Toob for you, toob for me!
Wavepools, they’re everywhere.
It’s honestly hard to keep track of all the different sites and techs available today. Whether or not they’re functional, whether they look fun to ride.
The most recent uptake in wave pools started with Wavegarden’s Snowdonia a few years back. It was a small, long, rippable right-and-left-hander, depending upon which side of the median you’d chosen. Albee Layer won a contest there but then I think it shut down due to mechanical issues.
Then came Kelly’s pool. It was leagues better than anything we’d ever seen, maybe even believed possible. Head high-ish and with the possibility of a 20+ second barrel. So how would Wavegarden respond? Most importantly, would they be able to make a human-sized toob?
Well, a year-and-a-half later, they finally dropped this:
The trailer above looks at Wavegarden’s newest tech — something they call “The Cove”. The full release will happen in a few days, but let’s talk about what we’ve learned from the teaser.
The water: it looks like the same combination of water, chlorine and piss that you’d find at the local water park. I’m not entirely sure why, but to me this is a turn off. I’ll take Slater’s chocolate pits over this blatant falsity any day.
The surfer: Who the fuck is that? I mean, he can surf, but how hard could it be to get a recognizable face behind your product? You only get one chance at a first impression, and I’d consider this one blown. Imagine if it were John John! Oh Kelly, he’d’a been livid.
The wave: It’s honestly tough to tell. When we first saw Kelly’s wave, it was from a “beach” angle, which told us everything we needed to know about size, shape, and length. This clip is mostly water shots of chest high tubes and turns, so it’s hard to call. Something tells me it’s a little smaller and not quite as perfect as Kelly’s joint. Still looks hell fun.
The upside: according to Wavegarden, The Cove can produce 1,000 waves in an hour. This shatters Slater’s pool and creates a truly profitable business platform. Also they can apparently make rights and lefts, plus control wave shape. Pretty revolutionary stuff going on over there.
P.S. Kelly and Wavegarden: I’m free whenever to test both waves and give an honest review! You know, for the people.
This shit looks whack. The goofy camera angle and shitty editing is an obvious attempt to overhype what it actually is; a smaller, crappier version of slaters pool.
Why isn’t anyone making a wave pool like slaters except a bigger wave? Like three times bigger. Just scale that shit up. I’m gathering it might be because it’s not economically viable. But some would pay big dollars to get a heaving standup toob, even it is man made. Quality over quantity damnit.
Wonder if localism will take off in a kook pond?
1000 waves an hour equates to 3.75sec wave period….
Fuck that.
The tour crew wouldn’t be allowed Mike. Star in a WSL competing technology? Imagine the tongue lashing from KP.
Noah “fuck the WSL” Deane, though. Opportunity missed.
This is getting good.
Same tube from 3 angles?
That really would have been epic if JF was in the test vid. Slater would have shit his $500 outerknown jeans.
What is this? A pool for ants? How are we expected to teach kids to get barrelled if they can’t even fit in the barrell?
Who cares? Where’s the Fletcher interview?
I was under the impression that wave pools would have more of a negative impact on the wetsuit, booties and gloves market.
Yes it should have been JJF. Where is part 2 of Christian Fletcher interviewing you?
Patience!