We all know the benefits of surfing for mental and physical health, but much of that understanding is more hunch than research-based. It comes from the post-session glow we know and love, the high that keeps us coming back. But new research on surf therapy at inland wave pools has now packed some important numbers to back up that sensation.
A study of Surf Therapy programs in the United Kingdom found significant improvements in young people’s wellbeing, self-belief, perseverance, pride in achievements and connection to others at coastal locations and inland wave pools. The evaluation analyzed data from 360 young people participating in six-week programs at 22 coastal beach sites and two inland wave pools during the 2025 delivery season.
The inland programs were delivered by The Wave Project at The Wave in Bristol and Lost Shore Surf Resort in Edinburgh. All five measured outcomes improved significantly from the beginning to the end of the programs in both settings. Four of the five measures showed no statistically significant difference in the amount of improvement between coastal and inland locations.
Wellbeing, measured using the WHO-5 index, increased by 20.1 points at beach locations and 10.6 points at inland wave pools. The increase was significantly greater at beach locations.
Self-belief, perseverance, pride in achievements and connection to others showed no statistically significant difference in improvement between the two settings. Among measures of participants’ experience, friendship was the only measure with a statistically significant difference.
“What the research shows is that, while coastal and inland settings aren’t identical, young people experienced significant positive outcomes in both,” said Ramon Van de Velde, CEO of The Wave Project. “At a time when children’s mental health services are under enormous pressure, we need to think creatively about where preventative support can be delivered. Blue spaces, including inland surf facilities, have the potential to play a huge role in wellbeing. Our vision is that every child and young person who could benefit from The Wave Project’s support can access it. This research gives us an important foundation for exploring how we can make that vision a reality, reaching more young people in more places.”
The Wave Project has worked with The Wave in Bristol since 2020 and Lost Shore in Edinburgh since 2024.
“We’re incredibly proud to have been the first inland surfing destination to partner with The Wave Project, when we started working together in 2020,” said Julian Topham, CEO of The Wave. “What began as a trial has grown into an incredible long-term partnership, which has made a huge difference to young people who can’t access Surf Therapy at the coast.”
Lost Shore founder Andy Hadden previously volunteered with The Wave Project at Dunbar.
“This research is hugely encouraging because it shows significant positive outcomes for young people taking part in Surf Therapy in inland wave pools as well as at the coast,” said Andy Hadden, founder of Lost Shore Surf Resort. “We see that impact at Lost Shore: in the confidence young people build, the connections they make and the sense of achievement that comes from doing something they may never have thought possible.”
Lost Shore won a Surf Park Summit award this year in recognition of surf parks creating lasting community impact through youth programs, regional partnerships, inclusive participation, workforce development and surf therapy.
In 2025, The Wave Project delivered its six-week Surf Therapy program at Lost Shore to 62 young people ages 8 to 18, with each participant receiving one-to-one support. Weekly Surf Club sessions provided more than 400 hours of continuing support, while Lost Shore’s inland location allowed the charity to accept referrals from Glasgow, Lanarkshire, West Lothian and parts of inner-city Edinburgh that it previously could not reach.
