World Surf League green bonafides put to the screws!
The World Surf League, as we know, has placed itself at the very forefront of marine-adjacent environmentalism what with its One Ocean initiative “aimed at protecting the ocean to preserve the future of surfing for generations to come. Working in collaboration with WSL’s non-profit partner, WSL PURE, WSL One Ocean engages fans and hosts event-based local impact projects throughout the WSL Championship Tour.”
Fans with eyes, though, or fingers that can decipher brail, are able to discern the vast hypocrisy what with a tour that randomly criss-crosses the globe, flotillas of carbon-spewing boats in channels but, mostly, two power-hungry wave pools gobbling off the grid like a Wright family accountant.
The latest, Surf Abu Dhabi in a Middle-Eastern desert.
Well, a non-World Surf League tub has just opened in an American desert and has revealed itself to be wildly green.
Revel Surf Park at Cannon Beach swung its gates wide open, two days ago, in Mesa, Arizona. The facility, which features diving platforms, an infinity pool and, of course, wave lake.
“I’ve thought often that Arizona would be the perfect state if we just had waves,” owner Cannon Cole Cannon shared with the local NBC affiliate. “A lot of gratitude. It’s been a long hot journey building out here,” he continued. “Since we broke ground 1,344 days ago we are officially open to the public and we’re very excited about that.”
While critics might decry the waste, especially in quickly drying Arizona, Cannon let it be known how shockingly environmentally friendly it all is thanks to a new, patented wave generating technology.
“My business partner Matt is heavily responsible for a lot of that,” Cannon carried on. “It’s a crew of about four of us who built it. We’ve been building the airplane while we’ve been flying at the same time, and we think we built something special.”
The technology runs on hydropower and the land it lies on used to be an alfalfa farm, the surf park chewing only about two percent of what the farm used.
“We consume about the same amount of water as one hole of a golf course. Our power is that of maybe two Corvettes for our entire wave machine,” Cannon declared.
One hole of a golf course and two Corvette engines.
How much water/power do you imagine Surf Abu Dhabi sucks?
More importantly, do you have plans to visit Mesa? Would you consider permanently relocating if, indeed, Arizona is now “perfect?”
The Grand Canyon State has a flat tax.
Very attractive.
It’s a knee high wave
This one produces a much better wave than Palm Springs or the NJ indoor park. I give if Four out of Five HamSammishes. Wood visit.
Go back 50 years to Tempe mate. The arid zone has been leading future shock for the future of surfing long time.
Twillsy, can you find a song from the North Shore film, written by Sam George, that would bookend this article?
From May 27 to Sept. 16, Phoenix sweltered through 113 consecutive days at or above 100 degrees. Sounds perfect if you like heat stroke.
Pipe looks to be firing for the Vans Pipe Cremaster.
Pumping
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2buiOf3REE
Go Caity!
2nd Reef is showing. You think they will send the ladies out?
They said yesterday men’s and women’s final today, and they knew how big it was going to be.
Its almost too big at this time
Yea capping on third reef
A new wave pool has opened within driving distance, you say?
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Not worth the drive or money.
I think the fellow BG’ers need to do an intervention.
Don’t call me an addict. It’s just a habit. I could quit any time.
Need report. STAT!
I got it. Really small, one turn max, barrels for Liliputians only.
Looks like only the standing wave is available at the moment for public sessions. But 1.5 hours for a private session is $1,500 and they host private events as well.
Don’t tell me you can’t give Beschen a call and make this a stop on The Grit Live 2025 World Tour
Damn..
Nobody should live in Arizona
On the contrary, Arizonan’s should stay in Arizona.
At this point yes they should all stay there but the state should have never existed in the first place
But then there would be no North Shore or Rick Kaine.
It’s a beautiful state. Largest ponderosa forest in the world in the middle of it. Grand Canyon. The open carry is a bummer. Lots of angry folk packing heat.
Hopefully Chas will go interview the Laguna Beach property owner who was harassing the Zonies walking on her beach
That wave looks worse than Clay Marzo’s Red Headed Stepbrothers wave. Not overly surprising it doesn’t use much energy “what with” the fact that it’s a one turn wave.