As demand for artificial wave facilities continues to grow, Surf Lakes has launched a new product model designed to suit reduced-sized footprints and with a view to targeting the beginner to intermediate surfing market.

While still producing up to 2000 waves per hour like its larger sibling in Yeppoon, the new Surf Lakes model requires only two hectares (five acres) of land for construction. Therefore the design has the potential to be built in areas closer to higher population densities where larger land holdings may be limited.

The Surf Lakes prototype in Yeppoon which was known as the “5 Waves” design will now be known as the Surf Lakes XL model.

This new standard Surf Lakes model will boast waves suited to three levels of surfing ability – beginner, intermediate and advanced. The company said it will be suited for body boards, body surfing, short boarding, longboarding and knee boarding.

“We’ve had close to 600 enquiries from all areas of the planet,” said Founder and CEO Aaron Trevis. “And while they all love the idea of building a Surf Lake XL model, many sites are just not large enough to cater for the 3.6 hectare lake.”

Trevis added that the XL model will be ideal for athlete training and international events such as the Olympics and that there is a huge opportunity to really penetrate non-surfing market places by locating near shopping malls and local sports fields.

The Surf Lakes model will also have a lower price tag with a turn key solution being delivered in the order of US$20 million. This lowers the barrier to entry for developers and also potentially allows for a quicker return on the investment, given that the wave making potential is still at 2000 waves per hour and therefore people throughput is at a premium.

“We genuinely see the new standard Surf Lakes model as being a perfect way for kids, and complete beginners to get into the sport while aspiring to progress to the bigger and more challenging waves in the Surf lakes XL facilities as their ability improves,” continued Trevis. 

The company added that the new Surf Lakes standard model has the capacity to become a genuine piece of community focussed infrastructure, similar to public swimming pools or sports fields. When waves are turned off, the potential uses for the large body of water cross over into flat water sports such as swimming, kayaking or simple still water fun and games.