Last Week in Surf Parks
We’ve got some good news! And some sad news...
We’ve got some good news! And some sad news. That’s how it goes in the world of surf parks. In case you missed it, here are the 5 updates from last week that we’ve been frothin over:
1. Lost Shore Surf Delayed (A Bit!)
Opening a new surf park is no small feat, and Lost Shore Surf Resort in Scotland has been in the works for over 10 years. A few delays here and there? Not much to worry about. Especially because the team at Lost Shore has done an incredible job of keeping us all updated on their progress.
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The lastest construction footage from September 2024 showed there was clearly much more work to be done. They were aiming to open by the end of October but their new opening date is set for November. If they manage to get the doors open before the year is out, it’ll be a huge accomplishment. So, Lost Shore, hats off to you for getting this close! And for the surfers out there—if I were you, I’d start planning a trip to Scotland now.
2. Citywave Vilnius Is Now Enefit Arena
Lithuania is getting a surf park in their capital city and it’s opening on November 10th, 2024. With opening day around the corner, last-minute changes must be flooding in, and one of them is the park’s new name. Meet Enefit Arena, formerly known as Citywave Vilnius.
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It’s almost a rite of passage to give a surf park a straightforward name like the wave technology plus the nearest city. (Maybe it’s even part of the deal with technology providers.) But this new name reflects a new partner: Enefit, a Lithuanian energy company, will be helping the surf park keep energy costs in check. And they’ll need it! This Citywave pool is expected to consume around 1.5 gigawatt hours each year—about the same as 330 homes in France. With Enefit on board, let’s hope the park can tap into renewable energy sources to keep the waves pumping sustainably.
3. Goodbye to Surf Poel
Surf Poel in the Netherlands is closing for good. After six years of hard work, the dream of the 24/7 waves team is no longer a reality. They have plenty to be proud of, though—they built the world’s third indoor traveling wave pool and did it in record time within a tiny space. Imagine a regular above-ground swimming pool but surfable!
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Despite the cool concept, the project eventually ran out of funds and was never fully open to the public. Their journey was powered by the support of fans and two successful crowdfunding campaigns. Back in November 2018, they raised over 100,000 euros, and in 2022, they raised over 200,000 euros. This allowed them to begin construction and start marking waves on February 14, 2024. Although the park has closed, they went further than most, and the spirit of the team deserves a lot of respect. Best of luck to everyone involved!
4. Surf’s Up in Abu Dhabi
You can surf in Abu Dhabi now—well, almost! The second Kelly Slater wave pool just opened to the public on October 25th, 2024, and all surf sessions (at nearly $1,000 each) are already fully booked for the next two months.
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This new surf park has already made a splash online, especially since the World Surf League held a longboard competition there last month. Abu Dhabi is now confirmed as a destination on next year’s WSL championship tour for shortboarders, too. The decision has stirred some controversy, but we’ll save that conversation for another day. For now, we’ll be looking out to see what people think of the venue and the waves at this island oasis in the UAE.
5. Kelly Slater Again: Rebuilding NLand
It was once among the most famous surf parks in the world. Now it’s back with a new look! Construction is underway at the site that used to be NLand Surf Park in Austin, Texas. Originally opened in 2016, NLand was the eighth surf park in the U.S., but by 2018, it was shut down due to persistent legal issues.
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Now, the Wavegarden Lagoon that powered NLand is being replaced by a Kelly Slater wave machine, and this revamped private surf park called Austin Surf Club will be reserved for residents only. For surf fans in Texas, it’s a chance to have world-class waves right in Austin. As long as you buy a house there!
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See you in the lineup!