False cracks and coconuts.
Joy, this morning, in the oil-rich sheikdom of Bahrain as shovels have entered the sand for a brand new state of the art surf park. Floating there in the mostly waveless Persian Gulf, Bahrain is home to nearly 1.5 million souls who have spent entire lives surf starved. Dreaming, maybe, that someday their island might become just a little more like Hawaii.
Well, dreams sometimes come true and construction on Bahrain Surf Park – Club Hawaii Experience is officially underway.
The 52,000 square meter facility will feature a spacious terrace, a retail store, cabanas, event space, and a large private entertainment area for corporate or school groups but, most importantly, a Wavegarden Cove.
Mr. Khalid Abdulrahman Al Majed, CEO of Edamah, the real estate arm of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, attended the sandbreaking ceremony and declared, “(Club Hawaii Experience) will provide a range of activities, including training programs for beginners and professionals. In addition to positioning the Kingdom as a global destination for entertainment and leisure, it will create new opportunities for economic growth and the employment of national talent, supporting Bahrain’s vision to lead through innovation.”
Mr. Hisham Alrayes, CEO of GFH Financial Group, was also there and added, “We are pleased to partner with Edamah and Poullaides as the main contractor. The Bahrain Surf Park – Club Hawaii Experience project represents a milestone addition to Bahrain’s tourism landscape, offering a unique surfing experience for all levels within the unique atmosphere of the Club Hawaii Experience brand, which encapsulates the spirit of Hawaii, the birthplace of modern surfing.”
Very cool.
While Bahrainis danced late into the evening, practicing hula etc., worry percolated in nearby Abu Dhabi. The Surf Abu Dhabi facility, which opened last year, features Kelly Slater’s patented plow. While the tub appears on the World Surf League Championship Tour, it does not have any Hawaiian vibe and also costs nearly $1,000 United States Dollars to experience for 90 minutes. Wavegarden technology, on the other hand, allows for many people to surf at once for a fraction of the price.
Might Bahrain become the go-to Middle Eastern surf destination?
We’ll all have to wait and see.
It’s kinda sad really. I’m thinking he craves the self-inflicted abuse. I’m starting to feel sorry for that old fool.
grew up with him.
he was a good mate and had a great sense of humor.
we had some great times together
seems he’s turned into a sad old egomaniacal, self centered, bloviating prick.
we’ve been in the same biz most of our lives, but different genre.
seems surf photographers are douchier
I would travel there but John Semen Callahan said it’s always blowing onshore.
I’d say he’s used to blowing over himself so he’d think everywhere is onshore.
I can’t wait
One upside to wave pools, they actually make me happy of my aging status. I’m glad I won’t have to be around for the even greater mass kook arrival with zero ocean respect. The whole thing makes me sick to my stomach.
may I suggest to Mr. Hisham Alrayes, that Mr. Huli Opu and I travel to Bahrain to introduce the Bahrainis to “the Spirit of Hawaii”.
Cool if Mrs. Kama’aina hops in on that?
a few questions:
does Mrs. Kama’aina have a Hula Burka and Hula Hijab?
is Mrs. Kama’aina hot?
does Mrs. Kama’aina make good sammiches….or musubi?
Surf Mu’umu’u, super hot, two musubi stacked is one sandwich.
before you’re hired, I have one last question.
will your husband kick my ass if I make sexist remarks…..or do you guys live in Kailua?
I is no ewok if that’s what your asking
Would I get this same experience if I flew to Honolulu and took a lesson from the Moniz family?
No.
Huli and I are old school.
You’d bettah Bahrain-g a lot of fuckin money!
Probably a good job opportunity for another washed up Ozzie pro.
The rain in Bahrain is mainly on the Kelly Slater Wave Co. train
Quote from Sam George article in The Inertia:
“Be honest: Have you ever done an aerial? Myself, I have not. Even though aerials have been on my radar, right from their genesis. Adjacent, you might say.”
Can Sam say “adjacent” without referencing BG?
Of course “adjacent” is a word available for everyone, but credit should go back to BeachGrit, where regular usage originated.
Adjacent©
Bah Bah Bah Bah Bah Bahrain
Bah Bahrain https://youtu.be/4wvx14Qv9cg?si=_3fM0xvNT0UVbzMW
Ba Ba Bahrain have you any wool?
have you any
woolpool?my work/life balance has tilted nearly completely toward the former — looking bleak for me to ever ride a wave again, fresh or salt water …
*(maybe not quite that bad, but pretty bleak in the short term)
Time to buy a Harley and have an affair?
ha, Mrs Rocks is a superstar, but a bike wouldn’t hurt
Harley seats are ribbed…. for her pleasure
….and they vibrate.
Fuck yeah, is that why they are always exhibiting the “edging face”.
Xox
know exactly what you’re feeling.
throw a knee injury into the equation, and even in the sun drenched, wave rich nation of Hawaii, things are looking dreary.
Awwww mate. Big hugs and healing. That is fucked.
Xox
Rock the Casbah!
More importantly, can an Australian, European or Brazilian surfer park their contest earnings, from a yank corporation, into an emiratey bank account?
Panama City is so 1980-2020. I want to know that there’s new and hip places to keep my money until I need to bring it back home and pay 25-45% tax on it.