The joke goes that all the Aussies with a penchant for black clothing and Nick Cave left their respective hometowns and high-tailed it for Melbourne. Australia’s second-largest city is an enticing bouillabaisse of alternative lifestyles and multiculturalism fueled by the belief that diversity builds a better world. Surfing, despite the sport’s peace-loving neo-hippie branding, has done very little to follow Melbourne’s lead.

“I don’t think the sport will ever be welcoming, except at the entry-level,” Encyclopedia of Surfing Author Matt Warshaw told us. “We’re all frustrated from lack of waves. We all want more than we get, this is the default condition of being a surfer. But it is so much better to be out there when the tight faces are NOT all guys.”

Just 90 minutes away from ground zero of the surf industry (Rip Curl & Quiksilver started in nearby Torquay) sits URBNSURF Melbourne which has become part of the shift in creating a safe, supportive space for those underrepresented in the surfing community.

Last year the wave pool hosted more than 120 surf experiences and live performances to unite diverse communities from across Victoria as part of its commitment to inclusivity and community-building. The surf park partnered with Surfing Australia’s First Nations High Performance Program and collaborated with organizations such as Access Adventures, What Ability, and We Rock the Spectrum to offer adaptive recreation for people with disabilities.

Weekly surf therapy sessions were also conducted in partnership with Waves of Wellness to promote positive mental health. Additionally, local schools and community groups were invited to participate in ocean awareness and water safety experiences.

“By celebrating and promoting diversity, URBNSURF aims to foster a surfing environment where everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels welcome,” said URBNSURF National Events and Partnerships Manager Angus Johnston. “The program also seeks to reduce barriers to participation and create a safe, supportive space for individuals who might not traditionally see themselves represented in the surfing community.”

And this is where wave pools excel. They provide a controlled, safe environment where everyone in the pool is part of the event. The result is that individuals from various backgrounds can participate in surfing with like-minded and supportive people.

“URBNSURF’s Diverse Surf program harnesses this advantage to create a welcoming space where newcomers, including those from under-represented communities, feel comfortable joining and learning in a supportive atmosphere,” said Angus.

The surf park added that their programs that focused on inclusivity and community-building have been met with strong support and enthusiasm.

“Since opening in January 2020, URBNSURF has expanded its offerings in this space, building up its female surfing community through Girl Girls URBNSURF and developing strong relationships with community partners,” said Angus. “The Girls Go URBNSURF initiative has grown female participation from 17% to peaking in summer at 35%.”

Victoria’s What Ability Foundation works to unlock experiences for people living with a disability or diminished capacity and their families. The organization says their vision is to create an inclusive community across Australia. To work toward this goal the company joined URBNSURF for a day out program.

“Our participants and Foundation families really enjoyed their day out playing in the water, showing off their surfing skills and meeting some incredible athletes,” said Denzil Begley, Foundation Coordinator at What Ability.

And as wave pools continue to flourish and as surf parks open up around the world, it appears more groups like What Ability will be able to use wave pools to serve their members – which will have a ripple effect as more marginalized communities seek to enjoy surfing.

Already, The Wave Bristol hosts adaptive surf events and training as well as events that boost the mental and physical health of marginalized young people. SkudinSurf in New Jersey recently ran a program to help those with post-traumatic stress disorder while wave technology company EpicSurf has won awards for accessibility.

And in the future, many years down the line? Matt Warshaw predicts that lineups will eventually become more inclusive as more people take up the sport.

“The alpha male lineup is not a thing of the past, exactly, but it is less alpha with each passing year, and this ongoing trend is the best thing to happen to surfing since we zipped into our ‘rubber jackets’ way back when and decided that being warm was better than being cold.”