Wavegarden 2.0 (In Full)

Welcome back to Wavegarden 2.0, Stab‘s favourite artificial surfing installation. The newest lagoon site is still in the Basque County, but now runs a mirrored left and right that barrels, and runs for 220m. That’s the longest man-made wave in the world. The whole game here is to remove unpredictably from surfing and open it up to new audiences, but also to create an environment that encourages progression (think: trying the same backside snap repeatedly til y’got it dialled).

It’s been a decade since the Wavegarden team (engineering experts and enthused surfers) started the project and their newest full-scale demo facility may be their best work yet, but it sure ain’t their end game. The patented tech, according to Wavegarden, uses a “hydrodynamic ‘wave foil’ that runs at floor level to create a swell down the length of a lagoon. This swell bends onto the banks on either side of the track creating two perfect waves that simultaneously peel down the lagoon in both left and right directions. As the wave generator stops at either end of the lagoon, engineered ‘bays’ transform the wave energy into smooth rolling whitewater waves. The wave generator then rotates 180 degrees and proceeds back along the length of the lagoon generating waves in an identical manner in the opposite direction.”

One hundred-and-twenty waves can be ridden each hour, every one with equal wave power, length and height. But, the most important thing to know? “The technology has been proven through advanced simulation modeling to be capable of making waves of any size and length, depending on the size of the lagoon. Due to the limited land available in Wavegarden’s premises, the surf lagoon featured in the videos cannot offer bigger or longer waves, although the technology is perfectly able to do so.” In case you need clarification here, that means the waves can be way bigger and longer (in a bigger and longer lagoon).

One of Wavegarden’s best assets is the fact it uses less energy than other artificial wave generators, and boasts the lowest environmental impact and costs in the industry for both construction and operation. Which is why they’re getting so many traction with partners. Currently, the lagoon’s only open for testing and fine-tuning, so it ain’t open to the public yet. But… “Wavegarden is already making strides in two of the world’s surfing capitals by signing strategic partnerships to develop at least five facilities in Australia and 25 in the USA over the coming years. Wavegarden has also entered into agreements with more than ten other affiliates who have financially committed to developing facilities in different parts of Europe and the Middle East. It is yet to be determined where the first commercial lagoon will be opened, however, the technology promises to bring surfing to places where riding waves has never before been possible.”

How long til we see an event at one of these? Who knows. For now, dig on Dane Reynolds, Taj Burrow, Adriano de Souza, Gabriel Medina, Jeremy Flores, Miguel Pupo, Dusty Payne, Craig Anderson, Jadson Andre, Aritz Aranburu and Pauline Ado testing the facility out in the video above. – Elliot Struck