Is Dirk Ziff now stuck building a product only his sworn enemy might enjoy if he gets to do it for free?
Just four days ago our great Longtom put the very final nail in the wave pool coffin, declaring the experiment a failed one, writing:
“Kelly boldly claimed wavepools would democratize surfing.
After four years that call looks staler than the August air at Lemoore. The wavepool looks deader than the Dodo. The way out for the WSL?
Remove Surf Ranch from the 2020 schedule, and reinvest in Trestles and Cloudbreak.”
He is, of course, right per the norm but look at yesterday’s piece and you’ll see a vision of Chinese surfing in their newest tank and read below about brave Scotsmen and Scotswomen building one of their own and let’s do that first before postulating rudely.
Wavegarden Scotland said it expects to create up to 130 jobs and generate up to £11 million for the local economy every year.
Andy Hadden, the co-founder of Tartan Leisure Ltd, which is developing Wavegarden Scotland, said: “We are delighted that Wavegarden Scotland has been approved and we can now start work on site to create this wonderful addition to Scotland’s sporting and leisure scene.
“We know that this facility will deliver many benefits for the local community and for Scotland.
“It will be a fantastic destination for locals and tourists alike, and Wavegarden Scotland will offer an amazing opportunity to nurture surfing and sporting talent in this country.
So while Longtom is right, per the norm, and the wavepool is deader than the Dodo it has also come back to life as a new and improved waterslide for people who have very little interest in surfing, surf culture, surf history etc.
Wavegarden, the Basque company quietly rolling out the most user-friendly splash parks, seems to have figured it out properly, grinding directly up against the World Surf League’s vision of high performance surf action. There are many Wavegardens around the world, earning money, plastering smiles across pale faces. There is still only one Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch.
Barreling across Lemoore.
Newbies, shoobies and VALs don’t want technical, intermediate action, they want to play and have fun and “surf” the first time they stand on a brightly colored foam board.
Newbies, shoobies and VALs are, also, now the vast, and growing, majority of surfers.
Which brings me to my very important question. Did co-Waterperson of the Year (2018) Dirk Ziff completely misread the market, imagining that the average man on the ground in Toledo, Ohio wanted to bring his family somewhere they could all get sneaky little tubes for $5,000 dollars per day?
Is co-Waterperson of the Year (2018) Dirk Ziff now stuck building a product only his sworn enemy, the grumpy local, might enjoy if he gets to do it for free?
Much to discuss.
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Ha
That’s a slip de Freud
I would suck to love everyone
this sounds scot-tastic
You can stop running now Chazzzz
“Is co-Waterperson of the Year (2018) Dirk Ziff now stuck building a product only his sworn enemy, the grumpy local, might enjoy if he gets to do it for free?”
hahhahahahhahah.
Let’s see if they adapt and loose the 15 wave an hour plow! Dirk needs to make some quick moves soon or he’ll be left in that same sinking feeling when you don’t make the drop on a $500wave you just shelled out $5000 for a 10 wave all-day session. The wave tank space race continues to be oh so captivating.
well really it’s probably because almost nothing happens in surfing.
If he was smart he would buy a wavegarden or bsr type tech for high volume beginner waves, and pair it at the same park with the pro model at 6 feet that will mash your face into concrete. I agree the train-and-plow model is the least good. I have been saying it, but the plunger at full scale is gonna be good. It’s basically a pile driver with a big cup on it. And if, as Kelly said in an interview with Cheyne Horan recently, they can deal with the water settling issue (which they might be able to by timing the plunger) it could be quite interesting. Kelly is no fool – he made an awesome toy, and sold it to a gullible billionaire.
also, “Tartan Leisure Ltd” evokes some fantastically stylish images in my head. kind of like public image limited, but more repulsive.
You only like me for the kilt that I wear.
I am concerned that if everyone is wearing tarten kilts that they might not be wearing anything under them. Hairy Scotsman. Yuck.
How is this going to be heated? Coal / Nuclear? Surely renewables won’t be working up that way – or may some wind turbines. Or will it just be open for 6 months of the year.
Recycled oil from the deep frying of mars bars.
6 months in Scotland? Unless people are going to wearing 5 mils in the pool and doesn’t Scotland have plenty of actual surf?
It’s inspired me
To register the trademark
Wife Beaters R Us
yes.
i’m going to be there in aug, any chance it’ll be ready then? if so i’d like to play the game how-much-single-malt-do-i-need-to-drink-to-make-this-fun-? currently taking bets
I hope the Scots have more fun at the pool than poor old William Wallace did on the table , played by some bumpkin from NIDA ?
Help
Dirk don’t give a fuk.
find out what the Chinese are charging for a for a spin in their remoore wave lanch.