Two New American Wave Machines Pools Were Just Approved On Opposite Sides Of The US
Like Oprah said, “you get a pool, you get a pool…”
American Wave Machines has a lot to be thankful for this year.
The company’s proprietary Perfect Swell technology has provided surfing with a lot. It’s allowed us to run our annual Stab High events, allowed surfers to perfect innovative maneuvers, and has demoralized many a middle-aged man with clips of (barely) teenagers doing things like this.
There was never any question as to whether or not Perfect Swell was going to proliferate amongst the masses, it was just a matter of when. Before Sunday, the company already had four projects underway in Japan, Brazil, Virginia and Australia, not to mention their active pools in New Jersey and Texas. Today we can officially add Florida and California to that list.
Starting with the right coast, Perfect Swell will be added to the Ocean Gate Commerce Center development in “the shark bite capital of the world” and home to Gorkin and the Geiselbros—New Smyrna Beach. Initially proposed in 2012, this mall is located on one of the premier arteries for Orlando beachgoers (I-95) and will feature the works, including “restaurants, hotels, and sports entertainment venues”.
What does this mean for Florida surfers? Well, the impending demise of Typhoon Lagoon for one.
New Smyrna Beach is home to pros like Aaron Cormican, Daniel Glenn, and the brothers Schweizer and Geiselman, who no doubt popped champagne all over Eric’s new pad upon hearing the news. With their make rates already above 50%, we can imagine how consistent these boys’ tailwhips will become after weekly reps in the pool.
There seem to be two ideal development strategies with which to finance these pools, with NSB utilizing the multi-dimensional retail and consumer experience play. The development in California, meanwhile, takes the other popular track—planning a luxury residential retreat based around a massive 20-acre man-made lagoon.
Thermal Beach Club was met with unanimous approval by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. The development will span 240 acres and be located 25 miles south of Palm Springs. Featuring 326 luxury residential homes located on six acres of ‘white sand beach’, Thermal Beach Club did not arrive without resistance. With Thermal, California’s median income being merely $29,500, developers had to pledge $2,300 per household plus an additional $4M in infrastructure investment to push the project through for approval.
Six months ago we sent our steadfast Gossip columnist to Cheyne Magnusson and Kalani Robb’s Palm Beach Surf Club, who are planning a rebuild themselves. With Thermal being in such close proximity to Palm Springs, the two will no doubt fend off comparisons upon launch. Competition breeds innovation, and two pools occupying similar territory is something we have yet to see materialize in our brave new chlorinated world—unless you count Waco and N-Land. Either way, California surfers should look forward to seeing how this plays out.
And what does AWM have to say about their exponentially successful day? Senior VP Mike Lopez stated: “Two project approvals on the same day speaks loudly and clearly about the dominance of PerfectSwell technology in the space of out-of-ocean surfing… with projects in Brazil and Japan coming online in 2021, California and Florida not far behind, PerfectSwell® will be located in the global drivers of surfing and surf culture. Australia next.”
What will come of the above developments no one knows, but one thing’s for sure: the AWM Board of Directors are about to have a downright bitchin’ Thanksgiving.
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