American Wave Machines today announced a new development called Boa Vista near Sao Paulo, Brazil. The new project with partners JHSF will cover 370 acres and include the world’s largest American Wave Machines wave pool.

Currently, the pool at BSR in Waco offers 120-160 waves per hour for 8-10 second rides. While this new pool design looks very different, the thought of longer barrels is hugely appealing. Assuming the rendering artists got it right, the waves in this PerfectSwell move away from a central wall as opposed to parallel to the wall like in Waco.

This design would mean the new, more substantial PerfectSwell technology pushes out waves through its pneumatic system along a far-end wall, sending waves directly shoreward. A similar visualization is Tom Lochtefeld’s Surf Loch work in Palm Springs. Waco’s smaller, indoor sister facility in New Jersey might be using a very similar AWM design to Brazil, but we’ll have to wait for more renderings and/or official word from American Wave Machines before confirming that assumption.

This Sao Paulo development follows a trend in anchoring new projects around wave pools. Maybe slightly varying from the norm, the Boa Vista plans show a Surf Lodge (actually a multi-story, swank looking hotel) for visitors making freshwater surf trips.

Boa Vista will also include residential land plots, golf residences and The Surf Lodge Residences, designed by renowned architects Sig Bargamin and Pablo Slemenson. Part of the Boa Vista Village offering to residents is an 18 hole golf course signed by Rees Jones and an impressive tennis structure and arena for international tournaments. 

It will be fascinating to see how this new PerfectSwell tech stands up to others. Waco is generally loved and billed as THE performance arena for airs. All eyes have been on Waco as the definitive hardcore surf park, from their first launch two years ago, to Kelly Slater’s visit this month.