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Here’s an in-depth look at the most common reasons why wave pools take so long to build

Surf parks have become a thrilling blend of modern engineering, surf culture, and tourism potential. Yet, as we know these projects can take years to travel from the initial concept to the day paying customers actually scratch into their first waves. And while the average punter focuses on their future freshwater session, they often ignore the lengthy process and pathway-to-market that is shaped by a heck of a lot of factors, each influencing timelines and requiring meticulous planning. 

So why do surf basin projects take so damn long and when will there be a wave pool near me? 

In short, surf parks take such a long time to open due to challenges in guaranteeing ROI, complex land availability and suitability issues, environmental impact assessments, technological limitations, and external factors like climate and human error. These elements collectively extend the timeline for development more than in pre-established sectors like condos or shopping malls. Below we explore exactly how these complications push back opening day. 

“Yes the projects are risky but we had to maintain multiple strategic options to navigate through potential circumstances.”

– Damon Tudor

Guaranteeing a Return On Investment: ROI in a New, Unproven Sector

The financial backbone of any surf park project is the return on investment (ROI). Investors need to be excited by the deal and need to ensure that the money and time put into developing a park will pay off, not just break even. At present, as the industry is still relatively young, investors expect risk, but they also demand a potentially faster return than if they were investing in more established projects, like a condo development. The investor will also most likely need to understand what it is to be a surfer and show passion for the project. 

Calculating the estimated ROI for surf parks is complex, depending on several variables. Some surf parks might be situated in regions with little to no surfing culture, meaning that the marketing and operational costs could be higher, while others might tap into a well-established market. In both cases, the cost of the surf pool’s development – including wave technology, land availability, surrounding infrastructure, and environmental planning – needs to be weighed against ticket prices, annual visitor numbers, and supplementary revenue streams, such as retail, dining, or hotel partnerships.

Given the massive upfront investment/capital required for wave-generating technology and infrastructure, surf park developers must carefully balance projected revenues with the potential hefty costs involved. In a relatively new space, the potential risk for investment can weigh heavily, especially if a technology has yet to be proven beyond prototype status. This financial scrutiny often leads to prolonged negotiations and funding gaps that can push timelines back years.

“It is definitely a delicate balance to navigate,” said Damon Tudor, former CEO of URBNSURF. “Before we built in Melbourne we had a theoretical model which changed dramatically once we turned the waves on for the first time. Then once we understood that and moved to Sydney we again navigated uncharted waters balancing the challenges of the construction phase while running the operation.”

At this juncture, developers have a quiver of approaches to maintain investor confidence in their project.

“We approached our shareholders and investors with a very transparent mindset,” added Damon. “Yes the projects are risky but we had to maintain multiple strategic options to navigate through potential circumstances.”

surfland brasil
It’s not just the wave pool that requires careful thought and planning, the surrounding amenities can make or break a project. Surfland Brasil.

Local Surfing Market and Landscape: Designing and integrating these supplemental attractions can extend the development process significantly

It has been demonstrated that the local surfing market can play a significant role in how surf parks are developed and operated. In areas where surfing already has a strong presence, and/or where travel time from the coast to the park is not too severe, surf parks attract an already enthusiastic base of customers all year round. However, in regions where the sport is less popular, surf parks face the dual challenge of convincing people to learn to surf as well as creating a surf culture around the park. In addition, local competitors – such as existing surf parks, beaches, or other water sports activities – need to be taken into account. Even if there’s demand for a surf park, competition can undercut visitor numbers, making it less likely for a park to succeed without a unique or premium offering.

To hedge their bets, many surf parks may look to include additional attractions that may range from water slides and adventure zones to restaurants and shops.

These extra attractions are essential, not only for drawing in crowds on days when weather conditions or local interest in surfing wanes, but also for increasing the overall revenue stream. The additions may also provide aspiration for non-surfers, to dip their toes in the water on other attractions before trying out a surfing option. Designing and integrating these supplemental attractions can extend the development process significantly. It may require hiring specialized consultants or developers to create complementary experiences and facilities within the grounds.

Finding the Right Spot: Land Availability and Suitability

Finding the perfect site for a wave pool is more challenging than it seems. Factors such as land availability, acquisition cost, population density, proximity to infrastructure, and nearby attractions all influence site selection. Developers must ensure a sufficient number of potential visitors live within a reasonable driving distance; a remote location risks becoming a niche attraction rather than a sustainable business.

Nearby attractions like beaches and amusement parks can enhance or detract from a venue’s appeal, requiring developers to assess whether they will generate complementary traffic or create competition.

Access to local infrastructure, such as roads and public transportation, is essential for visitor ease. A lack of infrastructure may necessitate costly upgrades, delaying timelines and increasing expenses. We’ve heard of a few developments that had to spend millions to get power to their wave pool site. One project that opened in 2024 waited for nearly a year until the local power authority could schedule work on the type of electrical infrastructure necessary to power a surf park.

Finally, land acquisition costs are critical to a project’s feasibility and can vary widely by region. Developers must navigate zoning laws, environmental regulations, and land-use planning, all of which impact project viability. The legal process of acquiring land and permits can be lengthy, adding months or years to a surf park’s construction schedule.

Acquiring the necessary permitting to do this, involves a paper trail as long as a reeling point wave.

Bureaucratic Delays: Navigating Development Applications and Government Red Tape

Once the ideal site is selected, the project must navigate multiple layers of government bureaucracy, which can vary by country and local government. Gaining approval for land use and acquiring necessary permits often involves slow processes with multiple agencies, such as city planning, zoning, and environmental protection boards.

These procedures may include public comment periods, further extending timelines, especially if local residents or organizations object. Developers must also navigate local politics and gain favor with key stakeholders to advance their plans. This unpredictable process can turn a straightforward surf park development into a multi-year journey.

As we saw with Coral Mountain in the desert east of Los Angeles, nearby residents objected to the project causing major delays. The reasons ranged from water use to perceived noise and light pollution. FInally, the project was scrubbed in favor of a water-intensive golf course development. 

Environmental Impact: Navigating Regulations and Minimizing Footprints

Environmental impact assessments (EIA) are a significant hurdle in surf park development, evaluating potential harm to local ecosystems, water sources, and land use. Given that surf parks require large amounts of water and energy for wave generation, ensuring environmentally sustainable design is crucial. Developers must demonstrate efforts to minimize impact, use renewable energy, and ensure water use does not compromise local resources.

Additionally, the removal of large amounts of earth and the impact of trucks and machinery traveling to and from the site will be closely monitored to minimize noise and dust. In some cases, special access roads may need to be built to avoid residential areas, which adds time to the process.

The park’s visual and physical footprint must also align with the local landscape. A surf park in a beautiful natural area may face opposition if deemed an eyesore or if it disrupts local ecology or indigenous cultural restrictions. Balancing environmental concerns with project development can prolong the opening timeline.

The wave at Adventure Parc Snowdonia suits many skill levels
The wave machine at Adventure Parc Snowdonia suited many skill levels but ultimately failed, forcing a shutdown of surfing at Snowdonia. Many developers fear purchasing a wave tank that wont be able to deliver for their project.

Tech Development Faults and Limitations: Pushing the Boundaries

The wave-generating technology is obviously the heart of any wave pool project, but it can also be a double-edged sword. Technologies may find they have limitations and often experience setbacks in reliability in the testing phase. Complex wave pools require high-level engineering, bathymetry design, liner experimentation and constant maintenance, and even slight malfunctions can delay the park’s progress by months, if not years. The development process and the inherent problem-solving that goes with it can again heavily impact whether a technology is ready to go to market. 

Moreover, some surf parks experiment with cutting-edge tech that hasn’t been thoroughly tested in commercial environments, and this adds a larger element of risk and time to the development process. This too can be driven by the availability of funding. Getting the technology right and ensuring its reliability is a lengthy but essential process for the success of any surf park. No one wants to sit by a flat water pond waiting for repairs when they’re eager to ride perfect waves!

As Bruno Gujer of Consult8 advised, it’s again a measure of risk versus reward.

“If your technology provider has never developed a viable pool before, all his time, cost and technical estimations can be offset by big surprises once you start building,” said Bruno. “If you really want to take that risk make sure you have enough time and that the contract does not put your costs at risk. In general your team’s development experience is crucial if you want to land your project on time and within budget” 

Andrew Ross
Andrew Ross circa 2019 at the Melbourne pool. The area experienced heavy rains which delayed the build and added extra cost to the project. Today though, the park is firing on all cylinders.

Climate: Influencing Seasonality and Design

The climate of the chosen location affects everything from building materials to operational logistics, to labour availability and more. In wetter more tropical climates, for instance, logistical planning may involve simply waiting for the wet season to pass so that the ground is dry enough to cope with heavy machinery usage. In cold climates, some surf parks must be designed with covered structures to keep the surrounding environment comfortable year-round. In hotter climates, special attention must be paid to water evaporation, sun exposure, and heat-resistant infrastructure and shading. Generally, the experience has to be created and/or managed in such a way that the end users’ potential for negative feedback is minimalized. This necessitates further careful planning to ensure the park’s success.

Management Indecision: The Human Factor

Finally, management indecision can be a surprisingly large factor in delaying surf park openings. From disagreements over design choices to shifting priorities due to changes in financial backers, surf park projects can be plagued by constant revisions and shifts in direction. It’s not uncommon for plans to be shelved for months or years as developers sort out internal conflicts, or new opportunities arise, further stretching timelines. In a situation where money is scarce and there is a constant chase for external investment, strategy can change in a heartbeat.

The good news is that as more wave pools populate the surfing sphere, the lessons learned from those early adopters in the space will benefit those just starting out. And each developer now has a quiver of learnings from which to draw upon.

About the Author: As former media and marketing manager at Surf Lakes, Wayne Dart has first-hand experience fielding questions from potential developers and eager surfers wanting a go at their wave pool. Prior to Surf Lakes, Wayne worked for years in media relations with the World Surf League.


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