Photo and video: Waves in Tullamarine
And the teasers keep on coming...
This morning it's the URBNSURF crew down in Melbourne, who just a week or so after filling their tub have set the thing in motion. Looks good in the stills, and the mere three seconds of video they've provided. Why so short?
They've got 16 different kinds of waves apparently, and I've no idea which kind we're seeing here, nor which direction the wind is blowing. Anyone want to guess?
Comments
Was probably one of the hot days we had down here this week based on the sunny sky. Been N-NE the past few days.
What time of the year and time of the day you get the Northerlies blowing more often?
summer morning
Is it???
Out there!
see ya in Japan next weekend , there for 10 days??
going to the Tokyo motor show saturday- got a bit of time the following week here and there.
you gonna be at the factory?
yep arrive 2nd Nov , if there's surf will be there till the 12th..
i'll get an email off to you in the next day or two.
plenty of surf atm.
Have they got a green pool and a blue pool.
58 seconds worth on their website
Wonder what size it is? 2ft?
Hard for a tall, late 30th something kook with a stiff back to squeeze into those toobs.
Gary is pretty stiff after watching the footage on their website and is appropriately looking forward to squeezing into a few
They said 2-3ft but its only 80% of full size so it would be just overhead at full power.
In a few of the pics, you can see Taj Burrows head bobbing up behind the wave face. Gives an indication of size. 2ft, but a better 2ft than Bristols.
Taj Burrow wave pool model.
Oct 2015 (WPG/Urbnsurf) Subi Stadium [0:58] Taj Burrow.
March 2019 'Aloha Surfhouse' Joondalup...Taj Burrow
Aloha started with MF softboards ...
Label on Taj's deck? are the new shapers.
https://www.communitynews.com.au/joondalup-times/sport/joondalup-taj-bur...
Oct 2019 URBNSURF Melbourne.(Where's Taj game)
Jan 2019 ? (RC-MF/*C Leggies Urbnsurf Comp)
Winner hounded ACA to track down Mick on TV!
https://www.sbia.com.au/creatures-leisure-mick-fanning-fightmnd-team-unl...
RC-Owen is hinted as back up. (Too Tall for Pool?)
Is there sand in the pool?
They threw some sand there so its a more realistic rip bowl kinda wave but just on the inside section
bukz...any idea if this buggers up the state of the art filtering.
Stormwater runoff already a risk, why muddy filtration further?
Wave pool mobs say water quality as paramount.(What changed?)
Note: Later vids show a hint of the same, maybe filmed as block.
Either that or sand is hanging around for a bit longer...
As here, every new age wave pool has base & wall leaks or spills.
Sand is likely to corrupt procedural water & pool manual testing.
Both water & pool suppliers might give a buzz about Warranty!
Expensive toy to break, just for kicks.
tbb agrees it lends a natural feel & looks realistic.
Passes time in the 15 items or less express isle.
To be honest I think it is just a reflection pf the shallow bottom and the contrast alterations on the image aka photoshop makes it look more pronounced. The inside sand comment was pure trolling.
Looks a real fun size, 2ft+ maybe 3ft just?..
a solid 3ft in NSW or QLD, 1-2ft in VIC or WA haha!
Cheers Craig. That's a good point of reference.
That’s a generous 3fter Craigo :)
Have heard not from his mouth but through the mouth of a mutual friend who was there for this filming and had the chance too surf it, that its a fun as fuck 2fter with push.
same vid at 00:48, aerial shot, you can compare the van (top right corner) to the brown fence to the white wall to get an estimate of the size of the wave. 2ft+
https://urbnsurf.com/stories/itspumping/
Thank God, Victoria was in desperate need of decent waves.... ;-)
Hopefully keep some of the weekend hordes away from the Torquay areas.
2500 humans move to melboure to live/work every week. weekend hordes are at a minimum right now.
Wow cool Victoria now has a wave that barrels for more than a few metres before going fat.
Ha, ha good bit of bait there indo. Sounds like you haven't surfed east of Melbourne. I have similar issues with the west coast.
couldn't resist , the west west coast , but not little baby barrels!
You could drive a bus through those barrels !
Looks sick! Would put a smile on any surfers face...especially stuck in Melbourne. Up the bombers! Yew!
Looks sick,occys looks a bit more organic though.yeeew
PS. if you can ignore the plunger.
I think we all know which way the wind is blowing.
They need to extend the wall height 10 metres and add a tropical backdrop scene. I know somebody. You could almost taste the Maldivian air. Add a few turtles, spinner dolphins and whale sharks and BINGO
Well first impressions is that it looks fun as....to me.......maybe kellys pool will be out done .
Was that Tyler Wright in the clip? Was riding JS so not sure?
Does look like a really fun 2 footer. Hope I get picked next month!
Looks fun, wonder what the wave rate is per hour and if your limited to what you can catch per hour like Snowdonia?
I think people are too worried that it's too small and I think they are all missing the point.
1 - these are perfect reeling 3 - 4 ft waves with power and pocket (and barrel) all the way down the line. Give me that over the average 6 - 8ft ozzie reef wave any day. Maybe Indo a different story, will see.
2 - Most surfers will be surprised how powerful and even challenging can be to actually surf these waves and surfing well depending on setting.
Thanks to the small minded West Australian State Premier Mark McGowan and the nimby warriors this could of been opening in Perth soon. Pricks.
Now to survive another summer of crapness. Fk.
Surround the WA Parliament and tell them all to just walk away. Then build the wavepool. We've all lost something we love.
1 key difference between successfully building a pool and not:
In Vic they chose land in an industrial area on the outskirts of a city.
In WA they chose an already occupied site next to the river, in an expensive, relatively central location.
Nobody to blame but themselves.
and private versus public land if i recall correctly
Just show us a wave of someone actually surfing.
Cause I'm a getting tired of writing these poems.
I may never roam to Vic again .
It looks fun, but come with to much arctic air and rain
Who's up first? Who will be next?
Who will be the drop in pest ?
Will they hire a resident pro ?
I just don't know.
Have fun in there!
Poems by lanky.
Santa never made it to Tulla'.
2019 URBNSURF opening cancellations cont... Jan > Easter > Spring > Summer
2020 (Summer) Is the new opening date...great odds for a PFAS scare on open day!
Sportsbet are betting they can hang up their boots on 2020 fake wavepool starts!
Thanx swellnet ~ crew for sharing cool vidz + pics + poetry
New 2020 Summer opener is included on the last line...(No date or Month is set?)
https://urbnsurf.com/stories/itspumping/
That's a lot of poems between now and then !
One descent seto and 3/4 of Aussie surfers will want to be on it ..... has the swellnet emporium received its test pilot invite in the mail yet?
"...has the swellnet emporium received its test pilot invite in the mail yet?"
We all know Gary G calls the shots around here. If you want to get an invite, go see the big fella. I'm not sure what Gary G wants in return.
I've got a feeling deep down in the sub-cockles that Gary G is more of a giver than a taker.
It's been slow enough around here on the backside of our swell season, so now I'm even keen to catch a couple of those... I'm interested to see how much energy it actually has, it looks like a small hoax coast ripbowl with some push.....how much cash do I need to blow to ride this novelty wave?
1. Looks super appealing and like a "real" surf spot - especially being empty.
2. Wozzle backed the wrong horse (design).
but not sure how the crowd control would work. One Medina and a Dingo out there and the fun would be over. 20 surfers per hour - how does it work to keep it fun?
early days but still looks good
This question applies to basically all the wave pools, but why can’t they produce anything above 3ft? They all claim they can but not one shred of evidence suggests otherwise. Is it too with power supply i.e shutting down Melb CBD to create something “big”?
that question has been answered a million times Nick.
water is very expensive to move around and the physics are brutal. power demands are logarithmic.
ie it takes multiples more energy to make a bigger wave.
the power demands vs the economics don't stack up and won't for the foreseeable future according to Andrew Ross of Urbnsurf.
this- Slaters tub, Yeppon and Wavegarden- is what we got and will have size wise.
I have heard that exact same logic being backed up by a very reputable source who has had his ears to the ground for years about these man made waves...The claims that a legit overhead wave can be consistently made that will offer a R.O.I and in turn be affordable for the average punter to get a chance at will probably be only ever be on paper for wide-eyed investors to most likely lose their shirt on...
The Scalability of these pools looks good in modelling & these 2nd generation pools are leaps & bounds better than the first attempts (Not many people remember the 1st generation ones from the 80's & 90's), but for those reasons that freeride76 stated they still cant stack up to a overhead reality anytime soon.
without having any technical knowledge I think you can achieve a “bigger”wave you just have to make a wedge rather than a runner or rather than running the swell down a point you funnel it on to a bank. Think about those spots where the swell gets “squeezed” you get an extra 1-2ft.
Not as user friendly as a point wave.
Yeah I reckon, also without wave dynamic engineering qualifications, that the plunger pool has scope for some kind of wave reflection to wedge the wave after the take off section..
Yeah,You could be on to something with the wedge refraction to give things a boost, but I think the biggest problem as freeride76 alluded to is the sheer dynamics of the wave energy/power needed & then being spread evenly within the confines of the enclosure to maintain the size increase..The pool in Waco has a wedge setting but it looked super concentrated & too focused in that relatively small pool space to the point that the pro's looked sketched going near it let alone a average punter.
My man with his ear to the ground said the smart money will probably be invested in & made on the 3rd generation pools that get the formula right on how they handle the remaining wave energy & dissipate it correctly to avoid backwash/reverberation etc (ie long wait times such as the Kelly wave) when they scale up the wave foils/plungers etc to create a true overhead wave whilst keeping the actual land required's purchase price & power costs commercially achievable near an attractive population base.
The Kelly wave was originally a cable ski park or equivalent pool from all accounts that was purchased dirt cheap by the king or commercial partners of his..Not sure if they sold it on or still hold the deeds ?
Source for that info from A. Ross, Steve? Sounds familiar. Sure I read it somewhere wink emoji.
Yes, I was very rude and unfair about your piece Tim.
That was some useful info in there.
Thought you could have at least mentioned the environmental angle, no?
But surely a man of yr experience doesn't get uptight about information on the internets being shared around without attribution?
Speaking of environmental angle did you know They cut down a small forest to put the Melbourne wave pool in.
Admittedly it was all planted to block the houses from the Industrial development, but was still a well established stand of a hundred plus native trees.
All true, I was just being a smartarse. fair point re. the enviro angle. We had a bit of a chat but I've kept some of it for a follow-up once I can spend a bit of time at the joint. Interesting challenge, reporting on a project like this for a non surf audience. Regardless, energy use needs addressing (as might your points, lamb)
Looks fun for an hour or 2.
It will be interesting to see what the wave fee is going to be. Right now they are dodging the question
tbb said somewhere (if I remember correctly) that the price in Bristol was 75 euros or pounds for 2 hours, which is close to $65 aussie bucks per hour.
Thats $6700 per YEAR.
For 2 hours a week!
Even if I lived close by I could not justify this sort of coin each week for 2 hours of what is essentially self indulgence.
After reading through the thread where Swellnet launched the Paywall of the early daily report and 'Forey', I recall people were complaing about paying $100 per YEAR for a an excellent subscription! Apparently they were nearly all Viccos too! (Just kidding, I made that up, for Gary G)
No doubt there will be a suite of seasonal pass options that become public when it officially opens. Until then I still wont be holding my breath.
My guess is that for many 'punters' this type of sporting recreational activity will simply be unaffordable.
Time will tell.
How much would you spend on an a Ments trip a year ?? Mate if it’s as perfect as it looks with as many waves as it looks I reckon most surfers would easily fork out for 2 sessions a month . Especially in summer , just to stay sane
I wish I could afford a Ments trip per year! You do have a point though that it will provide an option for the surf starved. However if you're unemployed, on a low income, or a student, it will be a hard expense to justify.
Yes mate agree. Maybe the pool will be filled with 40+ year old cashed up time poor punters (like myself ha)
In all honesty as a 20 year old I would have preferred a trip down the coast coz I had the time to chase waves in those days
If that's what they pay OS then we will get screwed over a bit more, so im betting $60 an hour or $100 for 2 hrs
$100 for 2 hours sounds like pretty good value to me.
Not sure what exchange rate being quoted there 75 BP is not even close to $65 holes. Try $141.083 at current market rate and I suspect if the parent company is Euro owned they will want their sites pulling equivalent pricing. Maybe initially the prices will be low to sell the "wave" but at some point they will want ROI and that will only come when the punters are paying to whack.
[Little Known Wave Pool Fact]
Wavepools are tided with the Sun...
Sun drains pool until refill tide marker recycles the tide
Tide races faster & more often in summer and slower & less often during dim winter.
Height of Summer droughts provides epic fast racing Barrel Time...
tbb said too much...learn't that from a Hot Euro Surf Chick...pretty darn clever hey!
"Unofficial" Standard Surf Park Timetable incorporating URBNSURF wish list.
https://www.medianet.com.au/releases/154347/
Due to lack of opening times or prices tbb constructed a wavepool timetable.
This will better acquaint punters with common never realized wavepool antics.
Re: Olympics,ISA,WSL,SLSA,SA,Vic Ed,AFL,NRL,[L].Academy,CEOs,Parties,
On top of this SLSA (above) must Patrol according to SLSA Flags + RLS pool rules
Boardriders wade thru the pool then how to deny any other surfer the same right?
SLSA must then separate surfcraft from Pool swimmers by zone or timed sessions.
URBNSURF have set zones reverse to ability & safety that are a nightmare to Patrol.
2005 Last of fibreglass craft injuries (Aqua planers)were removed from OZ Pools
2020 Oz Pool safety flips & now Pool bullies wave most dangerous craft ever seen.
Note: URBNSURF Wave Pool is inviting all comers to fend for themselves.
Who else ordered pre copies of centre isle Slip'n'Slide blooper reel...Bloody Bonza!
We all know who rules the pool, Olympic Training Pool Squads bully all pool users.
Govt Handout packages fetch 10 x more ticket value > commanding line-up priority.
Worldly Timetable applicable to WA / NSW / Vic / US / UK/ Canada Wavepools
In fact Wave Garden themselves have timetabled some of the days beneath.
Sunday 6-9 am Nippers > 9 am (SUP's only day outing) > Midday > 3-4 pm Mals
Monday 8-12 am NRL/ AFL Teams Cool off (More boofs than GC > extra 2hrs)
Tuesday 10-12pm Surf Mums 4-6 pm Nippers > 6 pm-Urbnsurf Boardrider comps
Wednesday 3-4 pm Mals 4-5 pm Surf School + 7pm-end SUP's (moved from Tues')
Thursday 9-12 Adaptive 4-6 pm Surf School + Nippers Training + 7pm-end SUP's
Friday 3-4 pm Mals + 4-5 pm Surf School + 6 pm -end Themed Party Freak Peak
Saturday 7-10 am URBNSURF Academy + 2-4pm Nippers + 7pm SUP's
Still to be pencilled in
Daily Bookings
[L] Public Lessons 1-2 hrs pool time am + pm
CEO Wave bonding teams (Anytime) 1hr max pool time + other
Kidz Parties (Any time) 1hr max pool time + other
Party Adults (Bucks/Hens) 1hr pm max pool time+ other
Packs / Training Camps
Vacation care (Whole Holidays- grom packs) 3-4hr sessions
Mates Rates: Book whole Pool for yourself & mates anytime.
Olympians+Ironmen/Clubbies as the pool bullies+ ISA-WSL-SA weeklong lockdowns.
SES + Swiftwater Rescue + Defence Dog handlers also book out wavepools
Most assuredly Defence & Policing will seek access to such a quality wave pool.
Note: URBNSURF has a flexi cement base that is meant to toughen it out!
WSL Olympic Wave Pool has frozen over.(Kelly must surf rivals pool or quit Olympics)
Pre Freshwater WSL pros were wave starved & were ordering take out from Waco
WSL surfers are booking Wave Garden + Waco. Oz Olympians will surely sign Tulla!
URBNSURF Academy is a Hybrid RLS / SLSA / SA Clubbie Boardriders.
https://adventureparcsnowdonia.com/2018/08/03/our-community-kids-surf-cl...
Looks like a solid 2' to me...with capability (wall height not yet splashed) to push to 2.5' - maybe 3' on 'full power' - "She cannny take much more, Capt'in - she's gonna blow!!!"
But either-which-way, ya can't deny the shape of the waves is quite impressive, best looking artificial barrels I've seen...
Concrete wall height in the background of the vid makes it look like they could increase wave height by 20-30%. Having said that, 3ft waves with that shape looks really fun. If it can get pumped up to 4ft, that would put things into the next level.
The other thing about this pool compared to the surf lakes (the one with the plunger) is wave length. Surf lakes looks like a better take off but the wave tapers very quickly. Tullamarine looks more like a point without too much tapering, offering a longer ride.
Gary G, can you get me an invite to a testing session?
Looks like quarra!
What direction is the pool actually facing so you can work out what wind would be off shore . No use going there if it’s blowing onshore maybe, but I am very fussy .
And how much will it cost for the day.
Onshore winds are only a problem if there's an long upstream fetch to create wind chop.
It's non-existant here.
In fact, a gusty offshore wind would create more problems than an onshore wind.
Dead right, Ben (but noone'd know better than you...).
The alignment is somewhat N-S, but Urbnsurf guys are quick to point out wind isn't really a factor.
Off another surf site:
Is there a "trade wind" in Tullamarine, and how does it affect the wave?
It’s been amazing to observe how different winds interact with the lagoon, the Left and the Right, and on different wave settings. Anything with a bit of North in it is offshore. When it’s blowing Westerly it can ruffle the inside of the Right, but most of the wave is sheltered, and the Left’s protected by the wave generator (vice versa with an Easterly). Victorians will be stoked to know that when it’s onshore, blowing Southerly or South-Westerly, both the Left and the Right are protected by the lagoon retaining walls, so wave quality’s not really impacted. Even at 20 knots.
I’ve often thought that you could improve a surf spot that’s plagued by onshore winds by laying some kind of floating boom on the surface to mimic what kelp does in San Diego; ie kill the chop. A lot of other spots could benefit greatly from the strategic placement of a rock wall to the same affect. Daydream stuff I know, but fun to think about that sort of stuff.
look on greg Webbers website he has a design like this
Well this is the pools orientation, so hopefully Benny's right, otherwise it may be an issue with our predominant wind directions....??
Looking forward to my next trip to visit some mates down south. Book a morning surf in the pool, head to the G for a one daya, then end the night with a sightseeing trip to Kittens. Yew
sounds like the sort of tours Gary G should arrange ...
Is Aircraft Wake Turbulence likely to affect the wind directions around the pool ?
Bristol wave pool early surf sessions
https://magicseaweed.com/news/exclusive-first-impressions-of-bristols-th...
1-2 footers but the punters are stoked
(How can the Test Wavepools run bigger waves?)
Spain, Ranch, Surf Lakes are cut deeper +run waves up over higher patched up walls.
Barrier walls are a mess & far from selling points as commercially sound structures.
(Hybrid)
Waco pools 7.2ML against a steep wall to achieve higher waves than 3x bigger pools.
Free water is no issue but they still lower wave height for pool filter & Wall Billboards.
Less water, smaller waves were re packaged as Billboard space for bigger Acid Drop.
Not reciting these guidelines, as most are universal to all work surrounds.
*1.2m max height pool wall or step-down allowing emergency rescue access.
*No Wind break must interfere with wall access or visuals during patrol operations.
*Note 2 Lifeguards as 4m tall Roary < > slip'n'slide grind rail splits the field of vision
Council enforces Bristol hand-rails < > (Tulla Airport over rides 'council pool rules'!)
Crew all know that timed sets of cue jumperz with leggies always ends in disaster.
*No water must rise over pool lip to compromise wall & promote slip hazards.
*Should surface chop interfere with pool readings or access points then pool closes.
100's of commercial wavepools over last 100 yrs ever lower wave height & power.
Big ticket events go crazy & rule the pool for a day but then it's back to the dregz.
Bottom line is to tick safety boxes & lower waves to save on water + power costs.
Crew are no fools & know the pool rules back to front.(Airport buys some freedom)
(Wind)
(Aerial) shows Airport Drive quick grow screen trees to shield Westerly onshore.
As said 4m tall Roary splits onshore & buys 40m L < > R cover in sheltered corners.
Should the onshore feather over tree screen into lame end of pool...few would care!
(Aerial) SE trees + hidden North clump together should settle stronger cross winds.
The widest exposed sides of pool funnel a favourable share of offshore winds.
V shape invites nearly all wind as cross or off to alternate either L / R waves.
We see the widest offshore aspect matching the widest available wind window.
Obviously Airport Wind rose plays a vital role but the sweet spot seems workable.
Ben makes a good point about too much offshore...(Roary vs Huey) Bring it on!
Is it just me or does the Melbourne pool look to have more size and significantly more push than the Bristol pool ?
The whole pool and wave generater is bigger. So I'd guess that gives more room to push out bigger waves.
Yep clearly softer and smaller than Tulla. Just enough to shift it into being like an okay small soft beach break rather than a wave to rival a quality small point or reef. A small difference but a big one in my mind. My local beachy was a bit like the Bristol one the other day but nothing like the Tulla one. If they cranked the Bristol on up even a little bit it would shift into something more impressive - a few looked to have power.
I wonder if any of the dangers associated with bigger waves have restricted a commercial business to provided bigger waves to public
Bristol got smoked so it seems
Bristols been a disappointment showing the same size as prototype, it needs at leas 1ft extra height to become epic. Hope Melbourne delivers
Who needs the sea now? Grab a board and get involved.
https://www.facebook.com/uniladmag/videos/773234616446721/?t=1
Looks better in this footage
European Surfers Test the World's First Public Wavegarden Cove, The Wave in Bristol, England from wavegarden on Vimeo.
Heres how the queue works
Looks like the person in the red vest is a human buoy that keeps the lineup under control. Fuck me, we needed one of those at Winki yesterday. I paddled out with 20 in the lineup (when it was marginal at best) and within 30 minutes there was a 50 person shitfight. WTF were people thinking after the crowd hit 30? The standard of surfing was woeful and it got really dangerous with fucking idiots not being about to duck dive 2-3ft waves, look left, or make it down the face. One clown literally belly-boarded 4 waves in a row, dropping in each time. I paddled in after 45 minutes because it was simply not any fun. I'd like to think that wave pools can exclude these type of idiots from the lineup for the safety of their other guests.
If you're dumb enough to paddle out at Winkipop on a 2ft SUNDAY with nice warm weather you deserve everything that comes with it!
Fuck.....that place has been dead to me for a lot of years now.
Now Now Ringmaster. It was cold and miserable and I was out to regain some fitness. When I was in the carpark, there was only 20 in the water and virtually nobody getting into wetsuits. I made the calculated decision to have a surf. The big question is, WTF were the 30 people who paddled out 15 minutes later thinking. Surely they looked at the inconsistent surf, surely they noticed fucking car loads of people getting changed into wetsuits?
The thing is, 90% of surfers in the lineup were absolute kooks. I'm talking about people who can't make it down the face of a 2-3ft wave and clowns who simply don't look left. And then there was the worst muppets in the water; guys who line up a duck dive on a three foot wave and then toss their board between the legs. These fuckers should just go to Steps and surf there.
Wrong!
They ALL head straight to Winki. It's a bonafide fuckwit magnet.
It would be pretty sweet if the Fitzroy Boardriders Club ended up going to this wave pool rather than fucking up sessions on the coast. Maybe the pool would attract the Warrilliy and Armstrong Creek "locals" as well.
Gary went for a paddle only slightly west of Winki yesterday, VL. Was in the first 5-10 in the water and spent the first 45 minutes on a section of the reef with waves but no other people (as it was between the more defined takeoffs).
Watching the constant stream of people tripping over each other to walk up to centres he couldn't help think that the Wavepool should take the heat off marginal, W swell days like that. Less punters would be willing to roll the dice and drive for a swell that's 50% chance of being 2ft and 50% of being 4ft and westerly winds...
After escaping the moshpit at Centres, Gary did what gary does and went for full exposure somewhere that is more receptive to W swells and less receptive to W winds. He was alone, it was junky and rippy, and a million times better than what had been left behind.
Winki looked like it was peak shitshow.
Hmmm yeah someone had to say it
Kinda asking for it aren’t ya VL?
If I paddled out into a crowd of 50, I lose the right to cry about crowds, but I paddled out with low expectations into a manageable lineup. There was zero chance of achieving those low expectations when 30 complete kooks paddled out in big groups over the next 20 minutes. Not only that, these flappers are a serious danger to others in the lineup. Rather than risking getting run over or copping a board to the head, after 30 minutes I paddled in with the other four locals (out of 50 surfers) in the lineup.
I get it, it's a weekend at Winki, but Sunday's crowd was just fucking ridiculous and it was imposed on those already in the water. The problem is groups of complete beginners choosing advanced breaks and just fucking it up for everyone in the lineup. It got to the stage where nobody was getting any decent waves because of drop ins, knocking down the lips, bailing in the lineup, and just getting the way. If you can't duck dive, look left, or make it down the face of a 3 foot wave, you don't belong on the Surf Coast reef breaks. Fuck off and don't come back until you learn some basic surf skills.
That vid of the queue looks like people could get in the way at the end of the wave? Surely no one is near that so you can finish off unrestricted.
Couldn't have come at a better time for Surfing anywhere near Melbourne and surrounds. . It looks unreal and I hope it reduces Surf Rage & puts a lotta smiles on dials.
Vic Local is right about the Red Shirts (L+R learners + L+R cove)
Video shows half capacity @ 20 on right + 15 on left ...(Pool holds 40 each side)
As crowd increases the rides cut shorter to parallel with queue (Saves your energy)
Only kooks surf past the end of the queue when all else pull out even with queue,
As crowd builds, crew take a pro sized bite then chuck any remaining wave in the bin.
This in turn revs up a carousel of one trick ponies all jumping the queue.
40 convict's crammed into 40m quadrangle grinding the millstone every 8 seconds.
We see UK surfers fighting in less space for smaller waves than Test wavegarden.
This leaves $40m AUD or 80% of 'The Wave' as a wasteland for 10 beginners.
The design is a fail as surfers themselves self imposed a ban on majority of site.
None would believe it...but the cameras don't lie. Hard to see it other than what it is!
Need one in Perth. Perfect place, heaps of frustrated surfers with vertically no natural waves in summer, unless you want to contend for dribble at point packed. Nice Mediterranean climate too for year round viability. But no the backward nanny state WA government says no and caves to minority locals who didn’t want it near their house.
I'm interested to see its effects in crowds and how booked out it becomes.
Firstly, there's probably the say 5K Melbourne locals who surf who will be frothing for a go and a chance to get wet regularly.
Then there's the 10K+ surfers from the peninsula, the island and the Surf Coast who'll be keen to try it sometimes on their trip to the city.
Then there's the 50K+ cashed up surfers around Australia who are planning weekend trips, fly in/fly outs, day trips etc. for their chance to surf the first wave pool.
There's probably also thousands of pro's, freesurfers, up and coming rookies etc. who will want a go too.
That's a lot of surfers keen for pool time.
The truth is Vicco does get crowded, and adding another couple of breaks (which is what this effectively is) won't reduce crowds. This type of break will certainly attract more surfers and encourage more people to start it up.
I'd imagine it would be similar to the concept that adding more highways/lanes on roads doesn't reduce traffic congestion, it just encourages more people to drive.
The times are changing!
(*numbers are made up....)
I'll be interested to see how hard it is to book an hour at this pool once it's open to the public. From what I gather, you'll need to book 1 hour time slots at a cost of approx $60-$80 per hour, with a limit of how many surfers can book for each 1 hour slot.
Considering how many are frothing for this to open, really keen to see how the booking system operates, it couldn't be a matter of just turning up to surf it for an hour or two without having pre-booked.
Of course. Reckon the first month or two will book up fairly quick. Then weekends for the next 6.
Might be able to turn up at 11am on a Tuesday.
I went past it today. Looks like plenty of work to still be done on the amenities I would imagine they'd like done before opening. Club house looked like it has a way to go on construction.
Few local photogs posting cryptic images on instagram today. Promo machine gonna be in full effect soon.... if you didn't think it already was.
URBNSURF Melbourne informed they open next year 2020 (Summer Jan or Feb)
Crew have been asking about bookings...wave pools use online calendars to book.
The Wave Bristol are booked next 5 weekends (All weekdays are fine)
So yes! Any weekday a surfer could rock up at The Wave & surf but not weekends.
https://bookings.thewave.com/twb_b2c/advanced.html
Snowdonia book out Fri/Sat/Sun next 3 to 6 weeks ahead
So Yes! Any Mon- Thurs a surfer could rock up at Snowdonia & Surf- Not weekends
https://adventureparcsnowdonia.com/product/advanced-waves/
Waco Surf Resort are booked solid 'everyday' next 5 weeks (No Open pool entry?)
https://www.bsrcablepark.com/bsr-surf-resort/
Aloha Surfhouse WA mostly book out 1st am weekend sessions.(Entry Anytime!)
Although this flow wave books heaps of kidz groups.(see timetable)
https://www.alohasurfhouse.com.au/book
*Summary for 'potential' URBNSURF Calendar:
Crew need to book 5 weeks ahead for (Fri/Sat/Sun) URBNSURF sessions.(All year)
Being Oz summer holidays it will likely book out weekdays to school term.
After Bells (Winter) then Surfers could rock up on weekdays at URBNSURF...
(Based on above current wavepool calendars only!)
Weekdays > (See Above): tbb 25th Oct (potential busy Oz wave pool end game )
Designed on what URBNSURF proposes & what sporting wave pools provide.
'The wave' Bristol & Snowdonia & URBNSURF host a variety of water groups.
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/1260C/production/_109367257_...
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0192/7082/articles/IMG_5408_f8694c9d-4...
I just got an email about the first 20 test pilots announced.
Sadly, I'm not one of them.
Anyone here's name come up?
Angela King - partner of Ian Chisolm Sth Coast longboards? Might see some longboarding or midlength action out there.
Not a test pilot, but nearly as good. Copied from an email sent from URBNSurf.......
Thanks for your support and patience - here's your double pass!
Perfect waves are pumping in Tullamarine, and the insights you provided to us during last year’s focus groups meaningfully contributed to the design of URBNSURF Melbourne. You’ve helped make our dream a reality, so we’re beyond stoked to send you this double pass, so you and a friend can come and join us for a wave from January 2020.
The pass is valid for 6 months from our official opening date, which we’ll be announcing soon.
YOUR UNIQUE PASS CODE IS: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Once our booking engine is live later this year, drop the pass code into the “promo code” field at checkout, and you’ll be able to redeem your pass for two surf sessions or group surf lessons at URBNSURF Melbourne.
That’s great!