After leaving a career in finance, American surfer SJ has spent the past year surfing at breaks across California, Central America and Indonesia. Her latest stop is Wave Park in Siheung, South Korea, where she is participating in SurfAid’s 30-Day Make A Wave challenge.
Wave Park, which claims to be the largest artificial surf lagoon in Asia, spans 220 by 240 meters. Located on Turtle Island, about an hour from Seoul, the park includes beginner zones, professional lifeguards, and family-oriented facilities, according to its operators.
SJ, whose family is from Korea, said the trip carries personal significance.
“Although my family is from Korea, I didn’t get the chance to visit often while growing up in the States and always dreamt of spending extended time in Korea to reconnect with my roots,” she said.
“So when I learned about the Wave Park and realized that I could combine two of the most important aspects of my life (surfing and Korean culture), I knew it was a trip I had to make happen.”
The wave pool in Siheung-Si has become a hub for Korean surfers from all three sides of the peninsula.
“Over the last couple of months here, I’ve loved witnessing the strength of the Korean surfing community – there are so many talented and passionate surfers here that are completely dedicated to the sport, even in a country that doesn’t always have a ton of waves. It’s been inspiring to be able to surf here everyday alongside the local community and I’m so thankful to have discovered this side of Korea that I never knew.”
SurfAid’s 30-Day Surf Challenge
SJ is documenting her time at the surf park as part of the Make A Wave initiative, a SurfAid and Rip Curl collaboration. The campaign encourages participants to surf every day in September while raising funds for communities in remote surfing regions. Many participants have chosen wave pools to facilitate their daily sessions. According to SurfAid, proceeds support access to clean water, medical care, and education.
Her daily video updates highlight her surf progression as well as her experiences at what the park promotes as one of the world’s most advanced wave pools.
