Sebastian Zietz testing the Wavegarden wares, coming soon to New Zealand. Photo: Wavegarden
There’s already plenty of surf in New Zealand, but rumor has it that soon there may also be a wavepool. And not just any old wave pool. A heated wave pool, which must be especially exciting for those colder-water surfers. Sir John Kirwan (the All Black rugby star, mental health advocate, and lifelong surfer), Aventuur (the company with some of the best wave pool tech), and Wavegarden (the Spanish engineering company with seven other wave pools worldwide), have teamed up to bring the first-ever heated wave pool to “the land of the long white cloud.”
Though wave pools have actually been around for quite some time, the technology for wave pools is advancing exponentially. Wavegarden currently makes some of the most advanced and technically modern designs in wave pool technology, allowing for a greater number of high quality waves to be ridden. This particular wave pool will reportedly generate 600 waves per hour.
Apparently, there are two major reasons for bringing a wave pool to the Kiwis: the post-Covid economy could use a boost in New Zealand and wave pools make it a lot easier for athletes to train. And some New Zealanders have Olympic dreams.
If and when the park gains approval — and it is on the “fast-track consideration” by the Ministry of Environment — it is scheduled to be built in the Dairy Flat area near Silverdale sometime in 2026. The park creators are hopeful it will attract a lot of tourists and local New Zealanders alike. Kirwan explained that the pool will be heated with the help of a seven hectare solar farm.
“We anticipate that we’ll be able to run the lagoon temperature higher than other similar pools around the world,” he told Stuff. “Anybody who has surfed in New Zealand in the winter will be stoked to hear that news. Nobody else in the world has done this in this way and we’re especially proud of this innovation. It means users of the park will gain the benefit of surfing in not just a safe environment, but also literally a warm and welcoming one.”
In addition to having a heated lagoon, the park will also boast state-of-the-art facilities including a surf academy, a gym, eco-cabins, and a recovery center, making it the complete package for athletes looking to hone their craft and gain a competitive edge. Perhaps for these reasons, the park has also gained the approval of several pro surfers, including Paige Hareb, Billy Stairmand, Kehu Butler, and Ricardo Christie.
Last week, we saw the media explode with drama and opinions over the Surf Ranch Pro. No matter how you feel about contests being held at wave pools, man made waves themselves are groomed to perfection. In other words, a perfect training ground for competitive surfers. Let’s hope the Kiwis get their wave pool. Then again, maybe not, depending on who you want to win the Olympics!
