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Image: Wavelandes
Image: Wavelandes
Photo: Wavegarden
Photo: Wavegarden
Wavelandes Atlantic
A Wavegarden Cove in Beautiful CastetsAverage Reviews
Description
Wavelandes Atlantic is the name of a wave pool being planned for the town of Castets, France, near Spain. Using Wavegarden Cove technology, the pool will produce waves suitable for beginners, professionals and everyone in between.
The Wavelandes Atlantic facility will cover 22 acres (9 hectares) and the wave pool will occupy 5 of those acres. Like other Wavegarden Cove installations, the pool will be divided into 6 areas that produce different types of waves: two advanced areas, two intermediate and two beginner areas. Up to 90 surfers will be spread across these six areas.
Sufers in the advanced area will ride waves that are up to 6′ high on the face of the wave for 12-15 seconds. The pool will produced rights and lefts that offer barrels, turns and air sections for advanced surfers.
Surfers in the intermediate areas will surf waves that are 2-3′ high on the face of the wave for XX seconds. The intermediate waves will be gentle, open-faced lefts and rights.
Beginners will ride 1-2′ whitewater rollers.
In addition to surfing, the plan calls for a variety of other sporting activities including yoga, skating, climbing and volleyball. Restaurants and a 150-bed hotel are also included in the plan.
The estimated cost of Wavelandes Atlantic is €40 million euros, or $44 million USD. They hope to attract 180,000 visitors per year (60,000 surfers), and they plan to be open 300 days per year with a short closing during the worst of winter. When it opens, the facility will create nearly 200 jobs, 35% of which are full time, year round.
Environmental impact studies have already been completed and validated by Eten Environment, an environment planning and engineering firm in France.
The project is still working on funding and has one more permitting hurdle, which the team hopes to clear in October. If that happens, the team plans to be open to the public sometime in 2020.
With the support of the French Federation of Surfing XX, Wavelandes Atlantic is likely to serve as the national training center for the French national team as they prepare for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
History
Wavelandes, the company behind the Wavelandes Atlantic project, was formed in 2015 by Norbert Ducrot.
In August 2018, the team announced their plans at a press conference.
In XX, Wavelandes purchased the land from the city for roughly $850,000 USD.
In August 2019, Wavelandes released a press statement that included an update on their progress. The team is still working on funding and has one more permitting hurdle, which the team hopes to clear in October. If that happens, the team plans to be open to the public sometime in 2020. They’ve got a long road ahead, so it will be impressive if they manage to pul that off.
Sources: todosurf.com, surfsession.com, surferrule.com, wavepoolmag.com
