Wave Pool Mag

In the early days, artificial standing waves struggled for recognition outside of Munich, Germany, and a few niche surf communities. But today’s advanced systems closely replicate the feel of natural river waves. These next-generation wave pools now offer unique advantages that are reshaping how the waterpark industry views artificial waves. Citywave, originally born from Germany’s river-surf scene, has expanded to 20 installations worldwide. To support growth in the U.S. and select territories, citywave® USA was formed and is now backed by legacy venue leader Aquatic Development Group (ADG). With more than 50 years of expertise in water attractions, ADG now oversees CityWave USA, providing in-house engineering, design, manufacturing, and installation. This partnership adds a substantial amount of weight to ADG’s commercial offerings, while creating an entry point for Citywave USA into the world of aquatic attractions. WavePoolMag spoke with Bruce Quay, Chief Operating Officer of ADG, and Andrew Limbocker of CityWave USA to learn what developers can expect as each company expands further into the surf park space.

Julan Topham is used to storms. He’s put on multimillion-dollar festivals, like Boardmasters, for several years and knows that something as wonderful and sublime as rain can make or break an event. He knows that big, expensive productions (which is what a wave pool is, really) are exposed to the whims of the climate, both literally and figuratively. Media outlets pounced on the tumultuous changeover of ownership that closed the gates of Bristol's best-known attraction and left employees and surfers wondering what was to come next. Much of the post-mortem dialogue focused on whether the changeover was some Machiavellian financial maneuver or a simple fiduciary update. We’ve heard from both sides, and there is no middle ground. Which means neither will be happy with whichever story is told. And whichever side you land on, the one undeniable fact is that Julian and Sea Level Wave Company Limited are now the owners of The Wave Bristol surf park. But for us, the real question is, how will Julian run this large, multimillion-dollar facility? We explore this and much more in our latest episode of the WavePoolMag podcast.

Where is Surf Lakes now? According to the company, eight live-wire projects are being developed across several countries. The company relocated its financial headquarters from Australia to the USA in 2024. In 2025, it went full throttle, with an investment agreement with US Capital Global Partners and the appointment of Troy Warfield as CEO. Troy is kind of a business superman, with experience at British Airways, Avis Car Rental, Kimberly-Clark, Topgolf, and other familiar names. This business boullabaise of experience at successful, unrelated to surfing companies around the world, is a good thing as the wave pool industry finds its feet. Drawing from other business wins is what will ensure longevity and success in the space. Join us for some lessons with Troy as he steers the company into the future.

Equal parts promise and postponement, SoCal’s first wave pool benefited from stellar branding and relentless Insta reels from some of the best surfers on earth. And all of this during lockdown. Then, beginning in January 2024, came the endless tease of openings and closings. We learned quite a bit during this podcast with Chance Gaul and James Dunlop, details that can only emerge through conversation. Teasers: We found out that the tech’s been upgraded, the wave menu has more than 200 settings and that their core clientele wants slabs.

What do you do when your wave machine sits idle on a ship for weeks due to a port strike? Blake Hess knows how to handle those challenges. Tune in to hear how he and his team are redefining surf park operations.

What happens when the dream of opening a wave pool becomes a 9-to-5 reality? In his fourth appearance on the WavePoolMag podcast, Andy Hadden of Lost Shore Surf Resort gives us an unfiltered look at what it really takes to launch and run a surf park. From the bright-eyed optimism of 2019 to the operational fatigue of 2024, we’ve seen every version of Andy. This episode pulls back the curtain on the business side of Lost Shore and the hustle behind artificial wave success.

Do you really need Mick Fanning on board to make your wave pool project successful? You need Mick for the zest and allure that attracts aspiring punters to take the plunge at your facility. And you would be hard-pressed to find a more professional, well-spoken athlete representative who just so happens to also be an investor. In this episode of the WavePoolMag Podcast, we speak with Luke Altschwager, Managing Director of Palm Valley Surf Park, who has partnered up with Mick to build the Gold Coast’s first wave pool. Our discussion covers the project’s current status, including funding milestones, some revised master planning, and wave technology selection (spoiler alert: It’s Endless Surf). Luke also shares unique insights learned from visits to other global surf parks and how mixed-use developments might be the solution for several up-and-coming projects.

Paul Chivers is kind of the opposite of how I expected him to be. For whatever reason, I pictured a nervous, sweaty man constantly looking up at the ceiling for loose acoustic tiles or poorly wired lighting. But he isn't like that. He appears to embrace things with typical Aussie swagger and bravado. Whereas I thought having a neurotic outlook on life would be a job asset when it comes to being a risk facilitator, Paul proved me wrong. In this podcast he tells us that 99.9% of the time, your surf park project team will get it right. However, it's when the randomness of the universe shows up that you need to be prepared. For this reason, there are people like Paul who put things into perspective and break down all the factors of "what could possibly go wrong." Join us on the most neurotic podcast yet on WavePoolMag.

Remember that magical moment in December 2015 when Kelly unveiled his wave pool to the world? In this episode of the WavePoolMag podcast, we dive into the full backstory behind that unforgettable day. We speak with Alex Poirot to learn more about working with Kelly, his first impressions of the now-famous wave, and the significance of that moment in surfing. You'll also hear how Alex and Brett Portero are pioneering an entirely new technology at Crest Surf Clubs.

In this episode, we dive into an educational conversation with Lost Shore's Surf & Hospitality Director Lee Wood. Raised on the rugged Scottish coast and shaped by two decades in Ireland’s surf scene, Lee shares how he built an entire team for the surf park in just four short weeks, customized coaching techniques specific for wave pool conditions, tweaked beginner-friendly settings and heaps more. Plus, you'll find out what Lee looks for in new hires to help guests stay happy. Tune in for a soulful, salty, and entertaining look at Scotland’s surf future.

Before their grand opening, Revel Surf had to get sign-off from agencies who’d never even seen a surf park. What if inspectors expect a flat-bottom pool—but your tech depends on complex, surf-specific bathymetry? Welcome to the world of Matt Gunn, co-inventor of SwellMFG, the wave tech behind Revel Surf. Matt’s classic Californian: chill on the outside, no matter the chaos inside. If he was freaking out over Maricopa County not understanding wave pool bathymetry, he wouldn’t show it. And when Canon Beach breaks ground in Texas on the group’s second project, he’ll face a whole new set of county regs. We caught up with Matt as Revel Surf kicks into high season to see how his nerves are holding up after betting millions—and his brand-new tech—on a single day of inspection. Spoiler: they passed. They’re open and thriving. We also dig into the mechanics behind SwellMFG, Arizona’s budding surf scene, and how to build community around your project.

Does anyone remember those Bartender school commercials they used to run on daytime TV? It was a specific school for a specific task - serving drinks. The wave pool world does not have a university program. Surfing does, but not surf parks. Those who excel in this space tend to have a background cobbled from hospitality, resort and adventure tourism experience. And then there are some people who just have a sensibility that allows them to excel at whatever they decide to apply themselves to. Amy Hunt is such a person. The level of knowledge and moxie to deal with the many layers, nuances and chaos control to run a surf park, Amy has in spades. And this is something I’m finding out as we talk to more wave pool operators around the world. The skills needed aren’t so much about having a wave pool-specific background, although in some years there will be a certificate for that - the skill set combines qualities like unicorn communication abilities along with creative problem solving meshed with hyper attention to detail. I discovered this thread during our conversation with Amy. She learns quickly, cares about the details and works tirelessly. The wave pool at Waco Surf is just one, small component to a 500-acre ranch that includes a cable park, lazy river, water slides, cabins, ponds, an island with lemurs and more. In this conversation we are gifted keen insights as she drills down the details of operation at what is today, America’s favorite surf park.

We were lucky enough to catch Tom Lochtefeld at the RiF010 wave pool in central Rotterdam. Tom shared with us how this unique project came into being and why it took 11 long years to complete.

Bryan talks with Luke Wallace, CEO and Co-Founder of Flowstate, the premium AI-powered camera system reshaping how surf parks capture and deliver video content. Luke explains how Flowstate automates video recording, detects maneuvers like snaps and barrels, enables surf competitions, and enhances the coaching experience. He also shares how the team is expanding from wave pools into snow and beach environments through their mobile broadcast solution.

The machine powering the transformation of German surfing is an Endless Surf 34 caisson wave pool, or ES34 to those in the know. To bring this beast to life, much of the heavy design and programming was done by the talented hands of Clément Ginestet and Axel Terradillos. WavePoolMag wanted to know how the dynamic duo dealt with the stress of bringing a multi-million dollar project to life, as well as how the process of designing a wave pool works. We know that engineers live and breathe CFD models, but what about those little cosmic surprises that occur when the randomness of the universe shows up unexpectedly? In this conversation, Clem and Axel allow us a unique view into the nailbiting debut of the first Endless Surf wave pool.

How do you overhaul the surf experience without disrupting your most loyal riders? What does it take to redesign wave settings that help surfers progress more naturally? And how do you test, tweak, and communicate those changes—all in time for the start of surf season? In this episode of the WavePoolMag podcast, we head to The Wave in Bristol where a major shift has been made: the familiar Waikiki wave is out, and a brand-new "Improver" setting is in. But what exactly changed—and why? Listeners will get a behind-the-scenes look at how The Wave's team approached the challenge, from refining takeoffs to reshaping session flow. Was the change worth it? How did regulars react? And what happens when you ask your own staff to surf for four straight days in freezing water? Tune in to hear the full story behind one of the most ambitious surf setting revamps to date.

In this podcast, we speak with Damon Tudor (former CEO of URBNSURF) and Craig Stoddart (co-founder of The Wave) about their journey and their exciting new Bahrain Surf Park project. Their partnership wasn’t sudden; over six years, they regularly exchanged insights on artificial wave technology, surf school structures, and maintenance systems. Despite operating in different markets — one with a mature surf culture and the other requiring broader appeal — they found common ground. Now, they’re bringing Middle East wave pools to life and ttaking on the challenge of introducing surfing to Bahrain, where half of the 1.5 million population can’t swim.

Mike Goldy’s has spent $15,000 on wave pool sessions. In return he has surfed 15 different wave technologies at 23 different standing and traveling wave pools across eight countries. What is the draw for this wonderful, possibly OCD-afflicted human? Is it the good vibes in the lineup, the guaranteed waves, the pumping soundtracks and close proximity to high-end coffee beverages? In this episode Mike shares what it’s like to be surf-obsessed in Baltimore and how that has led to his current mission - to surf as many wave pools as possible.

We learned about AllWaves last year on a visit to Belgium with Blair Conklin and crew in tow. During our visit, we saw firsthand the wave pool’s potential, documenting the unique circles of swell pumped out by its submerged bouncy pillow wavemaker. Since then, the Instagram-sphere has blown up—not with clips of pros doing amazing airs, but with videos of gentle, perfect, rolling beginner waves. Marie-Laure Clement of AllWaves shares how market demand is shaping the next step for Knokke-Heist’s wave pool technology.

Where do regular people eat in Abu Dhabi? I mean, it can't be a 5-star dining experience for every meal - maybe in the glossy press materials, but not for the average visiting human. But that's how many perceive this place. Former CT surfer Mitch Crews shares what it's like surfing, working and dining on a budget at the world's newest Kelly Slater Wave Co. creation. "My team has become like family to me and they're all, you know, a bunch of crazy surfers from around the globe. And it does feel like an authentic surf trip. I encourage everyone to at least give it a shot because once you've experienced that you know what it's all about. We're pretty proud of what we've done here and hopefully, we'll see many people's faces coming through."