Crest Surf Clubs resurfaced this month, promoting their unique brand of a high-end surfing experience. WavePoolMag has been covering the development at the proposed 3.5-acre site in Shirley for several years, even doing a podcast with founder Brett Portera. Last week we announced the addition of Alex Poirot to the team as Chief Technology officer. And this week the team at Crest re-announced costs to access year-round artificial waves, and amenities such as a gym, spa, co-working space, and dining facilities.
$100K Membership and Annual Fees
According to the company, the cost of a founding membership will be approximately $100,000. An additional annual membership fee of about $20,000 is also planned. Crest states it has sold over half of its planned 500 founding memberships.
The company is currently seeking $45 million in funding, which it says may be structured as convertible debt. The capital would be used to complete construction of the wave pool and supporting facilities.
Artificial Wave Technology from Former Kelly Slater Team
Crest’s Chief Technology Officer, Alex Poirot, is a former member of the Kelly Slater Wave Co. team. The company states that Poirot helped develop wave-generation technology used at Surf Ranch and Surf Abu Dhabi. The Shirley facility will use new Premier Surf Systems to generate around 120 waves per hour, with wave heights reaching up to 6.5 feet. Each session will be limited to 20 surfers.
Comparing Surf Pool Membership Models
Artificial wave surfing has expanded in recent years, with both public and private models emerging worldwide. Last week WavePoolMag compared two private Saö Paulo private surf clubs in Brazil whose fees range roughly between $140,000 and $190,000.
Crest’s model differs by offering a strictly private facility without public access. “It’s a country club, but for surfing,” the company said in promotional material.
Expansion Plans Across the U.S. and Abroad
Crest broke ground last year and now anticipates opening in spring 2026. The company expects to finalize funding by summer 2025. It has also announced plans to open as many as 20 additional clubs across the United States, including in California, Florida, Arizona, Texas, and the Carolinas according to MSN. International locations under consideration include the Caribbean and Central America.
Residential Surf Parks Offer Alternative Model
While Crest promotes its standalone model, other surf-focused developments have integrated wave pools into residential real estate. WavePoolMag has been closely following the Cabo Real Surf Club project, where homes are priced starting at $2.5 million. That project uses Endless Surf wave technology.
While the first wave pools for surfing strictly followed a turnstile, or stand-alone model, many new projects are now using a club model.
