You know those very formal, very corporate conferences where it’s easy to daydream? This isn’t it.
The Surf Park Summit is an annual conference that launched in 2013. To put that into perspective, there were zero surf parks in existence during the first Summit. Only a small gathering of investors, surfers and wave engineers with an idea to create waves on demand.
Why Summit Matters
It’s the most wonderful time of year … for anyone interested in all things wave pools and surf parks. Whether you’re an investor, developer, wave maker, retailer, resort owner, real estate professional or just a surfer with a vision for fun waves on demand, this event is a must.
The three-day Summit offers a well-paced opportunity for attendees to learn from experts, understand real-life surf park builds, look behind the scenes at what it takes to fund, develop and operate these grand attractions, and meet those planning or already building a wave pool. Attendees will also hear directly from me as I draw on my experience across 35 wave pools to share insights on the customer experience at surf parks, a critical piece of turning a great wave into a great business. There’s even an opportunity to experience a surf park firsthand from September 1-3, 2026 as the conference venue is blocks from the first-ever Wavegarden Cove in the United States – Atlantic Park Surf.
Tomas Crowder of Wu Wei attended Surf Park Summit 2024 and helped connect the Spanish/Portuguese-speaking Latin American community around it. “I’ve seen firsthand how valuable these gatherings are for an industry that is still defining its future,” Chowder explained. “As more investment enters the sector, events like the Surf Park Summit are vital to exchange knowledge, create partnerships and build the next generation of projects.”
Walk the Walk
Before there were many surf parks in operation, there was a lot of theory, projections and educated speculation being shared by entrepreneurs and wave makers. The surf park industry is no longer just talking the talk, we get to walk the walk. Literally, the first of this three-day event kicks off onsite at the fully operational Atlantic Park Surf Park. Summit attendees get a special tour of the development to better understand everything that went into the build.
More interesting will be seeing what has changed over the past year between Summits. This will be the second consecutive year that Surf Park Summit is hosted in Virginia Beach, allowing repeat attendees to witness the evolution of this surf park. I, for one, am excited to try the added food options since I was limited to a single food truck on the premises last year.
Sessions, Panels & Case Studies
The meat of this event is the array of sessions offered over two days. This year, the agenda is packed with thought leaders, specialists and industry veterans speaking on Wednesday, Sept. 2, and Thursday, Sept. 3. Keynotes and surprise speakers take the main stage and more specialized sessions happen in the separate Operators and Developers rooms, a short walk away.
I had a difficult time choosing which sessions to attend since there are so many fascinating topics. There’s a healthy mix of keynotes, individual speakers, paired presenters and panels featuring three to five experts who have lived through one of the surf park builds out there.
Some sessions I have my eye on for this year include:
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
- Wave Programming & Yield Optimization: Turning Sessions, Pricing, and Demand into Revenue / 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. @ Industry Insights Stage
- The Liquid Anchor: The Rise of Wavegarden-Anchored Real Estate Developments / 2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. @ Industry Insights Stage
- Surf Park Sharks / 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. @ Industry Insights Stage
Thursday, September 3, 2026
- Wave Tech Spotlight: Innovations Shaping the Future of Surf Parks / 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. @ Industry Insights Stage
- Designing Surf Parks for Different Audiences: Private Clubs, Attraction Parks & Mixed-Use Developments / 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. @ Developers room
- Feasibility Assumptions vs. Operating Reality: Bridging the Gap Between Projections and Performance / 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. @ Operators room
Innovation Station: Wave Tech Spotlight & Surf Park Sharks
What’s next or new in the industry? Well, several sessions touch on just that!
The Wave Tech Spotlight is 90 minutes of coverage of the different wave-making technologies currently available and those ready to enter the market. Attendees get a taste of many different techs during this fast-paced showcase. I was in awe of the backstory behind some of the technologies presented during last year’s spotlight. The innovation and long journey to creating an actual rideable wave is mind-blowing.
The Surf Park Sharks is a live pitch competition for early-stage surf park developers. Surf park entrepreneurs present their projects to a panel of seasoned industry investors and financial experts for a chance to win a sponsorship (worth $10,000), free Summit registrations and a 2027 on-stage project update. Think Shark Tank, but for wave pools!
Hear From Your Customer
Part of what I appreciate most about this event, compared to others out there that might touch on surf parks, is it covers all perspectives of the business, from the idea all the way to the surf park customer experience. Not just focusing on the revenue and real estate side of the business.
Surf Park Central saw the value in actually listening to the paying customer, who doesn’t get special treatment from these wave pools. If you want candid, unbiased, honest feedback from those who have saved up and paid to surf these parks, attend my session:
I Have Receipts: One Surfer’s Unfiltered Review of 35 Wave Pools
2 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. @ Calloway Stage (Operators room)
This will be my third consecutive year speaking at Summit, and I don’t intend to let my audience down. With 35 wave pools now under my belt, I have some funny stories to share, challenges as a no-name paying customer and fascinating learnings after my recent surf park tour in Brazil. Be there.
Old & New Friends
The world of wave pools and surf parks is both a small and big one. Wave-making technologies, real estate specialists, surf park consultants, software developers, commercial construction companies and surf park operators from all over the world come together for Surf Park Summit. Most of my connections to the wonderful world of wave pools were initially made on LinkedIn. But it has been amazing to meet my connections in person during this event. And as a returning Summit attendee, this conference has become sort of a reunion for everyone. Beyond reuniting, everyone is connecting with first-time registrants, who then become part of the Surf Park Summit family.
Getting Wet
Surf Park Summit has been hosted at locations all over the country and the world. Since there weren’t many wave pools dedicated to surfing open until more recently, most Summit locations weren’t near a surf park until last year, following the opening of the United States’ first Wavegarden Cove. This year will be the second year in Virginia Beach, home of Atlantic Park Surf Park.
Not only is it an opportunity to see a fully operational surf park in person, but you can also go for a surf! I took advantage of the Summit location last year by checking off wave pool number 27 (for myself) and getting in six sessions across three days. I was surfed out and had a giant smile on my face going into the three-day event.
Tips & Tricks
I have attended two Surf Park Summits, with 2026 marking my third. Like any conference, your first time attending can be overwhelming. It’s nice that the event is three days versus a single or half-day event. That said, there is no downtime during the Summit!
To make the most of Summit, here are some of my personal recommendations:
- Book a room at the conference venue: Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront. I don’t get a commission for suggesting this; it just makes it much easier to come and go between your room and the conference rooms where the Summit takes place. You don’t have to stress about driving over each morning and looking for parking.
- Plan your sessions. Up to three sessions take place simultaneously on the second and third days of Surf Park Summit. It’s wise to check out all the options between the main stage, Developers room and Operators room. It’s easy to get stuck in a single room since sessions run all day and there’s little time between speakers. And don’t assume the side room sessions are any less interesting than the main stage.
- Download the Summit app, Whova. It’s a helpful space where you can bookmark sessions you want to attend, view other attendees’ profiles, and even coordinate meetups. Attendees can even ask questions in advance or follow up on new connections post-Summit.
- Take advantage of everything! When you register for Summit, you are able to participate in the Atlantic Park walking tour, the networking lunches and happy hours. They are all solid opportunities to meet some amazing people from all over the world working with/on/at surf parks. Waiting in line for the tour? Introduce yourself to those in front and behind you. Waiting for a drink during happy hour? You likely have an industry expert also waiting for a beverage next to you!
- Don’t be afraid to document everything. Take notes during the sessions, panels, wave tech spotlights and even Surf Park Sharks. There is a lot of real-life surf park expertise packed into this event from people who have lived through the planning, fundraising, development and operation of surf parks. Not a good note-taker? Snap a photo on your phone so you can digest later.
- Make a week out of it. The event takes place on Tuesday through Thursday, but Atlantic Park Surf is only blocks from the Summit venue, so get some sessions in! Virginia Beach is also a beach town with a boardwalk, tasty restaurants, and a rich surf culture. I drive 11 hours from Florida to Virginia Beach so I can bring my boards and return with my favorite Maryland snacks (my home state). Because of the time it takes for most of us to travel to Surf Park Summit, I try to make the most of the visit.
Be There or Be Square
If you have any interest in wave pools and surf parks, this is the one event you need to consider attending. Every stage of the surf park process is covered; you will shake hands with those who have brought these amazing venues to life and also those who are in the thick of planning their own surf park.
“I believe we are still very early in the evolution of this industry — and that’s exactly why gatherings like the Summit matter,” said Chowder. “The wave pool industry is not just growing; it is helping shape a much broader global lifestyle ecosystem.”
You will leave with a much deeper understanding of what goes into developing or operating your own surf park. There will likely be a handful of business cards from all the new connections you made. And perhaps some fun Flowstate clips from your surf at Atlantic Park Surf.
If you need more convincing: https://www.thesurfparksummit.com/
Message me on LinkedIn or Instagram @SurfParkNerd if you want 10% off Summit registration. I have a special discount code for you.
