I’ve gone night surfing once. Or before dawn surfing, rather. The idea was simple: I had to work early and the waves were supposed to be pumping, so I went a half hour before sunrise to be the first in the water and get a few waves before commuting to the office. It wasn’t fun. Even though the moon was out and lights from the boardwalk created a bit of a glow on the water, I had zero depth perception, and could hardly see approaching waves before they broke right on top of me. Not recommended.
Some rave about surfing at night near illuminated piers and under full moons as a way to escape the crowds. To which I find myself wondering if it were truly a solution to crowds during the day, why wouldn’t more people be doing it?
Wave pools have collectively been celebrated for their potential to put progressive surfing on the fast track, which may be true in more ways than one. Consistent waves means more repetition, but also it’s not hard to imagine developers lighting up their facilities in the evening to maximize profit.
The proof may be in this little night surfing extravaganza that Wavegarden recently hosted at their R+D facility in the Basque countryside. Step into the future.
