Surfing
Surfing
These are the 8 best artificial waves in the world
With a new artificial wave pool coming to Bristol this autumn, we take a look at the world's best landlocked waves already out there...
A new era is upon us folks: the reign of the artificial wave. As modern surfing starts to go inland, Bristol is about to claim England's first artificial wave pool: The Wave. And with plans for another site in London in 2022, things are about to get wavy for city-dwelling surfers who want a break from driving their boards to the coast at the weekend.
Shaking up the surfing scene, made-to-order Wavegarden technology (and the like) is having its moment right now, with The Wave just one of 20 similar projects currently in construction-mode around the world. The ground-breaking technology generates up to 1,000 quality waves per hour, ranging from 50cm (1.7ft) to almost 2m (6.5ft) in height – and is perfect for everyone, from beginners to seasoned pros.
Located in Easter Compton, 12 miles north of the city centre, the attraction will launch sometime in autumn 2019. In the meantime, here are eight of the world’s most sought after, and highly anticipated, “fake breaks” to keep you satiated.
Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch, USA
World surf expert Kelly Slater’s Wave Company blew everyone’s mind when it built a fully functional artificial wave in an inland Californian lake in 2015. Located 200 miles from the coast and surrounded by dairy farms, the consistency of the waves at Slater’s Ranch in Lemoore, California has raised all kinds of questions and eyebrows since it went public. Though purists aren’t terribly down with Slater’s brown swell, the 11-time World Champion’s freshwater invention was enough to convince the World Surf League to put the Ranch on the 2018 World Championship Tour, with the WSL calling it “the first repeatable man-made wave that convincingly delivers the power and shape of ocean waves.” Watch this space.
NLand Surf Park, USA
Texas: home of barbecue, big hats, South by Southwest, guns, boots, and lately, surf. For the best waves in the state, head on down to NLand Surf Park, the latest commercial Wavegarden-powered break located just outside of Austin, Texas. Though there’s no sand to be found and very little buoyancy, you’ll find some of the most authentic non-authentic waves on the North American seaboard here. Under that stiff Texan sun, it’s a mighty fine respite in the summer months.
Typhoon Lagoon, Disney World Florida, USA
Though there’s a lot to be distracted by at Florida’s Disney World – the monumental park comprising the Magical Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and the Epcot Centre – there’s really only one place to be when the temperature peaks: Typhoon Lagoon. Surrounded by a litany of water-based frivolity, Typhoon Lagoon is the signature attraction of the Disney water park area: a 2.5-acre, 3 million gallon wave pool, complete with 6-foot kahunas artificially pumped out every 90 seconds for your riding pleasure.
Siam Park, Adeje, Tenerife
They call it the number one water park in the world, and they aren’t lying. Siam Park is an Oriental-themed water attraction located in Costa Adeje, a suburb of Tenerife in the Spanish Canary Islands. Home to The Wave Palace (aka: the biggest wave pool in the world), Siam’s three-metre high barrels have attracted some of the world’s most reputable riders in recent summers; as a closing bash to the Las American Pro Tenerife Championship in February this year, 14 pros headed to the Wave Palace to flaunt their skills in an all-star artificial wave face off. Good times were had.
Wavegarden Cove, Montgat, Spain
As well as its impending constructions in the southern hemisphere, Basque-based Wavegarden will launch the first public and commercially operating complex on its own turf in spring this year, in the Mediterranean coastal town of Montgat, near Barcelona. Effectively a carbon copy of The Wave, the massive sail-shaped teal blue lagoon will deliver consistent sets of A-frame, left and right-handers to stoked local crowds who couldn’t get a look in at San Sebastian or Biarritz.
Eisbach, Munich
Set in the middle of the city’s expansive Englischer Garten, the Eisbach River wave is a must-see for any land-locked wave hunter. The river wave engineered by Rainer Klimaschewski, who essentially ended up as one of the pioneers in human-made wave technology. The river and the wave are almost always busy with tourists and locals, but it’s well worth a jump in the icy water. Suffice to say, it’s the only surf wave like it in the middle of an urban centre anywhere on the planet (but you will need your wetsuit in the winter).
Wadi Adventure, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
There appear to be no upper limits to the UAE’s engineering gall: as well as being home to some of the world’s most soaring towers, it also lays claim to the world’s first human-made white water rafting, kayaking and surf facility. Despite its artificial status, Surfer Magazine called Wadi Adventure the 41st best surfing beach in the world, which, given its bearings in middle of a desert oasis close to the border of Oman, is no mean feat. Be sure to stop by on your next layover.
Sunway Lagoon, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
It gets hot in KL – real hot – and there’s no better way to cool down without skipping town than hitting up the local wave. When the Perhentian Islands or Langkawi coast is just too much of a mission, locals and interlopers get down in their trunks to Sunway Lagoon: 13,000 sq. metres of artificial summertime glory. Though it can get hectic here, surfing is possible at least for an hour or two each day, with boards available for hire at the main desk (FYI: only 12 riders are allowed at any one time, so register early and claim that swell).
We'd also like to give a special mention to Japan's Ocean Dome, which is long gone... but boy, was it a good time!
