A year and a half ago I wondered here why, despite the popularity of surfing in Brazil and projects like the Gabriel Medina Institute, formal announcements for planned wave pool developments in Brazil were nigh. I don’t claim to be a savvy businessman by any stretch, but as soon as functioning artificial wave prototypes became a thing, constructing them in a surf-obsessed nation with more lax land use regulations seemed like an eventuality. When I reached out to Wavegarden back then, they hinted at a forthcoming Brazil project but explained they couldn’t comment. Now, it appears what was under wraps then is ready for prime time: the first Brazilian wave pool will be built in Garopaba, just south of Florianópolis and it’s got the ringing endorsement of Gabriel Medina.
According to a Monday release courtesy of Wavegarden, the project will be called Surfland Brasil. A Wavegarden Cove will be the focal point, but the resort will feature skatepark designed by Brazilian skateboarder Pedro Barros, swimming pools, tennis courts, beach tennis, a surf museum, restaurants, jogging track, gym, yoga, and more. Giesta Enterprises, the developer behind the project, is currently selling off “condominium fractions.” A video uploaded by Wavegarden calls these “furnished apartments available through timeshare.”
Developers are selling this project as a boon for the local economy.
“We will create hundreds of jobs, valuing the local workforce,” said Luciano Faraco, Surfland Brasil’s Commercial Director, in a statement. “We are innovative in the format and commercialization of the product, which is based on a fractional ownership system, or shared economy, a trend that has come to stay. Not dissimilar to Airbnb, Uber and Bike Share, estate owners at Surfland Brasil share their assets and divide their costs, so everyone wins.”
Surfland Brasil has swooped up two-time world champ Gabriel Medina as one of the project’s ambassadors. Medina is one of “several elite Brazilian surfers endorsing the project,” according to the release.
“It is very cool that Surfland Brasil is actually happening and soon we will have a Wavegarden Cove here for us Brazilians,” explained Medina in a statement. “It offers perfect waves that allow you to perform all sorts of maneuvers.”
Surfland Brasil’s website offers no details on when the site will open to the public.
