Just over a week ago, the only application of Wavegarden’s Cove technology that was actually pumping out waves sat nestled in the company’s research and development facility in the hills of the Spanish Basque Country. Now, there are two facilities pumping out surf with plans to open to the public very soon: The Wave located in Bristol, U.K. and now URBNSURF in Melbourne, Australia.
If you didn’t know any better, you’d swear that the facilities were one and the same – a pier-like structure bisects two separate pools that consistently produce mirror-image peeling left and right-handers. The key difference being the weather and the foliage (or lack thereof) in the periphery. In typical English fashion, videos from The Wave are marked by a characteristic fall haze whereas the first photos and videos emerging from URBNSURF in Melbourne show nothing but blue skies. And that’s not a knock on either facility – both are producing highly rippable surf.
According to a press release from URBNSURF, testing is currently underway on a variety of wave types as the place begins to dial in its “wave menu.” Those waves include a user-friendly wave called “Malibu,” “Giros I” and “Giros II,” waves designed to maximize turning potential which aptly translate literally to Turns I and Turns II, and “Tubos” or Tubes, a barreling wave.
“We’re stoked that the first, perfect waves have been pumping at URBNSURF Melbourne, and we can’t wait to welcome guests from Melbourne, Victoria and around Australia to surf and learn with us this Summer,” said Andrew Ross, URBNSURF’s founder, in a press release. “We’ve already created a range of wave types to suit surfers of all abilities, with more to add to the menu over the coming weeks.”
URBNSURF hopes to open to the public in Summer 2020. Australian summer that is.
