Growing demand for Inland Surfing
24 million people worldwide identify themselves as surfers. That number is set to grow when surfing makes its debut as an official Olympic sport at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. Here millions more people will appreciate the spectacle of barrels and airs by the best in the sport. While it is already a mainstream consumer aspiration, and a multibillion-dollar industry as Shop Eat Surf readers know, few have regular access to ocean waves. Enter man-made surfing, providing consistently reliable inland surf to meet the surging demand which is driving a development boom, with over 75 Surf Parks in planning globally.
Surf Parks will deliver a robust ROI
Aside from the pure entertainment value, adding a surf park to a development offers many benefits. Surf pools create a hub around which, retail, food and beverage outlets can be situated, increasing opportunity for additional income. Dwell time increases when families and groups have an activity on which they can spend a considerable amount of time, with repeatability being a natural side effect as participants stay longer. All these benefits lead to increased revenue with the surf pool as the anchor amenity appealing to surfers of all levels and ages.
Surf Pools support a wide range of development goals, proving how flexible and valuable a surf experience can be as the ‘special sauce’ in elevating several other elements like a hotel stay, active community lifestyle, family time, or as a pure play surf venue. Adding surf provides a more comprehensive leisure experience and drives ancillary revenues. Developers appreciate this because it provides a desirable lifestyle culture which helps them differentiate their venue. From urban revitalization to being a luxury resort centerpiece, Endless Surf is being used as an anchor attraction in projects with a variety of overarching developmental goals. Let’s take a look at some of our half a dozen current projects in development…
Surf within mixed use real estate developments builds community and lifestyle vibes.
Located in the Parisian suburb of Sevran, La Vague Grand Paris will be an epic entertainment and lifestyle venue comprising of and Endless Surf ES4800 Surf Pool, a skatepark, family focused aquatic amenities, and an urban boardwalk comprising of restaurants, bars, and retail. The €250 million development is part of a urban revitalization project and will additionally give back to the community, providing free surfing access for local schools and some social housing as part of the residential development.
Advisor the La Vague Grand Paris, Baptiste Caulonque states:
“We designed an active lifestyle program mixing board sports, urban culture, and new sports with agreements with the city to offer privileged access to schools and inhabitants” and “We have had great support from local and national governments since the start. The park, the sports, and programs will offer access to all and have always been greatly appreciated by everyone.”
Another example is East of Ho Chi Minh City, a new area close to the Thu Duc district dubbed Vietnam’s Silicon Valley is emerging, $12 billion is being invested in infrastructure and commercial developments, including a new financial district. But such high-tech knowledge-based economies only thrive when talented employees are accessible to them. Which is why one of Asia’s most significant land developers is creating a large mixed-use community using Endless Surf as an anchor amenity to attract residents. This community fits the master plan to create an appealing place to live for the highly skilled workforce needed.
“With residences overlooking the natural aesthetic of the Endless Surf pool it provides a desirable wellness and lifestyle feel for the entire development, which fits our audience’s aspirations and therefore our development goals.”Tony Bulcraig CEO of Surf the Wave
Surf differentiates properties in the competitive hotels and hospitality market, enhancing experiential amenity.
Los Vientos, a luxury resort development with Pegasus Lodges, a leader in surf destination lodging and experiences, is taking a new approach to bring consistent surf to the Caribbean. The development in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic will feature two Endless Surf pools – one for guests within the luxury accommodation, and one for the public within a resort surrounded by other hotels and amenities creating an amazing backdrop of ‘shareable’ views.
“Hospitality is going through a metamorphosis because people recognize that experiences enrich them more than traditional notions of luxury. Surfing isn’t just a sport, it is a lifestyle that changes how people see themselves, each other, and the world around them; Los Vientos will provide a true surf experience that can also entertain a surfer’s entire family.” Said Pegasus Lodges CEO, Ryder Thomas.
Sharing the sharing the stoke withing the world of sports beyond the ocean
Recently announced this March, The Club at Parkwood Village on the Gold Coast is merging two major Australian pastimes by offering both within an incredible resort and club-like development. Located just a few miles inland from Surfer’s Paradise on the Gold Coast, world-class waves will be flowing through and Endless Surf pool alongside an 18-hole golf course and other sporting and hospitality amenities.
Luke Altschwager, Managing Director and Founder of Parkwood says:
“There is nothing more quintessentially Australian than surfing, and this new technology creating customized repeatable man-made waves is going to revolutionize the sport. I want to make sure Parkwood becomes the heart of the sport here on the Gold Coast. Not only is a world class surf pool a perfect fit for our active community, it anchors a whole new level of economic investment in the area.”
Revolutionizing Surfing
Reliable man-made waves will revolutionize surfing, bringing it to all corners of the world. While early examples consumed too much energy or produced too few waves per hour to be economically sustainable, advances in technology and design now make the surf pool an attractive business option. Surf pools are becoming an increasingly popular development opportunity; both to satiate those wanting to ride perfect, on-command waves as well as those hoping to build a venue that will be a successful business venture.
The reality is that when you build a perfect wave, Surfers will come. They will bring their families, their friends, and their friends’ families. Overtime, the wave itself and its surrounding facilities will attract a whole array of people, many of whom have never touched a surfboard in their lives. Whether someone wants to learn for the first time, simply drink a cocktail on the beach, or experience the many other aspects of the surf lifestyle, they are becoming part of a greater collective sharing culture and driving economic growth. With consumer support and state-of-the-art surf pool technology, watch this space closely and you’ll see surf pools anchor all sorts of successful developments, many of them showcasing Endless Surf.
