Mystery technology to transform pool from the cult classic “The North Shore”…

Instagram has become a wire news service for surfing. Hot on the heels of Kalani Robb posting buddy Cheyne Magnusson counting off steps in an empty pool, the surf world salivated at the prospect of a secret new pool.

Secret because it wasn’t announced through the usual main channels, that is the wave developers. Each time Wavegarden inks a deal for a new Cove project, the world hears about it through their press arm. When Surf Lakes, American Wave Machines and Webber solidify a new project, we get YouTube clips and press releases. Not this time.

The pool builders are hungry to grow interest in their product. Interest stokes investors and leads to more projects breaking ground. Which is why news of the Palm Springs pool was a bit of an anomaly. A further plot twist includes the debut of a potentially new wave-making technology.

While we chase down the full story, we’ll share what we do know at this time.

Announced to the public through Robb’s Insta feed with the announcement, “Yes @redtide83 (Cheyne Magnusson) & I own a Wavepool and Yes u are all invited.”

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Yes @redtide83 & I own a Wavepool and Yes u are all invited 👨🏻‍🎓

A post shared by Kalani Robb (@kalanirobb) on Jan 17, 2019 at 3:53pm PST

What we do know

In an interview Stab Magazine Cheyne said the new project will be in Palm Springs at the Wet’n’Wild Waterpark. The facility’s Riptide Reef attraction is the same pool used in the movie “The North Shore”.

“Thank you for a great 2018 season!” the company states on their website. “We Will Be Closed in 2019 for Exciting Renovations!”

What those renovations are and how they will come about are a bit murky. But we do know that Kalani Robb offered up in the STAB interview that they have a big conglomerate of core surfers backing the project. So much support in fact that they purchased the pool and the entire water park.

What we don’t know

Cheyne goes on to tell us that the new wave-generating technology is top secret for now. All he would confess is that it’s “different” and quite a complicated feat of engineering.

He should know. Magnusson spent hours in the Texas heat tweaking and refining the American Wave Machines technology at the BSR Surf Ranch. He synced the timing of the machine to produce an air section and created the various skill level settings.

The Palm Springs pool is similar in size to the BSR Surf Ranch if a bit smaller. Cheyne says this is not as big of a hurdle as one might think. He poses that bottom contour plays a huge role in producing quality artificially generated waves.

Cheyne left BSR to pursue this opportunity and will be part owner along with Robb. Should all go according to plan, the new park will open in 2020. Worth mentioning is that both Surf Lakes and Wavegarden have plans for Southern California wave pools as well. Wavegarden stated last month that another desert community, Coachella, will host a full-size Cove (roughly 155m x 155m)

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There’s no better place to spend your #sundayfunday! It’s perfect water park weather!! #sunsoutfunsout #wetnwildps #palmsprings #coolestplaceintown

A post shared by Wet ‘n’ Wild Palm Springs (@wetnwildps) on Jun 25, 2017 at 12:25pm PDT

The development

Robb stated that the pool will tap Palm Springs’ party atmosphere. How that will look when the doors open in 2020 is a big, wonderful mystery but a key piece in the wave pool’s business model. For years

Wavegarden has been leaking out night surfing clips of their facilities. BSR, Typhoon Lagoon and Sunway Lagoon have all hosted after-dark parties. We’re stoked to see what Robb and Magnusson have in store.

“We want to make a Disneyland for surfing,” Robb said in the interview.

Wet ‘n’ Wild Palm Springs, South Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, CA, USA

•   The Lowdown: Top secret and under wraps wave pool by Cheyne Magnusson and Kalani Robb. 
•   WavePool Construction Progress: Planning stages
•   Accessibility: Not yet built or even open to the public. 
•   Type of wave(s): Knowing Cheyne's penchant for ramps and wedges, expect something similar to Waco.
•   Wave Generating Technology: Totally new invention from Cheyne Magnusson
•   Wave's Technical Information: The pool is a tad smaller than the BSR Surf Ranch and will use the existing outline of the previous Riptide Reef pool at Wet'n'Wild
•   Hours of operation/Seasonal Hours: Unavailable, but we’ll keep you posted
•   Price Breakdown: None yet 
•   Waves per hour: unknown