One of Europe’s strongest surf communities outside the Atlantic sits in a region of Denmark dubbed “Cold Hawaii,” centered around the once-quiet fishing village of Klitmøller. In this tiny country that gave the world LEGO and Hans Christian Andersen, Klitmøller’s ragged North Sea peaks lie, as the bird flies, closer to Norway than to the Danish capital, Copenhagen. From downtown Copenhagen, reaching the coast takes roughly five hours by car, a considerable journey in a country where bicycles outnumber cars by a wide margin.
Recently, the official body Surf & SUP Denmark initiated a new project to investigate the potential for artificial wave facilities as part of the country’s competitive surfing and training future.
“Surfing and water sports are popular in Denmark, and we want to ensure the best possible framework for the sport’s future development,” said Jakob Færch, chairman of Surf & SUP Denmark. “Investigating the potential for artificial wave facilities is a natural next step in our work to strengthen the framework and facilities for the development of the sport for both the general public and international top athletes.”
The new development wold be part of the association’s agreement with the Danish Sports Association (DIF) to strengthen the country’s competitive surfing structure.
Copenhagen Surf Park Enters the Chat (But Not the Wave Pool Map)
While light on specifics, the team behind Copenhagen Surf Park has said via social media that the project will bring “the feeling of the ocean to the heart of Greater Copenhagen.”
“Our vision is simple: make surfing accessible, create a vibrant meeting place, and build a new active landmark for Denmark,” the team said on LinkedIn. “A surf park doesn’t replace the ocean—it complements it by making surfing more accessible, more consistent, and available year-round, giving far more people the opportunity to experience the joy of surfing.”
Copenhagen Surf Park has no set location, no wave technology choice, no website and no architectural renderings. Currently the team is visiting several wave pools around Europe, including Alaïa Bay, the Wave and Munich to get ideas and learn what it will take to run a successful surf park.
Copenhagen Surf Park Developers Visiting Other Wave Pools
“Alaïa Bay is located in one of the most unlikely places imaginable—surrounded by the Swiss Alps, hundreds of kilometres from the ocean, yet after spending a day there, it feels exactly where it belongs,” the Danish developers said about their visit. “Throughout the day, the lagoon welcomed everyone from first-time surfers to experienced riders, while families, spectators and visitors created a vibrant energy around the park.”
At the Wave in Bristol, the team noted the surf park’s low-key vibe, wooden cabins with fireplaces, relaxed atmosphere, and areas where guests can pitch their own tents.
“It feels authentic and different in the best possible way,” the post continued. “You really sense the strong local support and community that has been built around the park. At the same time, on a regular Friday, there were more than 25 Spanish surfers in the lineup, and the sessions seemed close to fully booked most of the day. A great reminder that surf parks can become both strong local hubs and international destinations.”
At O₂ SURFTOWN MUC the Copenhagen team marveled at how much was fit into a relatively small footprint surf park and the level of attention given to all the amenities.
“What struck us most was how much thought has gone into every detail, creating a place that works for everyone — from core surfers to company events, school classes, surf families, and people who simply want to watch and enjoy the surf scene.”
What’s Next?
Without a website, location or details beyond “we want to build something cool,” we don’t know what will become of Copenhagen Surf Park. It seems to be on the right track, and sources have told WavePoolMag that the team leading the project have solid resumés and financing available.
Closing out one of their posts, developers concluded, “We’re heading back to Copenhagen with fresh inspiration and new ideas for how to shape our own future surf park in Copenhagen.”
