Japan is getting a BSR-style wave pool just in time for the Olympics. Photo: BSR Surf Resort
As we know, surfing’s Olympic debut will officially take place in the ocean. As will its second showing that will officially take place in Tahiti. For all intents and purposes, these moves suggest that the International Olympic Committee has largely eschewed advances in artificial wave tech for something more, shall we say, natural for global competition.
But, in a move that feels very much like a spurned lover showing the IOC what it’s missing, the folks at American Wave Machines recently announced a tank (much like BSR Surf Resort in Waco, Texas) is currently under construction about 100 miles from Tokyo in the Japanese beach town of Shizunami.
The project, called Surf Stadium Japan, is scheduled to open in June 2020, just a month before the Olympics, and will apparently serve as a facility for “competitive training” and to foster the growth of the local surf community. If all goes according to plan, it’s easy to foresee national squads booking a few private days to keep their teams loose for the big dance.
“Surf Stadium Japan will offer international surf teams the opportunity to train in an environment that closely mimics ocean conditions with natural sets at similar wave and set frequencies found in the ocean,” said American Wave Machines CEO Bruce McFarland. “Surfing will be on the world stage in Japan. AWM is extremely honored to work with the visionaries at Surf Stadium Japan and participate in the growth of the local and global surf community.”
