Thoughts on our new Australian wave pool?

I've been following since day 1, along with the Airwave.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/airwavesurfreefs/airwave-the-worlds-first-inflatable-surf-reef#

It's now become a full scale prototype.

It's already proved the smaller test waves in the tiny tanks and other larger models can be scaled to full size, thanks to some smart engineers and scientists/surfers/investors. The potential is amazing.

It they can get this reliable, then commercial models pumping out 8ft waves over 5 breaks, left and right, 6 sets every minute, It destroys everything we thought about wave pools.

Instead of flogging a sled underwater consuming HUGE amounts of energy, you can just bounce a 900T plunger on the water, only needing a burst of compressed air to keep it's momentum going once underway.

They have a long way to go. But early results show its possible. Stab have an excellent 5 part (so far) story on it. Beach Grit are trying.

stabmag.com/news/surf-lakes-is-the-worlds-most-beautiful-wave-park/

I really hope they can crank it up to 8ft.

I think they have already proved the concept works at full scale, which is amazing in itself. Go for it. Crank that that beast.

Extra reading...

www.instagram.com/p/BpbVF3cgoCK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_video_watch_again

www.instagram.com/p/BpZRu-1jcqu/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_video_watch_again

beachgrit.com/2018/10/from-the-milk-a-story-dry-department-occys-wave-pool-from-the-bird/

I love it , I love everything about it.
this sort of thing will be the future for landlocked people . 80% of us live within 50 km of the coast.

There will be teething issues of course but the principal is now proven, hydraulic may be a lot more efficient than the pneumatic set up they have however would be higher capital costs.
This thing fired up and at full noise or even 2/3 will be super impressive. Even at the size the videos released at at full production (wave every 6 seconds on each bank or thereabouts) is better than most people can get on tap. Even in places where the surf pumps you have flat spells.
If the government can build stadiums with our cash , im all for the new Optus wavepark or Telstra pool.
woodside wedge, rio Tinto rip bowel whatever , just build me one

Hydraulics have the power but they are too slow and expensive (and an environmental hazard).

Compressed air is where it is at and can be stored easier.

As Razzonater said, these are just tests.

But they just proved full scale it could work!!!!! The concept works and other Prototypes may appear.

Of course the air exhaust will be placed far away from the resort buildings.

I can't wait to watch try hards (after signing a waiver) eat **** in front of thousands of people eating restaurant quality food and BEER.

Don't get me wrong.

Ocean will always win (just send the fools to the wave school)

Oh well, don't need to wonder anymore, everybody go home.

"Machine's fully broken - the whole thing snapped. :("

stabmag.com/news/praises-and-criticism-of-the-yeppoon-wave-pool/

I'm highly sceptical of these things, especially the claims of more than 6 waves a minute.

Kellys' pool does 1 wave aprrox. every 5 minutes. Time for the water turbulence to settle and the 'vehicle' to return to the start of the track.

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myusernam said..

But this thing looks awesome for a local waterpark for the masses. They could make it HUUUGE. Build it and they will come. Surf village/ family them park resort in middle of australia. Flat land the govt couldnt give it way fast enough

I agree. You could have an awesome time just watching the chaos unfold. Even have board-free sessions like this


I hope they keep trying to make it work at 8 foot - 6 sets a minute. I think I read somewhere that the turbulence doesn't become a problem as the water breaks on the specially contoured reef bottom and then runs back out through the deeper channels like an undercurrent. There was even talk of using specially placed underwater jets to create currents (might have been Webber's wavepool concept).
Will leave that up to the Hydrodynamic scientists and engineers, I'm sure they have addressed that issue.

The thing I also like about the concept is it's more like an ocean wave. With Kelly's Wave you are staring at a mesh fence and a train metres away the entire time.

There is a proper trough in front of each wave from the wave before it. The water is totally flat in front of the hydrofoil designs. Another big bonus of the design is one of the breaks will always be offshore no matter which way the wind blows.


Get it working fellas!

EvilPanda, We already have an endless Wind and Wave machine in WA called a Seabreeze. It's just only available at certain times, but no need to book, or even pay.

When those white caps start showing, and the wind starts blowing, it makes a joke of any kind of artificial wave. The troughs and peaks offshore can be HUGE. WAY bigger than a wave tank. The near shore waves are just a bonus.

Somebody should make a website about WA's awesome Seabreeze. Get onto it Laurie

The Wave tank would just be a supplement when there is no SeaBreeze.

How cool would it be to just watch the slaughter of 192 people at once in an 8 foot wavepool with 3600 waves per hour, live band playing under lights, sitting in the elevated beer garden eating some nice food, with your hotel or chalet rooms nearby.

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Windpasser said..

I agree. You could have an awesome time just watching the chaos unfold. Even have board-free sessions like this

I hope someone dropped an AquaTurd in the human wave. I would have been a classic case of Whodungit...