Wavepools in the Northwest

Scriffler · Since 03 Jul 2005 581 Posts LYLE Addicted

Is there any talk of rich individuals,corporations or crowdfunders trying to roll out any wavepools in the northwest? It seems like some Microsoft types would be at least floating the idea? Cheap land comparatively to a lot of surfing Mecca’s. They could easily be accommodating to kiting and windsurfing, placed in the corrIdors of wind or the coast oriented north south to offer two kiteable wind directions. It just popped into my head after reading about bill gates’ daughter having her own horse stable in Florida. What if one of his kids was into surfing?

Clyde S. Dale · Since 23 Jul 2016 55 Posts

I helped fund this group,I'll see if they want to take on a more ambitious project next.

Jonpnw · Tue Nov 07, 17 6:57 am **Seattle Wave Pool**

A standing wave to me sounds like a flow rider on a cruise ship ? Not too exciting but maybe its something more ?

https://www.digitaltrends.com/outdoors/citysurf-seattle/

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1731 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

Not really a wave pool but somewhat the same topic.
up in monroe, washington, the city council had approved the use of lake tyee for cable park. everything seemed to be going the right direction and the community was excited then the developer apparently could not find investors for the park so it died a slow death

http://pskite.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7682&start=0

Windian · Since 28 Apr 2008 892 Posts Newport, OR NEWPORT OG

It is inevitable that the NW will get one at some point. Willamette Valley is perfect with all the ingredients; relatively inexpensive flat farm land with large populations nearby, plentiful clean fresh water, warm summers and moderate fall, winter and spring air temps most of the time. KS Wave is a huge success and the technology is only going to get better and cheaper to build.

Soon there will be world-class surfers coming from inland areas that have spent little or no time in the ocean. It is a strange and unusual surfing world nowadays.

Cool

sleestack · Since 07 Dec 2006 182 Posts Land of the Lost Stoked

[quote="Scriffler"]Is there any talk of rich individuals,corporations or crowdfunders trying to roll out any wavepools in the northwest? It seems like some Microsoft types would be at least floating the idea? Cheap land comparatively to a lot of surfing Mecca’s. They could easily be accommodating to kiting and windsurfing, placed in the corrIdors of wind or the coast oriented north south to offer two kiteable wind directions. It just popped into my head after reading about bill gates’ daughter having her own horse stable in Florida. What if one of his kids was into surfing?[/quote]

Trump is thinking about doing something like this; "its going to be really, really, really great!"

He purchased a bunch of lands all around the US that is close to being waterfront property. His play is to wait for more global warming to occur and to accelerate the carbon footprint of the US by using more coal and oil products, hence the glaciers will melt more quickly and the oceans will rise and he will have waterfront property in the decades to come.

Wait, this might be fake news, or at least partially fake Shocked

Slappysan · Since 13 Jun 2012 309 Posts Obsessed

skideeppow · Since 26 Aug 2011 521 Posts Addicted

Slappysan · Since 13 Jun 2012 309 Posts Obsessed

deminimis · Since 15 Jul 2014 326 Posts On the Rocks Obsessed

I suspect you all know about the wave in Bend. I seem to recall it being mentioned on here in the past. I haven't tried it and I imagine it's near impossible to get a ride on a crowded Summer weekend, but thought I'd mention it in case someone isn't hip to it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hXiHmS_qhg

Slappysan · Since 13 Jun 2012 309 Posts Obsessed

I took a trip to Bend this summer and had a blast on the Green Wave at the whitewater park.

It's way harder to get used to surfing than I expected. Probably took me 20 attempts before I got the hang of it and each attempt lasts about 1.5 seconds. Each time you fall you need to queue up again so it does help to go when it's a bit less busy if you know you are going to be falling a lot.

Also they say not to use a leash because of the danger but frankly almost everybody there uses a leash and I highly recommend it. My problem was all my ocean leashes are 8 ft and that length is actually quite dangerous. Buy a 5 ft leash ahead of time (I couldn't even buy a 6 ft in town anywhere).

I had to chase my board down 1 or 2 more rapids and walk way back up when I was learning without a leash. Slows down the learning process a lot.

I thought ocean surfing and wake surfing experience would make it easy to ride that wave, but it's a very different animal.

Even with the summer crowds I found the queue manageable. Once there are only 3 people surfing the wave it actually gets so you are too tired to surf. Usually there are between 5-15 people surfing.

If you go early in the morning or late at night the crowd thins out. I surfed until dark one night.

I also recommend a full wetsuit, booties and gloves for protection from the rocks. I mulched my hand up first session because the water isn't clear and you need to learn the location of the rocks so you don't swim right in to them. Once you learn the rock patterns underwater you can easily get away without them though.

deminimis · Since 15 Jul 2014 326 Posts On the Rocks Obsessed

^^ Good info. Thanks!

airon^ · Since 07 Aug 2013 290 Posts Durango Obsessed

I hate to even advertise it, but Bend has a world class wave.

Many other waves could be produced at a fraction of the cost of the commercial wave parks.

Bend had the first annual River Summit this year, and there are many people trying to go forward with this.

Here in Colorado, it's more difficult because our flows are heavily dependent on snow melt.

But there in the PNW you all have snowmelt plus rainfall in the fall so there's good potential for year round flow.

Windian · Since 28 Apr 2008 892 Posts Newport, OR NEWPORT OG

A standing river wave like in Bend at their river park is not the same as forward moving ocean swells which eventually feel shallow seafloor and then break. KS Wave at the Surf Ranch in Lemoore has masterfully mimicked breaking ocean waves in a confined freshwater pool. The entire physics and hydrodynamics of the two are completely different. To build a manmade standing wave is relatively easy and inexpensive. Just anchor underwater obstacles in a river flow to cause the water to lift upward and spill over and you have a standing wave. To build a moving forward surfing wave like KS Wave or Wave Garden is super expensive and requires mechanical engineering and crazy hydrology skills and application to achieve that task.

You also get what you pay for with this manmade wave game. Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to pay $100 for my chance at 5 waves at the Surf Ranch. The standing wave in Bend I don't even have any desire to give it a go.

Go ahead and compare the two venues and decide for yourself which looks more interesting, fun and challenging:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr9aQ4qvciQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hXiHmS_qhg

OG · Since 07 Jun 2011 583 Posts Addicted

more wave pool info

https://magicseaweed.com/news/wsl-ceo-theres-more-changes-to-come/10605/

user124 · Since 02 Aug 2012 391 Posts Portland Obsessed

chrissmack · Since 08 Jun 2005 526 Posts portland Addicted