The highly anticipated wave pool war, foretold by our ancestors, seems to be over before it truly began. But lo, rewind your memory to 2010. It was the year the iPad was introduced, WikiLeaks published its first Chelsea Manning drips, a JetBlue employee dramatically quit by sliding down the plane’s escape slide and Wavegarden unveiled its surf tub, Mick Fanning, Gabriel Medina, “making folklore by surfing the artificial knee-high waves.”
Fast forward five years and “greatest athlete ever” Kelly Slater revealed his very own technology up Lemoore, California way. It was an absolute arms’ race, new and different tanks featuring new and different wave generating mechanisms popping up in Austin, Texas, Waco, Texas and Yeppoon, Australia.
There were plows, gas chambers, mechanical trains and rusty plungers but which of them would conquer all?
Which would become the de facto “Wave Pool.”
Well, a decade on, the original seems to have so thoroughly smashed its opponents that “Wavegarden” is now shorthand for surf tub.
Amusement Today reveals, in a stunning new report, that, “Wavegarden is currently the company with the most operational surf parks worldwide. To date, it has nine facilities across four continents that have attracted over 2 million visitors and generated more than 35 million waves. Additionally, 10 projects are currently under construction, set to open between 2025 and 2026, with another 50 projects in development.”
Furthermore, “With an internal rate of return (IRR) over 20%, each facility has proven profitable. This success has inspired several clients to open additional facilities and consolidate their growth.”
And, “Wavegarden Cove is the most efficient and sustainable wave generator on the market, consuming only 0.3 to 1.0 kWh per wave, depending on its size and power – 10 times less than equivalent pneumatic systems. This energy efficiency can save between $2 million and $3 million USD annually. Furthermore, thanks to its low energy consumption, it is the only surf lagoon technology capable of being fully powered by solar energy produced on-site.”
Plus, “With a capacity of over 90 surfers simultaneously in the lagoon, our surfer capacity to lagoon size ratio is up to 4 times more than other surfing lagoons. Economically, this nearly triples revenue generation from the surf lagoon alone while benefiting other surrounding business units such as hospitality, accommodation, surf schools, and retail shops.”
In a word, or four, peace in our time.
Do you have thoughts on Wavegarden’s dominance or are you too worried about Tyler Wright’s wellbeing to care?
More as the story develops.
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