If you didn’t already know, the surf park biz is booming.
The quality of waves is better than ever; there’s amenities at surf parks today to keep you entertained even when you’re not surfing; and there’s surf parks popping up all over the US and the globe (a 150% increase in global inventory in the last 3 years).
With so much growth, you have to wonder what’s driving the industry. I witnessed it first hand at the 2024 Surf Park Summit, a 3 day event at Scripps Seaside Forum in San Diego filled with 86 speakers, 78 speaker sessions, and so much more.
I met real estate developers, investors, surf park nerds, scientists, and surf therapy practitioners, all present with the same goal: to share the stoke and bring waves inland.
From showcasing new wave technology to new surf parks breaking ground and advice on funding, here are our favorite sessions from the conference, and, more importantly, what we learned.
Just a heads up: these takeaways will get you stoked not only on the surf park industry as a whole, but also on your next surf session in a wave pool.
As emcee Chris Cote put it during the event: “If more humans got barreled in freshwater, the world would be a better place.”
— Cash Lambert
Lessons Learned from “The Wave” by Craig Stoddard
Surf parks ain’t an easy biz. From idea to getting a shovel in the dirt and even the first wave breaking, it takes hard work, dedication, a bit of luck, and above all, perseverance.
This was most evident during Craig Stoddard’s talk on the Wave. Craig spoke about the challenges of pitching 250 investors, telling them “imagine this ... a wave peeling at a beautiful inland location” … and having every single person turn him down.
He spoke about after they did find funding, they opened their doors .... only to temporarily close them 4 months later due to Covid.
And he spoke about how the Wave had a sustainability plan before a business plan. Today, 110% of the surf park’s power comes from renewable resources.
The biggest point of all? Craig and the team at the wave didn’t quit. They found a way. And that’s why, above all, the Wave still has its doors open today.
EpicSurf: A Fully Customizable Deep Water Standing Wave for All by Dan Foley
EpicSurf has been in the surf park game for years, and at the 2024 Surf Park Summit, they showcased their technology that not only allows a 2-5 foot height adjustment for surfers; it also has an insane 50% return rate among customers
But what I found most interesting about the talk is their commitment to surf therapy.
Check this out: EpicSurf is the only standing wave that is autism certified. It also allows those in need to be lowered down into the water to experience.
It’s great to see a business thinking not about profits, but about helping those in need.
Raising Money for Your Surf Park - a Case Study on LostShore Surf Resort Scotland by Andy Hadden
Andy Hadden’s talk was one of my favorites at the 2024 Surf Park Summit, because it was emotional, powerful, and vulnerable.
Andy talked about the journey he has been on over the last decade: having an idea for a surf park and no land to fighting for financing to today, the Lost Shore Surf Resort is testing waves and is on pace to open in 2025. Here's a few bits of his advice:
Don’t get lost in competition; instead, collaborate.
Get integrated with schools and universities. The Lost Shore Surf Resort is opening SurfLab, the first research facility globally which focuses on all aspects of surfing.
In the surf park biz, you’re going to have failure. It’s a natural part of the process.
It’s not about a balance sheet, it’s about creating a destination that people want to come back to again and again.
Keep your surf park under your control early on - Andy recommended avoiding private equity until you’re in the latter phases of your surf park - so that you don’t lose the core mission as it gets off the ground.
Surf parks can become the future of “staycations”.
A surf park is not about you as a developer; it’s about bringing the community and politicians with you in the process.
Sincerely, Your Customer: A Candid Qualitative Case Study of 18 Surf Parks with Mike Goldys, the Surf Park Nerd
Mike Goldys is the unofficial surf park nerd. He’s singlehandedly surfed in 20 surf parks around the world not because he’s been paid or sponsored to do so. Instead, he lives inland, and his career keeps him from surfing during the week, he's turned his attention away from the ocean and to surf parks.
Because most of the conference involved surf park operators speaking to other surf park operators, his talk took a new angle, communicating what was important as a customer, namely cost, guidance, sound equipment, photo and video activities and other activities surrounding the park.
Findings from the 2024 Surf Park Sustainability Committee Jess Ponting, Kevin Whilden, William Duncanson
The Surf Park Summit wasn’t just a masterclass on how to start, fund and scale your surf park. It was how to do so sustainably.
And there’s already many surf parks doing just that. For example, 02 Surftown Munich is 100% powered by renewable energy, has an onsite rooftop solar array, provides geothermal heating and cooling of the surf building, and has an all electric vehicle fleet.
During this talk, Jess, Kevin and William spoke on many data points, the three most impactful being:
A sustainability leadership position is worth $60.30 per visitor to a park.
Have a purpose, such as sustainability, and people will want to work for you.
In the surf park realm, sustainability is easier than you think.
The main takeaway? I knew that surf parks were becoming epicenters for the sport of surfing, but I had no idea they’re also being ground zero for sustainability.
Surf Lakes: Wave Technology Showcase
The video tells you everything you need to know: a Mad Max-esq wave generator pumping out ethereal waves on demand.
While the technology has already been showcased, the updates to Surf Lakes program are what blew everyone away at the 2024 Surf Park Summit.
There are more wave pool discussions ongoing in the US, Brazil, Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia and Austrailia.
Specifically in the USA, Surf Lakes is seeking site approvals for locations such as Hawaii, Riverside, Las Vegas, Austin, Nashville, and more.
There are 40 more projects in discussion from 20 acres to 18,000 acres around the world.
The bottom line? Surf Lakes won’t just be a video you watch and dream about surfing. A Surf Lakes surf park is coming near you soon.
Designing a Surf Park in a Vacation Mecca by Josh Martin, Jeff Sugar, Brian Green
Central Florida is getting a new surf park!
This was some of the biggest news announced at the Surf Park Summit during the "Designing a Surf Park in a Vacation Mecca" talk.
Josh, Jeff and Brian are creating a surf park destination in the heart of Orlando, which already is the theme park epicenter of the world.
They spoke on their plans — which I personally can’t wait to see come to fruition — but above all, they spoke on the fact that if you want to create a surf park in a high demand area ... as they are doing .. you’re going to have to identify why your park is different, and therefore unique.
And let me tell you: they have an unique surf park plan that will set itself apart from the other activities in busy Orlando.
Another great tip they communicated is something called “dwell time”. When you’re at a surf park, you won’t be surfing the entire time. So as a developer, the goal is to create other activities for customers to enjoy to keep the excitement just as high even when they’re not on a surfboard.
Surf Park: Dream To Reality by Ross McCarthy
The world’s first custom standing wave, Your Wave is an enticing standing wave that can barrel and allow open faces to carve. It's situated in beautiful New Zealand.
It's a picture perfect surf pool. But it didn't start this way.
Ross McCarthy showed grainy footage from nearly a decade prior of a wave he had built with as little as $50,000. Obsessed with creating it, he said that he constantly tried to break it. He tested it to its limits to see how it would fail, and then address the problem.
Now, the standing wave is the culmination of this work, and is open to beginners and experts alike.
The bottom line? Passion and obsession can pay off in the surf park industry.
Surf Park Sharks
Imagine the hit TV show "Shark Tank", but for surf parks: that's exactly what the Surf Park Sharks experience was like with a whopping $15,000 on the line.
Multiple groups pitched their own surf park idea, and a panel of judges then critiqued the pitches based on the commercial feasibility of the vision and business plan, fundability, the land, the development risks, and more.
It was by far one of the coolest and most educational aspects of the conference — seeing everything put into action in real time — and was one of the best activities I've seen from every surf-related conference I've been to in the past.
Firewire Demo
Two hours before the conference began on both days, a van with the Firewire logo pulled up to the venue and parked. Inside was a dreamy opportunity: dozens of Firewire boards, from short boards to mid lengths, that you could demo yourself. Best of all, there was a chest high wave rolling in at La Jolla, and it made for the perfect way to get the day started at the Surf Park Summit.
Surf Park Awards
I know, I know: the Surf Park Awards technically weren’t a talk, but I wanted to include them for two reasons.
First, the Surf Park Awards are an incredible motivation and opportunity, because they recognize the outstanding achievements of companies and individuals in the surf park industry and their unwavering commitment to pushing the industry forward.
They award organizations and individuals for sustainability, innovation, leadership, and accessibility.
Secondly, I was thrilled to accept the the Democratization & Accessibility Award, which recognizes organizations and individuals who are working towards making the sport of surfing accessible to everyone, regardless of access or ability.
I won the award for my “Surf Therapy” book, which is the first ever globally distributed book that details the evidence of surfing's therapeutic abilities and the important role that surf parks play in helping those in need experience surf therapy who otherwise couldn't access the ocean.
Coming Up Next: Surf Park Summit 2025
We had a blast at the 2024 Surf Park Summit, and we’re looking forward to the next one which is yet to be announced for October 2025.
Stay tuned for updates on the event and how you can buy a ticket to attend!
Well, you pay to play.