Wavegarden Is Going To Coachella, 6 More Surf Parks Planned Across The UK + Ireland

Wavegarden make waves. 

As in their 70 full-time global employees dedicate their time to researching, designing, manufacturing, and installing wave generation systems and operation protocols for surf parks that commercial developers will pay for. 

The Basque-based Wavegarden company is the largest surf park technology provider in the world currently counting 60 projects in development and the highest number of surfing facilities (7 locations including: Praia da Grama, Brazil, Aläia Bay, Switzerland, Wave Park, South Korea, Urbnsurf, Melbourne, The Wave, Bristol and Surf Snowdonia, Wales) open to the public across the world. 

Given the inclusion of surfing as an Olympic sport, and the potential high-growth market for surf parks, several dozen developments are in the process of being built using Wavegarden tech. Despite the negative effects of the pandemic, the outdoor leisure sector experienced growth in 2021. This, combined with surging interest in the health and wellbeing, and growth in experiential leisure and staycations, is thought to make the inland surf destination model very appealing.

Coachella Valley 

In Coachella Valley, Desert Wave Ventures and Beach Street Development have received unanimous approval from the City of Palm Desert to build a surf resort with adjoining 92 room hotel, 83 residential villas with water views, a beach club and spa, together with pickleball courts, a pump track, restaurants and bars. According to the development plans, construction on the surfing lagoon will soon commence and completion is scheduled for the end of 2023.

The UK + Ireland

Wavegarden and The Wave have signed a new strategic alliance agreement to deliver 6 or more projects across the UK and Ireland. The Wave opened its first surf park in Bristol in 2019 and is already working on a second site in London. They are exploring further potential development sites for inland surfing destinations powered by Wavegarden tech. As well as the UK and Ireland, The Wave is also working with Wavegarden to secure additional sites in major European cities.

“The waves work,” said Wavegarden CCO, Fernando Odriozola. “More than that, we have proved it is commercially successful, we have a great professional team and we have now welcomed over 300,000 visitors through our doors since we opened – despite contending with a global pandemic.”

For a discussion regarding the environmental impact of wave pools, see here.