It’s hard work, but someone’s got to do it. Photo: Wave Park
You’re likely aware by now that South Korea is getting a wave pool. Not just any wave pool, either; it’s part of the “world’s largest wave park.”
It’s a massive project called the Siheung Surf Park on the Turtle Island development, about an hour south of Seoul. It’s reported to have cost a half billion euros and includes a hotel, convention center, marina, and of course, the wave pool. When it’s all done, the people in charge of the project are hoping to attract up to two million visitors each year.
Wave Park is just a few days away from opening, so Wavegarden technicians have been working hard to fine-tune the wave menu. It’s tough work, but someone’s got to test the waves, so Eneko Merino, one of the best mechanics there is, had a go at the left barrel a few days ago.
Since COVID-19 made things a little difficult for travelers, international surfers had a hard time getting there. There’s a mandatory 14-day quarantine, but despite that, a few Wavegarden technicians bit the bullet and headed to South Korea. Like Kai Odriozola, a 14-year-old surfer from the Basque Country and his brother Hans Odriozola, who is 12. The pair joined Eneko to test out the right-hand barrels, and if the video is anything to go by, that hope for two million visitors doesn’t seem like such a big ask.
