Land of the Rising Fun!
When it was announced, some months ago, that surfing was being considered for the Tokyo 2020 Games, it was assumed that a wave tank would host and that wave tank would be Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch or Sāfu Bokujō in the native tongue.
Japan is known for many things, sushi, Harijuku, harakiri, etc. but not known for consistent surf.
Well, as imagined, the World Surf League soon announced a pool near Tokyo which was then quietly abandoned as the Japanese Olympic Committee declared that surfers would surf in the ocean, like God intended or Kami in the native tongue.
Now it appears that American Wave Machines, maker of the Waco technology, has beat Kelly Slater and his WSL, and is building a “Surf Stadium” in the Land of the Rising Sun (buy here) but let us learn all we can from the press release then speculate wildly.
American Wave Machines, Inc. (AWM) announces a project with Surf Stadium Japan (SSJ) in Shizunami. The project is underway with surfing anticipated in June 2020. The project location is not far from Makinohara in Shizuoka Prefecture which was chosen to host training facilities for the U.S. and other surfing teams.
SSJ selected PerfectSwell® technology, the world’s premiere performance wave pool, to facilitate competitive training as well as foster a rapidly expanding and enthusiastic surf community.
“This project is the realization of a vision 4 years in the making. Our goal has always been to contribute to the deep and vibrant surf culture in Makinohara,” said Tooshihiko Adachi, CEO of SSJ. “With our project we will be able to expand the surfing community by offering recreational surf and at the same time contribute to athlete development.”
“In the near future wave pools will be a key part of optimal training with repeat made-to-order waves.” said Kimifumi Imoto, Director, Nippon Surfing Association. “PerfectSwell Surf Stadium Japan will offer international Surf Teams the opportunity to train in an environment that closely mimics ocean conditions with natural sets at similar wave and set frequencies found in the ocean.”
“We are well aware of the level of effort to have surfing approved for the 2020 Olympics. Hats off to the International Surfing Association for this extraordinary accomplishment.” said Bruce McFarland, CEO of AWM. “Surfing will be on the world stage in Japan. AWM is extremely honored to work with the visionaries at SSJ and participate in the growth of the local and global surf community.”
So, what do you think?
How does this make you feel?
Will the Surf Stadium host if the ocean forecast is absolutely dismal?
Speculate wildly!
You know what else Japan is known for? Bukake.
Land of the rising pun
How do they both have a legitimate argument? Leo’s never made it higher than 26th and Mickey was top 10.
Last time I speculated widely it took months of cleaning to get the smell out the mattress.
I’ll pass this time
Jesus christ, the conga line of surfing entrepreneurs trying to get themselves associated with the god damn Olympics is growing longer and longer isn’t it.
This whole year is going to be one long dance of people pretending they have something to do with it. The WSL have got off to a great start with their hurray flag presentations (note the lack of Olympic rings, verbiage etc on those things? Because they are not allowed). Now predictably enough it’s a wave pool maker. (In Australia both the people associated with Surf Lakes and the Wavegarden pool in Melb tried to invoke the Olympic thing, suggesting their pools would be great training grounds, before being slapped down by the powers that be.)
What’s next do you reckon. Some wannabe Coach Whisperer? Purps? Magnetic band retailer?
What’s next? I’m pretty sure the Wsl has got a lot of stuff ready after the new year to throw at it. A lot. This is there one big chance–(last chance
maybe), to present surfing and the Wsl to the masses on a large scale.
I think they’ll throw everything at it as far as advertising and who knows what else. If they can’t bring surfing mainstream during an Olympic year–what chance will they have the year after. Unless, of course, Dirk just wants to keep throwing his money away…..
Didn’t the Olympics say it was going to be held at the beachy? Seems like the pool will be the back up.. Why didnt they just build one sooner if that was the case.. cutting it a bit fine. Also Kimifumi Imoto is the best name!
The pool is NOT the backup. It has NOTHING to do with the Olympics whatsoever. The promoter wants you to think it does.
Ha, and if it was ‘totally flat’, your saying they wouldn’t use the tub? Ha-don’t be too sure–stranger thing have happened……
Does the WSL even have another pool under construction? They seem to be masters of the press release but a tad light on execution.
I am surrounded by neighbours with pools.
None surf in them that I know of, unlike Mr. Slater.
But the new guy has a catchsurf foamy in his pool for the cool factor, and plays loudly with his loud friends, at anti-social hours in the pool. It is annoying when you are old like me and trying to sleep.
This is my essay about pools.
Thank you for reading.
Can I get this published now please Derek?
I overheard some kooks talking while checking the surf the other day. Bla bla I surfed the pool yesterday bla bla. Paddled out and still kooks.
“but let us learn all we can from the press release then speculate wildly.”
😂 Sweet jebus I love your style Chas, Beachfront, et al
J a ps are sick cruel racists.
A friend of mine’s grandpa used to spout intense hatred towards Japanese people. First time I heard him, sometime in the early 80s, it seemed odd. Usually old timers like him stuck with the usual ethnic targets of their racist bullshit. This old guy never went there, just the Japanese. The friend of mine explained to me that grandpa survived the Bataan Death March and carried that hatred with him ever since.
It wasn’t long ago.
But they seem forgiven.
Its a complicated world.
People should understand that
Oh FFS. We nuked them…twice already. And gave them baseball and Macca’s.
Let it go….we won the war!
Everyone who had anything to do with it is dead. Who the fuck is left to forgive?
A German retiree was put at the same table as my grandpa in his retirement village in the mid 2000s. Grandpa had been shipped to Egypt in WW2 (South Africa sided with the allies, despite the government’s ideology leaving far more towards the Nazis). Seems like it was the first time he’d really spoken to a German, ever, at that table. And he told us with genuine amazement that he wasn’t actually a bad guy.
Interesting that old enemies can end up at the olde folks home together!
There seems to be about 5 times more announcements than actual pools. Is there any dirt being pushed yet?
June 2020 is only 6 months away, they should be working non stop immediately.
The Japanese are very efficient for getting building projects done quickly.
I’m all for it staying in the ocean. As I am the swimming events being held in a relatively straight, wide river; backyard decathlon etc
I hope it’s 1′ shit for the contest, last thing we need is something inspiring for the masses to use as an excuse to start surfing. Failure is our friend.
That’s why they’re building the tank as a backup plan– this is their big chance to show surfing to the world and they’re not going to take a chance on it being flat. These guys don’t give a rip about the everyday surfer, they wanna stuff their own wallets no matter who they have to trample over……
I’ve heard they are creating a lounge bar at the site ….. so the teams from all over the world can coalesce . I thought they could call it the Midway , to meet 1/2 way , but I don’t want to battle to get it through ….. or the Pearl …..harbour doubts though .
They have named it the
Yellow Peril In honour
Of Kanoa’s hair
Tokyo Shock Boys Rule … at their own peril
https://youtu.be/V9jX8_iCyos
Always good to have to keep sharp while they wait for the day to be called.
Better a Waco pool than a Slater pool. Maybe we’d see something other than competitors getting clipped crouching into waist-high barrels… just watch this get derailed and then hold it in a Flow Rider…
Could we hold it in a Low Rider ?