The wave pool war...

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CMC
CMC
QLD
3954 posts
CMC CMC
QLD, 3954 posts
28 Oct 2011 5:08pm
Not sure if you guys have noticed but there is a war happening. 2 separate companies have just about perfected the wave pool.

Watch them both, very similar. The first war will be who gets to market 1st, the 2nd war will be in the patent case. Full US patents already apply to Webber wave pools.

Either way, these things look amazing and are closer to reality than ever before.



www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=130286727076067
tha dogman
tha dogman
NSW
2912 posts
NSW, 2912 posts
28 Oct 2011 7:09pm
totally epic
Gorgo
Gorgo
VIC
5124 posts
VIC, 5124 posts
28 Oct 2011 7:25pm
wow!

It's kind of scary to imagine all these surfers coming out of an environment where they can build their skills from endless practice. You could dial up a simulation of any competition break then work on a few hundred late takeoffs.

IOr for old farts like us, no more swimming laps or jogging. Personal trainers working on our stroke technique and pop to feet.

It would have to have transparent sides so people could watch the waves go by. Board designers could video their hull bottoms as they go around and around and around ...

As an aside, naval architects rock! There has been a massive revolution in paraglider design in the last couple of years and the guy leading that charge is a naval architect. How cool would it be to make wingie-shaped, streamlined stuff then go and play with it in the wave pool, or by the prawn trawler or on the speed course, or in the Himalayas (think Hydroptere).
robdog
robdog
VIC
611 posts
VIC, 611 posts
28 Oct 2011 7:35pm
With the circular pool my concerns are:-
Current building up to eventually run at same speed as wave.
Sidewash from the sides of the pool building up and interfering with surface conditions.

There's 1000's of spots around the coastline of Australia where nature provides the energy to generate the waves, it's just that the bottom conditions are not conducive to creating a perfect or near perfect wave shape.

I'm a proponent of the artificial reef though I can see the inland pools having their place too.

CMC
CMC
QLD
3954 posts
CMC CMC
QLD, 3954 posts
28 Oct 2011 8:21pm
Robdog, you are onto it. I spoke to Greg a while back and one of their challenges was creating an anti current equal to the forwards force of the wave effectively holding the pool still. They fixed it, the people they have are geniuses working on this stuff. There are 2 waves off each hull that spins around an they have even designed it so that there is no whitewater on the 2nd wave.

Endless barrels infinitely!

After a trip to Indo and surfing mechanical waves your surfing goes through the roof. These pools will not only breed more surfers more quickly but allow design, materials and what is possible on a wave to be tested and blown through the roof. It could sound sensationalistic but IMHO these pools will change surfing more than anything before them. They could be in the middle of India or China and breed whole new markets.

It sure is gonna get crowded at real beaches but eh?
shimmyshazbo
shimmyshazbo
QLD
251 posts
QLD, 251 posts
28 Oct 2011 8:29pm
i'm wondering what it will be like to not have to watch the swell, wind and tide reports constantly. to not have to drive 100's of k's chasing waves. i won't have to get up early to beat the onshore or catch one more because the light has gone. i'll probably be at work on time, won't leave early and have loads of sick leave up my sleeve. i'll take holidays in places like texas and toronto. i'll have massive legs, skinny arms and be so pasty i'm transparent. i'll forget how to duckdive, what salt water feels like and the feeling of spray on my face. bogans will tell me about their 10 second barrels after they've only been surfing for 6 months. we'll all be trying to beat the wave centre record for the longest wave, longest barrel, biggest hack and highest punt (all measured by the second, cubic centimetre and micrometer and shown on plasma screens). i'll probably surf a couple of times a month. locals will have to get their postcode tatts changed if they don't have a wave centre in their area and we won't have to pay top dollar to live close to the beach. the world tour will have a pool stop, somewhere like toowoomba.
don't get me wrong i'm keen to ride these things but the world of surf is going to be very different.
CMC
CMC
QLD
3954 posts
CMC CMC
QLD, 3954 posts
28 Oct 2011 8:34pm
I like doing the stuff in your post Shimmy. I hope they are so good it's like the mountains and everyone heads for the park and leaves the back country alone. I'll be in the back country somewhere..... I'm excited, but I just wonder what happens of these things end up everywhere.
chrispychru
chrispychru
QLD
7932 posts
QLD, 7932 posts
28 Oct 2011 8:37pm
this will be a good debate let me win lotto and i will build a wave pool by the beach and all breezers are invited
teatrea
teatrea
QLD
4177 posts
QLD, 4177 posts
28 Oct 2011 8:41pm
I wonder how much a barrel will cost?the best thing about surfing is its free!
Nothing compares to the real deal!.Dont fancy standing in line for 3 hours to catch a few waves , ever been to wet & wild.
CMC
CMC
QLD
3954 posts
CMC CMC
QLD, 3954 posts
28 Oct 2011 8:45pm
teatrea said...

I wonder how much a barrel will cost?the best thing about surfing is its free!
Nothing compares to the real deal!.Dont fancy standing in line for 3 hours to catch a few waves , ever been to wet & wild.


There will be 8 waves rotating permanently. If you don't fall off you could get 1 wave that gave you more time than in month of surfing beachbreaks. The numbers, facts and figures are on webber wave pools site. They cost them pretty cheaply, cheap enough for a housing estate like say Casuarina to have a private one for people that live in the estate.
teatrea
teatrea
QLD
4177 posts
QLD, 4177 posts
28 Oct 2011 9:01pm
CMC said...

teatrea said...

I wonder how much a barrel will cost?the best thing about surfing is its free!
Nothing compares to the real deal!.Dont fancy standing in line for 3 hours to catch a few waves , ever been to wet & wild.


There will be 8 waves rotating permanently. If you don't fall off you could get 1 wave that gave you more time than in month of surfing beachbreaks. The numbers, facts and figures are on webber wave pools site. They cost them pretty cheaply, cheap enough for a housing estate like say Casuarina to have a private one for people that live in the estate.


Pretty cheaply , i guess it depends on your definition of cheap. Anyways i would pay to have a goOnce
chrispychru
chrispychru
QLD
7932 posts
QLD, 7932 posts
28 Oct 2011 9:09pm
teatrea said...

CMC said...

teatrea said...

I wonder how much a barrel will cost?the best thing about surfing is its free!
Nothing compares to the real deal!.Dont fancy standing in line for 3 hours to catch a few waves , ever been to wet & wild.


There will be 8 waves rotating permanently. If you don't fall off you could get 1 wave that gave you more time than in month of surfing beachbreaks. The numbers, facts and figures are on webber wave pools site. They cost them pretty cheaply, cheap enough for a housing estate like say Casuarina to have a private one for people that live in the estate.


Pretty cheaply , i guess it depends on your definition of cheap. Anyways i would pay to have a goOnce


once might be all it takes until your hooked on it
shimmyshazbo
shimmyshazbo
QLD
251 posts
QLD, 251 posts
28 Oct 2011 10:04pm
i wonder what happens if someone riding the wave in front of you falls off. will they end up in the way? what happens to their board? does it just keep going round and round?
also, looking forward to teahupoo tuesday at my local wave centre.
OG SUP
OG SUP
VIC
3516 posts
VIC, 3516 posts
28 Oct 2011 11:16pm
The cost of running these sysyems can be quite economical if they use trigeneration reciprocating gas generators.

The gas is used to generate the electricity to drive the wave pool, the exhaust gas heat is used to heat the pool and the water jacket waste heat is used to power an absorbtion chiller which runs the airconditioning / temperature control for the centre. Walk in the wave park!

I believe the 1st system is planned for a site in southern QLD

Phill
Chopz
Chopz
WA
147 posts
WA, 147 posts
28 Oct 2011 8:18pm
As long as everyone wears a leggy there shouldnt be any dramas
Gorgo
Gorgo
VIC
5124 posts
VIC, 5124 posts
29 Oct 2011 12:10am
teatrea said...

I wonder how much a barrel will cost?the best thing about surfing is its free!
Nothing compares to the real deal!.Dont fancy standing in line for 3 hours to catch a few waves , ever been to wet & wild.


Surfing is not free. It costs at least $30 for fuel to get down the coast for a wave (from Melbourne). Heaps more if you buy property near the surf.

I agree the standing in line could be a pain. But, if you can get a mid-week half hour of waves for $25 to keep you match fit then you will be ripping in the real surf.

I'm thinking they could do tow ins or paddle ins, depending in what you want to practice for the day.
laceys lane
laceys lane
QLD
19804 posts
QLD, 19804 posts
28 Oct 2011 11:28pm
i can't explain it , but i feel real uneasy about this if the calls being made are right.


it could be the biggest mistake surfing has ever made!!!!!!!!.

do we have to control everything. what about a circular down wind and swell pool!!!!!!!

personally, i reckon just leave it to huey
teatrea
teatrea
QLD
4177 posts
QLD, 4177 posts
28 Oct 2011 11:55pm
OG SUP said...

The cost of running these sysyems can be quite economical if they use trigeneration reciprocating gas generators.

The gas is used to generate the electricity to drive the wave pool, the exhaust gas heat is used to heat the pool and the water jacket waste heat is used to power an absorbtion chiller which runs the airconditioning / temperature control for the centre. Walk in the wave park!

I believe the 1st system is planned for a site in southern QLD

Phill



Gas aint cheap in QLD , next year likely to go up as much as 30%.Sound like a perpetual motion machine
mooty
mooty
56 posts
56 posts
28 Oct 2011 9:59pm
Yuck.

I got into SUP because it offered me a chance to surf in little waves up here in Nth QLD. Since getting into it, I've found a brethren of surfing folks from different backgrounds and we all enjoy getting out and enjoying a sunrise or a catching a wave with a dolphin. And sometimes catching a glimpse of a croc go by. The thing is, we are living in a region of crap surf but still make the most of nature to find some fun. SUP has opened opportunities for this style of surfing lifestyle.

The greatest aspect of surfing/windsurfing/kite-riding/SUPping is that we ADAPT our instruments to enjoy the energy of the ocean in diverse conditions. Energy-driven machines will see the end of the ideals of our sport, I'm afraid.

This is sad.
CMC
CMC
QLD
3954 posts
CMC CMC
QLD, 3954 posts
29 Oct 2011 6:54am
I doubt a wave pool will affect anybody's ability to surf how and when they like. It's just another option isn't??

The only real issue is that while initially it will help remove crowds from waves with a park nearby that it could help people to improve faster and create further competition for the best waves at any given break.
Adapt
Adapt
QLD
723 posts
QLD, 723 posts
29 Oct 2011 7:18am
If and when this takes off, it will definately be the best opportunity for the ISA to get surfing to the olympics one day.

There are always positives and negatives to man made things. For the real surfer who surfers due to the love of the ocean, he/she will still keep on doing this and stay away from a wave pool (I'm guessing like you Lacey) and the person that wouldn't normally surf because of what ever reason (Sharks, fear of the ocean, geographical location, etc) would possibly try the sport and be hooked.

I can see the benefits and the negatives, for me I'd try it at least once to say I had a go, but I love the unpredictability of the ocean to much regardless of the temptation of perfect waves.
HumanCartoon
HumanCartoon
VIC
2098 posts
VIC, 2098 posts
29 Oct 2011 8:25am
I can see one of these appearing soon in Dubai or Abu Dhabi (complete with refrigerated water )
shimmyshazbo
shimmyshazbo
QLD
251 posts
QLD, 251 posts
29 Oct 2011 7:59am
Adapt said...

If and when this takes off, it will definately be the best opportunity for the ISA to get surfing to the olympics one day.

There are always positives and negatives to man made things. For the real surfer who surfers due to the love of the ocean, he/she will still keep on doing this and stay away from a wave pool (I'm guessing like you Lacey) and the person that wouldn't normally surf because of what ever reason (Sharks, fear of the ocean, geographical location, etc) would possibly try the sport and be hooked.

I can see the benefits and the negatives, for me I'd try it at least once to say I had a go, but I love the unpredictability of the ocean to much regardless of the temptation of perfect waves.


i can see it now. 56 year old kelly slater 10 time olympic gold medalist.

shimmyshazbo
shimmyshazbo
QLD
251 posts
QLD, 251 posts
29 Oct 2011 8:04am
just another thought, if you learned to surf in a wave pool and then decided to take your skills to the beach you'd still be crap because you wouldn't have a clue about reading waves, rips, duckdiving, hassling for line up position etc. i feel a little better now, the bogans won't steal my waves.
Swanie
Swanie
QLD
1372 posts
QLD, 1372 posts
29 Oct 2011 8:51am
Imagine the speed bumps in front of you????

weiry
weiry
QLD
5396 posts
QLD, 5396 posts
29 Oct 2011 10:07am
Sorry, but you can shove that

Give me the imperfections of the ocean because its perfect
roachy
roachy
NSW
391 posts
NSW, 391 posts
29 Oct 2011 12:14pm
Could be the first time surfing could be considered a sport at the olympics, imagine the grand stand full , surfers on equivalent waves , be a bit like a gymnastic routine . wouldnt need a waiting period , mexican wave happening in the stands , - not really what surfing is about , sponsors would love it though . internet watchers would get constant action , who knows might keep some of the learn to surf dudes at the wave pools .
puffy
puffy
89 posts
89 posts
29 Oct 2011 12:11pm
It's all too much, makes my head hurt!
westbrooke
westbrooke
QLD
11 posts
QLD, 11 posts
29 Oct 2011 6:07pm
I'm bit of a Seabreeze ninja, rarely post here but coming from a wakeboarding background, and experienced the transformation of the sport with Cable water parks around Australia. These parks are fantastic for learning and practicing moves especially rail riding, there is a real sense of community amongst the riders (Cable rats)at these parks. But the best thing is when you finally make that move, your mates are there to see it, and share the stoke.
I believe this is a massive step for surfing and a chance to introduce the sport to land locked countries. However I believe wakeboarding behind a boat with your mates is the best and far superior to riding cable. Getting to the boat ramp at 6am to get the morning glass are the fundamentals and rite of passage of that sport. Just like planning that surf trip with your mates, or trawling the internet for the weather conditions for the next day. If you want to be considered a surfer you need to be a waterman and not a (Wave rat) when this wave park opens it wont replace conventional surfing, just add another dimension.
Flounder
Flounder
QLD
137 posts
QLD, 137 posts
29 Oct 2011 6:22pm
I was fortunate enough to surf the Ocean DomeWave Pool in Miyazaki in Japan which was regarded as the best one in the world. For the cost of a small car, we had it exclusively at full power for two 3 hour sessions. Everyone involved said it was probably one of the funnest surfing experiences of their lives.

However, it should be noted that this wave pool has since gone bust and the cost of running these things is huge. Been hearing about both the Slater and Webber wave pools for a few years now but they don't seem any closer to reality to me...

Makaha
Makaha
1145 posts
1145 posts
29 Oct 2011 5:40pm
wave pools are cool.every sup'er who has no surf knowledge should enroll before they get their L plates and add to the kook list.
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