First, it was Metallica’s visit to Lost Shore Surf Resort in July, and just this week, ground zero for the world’s Black Metal scene, Norway, has committed to the Edinburgh surf park as well. Norway’s surfing national governing body, Brettforbundet, has selected Lost Shore Surf Resort in Edinburgh as its National Performance Centre. The governing body has nothing to do with metal – nü or old (that’s just us having fun.) See below for the full presser.
The agreement gives Norway’s national team access to Lost Shore’s wave pool, high-performance facilities and Surf Lab as it develops athletes for international competition and future Olympic pathways.
Norwegian Surfing is the latest national governing body to establish a performance base at Lost Shore. Irish Surfing recently designated the facility as its National Performance Centre for Surfing and National Olympic Training Facility. Norway’s national team has already trained at Lost Shore, where coaches can provide feedback to athletes from the side of the wave pool between waves.
“We saw a considerable amount of progress from our athletes in the short time we were at Lost Shore,” said Scott Erlandsen, Head Coach of Norwegian Surfing. “For our athletes, we were able to make real progress in areas including technique, advancing specific manoeuvres and barrel riding.”
“For me, the main point of difference is the instantaneous feedback,” added Erlandsen. “The athletes can surf a wave and, as they paddle back out to the peak, we can give them direct feedback immediately. Being able to speak to them while they are waiting for their next wave ensures they remember what they need to do and brings a whole new level of communication that isn’t quite possible when training in the ocean.”
“Having Lost Shore as a National Performance Centre means we have a stable and reliable training facility where we can make significant progress throughout the year,” said Erlandsen. “We know our athletes will get a considerable number of waves and can focus primarily on their surfing, without having to worry about all the additional factors of a traditional line-up. That makes it a very appealing training solution.”
As part of the partnership, Norwegian Surfing will have access to Lost Shore’s Surf Lab, created in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University. The facility uses the controllable environment of the wave pool to support applied research in areas including high-performance surfing.
Lost Shore is located near Edinburgh Airport and has accommodation on site, allowing national teams to train, stay and recover at the facility.
“We’re incredibly proud that Norwegian Surfing has chosen Lost Shore as its National Performance Centre,” said Andy Hadden, Founder of Lost Shore Surf Resort. “Together with our partnership with Irish Surfing, it is a significant endorsement of what we have created here in Edinburgh. Our ambition goes beyond providing world-class waves. We want to build an ecosystem that helps European surfing nations develop their athletes, coaches and performance programmes and ultimately strengthens European surfing on the international and Olympic stage.”
Lost Shore Surf Resort opened in 2024 and is home to Europe’s largest wave pool. The resort combines its wave pool and high-performance facilities with Surf Lab and on-site accommodation.
