HOLD ON TO YOUR BUTTS: Sydney Is Getting An Epic $26.5M Wavegarden

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Published

April 28, 2016

Sydney is finally addressing its serious wave deficit and is getting a Wavegarden.

Y’know, one of those fandangled wave pools that Kelly Slater allegedly had made in a super secret location that was discovered in about two seconds.

Yeah. One of those is coming to Sydney. We’re being unnecessarily droll here because this is actually VERY EXCITING NEWS, particularly if you’re a pro surfer looking to practise when it’s looking flat out there, or just someone who doesn’t like their legs dangling into shark-infested (probably) waters. Thanks all the same.

Melbourne is already one step ahead and getting their first wave pool late 2017, on the site of the old Melbourne Airport Club purchased by URBNSURF for $18.5 million.

But now Wavegarden have announced that URBNSURF has purchased a second site at Sydney Olympic Park for $26.5 million, and as a Sydneysider, let this writer just say this to all you Melbornians: we’re coming for you fuckerrrrs.

“With a north-south lagoon orientation, URBNSURF Sydney has been designed to suit prevailing wind conditions and LED lagoon lighting means there will be surfing night and day,” said Wavegarden in a press release. “The facility will also feature sustainable design, renewable energy and water saving systems, in keeping with Sydney Olympic Park’s strong environmental sustainability ethos.”

Bizarrely enough, the release also said that the Sydney pool could come in handy for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Surfing is one of five proposed sports submitted to the International Olympic Committee (the others are baseball/softball, karate, sport climbing and skateboarding) for inclusion in the 2020 Games, and sure, Japan has a bit of a space issue, but hosting an entire event in another country? Seems unusual in the extreme.

Anyway, watch this v. v. anticipatory launch film.