"DreamWorks Water Park offered a surreal scene visible through a large, thick-glass wall: a huge wave pool generating two-foot swells that broke on a concrete beach, lapping at the tires of motionless construction vehicles."
American Wave Machines, the Carlsbad-based company who created the tech behind the Waco BSR cable park, has just opened another pool.
This one’s in the new three-million-square-feet American Dream super-mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and which had a partial opening last Friday.
The public was allowed onto the ice of the mall’s NHL-sized skating rink and the thrill rides of its Nickelodeon Universe indoor theme park, even though parts of the interior and exterior looked like the active construction sites they still were — and will continue to be for several months.
Outside, there were backhoes, piles of dirt, stacks of unlaid pipe, and rows of port-o-potties ringing the structure, with fenced-off staging areas just across the mall’s loop road.
Adjacent to the rink, where dozens of skaters glided and teetered around the ice, the mall’s colossal, still-unopened DreamWorks Water Park offered a surreal scene visible through a large, thick-glass wall: a huge wave pool generating two-foot swells that broke on a concrete beach, lapping at the tires of motionless construction vehicles.
“Fantastic,” marveled Lionel Cruz, a 57-year-old IT specialist gazing through the glass.
Indoor, heated, waves year round.
My mind is melting. American Dreams indeed. After years of false starts and misfires it seems like we’ve finally hit wavepool singularity.
Offerings explode forth like some tectonic seam has busted its containment.
Will we now see an exponential curve upwards? Technology, quantity, output?
In a decade’s time will we giggle at the offerings of Kelly’s Ranch like a teenager today giggles at a mini disc player or an iPod?
Will there be a wavepool in every backyard?
Imagine the strip mall surfer! Flips and corkscrews on demand. Unlimited progression. Proto-punks sponsored by Starbucks with double-ended boards and fingers raised to the establishment.
There’ll be further divisions in the tribe. Street vs vert. Park vs pool. Almost indistinguishable. Almost. Eight feet of raw east swell will be our only arbiter. Surfing’s Voight-Kampff test.
For now, a strip mall in Jersey is pushing out waves of a quality and accessibility that will soon turn (small-wave) surfing into an assembly line production.
Oh here we go again with you Oz cunts trying to be funny. Just cut the crap already doucheys. You may be impressing your boyfriends but for us adults, not so much.
for those who proudly do not know the geography of Dirty Jerzee (who can blame you?), East Rutherford is not exactly the epicenter of this state’s “surf culture”… probably won’t matter…and soon enough NJ Turnpike North will be the highway to happiness… WTF is going on?…
whats a turnpike?
It’s our smoke stack infested, jam-packed highway that runs Up/down the state… truly awful roadway…
that has to be close to your ultimate fantasy Surfads?
those twinkly underwater lights, fun wedge?
Yep. I grew up in a water polo family so spent countless hrs horsing around indoor water centres wishing for this very vision. The Homebush Aquatic Centre whirlpool didn’t quite cut it.
Yes, there might be a wave pool in every backyard someday, maybe soon. But I think it’s too early to see how this will all play out. Open your wallet, pay Pay pay, then they kick you out after your times up. Will most guys go back to their local break, –stoked or bummed. Will surfing flawed waves in the ocean ever be the same for them after this, will they still appreciate the Ocean like they used to and plan their days (life) around it or just head for the tank (if they can afford it).
I think it will be interesting to see the– ‘long term’ –effect on a surfers psych as this trend continues, as he now has to pay pay pay. And then you walk away from the pool, not because your ‘surfed out’, but because your ‘wallets empty’. Will tanks turn out to be a blessing or a curse for surfers as this trend continues? as for me, I’m sticking with my first love……
It’s not an either or situation, you can enjoy the pool in addition to real surfing.
True, true, I just think it’s gonna mess with some people’s heads, surfing a pool, then going back and surfing the Ocean, too soon to tell, the jury is still out……….
If the original singularity , Time = 0 , is known as the Big Bang , than I am wondering if the rapid exponential expansion of Wave creating Pools ( or should that be Pools creating Waves ….. a bit like man eating sharks or shark eating men ? ) should be called ……. the Big Pond ?
Quick side note; This is what you get for restricting crossings at your southern border and deporting people left, right and centre. Half finished malls. Lionel could already be going over the falls along with all the other 2nd to 19th(?) generation immigrants in the US, if you would just let the world greatest builders do their job.
They’re on their way to be exploited but first need to stop in California to be signed up to vote, get a drivers license, medicaid, SSI, and a free data plan.
Does that happen before or after picking >90% of all the fruits and vegetables produced in that state?
Probably after, considering they have to do over 90% of the concrete work, landscaping, housecleaning, childcare and restaurant work first. I forgot roofing, body shop work and plenty others. The whole thing is stupid, we need the labor they provide but the lame politicians from both sides are too busy fighting about it to get anything done. Its next to impossible to find a young American dude to do any sort of physical labor and if you can, they won’t show up after a day or two.
Well… I guess people would be a lot more willing to do the work if you could make a decent living doing it. Minimum wage comes to mind here. But what’s going to happen to (in this specific example) the US agriculture industry, or service, or construction, or … now I’m just repeating what you said earlier.
Anyway doesn’t take away from my initial point that (on average, etc, etc) Mexicans are the greatest builders on our planet. They’d still get that mall up faster and better than anyone else.
Edit Mexicans and Guatemalans obviously (Mayan descendent)
Skilled trade labor fields like electrical, HVAC, plumbing I wouldnt agree but thats due to education not motivation or natural abilities.
Not a matter of minimum wage, although an argument can be made for a black market cheap labor force flooding the job market and tapped into by unscrupulous contractors causing the trades not to pay a living wage. Its hard work and they (gringo kids)aren’t motivated. I have and know plenty of other people that have started guys off well above minimum and they aren’t interested. IMO its more to do with having bills and expenses covered by parents well into their 20s.
“The kids are lazy and jazz is the devils work” argument is a bit tired. Simple fact is real wages have fallen for low income groups, largely encompassing low skilled labour, but also young workers (world wide trend, link below is for the US). I say it’s the responsibility of us (ehhmm..) adults to create a society where young adults feel like they have a proper future and we’re failing them or at least a large fraction of them.
https://fas.org/sgp/crs/mis…
Its not an argument its first hand knowledge. 35 years in the trades. I agree its our duty to help create a future for the next generations and try my best to do that in real life. Im the guy with a skilled trade business that has created jobs, I have helped mentor plenty of really great young people in the trades and watched them succeed. Trust me, its hard work and I’m not getting rich. Ive actually been working with the local high school and a group of other local businesses trying to provide opportunities other than the college route. It doesn’t pay but it is highly rewarding. This current generation (17-22) seems to lack the drive to do it. Its called paying your dues and there just aren’t that many willing to do that. I blame the helicopter parents that haven’t prepared their kids to understand that nothing in life comes free and you have to be willing to work hard to get anywhere. Paying artificially high wages will require consumers willing to pay a lot more for goods and services or government subsidies which means higher taxes. Im strictly speaking of small businesses that I have knowledge in. I still can’t fathom why some CEO of a massive corporation makes multi millions in salary plus the golden parachutes while the employees are getting payed a below living wage. That needs to change.
Back to your original statement about immigrant labor- part of the issue many people have with open borders is that they do come here and work at lower rates which has driven wages down in the construction sectors amongst others. Im not blaming them and would certainly do the same to support my family but it does impact US citizens, especially young people and the poor because it isn’t enough money to make ends meet. I knew a general contractor that was notorious for hiring illegal laborers. He made a lot of money and built alot of homes because he could underbid legitimate outfits.
Interesting stuff. I appreciate your viewpoint!
I’m not doubting your experience, but I’m a bit wary of calling the new generation lazy. Seems like a perpetual thing in human history. I’m currently working with a couple of 45-50 year olds who might the laziest people I’ve worked with in a while. On the other hand we have a bunch of highly motivated interns and fresh graduates. So our experiences seem to differ here. I’ll point out that my industry pays decent and provides amble opportunity for development and I do believe that is key.
Regarding minimum wage; I’d argue all day that if a produce or service can only be provided by paying workers below living wage (for the country it is produced in) then the produce or service is artificially cheap.
You’re right, stereotyping a whole generation based on a few is a bit unfair.
My daughters and most of their friends are really smart and motivated, I have no doubt they will do a great job at whatever it is they choose. As of late, however, it has been increasingly difficult to find young people willing to put in the time and energy in the trades. Its not easy work, but if they were to put in the effort to learn and pay their dues, they would be able to always make a decent living wage. Fields like HVAC, electrical and plumbing are paying more than most entry level jobs a typical college grad would get. Hardly anyone I know starts a young person off at minimum wage in a trade job but they also aren’t going to get paid the same as someone who’s been doing it for ten years.
Funny about the sucky 45-50 year olds you mention. One of the absolute worst that Ive ever worked with was a dude in his 40s that lied about his experience, lied about completing tasks, smoked ciggies in customers homes and was the laziest worker ever. He got fired when the owner of the company found him sleeping in the back if his van at a jobsite.
Good job Scott. You are SEmployed right? I think that is often the best way to go for a surfer/tradesman. Get a good client base, or basically have a good attitude, and you’ll have to beat off the customers. Sometimes I think more unions are needed, other times …grrrrr..what have those idiots done now? Some trades need more oversite than others, and some its not really that critical.
We need trade schools, enough of this influencer nonsense. There is a weird, I deserve more attitude I’ve seen….or this work sucks. Well yeah, it sucks, everything sucks!!!
I have to go atticwise today and straighten a bent bath duct, I used to be able to just breathe in fibreglass insulation, not a problem, no itches, just trunk it….now?
Fuck I hate that stuff!!! Finally found a roof leak after 10 years of looking, and multiple
tens of thousands of dollars and skylights and tarps….man. I wonder what kind of new technology could solve that? Digital water tracing? I’m semi/joking, but like a better designed rat trap (dont get me started) there are a lot of new ways to llok at stuff and improve things. Ok Im off topic. Enjoy the offshores!
Yo! Yep, went the self employed contractor route in heating and air back in 98. Once I got a taste of being my own boss there was no going back. Its a trade off though, because you’re really never off work and quite often someone needs something done right away or the cashflow juggling act and cant just bail to go surf. Missed plenty of good swells from it, BUT, the ability to go midweek or technically whenever I want is the prize.
I actually added another license and went into the water well pump business. Couldn’t take going into another attic or customer freaking out because its hot and their AC wont cool, which always seemed to be at 4:30 on Friday. The quality control for HVAC equipment went down hill and callbacks became the norm. A cheap ass Chinese capacitor on a brand new condenser made in Mexico would go out and instead of surfing Id be replacing garbage parts with no labor reimbursement from the mfgr. Maddening!
Cheers, SectionSB!
Smart…I agree about quality issues, I’ve had to troubleshoot and fix stuff I should have NEVER had to touch…but fault tracing is never easy, even for pros, sometimes they overlook the obvious. (wet ground causing all the Pulse gas hardwareto keep glitching….yay for WD-40) haha…
Pump fixing sounds like a good “future” option, what with water issues here in cal. New owners next door just found an old well they reactivated! 15/gal a minute, but maybe just backup for the gardens, still got some septic systems nearby!!!! haha.. ok later boss.
Exactly! My favorite is the error code that translates to “replace PCB”.
Mini splits are the most maddening because some have 4 or 5 separate boards and any one of them could be the culprit. Once thats figured out then its not in stock and can take a week or more to get one.
Pump equipment is relatively low tech and I usually have everything on the truck to repair them. Usually I can pull right up next to them and work. Unlike fixing a blower motor in a 120 degree attic laying on your side.
Thats a score for your neighbors. Much better and cheaper to irrigate landscaping! Depending on depth, it can run $15-$30k for a driller.
My trouble is I’m “somewhat” clever, so i think I can fix anything, and thats not always the case. You solve a problem for someone, for 10 bucks, and then its gonna be always 10 from then on!! haha and those boards you mentioned? They are not cheap, nor blowers or fans etc etc. I usually have no idea how some appliance works and have to get deep into it before it makes any sense. Cutoff/on switchs and 3 way stuff? Man, hurts my head. And sorting ohms etc out always messes with me. I just need to know, is it functioning or not? I usually learn whats needed then forget it, no more room in the brainpan. Cept for Beachgrit!
We did have to get a heater guy in to help explain back pressure and how it can cause these pulse gas heaters to cycle. We had everything sort of stopped up just a bit too tight for good flow. Companies often send a different guy though, so you have to explain the problem again, and they may take a different approach.
So finding a guy such a yourself, one man quality shop, is pretty much golden for us, when it happens, we hang on to them for dear life!! This place is kind large, (old estate) so when issues happen ,they always seem magnified.
Story to illustrate: small flaw, big bad problems then result, simple solution solves it.
We have these giant GE vertical freezers, top of the line, (or were) but the engineers didnt realize that the insulation at the base would NEVER thaw during defrost, so frozen drain line, wet floors, then rotten floors. Hours with heaters to defrost and clean, new copper pans, new floors…etc etc (service calls to GE?…haha, not around here, owners too pissed off to even deal)
(I’m kinda liking the internet alot for problem solving,has really helping with some WEIRD tricks for crazy problems)
Many thousands later we turned them over and just drilled a big hole in the bottom to solve it…Ha!! Recently found a trick off the internet where guys loop a copper wire over the defrost coils, so when they heat up, it helps keep the defrost drain clean!! We had done that also, but from the bottom up….all these workarounds though? What the hell, Im supposed to be gardening!!! And surfing…
Haha, I can relate to all of that. Too cheap and impatient to pay people to come to my house and fix shit. Once you start those projects they can turn into a tweak out, or lead to other repairs since you’re already in there with tools. Mostly I just want stuff done and hate waiting around for repairmen.
Im interested in why you think Mexicans are the greatest builders on the planet. At some trades they are outstanding, others not so much. If you ever go to Mexico, you’d be astonished at some of the haphazard, unsafe building practices they use.
Then you will have also seen the pyramids.
Haven’t been there.
No offense to Mexicans, there are plenty of skilled craftsmen and engineers, but to suggest they are the greatest builders in the world is a joke to anyone in the construction fields or with eyes. Im sure the ancient pyramids are spectacular and an amazing feat of engineering but in todays world, their construction standards and practices are nowhere near anything in the US or any other developed nation. Look what happens when a minor earthquake hits- its complete ruins. Or a fire, gas leaks, etc. Next time you’re in Mex, take a close look at the haphazard electrical work. Take a level and see how plumb the walls are. Check the walls for square. Ever heard of Montezumas revenge? Its because they don’t have proper water treatment infrastructure. Great builders have that kind of stuff figured out.
I’d argue that’s due to lack of money and training rather than lack of inert capability. By your standard the Japanese become the greatest builders. But yeah I’ve seen some wild stuff, electricians fixing switches without switching off the fuse, roofing done in sandals, welding without any sort of safety glasses and such.
In today’s world I dont think any race or nationality can be declared the greatest builders in the world. Most developed countries have workforces that are capable of building top notch structures. Perhaps the Mexicans were the greatest around the time they built pyramids but since then, haven’t continued that tradition.
Anyway, Im off to go build shit myself, have a good one!
What country are you in and what field of work, if you did mind me asking?
This is quite an interesting off topic side conversation! Cheers M! Appreciate your perspective.
One of the contractors involved with the high school trade program sent me this link. https://www.construct-ed.co…
Spain, and I work in forecasting (or predictive modelling as it is often called). I work for a sizeable US company so I’m there now and then.
Yeah… surfing’s great,but talking about it kinda isn’t, mostly.
I’ve only skimmed over the article, but I’d agree on the premise. You’d be interested to hear that a lot of the wealthier countries in Europe (eg Switzerland, Austria, Germany) have substantially less university graduates and more people in apprenticeship programs than the poorer ones (eg Spain, Portugal, Greece).
Nice! That sounds like interesting work. Ive heard that about European countries with apprenticeship programs. There was a documentary years ago that showed German trade school and how they are taught how to do things properly. Even down to proper use of a metal file! The US really should implement similar programs.
Like I said, its always good to hear other people’s perspectives. Appreciate your views!
Have a great weekend, M
Just wanted to agree with your general tone here, and I also agree with Scott. These are complex issues. Hard to not generalize on a message board for quickness sake. Anyways, good discussion, get some waves for me!!!
I’m more excited dreaming about wave pools than thinking about Indonesia these days.
Let’s wash away the nightmare
of England , ruck and maul .
Fuck yeah ! Indo NEGS ?
Nah , surfing at the Mall …..
I hate the game but I’m jealous of squash playing friends. Every Thursday night At 7 rain, hail or shine it’s on.
A weekly pool session I would do, real surf dependent of course…
They might throw a few rainbow trout in the pool so you could kill two birds with the same stone …. or hook ? I am with you though , I run every second day rain hail snow ice or shine , gone and back in 1 hour ….. but if a local pool was available I would definitely be tempted ..
Me too! We are supposed to be getting a wave pool in Myrtle Beach. We occasionally get a decent wave, but it would be great to have a weekly pool session. The pool might also give a boost to our local shapers and surf shops since the SUP fad has deflated.
With any luck this new venture will give Action Park a run for the money. https://weirdnj.com/stories…
That’s excellent. At Action Park was also a great Shellac album
My Daughter played a Shellac song the other day on her Guitar.
So happy.
One of the great joys of parenting- when you catch your kid playing the shit out of the music you love. Playing it on guitar is a million times better!
Hell, just the fact she’s playing a real instrument is a great thing. Good job teaching/inspiring the youth, dad!
Is she surfing too?
I had to bribe her with an iPhone to learn.
And yeah she surfs.
Oh man, the phone is an ongoing bargaining chip! Guitar is worthwhile endeavor, hope she stays with it. And surfing
She’s leaving home and going to a music school in a nearby City next year.
Tough forold Dad to suck up as she’s only 15.
But she did inspire me to learn an instrument at 46. (I’m fucking useless and the slowest learner)
She must be talented, that’s awesome! Not easy when they leave the nest. One things for sure, when they do come home they seem to have a new appreciation for everything we do for em.
Ive been playing the damn thing for 30+ years and still suck but its a great way to completely take your mind off things.
Excellent band! Never got the recognition they deserved. At least over here.
Finally something I can agree with on BG, Shellac is the best.
Yes! How about Slint?
the insurance companies will get on this as soon as another poor kid dies, and they will say something like..
1. No smoking in the pool
2. No alcohol
3. No letting your board leave the water
4. No surfing backwards
5. No….
Is that 2ft American cos that will be dog shit. Lionel Cruz is tripping mate.
Didn’t wanna dox ya mate but it’s time the lads knew.. https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
What is that exquisite creature holding the flathead?
Pretty rare specimen mate
I am somewhat jealous of the bloke , that smells like fish , full head of hair …. not to mention the fast tattoo on his lower thigh .
Im starting to resemble him, minus the tats and beard and Trumpian hand size
This one is for you BIG HANDS ……
https://youtu.be/8YdQBkxf4kU
Not exactly big, just in proportion. Other than that, the song is spot on for me
cunts in jersey should learn the glass digeridoo instead of messing with that china white
Too bad we’ll be all dead soon
Fuckyatalkinbeet?
There an ice age coming in the next 3or 4 years
an inconvenient truth
Fkn dunno where you live in Australia but the ice age has been in full affect for a bit now..
Too many playing the glass didge, when they should be going back to the bigbamboo instead
Never smoked the krill, just the occasional nose burners. The last time around 1992-1993. Incredible high but the comedown was unbearable. I enjoy sleep far too much anyway. Plus the people I knew that were super into it started to get really weird and all the associated problems. According to glass aficionados, the feds cracked down on the artisanal chefs and precursor chemicals so the quality of product turned to shit.
Associated problems indeed!! Thats being very kind. That stuff, in all its infinite variety, turns awesome specimens of humanity into driveling insectile, alien creatures. Starts out as fun, ends up as evil.
Although alcohol comes pretty close to that fuck your life up level, if you happen to get bad DNA. Really takes some strength to figure that part out though.
Totally! Pretty much weed and a moderate amount of booze these days for me. Hangovers suck! The last few times I’ve been offered blow, it was complete garbage so don’t bother with that anymore.
The funniest scene on breaking bad was when he starts shoveling to lure the tweakers out! Non fiction bit right there
Too much C10H15N in the atmosphere?
True that
My mistake I meant overheating
Have you had the pleasure of repo-ing any Teslas?
No
Not really in that game anymore.
Still have a licence but.
Good
Not if you give up driving, burgers and air conditioning
Thank god you didn’t mention beer ….. such relief !