Wave pools have been popping up in colder climes since Melbourne and Bristol opened their doors six years ago. During winter and oft-chilly shoulder seasons, you’ll find the ubiquitous all-weather change-robes by UK brand Dryrobe dotting the pool edge. One of the first commercial partnerships in the surf park space has been between Dryrobe and The Wave Bristol. This week, both companies announced a renewal of their agreement.
The Wave and Dryrobe have renewed their partnership, marking six years of collaboration between the surf park and the UK-based outdoor gear company.
Dryrobe has been affiliated with The Wave since its launch in 2019. According to the surf park, the brand has supplied gear to support surf coaches, lifeguards and hosts working at the inland surfing facility.
The Wave stated that the relationship is rooted in shared values, citing a mutual appreciation for the outdoors and a focus on supporting active lifestyles throughout the year. Both companies are described by The Wave as purpose-driven and committed to environmental and social impact.
Post-Acquisition Development
The agreement renewal follows a recent change in ownership at The Wave. The company said the continued partnership with Dryrobe signals “confidence in our future as a thriving, forward-thinking hub for the UK’s surf community.”
“We are both world-first businesses that have established completely new sectors and aim to show that businesses can be a force for good,” The Wave said. The company emphasized its alignment with Dryrobe in supporting surfing at all levels, particularly within the UK’s para and adaptive surf communities.
Sustainability Initiatives
The Wave also announced a new initiative developed with Dryrobe and Reskinned. The program will recycle and repurpose used Dryrobe products that are no longer suitable for daily wear. The effort, according to The Wave, supports the companies’ joint goal to reduce environmental impact while promoting social responsibility.
Q&A with Nick Rees, Global Partnerships Manager at Dryrobe
Dryrobe has been part of The Wave’s journey since day one. What made this partnership feel like the right fit from the start?
From the beginning, we could see that The Wave was going to be something really special – a world-first inland surfing lake, built with a clear sense of purpose. Surfing is at the heart of who we are at Dryrobe, so it was a natural fit. We’ve always admired The Wave’s ambition to get more people outdoors and in the water – which completely aligns with what we exist to do – and it’s been amazing to grow alongside them.
Surfing is such a core part of Dryrobe®’s identity. Can you tell us a bit about how the brand started and why surfing remains so important today?
Dryrobe was born on the beach. Our founder, Gideon Bright, came up with the original design after years of changing out of wetsuits in freezing car parks after surf sessions. Surfing is where it all started for us, and it continues to inspire everything we do. It’s not just a sport, it’s a community and a lifestyle, and we’re proud to keep supporting it in every way we can.
Read the full interview here.
