hope it tanks , with no disrespect to those striving to make surfing "legitimate". There are enough clowns clogging up the lineups now let alone if
Surfing gains more traction during the Olympics.
Hear Hear PCS PeterPan
Hear Hear PCS PeterPan
Agree
Disco, you said it t best
Makes as much sense as golf, tennis, basketball in the lympics. I don't know why they just don't leave it to the true athletic pursuits.
Ban Wave Pools from Olympic.
Only the richest nation (USA) building identical Olympic pools will win every time. They will build several and have $millions to spend on power costs to generate waves all day every day for their team - all year round. (so much for climate change hey).
Its because they want a surfing competition not a snowboard/gymnastic competition. Wave pools do not display surfing at its best, its repetitive, boring and has only the slimmest connection to surfing (in the ocean).
Agree
I hope Dirk is handling the stress from this latest challenge.
I can just imagine him hiding his pain, sitting on his solid gold toilet and wiping the tears from his eyes with freshly minted hundred dollar bills.
Congrats to Mono for winning the 1st Adaptive Wave Pool Comp.
http://wavepoolmag.com/adaptive-surf-champs-fire-at-snowdonia-wave-pool/
Welsh 1st adaptive Wave Pool comp is ISA points event for Championship.
Major step + endorsement for Paralympic Surfing inclusion.
US Pro Wave Pool event is both WSL Title Event & 1st Olympic Surf Comp.
Kelly's Pool Party in no small way decides who gets an Olympic invite.
US Olympian owns & shapes both Waves & format for Olympic QF Event?
US Athlete limits & chooses who surfs his private Olympic Qualifying Venue.
Teams canoodling in rival Olympian's private Wave Pool will also fall foul.
No one bats an eyelid...Surf Industry + IOC (Thick as thieves)
Kelly makes the IOC brown paper bag committee blush.
IOC : "Love yer style Surfer dude...could you teach us some of those moves?"
"Straight after your Beach Boys Gold Anthem, we'll sign you into the club!"
Le Freak Peak is no longer Chique...
Locals poo poo Nantes Wave Pool -(Save the Farm protest).
http://wavepoolmag.com/french-protest-group-says-no-to-le-freak-peak/
Worldwide farmers & residents are protesting wavepool waste.
Loss of agriculture & Town amenity + issues of noise,dust-bowl,flooding all too real.
Govt handouts + Council upzones + Cut price water deals...(Look & Smell corrupt!)
Far removed from clean green image of Surfing. (Surfers now #1 greedy developers!)
Fast as surfers can come ashore they're being driven back out to sea...It's on alright!
tbb reminds that over 100yrs common folk built 100's of lifelong wave pools .
Surfers combined can't build any wave pool without constantly draining'n'refilling!
This comes at a cost to other water users sharing a known depleting resource.
Why would locals want surfers draining their Towns...(Surfers did this to themselves!)
Interesting that the proposed wave pool mentioned above by TBB is called La Bergerie Surf Camp - La Bergerie apparently translates as "field for sheep".
Innocent reference to the area's past or a sly dig at the nature of both surfers and marketing? The intrigue thickens.
Am I mistaken in believing there’s going to be some sub-boardriders level performances going down in a few heats at the all inclusive Olympics ?
Best we can he for is a “ Cool Runnings “ style fish-out-of-water storyline as Khazakstan takes on Nepal in knee high Shitashita .
Cool protest poster! Damn them Frenchies are good at art....Magnifique!
Human pyramid unearths Mother Earth's hand to swat off diabolical Tsunami.
Far out tbb wants to be a Hippy...
https://zad.nadir.org/local/cache-vignettes/L500xH707/zpadef-750x1060-61...
http://terres-communes.zici.fr/
Since tbb's last comment these AWM's are popping out all over the land.
US has 2 ready to open but also Japan being booked by Olympic Team USA.
Recent insight by Surfing USA CEO sheds new light on Olympic Wave Pools.
Background:
Team USA originally surfed Wavegarden in Spain
Team USA have a contract with AWM re: Waco BSR
US Junior Teams & Comps have also been held at BSR.
WSL Surf Ranch Cups (Field WSL US teams) + Train WSL surfers on the quiet.
Team USA do not endorse WSL surf Ranches for a sporting reason...read on...
USA Surfing CEO Greg Cruse:
(On why Japan Olympics said no to a wave pool)
"Most youth relocated to Tokyo!"
"Japan's gromz are bucking that trend!"
"Govt wish to draw gromz back to the coast to slow abandonment of the elderly!"
"The Surf Comp is their Olympic panacea flagship for a radioactive generation!"
"Only a support Wave Pool near the Beach would serve their Olympic grom needs."
"Wave Pool developers lure Japanese youth market into the cities!"
*Total flip! Govt order gromz to Surf the beaches vs Big Surf pen gromz in City Pools.
(On repetitive Wave pool performance surfing)
" BSR lifeguard never rode boards & now he's flipping airs on them!"
" Gurlgrom flips a bog standard air to free flow Air Reverses in 2 sessions."
"The multi cam video replay irons out the creases...so to speak!"
(On wave Pools in the Olympics)
" For starters, each Country needs equal access to a pool...(Note: velodromes)."
" Japan / France Teahupoo / LA - KSWP or Trestles...(KSWP vs USA War continues)
" Olympic Pool > KSWP vs AWM" - Which can roll out fairly world wide?"
" Olympic Standard Wave Pool Settings for "Training".
https://www.surfparkcentral.com/interview-usa-surfing-ceo-greg-cruse-on-...
* Wow! Olympic Standard Pools for > "Training!"
Let the cat outta the bag there...ONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUS.
Legropes restrict Pool Surfers now same size waves/shape every day. (No Beast???)
100 ideas for String, Vinegar & Brown Paper.
Currently only the elite reside or access Surf comp venues but Wave Pools are elite.
Economize Olympic ~ Swim / Dive / Water Polo / Artistic / Wave Pool Combos.
Note such pools can now convert into Basketball / Tennis / Futsal Arenas
Shock Jock Surfies with White Trash Gym Lockers & cheer Squads.
Skate Bowls are accessible to all but Velodromes are mostly Club member Access.
Perhaps that's why Greg (Clubman) alludes to Olympic Club Facility.
GC were refused a Commonwealth Games standard Velodrome (That's a Reality)
So were talking Olympic Wave Pool Rock Star tour...(Melbourne/Sydney/Brisbane)
Sure it breaks away from Resort Wave Pool trend but is restricted to Pro's offspring.
tbb is intrigued by the Velodrome reference as line in the sand.
OK off he goes again...(Bloody bipolar!)
( Prices could reflect similar )
A Velodrome is mostly closed to public (Opened by Coaches 2hrs every 2 days )
(Size + High curved embankments) + 1 / 2 riders at a time suit surf audience.
2016 Cost $58m Anna Meres ( Covered) Bne Velodrome suits Olympic Surfing
Seating 1,500 > 4,000 Comm Games.
Wave Pool Comparison...(New) AMW @ New Jersey Mall
https://raisedwaterresearch.com/spot/wave-pool/us/new-jersey/american-dr...
Olympic Wave Pool fees/access protocol based on Olympic Cycling Velodrome.
Note rider can save half if own cycle / eg: board + gear if approved as ride worthy.
$40 / 1 hr 'Come & Try' with 15 riders / cap + Gromz (same price)+(No membership?)
Day / Level 2 (Usually 2 (Sat) sessions or more progress to 'accreditation')
https://cycling.org.au/qld/come-try-track-cycling
Must be a Member of Cycling/Surfing Australia for completion of Accreditation
(Surfing Australia Mens $90 / yr + Women-gromz $70 / yr)
(Aust' Cycling $140 / yr + sprogs $70 / yr + allows for a monthly fee option)
Access
$40 / 1hr x 3 days (Velodrome/Wave Pool accreditation)+ Gromz (same price)
https://cycling.org.au/qld/track-rider-accreditation
$50 / 2hrs [L] Coaching /Open / Team training sessions with 15 rider / cap.
All sessions require a coach...indoor wave pools already operate with a default coach.
OK tbb, it sounds bog standard so what's the catch?
Come & join are weekly affairs but Accreditation requires skilled teachers & exams.
Accreditation sessions are rare-2 months & more & only 15 riders + no online access.
2 previous + 3 levels (Day Courses) are needed...'take a year to be fully accredited.'
It's cheap for a reason & that's because it's a closed shop for Pro mates of Pro mates.
Olympic public access obligation but then block newbies from sharing their Bounty.
Ask why they only open 2 hours every 2 days...rest of the time is for the inner circle.
Same cold dish served up at WSL Coolum Surf Ranch Club menu...(Pro rank only!)
Telling exercise...especially as Surfing USA CEO for no reason hinted at velodromes.
Weird thing Kelly said about his wave pool 4 weeks back!
"Wavepool is I think doing good. I think shut. I haven't checked in so I don't know."
https://beachgrit.com/2020/04/breaking-worlds-greatest-surfer-kelly-slat...
WSL Surf Ranch has been running a Surf Movie Festival thru the lockdown.
Pool has never seen so much action...YouTube are almost running a Webcam...
https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2019/09/23/see-you-next-...