The Citywave deep-water standing wave pool located in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Citywave
Newfangled ocean-style wave pools are all the rage right now, but there’s also another game in town: the standing wave. Where waves from the likes of Kelly Slater Wave Co. and Wavegarden are attempting to emulate the ocean, these facilities are the man-made cousins of river waves. Standing wave pools provide an endless ramp of flowing water that lets riders burn out their legs on minutes-long rides that would be impossible in the ocean.
Until relatively recently, standing waves were limited to shallow-water contraptions that required a specialized, finless board. They were a fun diversion, but still pretty far from the experience of surfing in the wild. However, with the advent of deep-water standing waves (many modeled after Munich’s Eisbach Wave), a whole new world of possibilities has opened up. Now riders can hack through torrents of water deep enough to allow for an honest to goodness surfboard with fins.
Much like our previous entry in this series, here we endeavor to catalogue every single deep-water standing wave currently open and available for booking. Stay tuned for our upcoming list of river waves.
Standing Wave Pool Technology
Most standing waves are essentially variants on the same process: huge pumps flow water down a ramp and over a lip to create a steep, continuous wave. In the case of deep-water standing waves, the tremendous force of this water flow projects the wave far enough away from the lip to allow the use of finned boards. From there, the size, power and shape of the wave can be fine-tuned by modifying the water flow, shape of the lip and even the width of the ramp. Behind the wave, water collects and recirculates back to the pumps, in order to allow for a continuous flow. Each standing wave company has its own proprietary tweaks on how this process is executed, but those specifics are often trade secrets. The German-based brand Citywave, is one of the biggest players in this space.
One of the more significant divergences from this formula comes in the form of pools that are hybrids of natural and artificial waves. For instance: Unit pools are designed to be built in existing bodies of water, such as lakes, which allows them to be quickly installed and consume fewer resources. “Controlled natural waves,” such as the Nürnberger Dauerwelle, also use existing water, but this time by harnessing the water flow of a river, rather than pumping it mechanically.
Every Open Deep-Water Standing Wave Pool (By Region)
Europe
Jochen Schweizer Arena
City: Munich, Germany
Technology: Citywave
Cost: $43-65 for a 30-minute session, $129-357 for a guided session
Website
Munich’s Eisbach river is the mother of all river waves, and also the inspiration for Citywave founder Rainer Klimaschewski. This was Citywave’s first pool, and the company has come a long way since it opened in 2017. Now it’s a dominant force in the standing wave market, with a dozen facilities around the world.
The 25-foot pool itself is located in the Jochen Schweizer Arena, an extreme sports complex that also features an indoor skydiving wind tunnel, a VR arena, driving simulator, escape rooms and bungee jumping. There’s also a number of culinary experiences on tap to refuel in between sessions. Don’t forget to also make a pilgrimage to check out the actual Eisbach River, less than 30 minutes away.
RheinRiff
City: Düsseldorf, Germany
Technology: Citywave
Cost: $53 for a 45-minute session
Website
A 30-foot wide Citywave pool is the center feature in RheinRiff’s massive indoor complex. If that’s not enough in the way of landlocked sports, there’s also beach volleyball courts and a skate ramp. Beyond that, the venue features multiple bars and modular event areas that can be repurposed for concerts and private events.
L&T Sport
City: Osnabrück, Germany
Technology: Citywave
Cost: $42-53 for a 45-minute session
Website
L&T Sport existed as a local Osnabrück fashion retailer long before it was a surfing destination, but in 2018 Citywave installed its second indoor wave machine in the complex. The result is a unique experience where standing-wave surfers can not only purchase equipment to immediately test out in the water, but also a set of clothing for land-based pursuits. As a bonus, mall visitors can watch the surfing from all five floors above the pool.
Wellenwerk
City: Berlin, Germany
Technology: Citywave
Cost: $53-64 for a 90-minute session, $216 for a beginner surf course
Website
Citywave’s first and only project in Germany’s capital city. The Wellenwerk facility also includes a number of Deus Ex Machina branded attractions, including a bar and café, beer garden, surf shop and shaping bay.
Surf Langenfeld
City: Langenfeld, Germany
Technology: Unit
Cost: $50 – $58 per one-hour session, $92 for 1.5 hour coaching session
Website
The world’s first standing wave installed in an existing lake is in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The 26-foot wide Unit pool belongs to Wasserski Langenfeld, a water park that also includes six cables for water skiing and wakeboarding. In between surf or cable sessions, guests can make use of the attached restaurant, beach bar, conference rooms and event spaces.
Urbansurf Zurich
City: Zurich, Switzerland
Technology: Citywave
Cost: $71 for a 30-minute session
Website
The 27-foot wide Citywave pool at Urbansurf Zurich truly is an urban surfing experience, located in the trendy Gerold quarter in the middle of Zurich. Guests to the facility can also check out a bar, restaurant and surf shop with its own collection.
Oana
City: Lucerne, Switzerland
Technology: Citywave
Cost: $70-131 for a 45-minute session
Website
The Mall of Switzerland is a large, three-floor complex with 150 stores that bills itself as “the largest mall in central Switzerland.” Inside that is an indoor surf park with a Citywave pool, restaurant and surf shop.
SCS Multiplex
City: Vienna, Austria
Technology: Citywave
Cost: $60 for a 60-minute session
Website
Citywave’s dominance of the continental European shopping mall surfing market continues with Citywave Vienna. This facility is located in Shopping City Süd, where surfers can enjoy a 25-foot wide Citywave pool.
Honna Surf Hub
City: Madrid, Spain
Technology: Citywave
Cost: $43-54 for a 45-minute session
Website
Spain’s first Citywave is located in the retail development of X-Madrid. The mall feature a large indoor/outdoor sports complex that also includes a trampoline park, freediving and rock climbing. Of course, there’s also your typical mall fare as well: shopping, restaurants, a movie theater and bowling alley.
Wakeparadise
City: Milan, Italy
Technology: Unit
Cost: $59 per hour session
Website
Wakeparadise is 50,000 square-foot wakeboarding cable park in Milan, Italy with a 2600-foot loop course, replete with boxes, rails and kickers. Since 2019, it has also housed a 32-foot wide Unit floating freshwater wave that can produce five-foot faces. The Unit has also been competition-tested as the site of the championship event for the 2023 Rapid Surf League pro/am.
Asia
Citywave Tokyo Sakaimachi
City: Tokyo, Japan
Technology: Citywave
Cost: $69 for a one hour session
Website
Citywave Tokyo first opened in August of 2018 at the Sporu Oimachi sports center in the heart of Tokyo. The complex was designed for athletes to practice and spectators to watch various sports as a promotion for the upcoming 2020 Olympic games. However, the original lease was only for four years, after which the venue moved away from the city center to Sakaimachi and reopened in 2023.
Eastern Europe
Flow Moscow
City: Moscow, Russia
Technology: Citywave
Cost: $44 for a one hour session
Website
If you happen to find yourself in Russia, Flow Moscow is probably your best and only bet for getting a surf in. Not only that, but the unique action sports facility also has an indoor skydiving wind tunnel. To experience a slavic sea-land-air trifecta, the complex also includes a bar and adjacent surf hostel.
Middle East
Mall Hof Village
City: Tel Aviv, Israel
Technology: Citywave
Cost: $42 for a one hour session
Website
This 32-foot wide Citywave pool opened in 2018 as the main attraction in Mall Hof Village in Hadera. Located north of Tel Aviv, the mall itself features 20 restaurants and 80 stores. If you still yearn for saltwater, the complex is also only a five-minute drive to the beach.
Americas
The Lineup at Wai Kai
City: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Technology: Citywave
Cost: $60-$125 per 45-minute session
Website
The irony of building a wave pool an hour from Honolulu wasn’t lost on anyone when Wai Kai was first announced. However, since the facility opened it’s gotten the stamp of approval from pros and locals alike. Watching Mason Ho and others tear The Lineup up makes a strong case for checking the Citywave facility out when the doldrums hit Oahu, or as an amuse bouche for heavier ocean waters.
Lakeside Surf
City: Chelan, Washington, United States
Technology: Citywave
Cost: $39 for a 45-minute session with 12 surfers maximum, $430 for a private session
Website
Located in Slidewaters Waterpark, with a view of Lake Chelan, Lakeside Surf is Citywave’s biggest project to date. The pool is massive, with a 50-foot wide ramp that can produce five-foot faces. While Wai Kai was the German company’s first inroad in the Hawaiian market, Chelan is its first effort in the continental United States. The whole thing seems designed to make a big impression, and by all accounts, is up to the task.
Oceania
Yourwave
City: Wanaka, New Zealand
Technology: Yourwave
Cost: $59 per hour session
Website
Yourwave is the brainchild of New Zealand industrial designer Ross McCarthy. The claim to fame of this unique facility is that its structure is made of chambered, inflatable airforms – akin to a bouncy castle. As such, the pool can not only be quickly installed and easily adjusted, but also provides a soft surface to land on, should the rider take a tumble.
