 |
List of Artifical Wave "Parks" around the World |
(For informational purposes only. Accuracy not guaranteed. We do not necessarily recommend any of these parks over the others.)
A wave park is an attraction that is located on the land — often far away from any lake or ocean.
Most surf parks use pumped water rapidly flowing over an angled surface that simulates a wave face - 'standing wave.'
Riders take turns riding finless shortboards.
Other models use a long water pool, which is 'pulsed' at one end, simulating a horizontally moving wave every few minutes.
Above Photo: Wave House San Diego in 2011. A man rides a finless board on a cushion of water that squirts from nozzles.
This particular model of artificial wave is called a "FlowBarrel."
Photo copyright 2012, scenebank.com
North America
(U.S.A.)
Wave House San Diego
City: San Diego, California, U.S.A. [map]
www.wavehousesandiego.com
Length of wave: 3 meters (10feet)
Height of wave: 1.2 meters (4 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: a blue curved platform in the shape of a wave-face is on the end of a basin playfully called Bruticus Maximus. Powerful pumps push jets of water from nozzles along the blue-colored surface of the platform at an angle that makes one half of the platform in a whitewater breaking tube, and the other half a rideable smoother water surface. Surfers use special finless surfboards (since the 'wave' is not deep enough for fins, and fins would dig into the platform beneath). The net result is a kind of simulated stationary breaking wave. Once a rider is done riding (or he falls off his board), he goes into the whitewater stream that quickly pushes him into an escape area. The next surfer waiting in line can then ride onto the wave. The most visited ride here is the FlowBarrel (pictured above). Like most wave-parks, the water is chlorinated for hygienic reasons. At the same location, there is a FlowRider, a similar ride with a gentle slope. FlowRiders are wider and have no barrels, so they're better for beginners than the FlowBarrel. This outdoor park opened in 2005, and is operating as of 2012. It's open to the public year-round.
Location: This wave park is located right next to Mission Beach at Belmont Park which lies on the Pacific Ocean. So when the natural waves of the Pacific Ocean are flat, some surfers will go to the Wave House.
Hours of Operation:
(Open year-round)
Mon to Fri: opens at 12noon
Sat to Sun: opens at 11am
Big Surf Arizona
City: Tempe, Arizona, U.S.A. [map]
http://bigsurffun.com
Length of wave: 9 meters (30 feet)
Height of wave: 0.6 meters (2 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: Open early-May to early-August (4 months per year, during peak summer months, when Arizona temperatures get very hot) "Waikiki Beach" is a pool that generates an artificial wave every 3 minutes. The wave is a whitewater or foamy wave, so there's no open wave-face. This is mostly a swimming / wading pool with a very narrow 1-hour window for surfer-only sessions. More suitable for longboard or funboard. You can bring your own surfboard or rent one. General Admission: $26.95
Location: 1500 N. McClintock Dr./Hayden Rd., Tempe, AZ, 85281, U.S.A.
Hours of Operation:
(open 4 months only: May 5th through August 5th, other weekends in Aug./Sept.)
Boogie-board-only sessions can change.
Surfer-only sessions daily 5pm - 6pm
NLand
City: Austin, Texas, U.S.A. [map]
http://nlandsurfpark.com/surf/
Length of wave: n/a
Height of wave: 1.8 meters (6 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: 35-second ride. A shoulder-high wedge that goes nearly 180 meters (200 yards). Waves up to 6-feet (1.8 meters) high. Freshwater. This is a very large rectangular pool with a wedge-shaped ram that goes underwater in a central metal support structure creating a surfable wake on either side of it. Water quality is maintained by purification system using ozonation and chlorination. This is America's first WaveGarden (Surf Snowdonia was the first). Restaurant on-site. "$60 to $90 for a one-hour session."
Location: 4836 E. Highway 71 Del Valle, Texas 78617, U.S.A.
Hours of Operation:
Tuesday through Sunday: 11am – 7pm
Flow House Thundering Surf
City: Beach Haven, New Jersey, U.S.A. [map]
www.flowhouselbi.com (also see www.thunderingsurfwaterpark.com)
Length of wave: 6 meters (20 feet)
Height of wave: 1.5 meters (5 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: Thundering Surf is a big water park that includes the FlowRider Double as one of its attractions. The water park is open during the summer months and it's found on the Jersey shore. For most of the day, the FlowRider Double is reserved for boogie-boarding, but four(4) hours are reserved each day for surfing. The FlowRider has a reasonably gentle slope. General Admission: $40/hour
Location: 806 North Bay Ave., Beach Haven, NJ 08008, U.S.A.
Hours of Operation:
(Summer Season hours)
8-9am and 7-11pm (surfing)
9am-7pm (boogie-boarding only)
(Canada)
Oasis Surf
City: Montreal, Quebec, Canada [map]
oasissurf.com/WP/en/
Length of wave: n/a
Height of wave: 0.6 m to 1.5 m (2-feet up to 5-feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: surf indoor, training outdoor
Description: Surfing channel for surf training or bodyboarding. For advanced surfing there's a single-barrel or dual-barrel mode and between 0.6 to 1.5 meters wave face (2-5 feet).
Machine manufactured by www.americanwavemachines.com
Hours of Operation: 10am to 9pm, Monday to Friday, then 10am to 1pm, Saturday
South America
(Chile)
Wave House Santiago
City: Santiago, Chile [map]
wavehousesantiago.com/en
Length of wave: 3 meters (10 feet)
Height of wave: 1.2 meters (4 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: Very similar to "Wave House San Diego" (see above). A blue curved platform in the shape of a wave-face is on the end of a basin. Powerful pumps push jets of water from nozzles along the blue-colored surface of the platform at an angle that makes one half of the platform in a whitewater breaking tube, and the other half a rideable smoother water surface. Surfers use special finless surfboards (since the 'wave' is not deep enough for fins, and fins would dig into the platform beneath). The net result is a kind of simulated stationary wave. Once a rider is done riding (or he falls off his board), he goes into the whitewater stream that quickly pushes him into an escape area. The next surfer waiting in line can then ride onto the wave. First time riders must take a 1 hour lesson.
Location: "Wave House - Santa Pizza is just 40 minutes away from Santiago's International Airport."
Hours of operation:
Mon to Sun 10am to 9pm
(Peru)
Boulevard Asia
City: Lima, Peru [map]
www.boulevardasia.com
Length of wave: 7.4 meters (24 feet)
Height of wave: 1.4 meter barrels (4 to 5 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor (under tarps)
Description: This wave is called La Ola Movistar surf arena. Good for bodyboarding, surf training, and advanced surfing (left or right barrel). The machine can generate four different kinds of waves for beginner, intermediate, or advanced surfers, and goofy or regular footers. The water park is in a shopping mall. "...located 97.5 km south of Lima in the Asia district...."
Machine manufactured by: www.americanwavemachines.com
Hours of operation:
(open from January – April only)
Sun – Thu 10am - 9:30pm
Fri – Sat 10am - 12am
Europe
(United Kingdom)
Surf Snowdonia
City: Conway Road, Dolgarrog, Conwy, LL32 8QE, United Kingdom [map]
http://www.surfsnowdonia.co.uk/
Length of wave: ca. 50 meters (164 feet)
Height of wave: 2 meters (6 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: The longest ride you can have is 150 m length. There are beginner, intermediate, and advanced waves. £19/hr (beginner surfers) to £45/hr (advanced surfers). 2-hour lessons available for beginners. There is even bed-and-breakfast lodging on-site. There is no fee to just go into the park and watch the surfers. No dogs allowed.
Location: Conway Road, Dolgarrog, Conwy, LL32 8QE, United Kingdom
To get there: Take international flight to London, England. Go to London Euston train station for a 4-hour train ride to Llandudno Junction train station (Wales). Take a 20 minute (£5) taxi ride to Snowdonia Park. Alternative: International flight to Manchester, England (airport is nearer to Snowdonia than London airport), then 2 hours by train/taxi or car to Snowdonia.
Hours of operation:
10 am to sunset
(United Kingdom)
Flow House Bedford
City: Bedfordshire, United Kingdom[map]
http://flowhouse.com/location/bedford-uk/
Length of wave: 6 meters (20 feet)
Height of wave: 1.8 meters (6 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: indoor
Description: This ride is a FlowRider model. It's located inside a building 60 km north of London. The building has a driving racecar simulator game, and a wind tunnel attraction too. The FlowRider ramp looks a little higher than other models, although it still has a gentle slope. The water ride is reserved mostly for boogie-boarding, although some surfing sessions occur there.
Location: Building 37, Twinwoods Business Park, Thurleigh Road, Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire, MK44 1FD
Hours of operation:
inquire
(Germany)
Nord Welle ("North Wave")
City: Bispingen, Germany [map]
www.snow-dome.de (look for a link to "Nord Welle") (german-language site only)
Length of wave: 5.5 meters (18 feet)
Height of wave: 0.9 meters (3 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: Nord Welle is part of a big entertainment complex called "Snow Dome" that also has certain indoor winter sports such as skiing. Bispingen is in northern Germany. Despite being near a cold wintry indoor ski run, Nord Welle has warmer water, and has a summer style to it. Beginner or Advanced sessions available. Maximum 15 surfers per hour, so they recommend advanced booking using their online booking system. See a video of riders on the wave: Wellenreiten in Bispingen (Surfing in Bispingen, Germany).
Hours of operation:
(open from May – October only)
Mon - Fri: 1pm - 9pm
Sat: 9am - 9pm
Sun: 9am - 7pm
(Germany)
"The Wave"
City: Munich, Bavaria, Germany [map]
http://citywave.de
Length of wave: 6.1 meters (20 feet)
Height of wave: 1.0 meters (3.3 feet)
Pool Length: 16.5 meters (54 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: The Wave is an attraction that's found near the airport. Unlike many other surf rides, this one has a water stream that's deep enough that you can ride shortboards that have fins. You can even bring your own shortboard. The height of the wave and the volume of water pumped can both be adjusted depending on the rider's skill level. The ride was inspired by the Eisbach, a world-famous standing wave that sometimes forms on a freshwater river near Munich. The Wave has an indeterminate season.
Hours of operation:
inquire
(Sweden)
Himlabadet
City: Himlabadet, Sundsvall, Sweden [map]
www.himlabadet.se
Length of wave: 5 meters (16 feet)
Height of wave: 0.9 meters (2 to 4 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: indoor
Description: This is an indoor wave at a municipal surf park. It allows bodyboarding, surf training, and advanced surfing(barrel). Machine manufactured by: www.americanwavemachines.com
Hours of operation:
(season: n/a)
Mon - Fri: 10am - 8pm
Sat - Sun: 9am - 6pm
(Spain)
Wave House Mallorca
City: Mallorca, Spain [map]
www.wavehousemallorca.com
Length of wave: 3 meters (10 feet)
Height of wave: 1.2 meters (4 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: Mallorca is an island that's about the size of the big island of Hawaii. You pronounce Mallorca as "Mah-york-a." The island of Mallorca is just off the east coast of Spain. It is a sunny tourist destination. However, since the Mediterranean sea is typically flat, surfers can go to this Wave House for their wave-riding thrills.
Hours of operation:
Mon - Fri: n/a
Sat - Sun: n/a
(Spain)
Wavegarden [In development. not open yet.]
City: Pyrenees mountains, Basque country (Spain)
www.wavegarden.com
Length of wave: 75 meters (246 feet)
Height of wave: 1.6 meters (5.2 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: Outdoor
Description: This simulated wave might be the best one made, if it delivers as promised. The park is located on mainland Spain, and it uses a giant pool of water. A mechanical device below the water pushes upward, and a wave is generated which travels along the length of the pool. This moving wave contrasts to most surf parks which use jets of water from multiple nozzles to make a thin sheet of water atop a sloped blue fixed surface. Wavegarden has a unique curved rim for the giant tank, and they claim the rim prevents great sloshing (which has been known to kill other similar research projects). The first 2010 prototype was a smaller scale version of the expected large-scale wave pool. The existing smaller prototype of the Wavegarden was tested out by some professional surfers in 2011. The surfers really liked the experience on the wave that travels for 200 meters. A future version might reach 1 kilometer in length. The pro surfers used surfboards with fins (instead of the typical finless surfboards used at surf parks). It's uncertain where the final wavepark(s) will be located. This park is an R&D project only, and it's not yet open to the public. Here's a link to an article about the Wavegarden.
Hours of operation:
n/a
Below video: Two pro surfers use the prototype Wavegarden:
Middle East
(United Arab Emirates)
Wadi Adventure
City: Al Ain, United Arab Emirates [map]
www.wadiadventure.ae
Length of wave: ~8 meters (26 feet)
Height of wave: 3.3 meters max. (10.8 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: This is a giant outdoor pool that looks like one of the better wave parks in the world [VIDEO]. Wadi Adventure is open until late at night, so you can 'surf' many parts of the day. Surfers ride one at a time on a generated wave in a huge L-shaped outdoor water pool. The attraction allows finned surfboards such as shortboards. Surfers can even bring their own surfboards, subject to approval. If not, surfboards are available for rent. The wave size can be adjusted to suit the rider's skill level. Waves are generated every 90 seconds and can be as high as 3.3 meters. Once the peeling wave has finished the first 20 meter part of the L-shape, it bends around the corner to another 20 meter segment. That would make a total ride of around 40 meters (130 feet). The ride has concrete walls surrounding it, and the adventure finishes at a gently sloping 'shore' that is an artificial surface instead of sand. Advance booking for surfers is recommended. The park also has whitewater rafting and kayaking rides nearby the surf ride. The city of Al Ain is located inland. The closest major city in the U.A.E. is Abu Dhabi.
About the U.A.E.: Many Arabic countries might be perceived as unfriendly to non-Islamic people. However, the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) is a wealthy oil-rich state that is tolerant of foreigners, and welcomes tourists. The country is considered progressive by Western standards. Women are allowed to wear bikinis on the Wadi Adventure surf ride, for example. However, outside of a water park, local customs of dress must be strictly obeyed. Two major cities in U.A.E. are Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The weather in the U.A.E. is a very hot desert climate. July/August is the hottest part of the year, with temperatures of 40 °C (104 °F).
Hours of operation:
TueWedThu: noon - 11pm
Fri-Sat: 9am - 11pm
Sun: noon-11pm
Mon: Closed
(United Arab Emirates)
Yas Waterworld, "Bubble's Barrel"
City: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates [map]
www.yaswaterworld.com
Length of wave: ~10 meters (~32 feet)
Height of wave: 3 meters (10 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: For surfers, Bubble's Barrel is the main attraction at this waterpark. The Barrel resembles a FlowBarrel type of wave, and this wave is very wide. The park just opened in 2013, so there aren't many reviews or videos yet. However, it's known that the ride is 10 meters long, and has a 'tube' or 'barrel' at one end where you can almost stand fully upright inside. The rest of the sloped surface is a long shoulder. They claim that the park's water is temperature-controlled throughout the year.
About Abu Dhabi:
Abu Dhabi is a cosmopolitan city that's popular with Western tourists. It is the largest city in the United Arab Emirates and rests on the Persian Gulf. The city has poured millions into construction of elaborate hotels on man-made islands. Unlike the city of Al Ain, where Wadi Adventure is located (100 miles inland), coastal Abu Dhabi has direct airplane flights from major airports around the world.
Hours of operation:
10am - 6pm
Africa
Asia
(Singapore)
Wave House Sentosa
City: Sentosa, Singapore [map]
http://www.wavehousesentosa.com
Length of wave: 3 meters (10 feet)
Height of wave: 1.2 meters (4 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: Similar to Wave House San Diego (see above). Rider uses finless board on water sheet flowing over a stationary blue wave-like shape.
Hours of operation:
n/a
(U.S.A.)
Wave House San Diego
City: San Diego, California, U.S.A. [map]
www.wavehousesandiego.com
Length of wave: 3 meters (10feet)
Height of wave: 1.2 meters (4 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: a blue curved platform in the shape of a wave-face is on the end of a basin playfully called Bruticus Maximus. Powerful pumps push jets of water from nozzles along the blue-colored surface of the platform at an angle that makes one half of the platform in a whitewater breaking tube, and the other half a rideable smoother water surface. Surfers use special finless surfboards (since the 'wave' is not deep enough for fins, and fins would dig into the platform beneath). The net result is a kind of simulated stationary breaking wave. Once a rider is done riding (or he falls off his board), he goes into the whitewater stream that quickly pushes him into an escape area. The next surfer waiting in line can then ride onto the wave. The most visited ride here is the FlowBarrel (pictured above). Like most wave-parks, the water is chlorinated for hygienic reasons. At the same location, there is a FlowRider, a similar ride with a gentle slope. FlowRiders are wider and have no barrels, so they're better for beginners than the FlowBarrel. This outdoor park opened in 2005, and is operating as of 2012. It's open to the public year-round.
Location: This wave park is located right next to Mission Beach at Belmont Park which lies on the Pacific Ocean. So when the natural waves of the Pacific Ocean are flat, some surfers will go to the Wave House.
Hours of Operation:
(Open year-round)
Mon to Fri: opens at 12noon
Sat to Sun: opens at 11am
Big Surf Arizona
City: Tempe, Arizona, U.S.A. [map]
http://bigsurffun.com
Length of wave: 9 meters (30 feet)
Height of wave: 0.6 meters (2 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: Open early-May to early-August (4 months per year, during peak summer months, when Arizona temperatures get very hot) "Waikiki Beach" is a pool that generates an artificial wave every 3 minutes. The wave is a whitewater or foamy wave, so there's no open wave-face. This is mostly a swimming / wading pool with a very narrow 1-hour window for surfer-only sessions. More suitable for longboard or funboard. You can bring your own surfboard or rent one. General Admission: $26.95
Location: 1500 N. McClintock Dr./Hayden Rd., Tempe, AZ, 85281, U.S.A.
Hours of Operation:
(open 4 months only: May 5th through August 5th, other weekends in Aug./Sept.)
Boogie-board-only sessions can change.
Surfer-only sessions daily 5pm - 6pm
NLand
City: Austin, Texas, U.S.A. [map]
http://nlandsurfpark.com/surf/
Length of wave: n/a
Height of wave: 1.8 meters (6 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: 35-second ride. A shoulder-high wedge that goes nearly 180 meters (200 yards). Waves up to 6-feet (1.8 meters) high. Freshwater. This is a very large rectangular pool with a wedge-shaped ram that goes underwater in a central metal support structure creating a surfable wake on either side of it. Water quality is maintained by purification system using ozonation and chlorination. This is America's first WaveGarden (Surf Snowdonia was the first). Restaurant on-site. "$60 to $90 for a one-hour session."
Location: 4836 E. Highway 71 Del Valle, Texas 78617, U.S.A.
Hours of Operation:
Tuesday through Sunday: 11am – 7pm
Flow House Thundering Surf
City: Beach Haven, New Jersey, U.S.A. [map]
www.flowhouselbi.com (also see www.thunderingsurfwaterpark.com)
Length of wave: 6 meters (20 feet)
Height of wave: 1.5 meters (5 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: Thundering Surf is a big water park that includes the FlowRider Double as one of its attractions. The water park is open during the summer months and it's found on the Jersey shore. For most of the day, the FlowRider Double is reserved for boogie-boarding, but four(4) hours are reserved each day for surfing. The FlowRider has a reasonably gentle slope. General Admission: $40/hour
Location: 806 North Bay Ave., Beach Haven, NJ 08008, U.S.A.
Hours of Operation:
(Summer Season hours)
8-9am and 7-11pm (surfing)
9am-7pm (boogie-boarding only)
(Canada)
Oasis Surf
City: Montreal, Quebec, Canada [map]
oasissurf.com/WP/en/
Length of wave: n/a
Height of wave: 0.6 m to 1.5 m (2-feet up to 5-feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: surf indoor, training outdoor
Description: Surfing channel for surf training or bodyboarding. For advanced surfing there's a single-barrel or dual-barrel mode and between 0.6 to 1.5 meters wave face (2-5 feet).
Machine manufactured by www.americanwavemachines.com
Hours of Operation: 10am to 9pm, Monday to Friday, then 10am to 1pm, Saturday
South America
(Chile)
Wave House Santiago
City: Santiago, Chile [map]
wavehousesantiago.com/en
Length of wave: 3 meters (10 feet)
Height of wave: 1.2 meters (4 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: Very similar to "Wave House San Diego" (see above). A blue curved platform in the shape of a wave-face is on the end of a basin. Powerful pumps push jets of water from nozzles along the blue-colored surface of the platform at an angle that makes one half of the platform in a whitewater breaking tube, and the other half a rideable smoother water surface. Surfers use special finless surfboards (since the 'wave' is not deep enough for fins, and fins would dig into the platform beneath). The net result is a kind of simulated stationary wave. Once a rider is done riding (or he falls off his board), he goes into the whitewater stream that quickly pushes him into an escape area. The next surfer waiting in line can then ride onto the wave. First time riders must take a 1 hour lesson.
Location: "Wave House - Santa Pizza is just 40 minutes away from Santiago's International Airport."
Hours of operation:
Mon to Sun 10am to 9pm
(Peru)
Boulevard Asia
City: Lima, Peru [map]
www.boulevardasia.com
Length of wave: 7.4 meters (24 feet)
Height of wave: 1.4 meter barrels (4 to 5 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor (under tarps)
Description: This wave is called La Ola Movistar surf arena. Good for bodyboarding, surf training, and advanced surfing (left or right barrel). The machine can generate four different kinds of waves for beginner, intermediate, or advanced surfers, and goofy or regular footers. The water park is in a shopping mall. "...located 97.5 km south of Lima in the Asia district...."
Machine manufactured by: www.americanwavemachines.com
Hours of operation:
(open from January – April only)
Sun – Thu 10am - 9:30pm
Fri – Sat 10am - 12am
Europe
(United Kingdom)
Surf Snowdonia
City: Conway Road, Dolgarrog, Conwy, LL32 8QE, United Kingdom [map]
http://www.surfsnowdonia.co.uk/
Length of wave: ca. 50 meters (164 feet)
Height of wave: 2 meters (6 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: The longest ride you can have is 150 m length. There are beginner, intermediate, and advanced waves. £19/hr (beginner surfers) to £45/hr (advanced surfers). 2-hour lessons available for beginners. There is even bed-and-breakfast lodging on-site. There is no fee to just go into the park and watch the surfers. No dogs allowed.
Location: Conway Road, Dolgarrog, Conwy, LL32 8QE, United Kingdom
To get there: Take international flight to London, England. Go to London Euston train station for a 4-hour train ride to Llandudno Junction train station (Wales). Take a 20 minute (£5) taxi ride to Snowdonia Park. Alternative: International flight to Manchester, England (airport is nearer to Snowdonia than London airport), then 2 hours by train/taxi or car to Snowdonia.
Hours of operation:
10 am to sunset
(United Kingdom)
Flow House Bedford
City: Bedfordshire, United Kingdom[map]
http://flowhouse.com/location/bedford-uk/
Length of wave: 6 meters (20 feet)
Height of wave: 1.8 meters (6 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: indoor
Description: This ride is a FlowRider model. It's located inside a building 60 km north of London. The building has a driving racecar simulator game, and a wind tunnel attraction too. The FlowRider ramp looks a little higher than other models, although it still has a gentle slope. The water ride is reserved mostly for boogie-boarding, although some surfing sessions occur there.
Location: Building 37, Twinwoods Business Park, Thurleigh Road, Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire, MK44 1FD
Hours of operation:
inquire
(Germany)
Nord Welle ("North Wave")
City: Bispingen, Germany [map]
www.snow-dome.de (look for a link to "Nord Welle") (german-language site only)
Length of wave: 5.5 meters (18 feet)
Height of wave: 0.9 meters (3 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: Nord Welle is part of a big entertainment complex called "Snow Dome" that also has certain indoor winter sports such as skiing. Bispingen is in northern Germany. Despite being near a cold wintry indoor ski run, Nord Welle has warmer water, and has a summer style to it. Beginner or Advanced sessions available. Maximum 15 surfers per hour, so they recommend advanced booking using their online booking system. See a video of riders on the wave: Wellenreiten in Bispingen (Surfing in Bispingen, Germany).
Hours of operation:
(open from May – October only)
Mon - Fri: 1pm - 9pm
Sat: 9am - 9pm
Sun: 9am - 7pm
(Germany)
"The Wave"
City: Munich, Bavaria, Germany [map]
http://citywave.de
Length of wave: 6.1 meters (20 feet)
Height of wave: 1.0 meters (3.3 feet)
Pool Length: 16.5 meters (54 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: The Wave is an attraction that's found near the airport. Unlike many other surf rides, this one has a water stream that's deep enough that you can ride shortboards that have fins. You can even bring your own shortboard. The height of the wave and the volume of water pumped can both be adjusted depending on the rider's skill level. The ride was inspired by the Eisbach, a world-famous standing wave that sometimes forms on a freshwater river near Munich. The Wave has an indeterminate season.
Hours of operation:
inquire
(Sweden)
Himlabadet
City: Himlabadet, Sundsvall, Sweden [map]
www.himlabadet.se
Length of wave: 5 meters (16 feet)
Height of wave: 0.9 meters (2 to 4 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: indoor
Description: This is an indoor wave at a municipal surf park. It allows bodyboarding, surf training, and advanced surfing(barrel). Machine manufactured by: www.americanwavemachines.com
Hours of operation:
(season: n/a)
Mon - Fri: 10am - 8pm
Sat - Sun: 9am - 6pm
(Spain)
Wave House Mallorca
City: Mallorca, Spain [map]
www.wavehousemallorca.com
Length of wave: 3 meters (10 feet)
Height of wave: 1.2 meters (4 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: Mallorca is an island that's about the size of the big island of Hawaii. You pronounce Mallorca as "Mah-york-a." The island of Mallorca is just off the east coast of Spain. It is a sunny tourist destination. However, since the Mediterranean sea is typically flat, surfers can go to this Wave House for their wave-riding thrills.
Hours of operation:
Mon - Fri: n/a
Sat - Sun: n/a
(Spain)
Wavegarden [In development. not open yet.]
City: Pyrenees mountains, Basque country (Spain)
www.wavegarden.com
Length of wave: 75 meters (246 feet)
Height of wave: 1.6 meters (5.2 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: Outdoor
Description: This simulated wave might be the best one made, if it delivers as promised. The park is located on mainland Spain, and it uses a giant pool of water. A mechanical device below the water pushes upward, and a wave is generated which travels along the length of the pool. This moving wave contrasts to most surf parks which use jets of water from multiple nozzles to make a thin sheet of water atop a sloped blue fixed surface. Wavegarden has a unique curved rim for the giant tank, and they claim the rim prevents great sloshing (which has been known to kill other similar research projects). The first 2010 prototype was a smaller scale version of the expected large-scale wave pool. The existing smaller prototype of the Wavegarden was tested out by some professional surfers in 2011. The surfers really liked the experience on the wave that travels for 200 meters. A future version might reach 1 kilometer in length. The pro surfers used surfboards with fins (instead of the typical finless surfboards used at surf parks). It's uncertain where the final wavepark(s) will be located. This park is an R&D project only, and it's not yet open to the public. Here's a link to an article about the Wavegarden.
Hours of operation:
n/a
Middle East
(United Arab Emirates)
Wadi Adventure
City: Al Ain, United Arab Emirates [map]
www.wadiadventure.ae
Length of wave: ~8 meters (26 feet)
Height of wave: 3.3 meters max. (10.8 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: This is a giant outdoor pool that looks like one of the better wave parks in the world [VIDEO]. Wadi Adventure is open until late at night, so you can 'surf' many parts of the day. Surfers ride one at a time on a generated wave in a huge L-shaped outdoor water pool. The attraction allows finned surfboards such as shortboards. Surfers can even bring their own surfboards, subject to approval. If not, surfboards are available for rent. The wave size can be adjusted to suit the rider's skill level. Waves are generated every 90 seconds and can be as high as 3.3 meters. Once the peeling wave has finished the first 20 meter part of the L-shape, it bends around the corner to another 20 meter segment. That would make a total ride of around 40 meters (130 feet). The ride has concrete walls surrounding it, and the adventure finishes at a gently sloping 'shore' that is an artificial surface instead of sand. Advance booking for surfers is recommended. The park also has whitewater rafting and kayaking rides nearby the surf ride. The city of Al Ain is located inland. The closest major city in the U.A.E. is Abu Dhabi.
About the U.A.E.: Many Arabic countries might be perceived as unfriendly to non-Islamic people. However, the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) is a wealthy oil-rich state that is tolerant of foreigners, and welcomes tourists. The country is considered progressive by Western standards. Women are allowed to wear bikinis on the Wadi Adventure surf ride, for example. However, outside of a water park, local customs of dress must be strictly obeyed. Two major cities in U.A.E. are Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The weather in the U.A.E. is a very hot desert climate. July/August is the hottest part of the year, with temperatures of 40 °C (104 °F).
Hours of operation:
TueWedThu: noon - 11pm
Fri-Sat: 9am - 11pm
Sun: noon-11pm
Mon: Closed
(United Arab Emirates)
Yas Waterworld, "Bubble's Barrel"
City: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates [map]
www.yaswaterworld.com
Length of wave: ~10 meters (~32 feet)
Height of wave: 3 meters (10 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: For surfers, Bubble's Barrel is the main attraction at this waterpark. The Barrel resembles a FlowBarrel type of wave, and this wave is very wide. The park just opened in 2013, so there aren't many reviews or videos yet. However, it's known that the ride is 10 meters long, and has a 'tube' or 'barrel' at one end where you can almost stand fully upright inside. The rest of the sloped surface is a long shoulder. They claim that the park's water is temperature-controlled throughout the year.
About Abu Dhabi:
Abu Dhabi is a cosmopolitan city that's popular with Western tourists. It is the largest city in the United Arab Emirates and rests on the Persian Gulf. The city has poured millions into construction of elaborate hotels on man-made islands. Unlike the city of Al Ain, where Wadi Adventure is located (100 miles inland), coastal Abu Dhabi has direct airplane flights from major airports around the world.
Hours of operation:
10am - 6pm
Africa
Asia
(Singapore)
Wave House Sentosa
City: Sentosa, Singapore [map]
http://www.wavehousesentosa.com
Length of wave: 3 meters (10 feet)
Height of wave: 1.2 meters (4 feet)
Indoor or Outdoor: outdoor
Description: Similar to Wave House San Diego (see above). Rider uses finless board on water sheet flowing over a stationary blue wave-like shape.
Hours of operation:
n/a
| Video: Christmas-Time Surfing at Sunset, California, USA. December, 2009 •About 9 surfers in the lineup. •Setting sun gives a pink tone to the water. •Surfers slightly in silhouette. •Surfers on medium-size swell. More Details... |
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Format: WMV-HD
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