Much dirt has to be shifted for Wavegarden Cove debut…
Four years ago, the former banker Andrew Ross made the bullish promise that there’d be ten wave pools across Australia within a decade.
It would be, it seemed, the greatest act of colonisation by a single entity in Australia since the British waded ashore from their prison hulks in 1788.
In February this year, it was announced that the first of the ten pools, which is being built near Melbourne’s airport, was nearing completion. It would be, promised the Perth-based company URBNSURF, “safe, convenient, accessible and welcoming.”
From the presser:
Major earthworks, civil construction and services installation are now largely complete, and the heart of our 2-hectare surfing lagoon, our next-generation wave generator, has been installed.
We’re now on the final countdown to filling the world’s first full-scale Wavegarden Cove, and for first waves to be breaking around Easter 2019.
Last month, BeachGrit‘s Jazzy P was wandering by and shot a few photos.
What we’re hearing is building a full-sized version of the Cove, the first of its kind in the world and Wavegarden’s return salvo to KSWaveCo and American Wave Machines, ain’t as easy as it seemed on paper.
Tech difficulties etc.
The company says it’s now squaring up for a late-2019 reveal, with the tap getting turned on to fill the lagoon in a couple of weeks.
Interestingly, the co says it’s still on for a Sydney pool, construction beginning early next year for a 2021 open.
Now, an examination of these photos suggests six months or so to go before you’ll get to shred ‘tween flight connections.
Still, it’s happening etc.
Until you ride one!
Can someone fly a drone over?
Heli days at most places in the world are around $1000 a day. Fucked if i’d take 12 waves at kellys over 5 days of the best snowboarding in the world.
I think you have hit on their new byline.
In the south of west Oz Busselton shire has given the go ahead for a private company to install a surf reef at back beach , now that’s real surf fucken news not this pool shit.
Bunbury back beach, I thought
You can fucken have those great bloody huge whites! I’ll take to the pool!
Waiting for Greg Webber to produce a wave pool is like waiting for Tool to release a new album. Only took Tool 13 years, unsure how long it will take Webber. He’s got heaps of cool ideas though….
Except tool deliver masterpieces
I don’t know what the rest of you think.
I can see all sorts of benefits if you were to have one handy but Fucken Hell, that’s just short term me me me me – at the end of the day they’re only there to make some cunt a small fortune and encourage a bunch of new noobs into the ocean.
Like, we haven’t got more than enough already ?
Well fuck the rich dick wacking investors and fuck all noceans.
Just a matter of time before some private wealthy individuals start putting slightly scaled down versions in their backyards also……-what used to be an esoteric somewhat fringe outlaw way of life is now enjoyed? copied, abused, monetized by every flat lander within driving distance…
When ‘everbody’ surfs–will surfing even be cool anymore– or just kinda laughed at. Your wealthy neighbor is gonna score more waves than you…..and he won’t even have to drive to the coast……..What has Slater and Dirk wrought…….
Like surfing is something which is only ‘ours’ – sounding like an entitled prick – you’re just another surfer, we have no greater claim than any late learner
Wow Dirk, sounds like you stepped on some Wana, of course its not only ours, but when people start exploiting it for their personal gain $$ and charging you for waves, that does rub me the wrong way. I’ve actually taken quite a few friends (visitors here) out for their first surf and really enjoyed seeing the stoke on their face.
Don’t wanna pay for a pool wave, then don’t. No one’s making you sure a pool-on the upside, prickly vana types like me will be surfing the pool, so now your entitled ass will at least get some waves in the ocean!!!!
That’s it son drive another one into ya
Melbourne’s so fucking far from consistent surfable coastline. All the regular surfers I know are core enough to dedicate 3 hours for the round trip, plus the surf time. I like it because you’ll be out in the water and everyone’s either local (rural) or a dedicated regular from Melbourne that knows what they’re doing. The VALs don’t last because the hassle outweighs any enjoyment there is in the shitty process that is learning to surf as an adult. They pop up in school holidays but thin out quick, especially when it gets cold.
I’m a bit nervous that this mud pit might allow VALs to keep their dreams alive a little longer, and incentivise others to start. Long live tech difficulties!
But don’t tell me a little pool time don’t excite just a bit…
I’m from the outer South-East so it’s a hard sell when actual coastline is the same distance away. If they built one near me then I’d definitely try put aside my grumpy local-esque skepticism for giddy grom-esque excitement.
Will there be grumpy pool locals who get angry when their pool is overrun when it’s flat by people from the coast who can do better turns than them? Or will coasterers be kooks in the pool, working lamely on air reverses when any halfway decent pool boy can do a rodeo flip?
Most of the ‘core dedicated regulars’ from Melbourne stinking up the lineup every time the surf is half decent certainly think they ‘know what they’re doing’ but have a slightly warped sense of reality. I think the grumpy pool locals can have the pool to themselves if they leave the grumpy ocean locals alone.
Maybe late night summer with beers and mates in a private session if its possible. Reality of driving 1.5 hours from the beach to pay $100 for an hour in a pool with 20 pests breathing down your neck while a life guard barks rules over a megaphone so he can be heard over the hiss of freeway traffic on the other side of the fence… Not so much.
MUD PIT?? I like that!
Five hundreds a wave? It ain’t worth the cash. Fun joint, howevs. Slick as anything.
That’s a lotta blow!
I would suggest that one wave at the KS tank is worth a thousand white snags.
But I could cut it then sell it, then get me a sesh and a little baggy for nada
A businessman!
depends which country you are in when you purchase it
True but still enough for a freak show
Will longtom be openly dealing drugs at Beach Grit High.
Only an excellent gin or tequila. Classy guy.
Byo then
Tongue or shelf?
Never tried tongue
Give it a go spose
Overrated.
Shelving hallucinogens? Have fun squirting out rainbows.
Give some of this fine Tasmanian drop a try Derek. Have it straight with just a drop or two of lime and maybe some ice but best to have it straight. Sensational.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Only after a half a dozen of these
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Chase it with some Kavena https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Amazing how her costume bottom is exactly the same form as the Hawaiian Feather Helmet “Mahiole” ( please correct me if I am wrong ) ? I think I’ll take a six pack of both ….
You can keep those. Yuck.
Softcock
Or just a more acquired taste…..like Tooheys New lol
Tooheys black, mate
For the Hard Core
https://www.google.de/searc…
Christ o mighty, hundred and sixty a bottle. Still, cheaper than the ol Knight Suge.
Its not a volume consuming drink…..have a couple of sundowners over looking the joys in front of Campbell Parade.
Hows the balls on these guys building the biggest ever version of the cove without it ever being tested at this scale? The potential for catastrophic fuck ups is huge. If I was a bored billionaire I’d have already built a copy of Waco and trumped all these guys. Sadly it would be for private use only and you’d have to watch me attempting to perfect my 1 foot high air reverse infinity times.
That’s why it’s airport adjacent. Bail.
It is very bullish yes. I’m not sure why everyone isn’t buying the American Wave Machines tech: it works, it’s fun, it pays. Side story: an Israeli pal is going to build a pool in Tel Aviv or nearby. He just ain’t sold on the Waco model. Considering Wavegarden, KS, even Greg Webber.
I agree The tech behind the AWM would be a lot cheaper and as you say is proven to work. And its not that big of a pool either. It could have fitted into some exisiting infrastructure and hence would been a lot easier and cheaper. Those parks in SEQ have loads of spare space around them. Madness.
Are they selling?
Just a matter of time before some private wealthy individuals start putting slightly scaled down ones in their backyards…….
More importantly is there any news re Surflakes – which is surely Australia’s first wave pool. Maybe this one is Australia’s first Wavepool that will be open to the public. Surflakes have surely had enough time to fill their pond by now. Someone must have some info on whether the new improved tech is holding up? Or are they actually being a little more secretive / sensible and waiting for it to work before actually shouting from the rooftop?
Do we know if the Melb pool is going to be heated? Or will we need to purchase a 4/3 to surf it ?
Could you imagine the embarrassment if Surf Lakes go hot and heavy again only to generate knee slappers again and break the thing? I’m no marketing guru but if it was me I’d test it, generate a 6 foot wave with the thing, and then drop an edit out of the blue that would break the internet.
Can’t see a way it could be heated at URBN and it will be fucking arctic water temps in winter there.
Don’t stop people in Wales sloshing around in that brown-water OG Wavegarden.
This is true. My buddy who lives on the coast down there and commutes to the burbs for work claims he intends to surf it 3 times a week.
shut in winter
My breath isn’t being held for Yeppoon.
inside scoop?
Eyes and common sense, I would suggest.
If you’re from Melbourne, you’ll already own a 4/3. Locals only etc. Pretty heavy locals too, given how dero the North-West mostly is.
Just trying to put the Melbourne Pool into World Weather Context .
Kiel , my home spot is 53 degrees from the Equator
Welsh Snowdonia Pool 51
The Frozen River Thingy in Munich 48
The Basque Wave Garden 43
The NY Pool 40
Sunny Melbourne 38 the same distance as Seville and Athens .
Las Vegas 36
what ? It gets colder the further n or s you go ?
But what if Jbay is the same lat as brissy ?
Eh, what about that ?
GENIUS !
(Polishes fingernails)
Washing hands after changing Nappy … what I wouldn’t do for a manicure … ?
Ocean Currents ! As Surfers , we know the difference these can make to a region’s climate .
One can Freeze their nuts off in Cape Town in Summer or bask in boardshorts in Durban in Winter . Wear a 5,4,3 in Winter in France and surf naked at exactly the same spot in summer , thanks to the warm water conveyor belt ,the Gulf Stream while 1500 km further South in Portugal the water goes from 14 to 16 all year round .
Do they still hate you? Press pass for opening pls?
Avalon airport should knock up a cheap Waco style one in the meantime.
Yep, still hated, I think. Happy to pay full freight if it means I avoid all the press bullshit.
Can’t wait to give it a go and be dropped in on by Mick Gatto then get car jacked on the way out by a gang of Sundanese tweens fresh outta Sunshine
Wait, from the Lesser Sunda Islands or the Greater Sunda Islands?
Yeah Rod’s comments are pretty harsh towards our Indo cousins. They’re much nicer than those fucken Soodanese cunts.
You see, I actually laughed at that. There is only room for one racist cunt around here, keep it thought provoking.
What am l a fucken Geography teacher, fuck ya’s !
I stand by my racial slur
Doesn’t matter mate. It’ll be an Aussie driving the boat.
I have been away for so long , so it’s nice to know that nothing has changed and Multicultural Australia still binds itself together by hating the latest group of immigrants to arrive ? (even though the Sudanese are probably genetically advantaged compared to most who live in the Skin Cancer Capitol of the World ) .
A little scene from Spike Lee‘s “ Do The Right Thing “
https://m.youtube.com/watch…
https://youtu.be/x5h5nPLK6_Q
I personally can’t wait for the Slav’s to flee here. That will be piss funny.