Wave Pool Mag

We built the ultimate wave pool directory, mapped every surf park, and broke stories before anyone else. We’ve also chased projects that never materialized, surfed pools that barely functioned, and heard industry secrets we can’t repeat. Why? Because we’re not just journalists — we’re surfers obsessed with where this amazing space is going. Whether you're scouting the next man-made barrel, geeking out over tech, or building a surf park, we get it: Wave pools are the future, and we’re diving in.

There’s been a palpable shift with more interest in the surf park space than ever before. We’ve matured since the dreamer days a decade ago, when a rough sketch on a napkin and secured land could potentially land a deal. But the same question is raised again and again, whether in a room full of attorneys or by a billionaire bro smitten with surfing, what does it cost to build a surf park? Like most things in life, the answer is never straight and simple.

Everyone is always looking for Sarah Wiseman. Which sounds weird and existential, but during WavePoolMag’s last visit to Waco Surf we encountered firsthand just how key she is to the success and daily operations of Texas’ favorite surf park. During our interview, staff literally cued up on occasion to ask her one thing or another. Granted, it was the launch of the season and all those wonderful opening weekend anxieties were on high. Sarah is a sage and always has the perfect answer.

Currently, the wave pool industry is creating thousands of jobs globally, and a single full-scale surf park employs 50–150+ people, depending on the season. Atlantic Park Surf in Virginia Beach, for example, employs more than 65 people during peak season, plus additional coaches and instructors through their WRV surf shop component. Daily wave pool operations require this staff for coaching, lifeguarding, hospitality, maintenance, management, and much more to function correctly.

For the past few years WavePoolMag has documented the evolution of ADG and Epic Surf within the surf park space with keen interest. The legacy water park company has created a host of surf experiences, including a 3-in-1 boogie-boarding pool in Australia, a 3-acre compact surf development concept, and more than 130 FlowRiders as the North American licensee. The latest jewel in the company’s crown is the grand opening of the Epic Surf deepwater standing wave at Heroes Paradise in Brandon, Florida.

Since 2019, The Wave has evolved, making small adjustments to meet consumer demand. From wave menu and settings to camping and kid camps, the surf park is constantly refining its offerings. The Field, a new camping space to open on July 1, 2026, is the Bristol surf park’s latest tweak. Located a short walk from the surf lake, The Field will offer visitors the option to pitch their own tent, bring a campervan or book one of The Wave’s bell tents. Grass pitches are priced at £30 a night per pitch.

While surfing 29 different wave pools around the world, I experienced a 50-minute walk back to my short-term rental, a 25-minute drive through an unfamiliar city to my hotel, and hitching a ride back to my bed for the night. Then, a few surf parks flipped the script, turning my visit into a full experience. I can settle in, wake up to the waves and enjoy my final session of the day knowing I don’t need to venture far back to a hotel, hostel or house rental.

In Bavaria, surfing has always existed as a kind of contradiction — a deeply committed surf culture thriving hundreds of miles from the ocean. O₂ SURFTOWN MUC turns that contradiction into a destination. What was once unused semi-industrial space in Hallbergmoos is now a 20,000-square-meter surf complex capable of hosting up to 4,000 visitors at a time. The facility runs largely on solar-generated energy and employs roughly 120 staff during peak summer season.

A Utah town with a population of 51,000 just had its city council approve some changes that will allow a surf park development. The city of Draper in Salt Lake saw the elected officials approve an amendment to the Veranda West master plan that adds an 8.8-acre surf park to a mixed-use development west of Interstate 15 near Bangerter Highway.

Irish Surfing has designated Lost Shore Surf Resort in Edinburgh as its National Performance Centre for Surfing and Irish National Surfing Olympic Training Facility under a partnership aimed at supporting athlete development ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The agreement gives Irish Surfing’s elite athletes, coaches and performance teams access to Lost Shore, which the organization describes as Europe’s largest wave pool.