The vision for Surf Lakes Australia.
There just aren’t enough good waves in Australia already. Despite being home to Snapper Rocks, Margaret River, and Bells Beach, the surf-crazed nation needs more. With 1 in 10 Australians already considering themselves a surfer, and 3 in 10 eager to learn, the demand for waves is just too great for the current (though incredible) supply. Surf Lakes is turning to Indiegogo their newest wave pool design to bring even more waves to the Australian continent.
Surf Lakes utilizes a unique design. Incorporating a large central pump that oscillates forming concentric waves that radiate out in all directions a bit like a tsunami, the lake produces a 12 foot surge near the center, which quickly reduces to about six feet. The concentric design is incredibly efficient, and the design is predicted to produce over 3,000 rides in one hour. These waves then break over four different reefs with each peak providing a left and right. This means that at any given time, eight different waves can be ridden simultaneously. The pool is designed in such a way that each of these four peaks is designed for different levels of surfing. The largest, most powerful peak will provide up to a six-foot barreling wave for intermediate and advanced surfers. Other less powerful waves will be slower and rolling to better suit beginning surfers.
Thus far, the minds behind Surf Lakes have produced a prototype that is scaled down to 1:20 of the intended size. The prototype has shown great promise, and although small, the waves produced are incredibly high quality. They peel evenly and the shoreline minimizes chop on the face. While the prototype is far from a finished product, it shows great promise for the success of the project if completed.
However, the project has yet to receive funding. This Friday, Surf Lakes will launch its Indiegogo campaign. With the campaign slogan, “everyone gets a break,” the Surf Lakes team hopes to tap into the funds of the 2.7 million Australians that surf to get their project off the ground. Surf Lakes hopes to construct a facility in the Brisbane area, where surfers from Brisbane as well as the neighboring Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast can visit as well. Surf Lakes estimated that 315,000 people would need to visit the facility to provide annual returns of 30% on a 15M capital expenditure.
The team envisions that the pool can be a great alternative for ocean waves when surf conditions are less than desired. They also see Surf Lakes as a great place for surfers on a tight work schedule to catch a few waves after the sun has set.
We’ll have to wait to see if the Australian surf community is willing to pony up to fund a wave pool facility in the Brisbane area.
