This Week in Wave Pools (27/52)
New surf park in Spain; Super session at DSRT Surf; Massachusetts town objections; Surf Loch upset with SF Bay; Zion Shores progress; Korean surf contests
Every day new things are happening in the wave pool industry. This newsletter summarizes it all each week, giving you everything you need to know about surf parks in a 2-minute read. Welcome to This Week in Wave Pools!
Unveiled
Olucas Surf Center proposed for northern Spain
A new Wavegarden-powered surf park has been proposed in Cantabria, Spain. The €40 million Olucas Surf Center would occupy a 100,000-square-meter site in Ribamontán al Monte and is expected to attract more than 200,000 visitors annually. Plans include a wave pool capable of producing up to 1,000 waves per hour, along with accommodation, restaurants, wellness facilities, training areas, and event spaces. The regional government plans to fast-track the project through a Project of Singular Regional Interest (PSIR), with construction expected to begin following approvals next year.
Opening soon
DSRT Surf puts pros in the pool
To complete the wave commissioning phase with Wavegarden, DSRT Surf ran its “super session” in which they invited pro surfers to test the waves. After fine-tuning the wave machine during the commissioning process, the team now has a menu of 60 different wave types that are ready for the public.
Planning & proposals
New England Surf Lagoon faces obstacles in early stages
The team behind the New England Surf Lagoon presented their proposed project to the town of Middleborough in Massachusetts. Among the town’s concerns were traffic congestion, the potential presence of archeological artifacts at the site, and water use during a time when town residents are subject to water restrictions due to a water shortage.
Developers Clay Rockefeller and Jerry Pucillo. Photo by Alice Elwell.
Business & funding
Surf Loch objects to no-bid contract in San Francisco Bay Area
The city of Alameda in California agreed to a no-bid contract with Neptune Beach Surf Club Development Partners, LLC to develop the Neptune Beach wave pool at a public park called Alameda Point. They are now negotiating land leasing terms. Surf Loch, which has been trying to purchase land at Alameda Point since 2025, recently wrote to the city council in objection of the anti-competitive process which has been taking place in closed sessions.
Construction
Zion Shores installs utilities
The team has reported that gas lines and all wet utilities including sewer, water, storm, and drain have been installed. The first few homes in the development are also under construction.
Zion Shores (surf-pool.com)
Events & Contests
Korean surf park holds WSL contests
Wave Park Siheung held two World Surf League competitions, the QS 6000 and Longboard QS 6000, as part of the 2026 Siheung Korea Open. Finals Day was set after two days of competition, with China’s Siqi Yang posting top scores among the women.
Other
Disney Typhoon Lagoon to close for seasonal refurbishment
Disney Typhoon Lagoon will close for seasonal refurbishment beginning September 9, 2026.