The original Wavegarden Cove prototype has recently been transformed and extended to provide an increased variety of waves and new design features. The full-sized prototype had been pivotal in modelling for commercial facilities worldwide. However, its small footprint had placed limits on research and development. Until now. 

With a water surface area of just 90m x 45m, the Wavegarden Lab can now generate waves up to 2.2 metres high, with ride times of up to 14 seconds and barrels lasting up to 7 seconds. The continuous cycle of waves can run 24/7, to allow engineers to test the mechanical parts, water treatment, filtration, coating and cleaning systems along with changes in bathymetry. 

“We have been redesigning and rebuilding the demo center by extending the existing wave generator to produce longer ride times of up to 14 seconds and larger waves up to 2.2m high. We have improved the take-off and end sections, created a 7-second barrel, and new air sections,” said Josema Odriozola, Founder and CEO of Wavegarden. “We adjusted the bathymetry, updated the areas along the shoreline, added glass panels behind the take-off area, and removed some unnecessary walls to provide a more natural environment and improve the aesthetics.”    

According to Wavegarden, the transformation has aided the development of the world’s best artificial waves. Extensive computer modeling and scale model R&D over several years has dramatically increased flexibility. The left and right sides of the Wavegarden lagoon can now work independently without increasing the energy consumption per wave. The company added that this change means that Wavegarden’s technology can now be delivered with single or double sides and can be adapted to any shape and size of lagoon.

In a press release Wavegarden said that they now have the ability to program solitary waves every 15–30 seconds throughout the entire duration of a session instead of grouping them in sets with 7-8 second intervals. 

The Wavegarden Lab has also introduced a new reef that they say has improved the Turn, Barrel and Air waves. For the turn mode, this means adding a close-out section, where a surfer can choose between finishing with a foam, a lip or a small barrel section. The steepness of the take-off can now be adjusted. A less vertical face makes it easier for beginners to pop up and enjoy the wave. The barrels are easy to read as there is an ideal balance between width, or throatiness of the tube, and power. There is now a constant speed grower mode, a heavier bowl with a turn set up and a slab-style wave, where surfers can backdoor the peak. Finally, the air sections have been boosted with different launch pads for specific manoeuvres like alley-oop and double aerials.

Italian CT surfer and Olympian Leo Fioravanti has made regular visits in the past months to train and refine his repertoire of aerials, such as the Stale Fish, Backflip, and higher Alley Oops. Training is enhanced by a replay screen located at the take-off and CheckMySurf, the automatic recording system that captures every wave ridden. 

Wavegarden has eight operating facilities around the world, with 10 additional projects currently under construction.