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Image: Waveup
Image: Waveup
Image: Waveup
Image: Waveup
Waveup
A Wavegarden Cove Planned for SwitzerlandAverage Reviews
Description
The Regensdorf area in Switzerland will be home to Waveup, a 13 acre (5.2 hectare) park centered around a Wavegarden Cove wave pool.
Assuming the full-size 6-acre Wavegarden Cove installation is similar to URBNSURF Melbourne, wave pool will generate waves suitable for all skill levels, from .5m (2 foot) whitewater rollers to high performance barreling waves nearly 2m (6 feet) high on the face of the wave.
On both sides of the pier, the Reef areas will offer advanced left and right waves up to 6′ (2m) high on the face of the wave that can be ridden for 12-15 seconds. The shape of the waves will vary from high performance ripable walls to barrels. Surfers on one side of the pier will surf lefts, and surfers on the other side will surf right.
The Reef areas will also host intermediate lefts and rights that are up to 3-4′ high (1m) on the face of the wave. These waves will provide an open face shape that is good for practicing turns. The intermediate waves will provide rides for 12-15 seconds.
The Bay areas will offer beginner waves either side of the pier where knee high whitewater rollers provide perfect learning opportunities.
The cost of a 1-hour surf session in the Waveup wave pool will vary with the seasons and demand, but the team expects the average price to be 65 CHF.
Will all the proper permits in place, and wave pool technology pinned down, construction is expected to start immediately and the team hopes to have the park open in 2020.
The Waveup facility will occupy a total area 13 acres (5.2 hectares). It will operate for 250 days in a year and close for the two coldest months.
Outside the Wave Pool
The park grounds surrounding the Waveup wave pool will also attract visitors thanks to landscape architecture from Enzo Enea that includes gardens, hills, big trees and open spaces. The adventure path in the park will be used to teach children and families about nature and sustainable resource use. The grounds will be planted with plants that are native to the region; no invasive or imported species like palm trees.
A second lake dedicated to swimming will occupy 1500 square meters, including six 50-meter swimming lanes. The water in the swimming lake will be filled with fresh water that is filtered naturally, making it the largest natural swimming lake in Switzerland.
Other activities include beach volleyball, skate bowl, pump track and bouldering area. A restaurant and surf shop offering gear an lessons will also be on site.
Waveup will provide financial benefits by increasing the number of hotel night stays per year and the associated tourist spend.
Waveup will also appeal to local residents (“Regendorfers”) who will be allowed to enter the park for free. There will be employment benefits as well: the facility will generate 35 full time jobs plus another 50 temporary jobs.
The Waveup team expects 225,000 visitors per year and roughly 75,000 of them will be surfers (by year three of operation).
The total cost to develop Waveup is expected to be 25-30M CHF ($25-30M USD). The project is being funded by private investors.
History
The idea of Waveup was born in 2012 and the first draft of the business plan was created in 2013.
The company behind the Waveup wave pool was formally founded in 2014 and an initial location was identified. In 2015, however, the team decided to find a better location for the facility.
In May 2016, the team met with Governing Council President Markus Kagi.
In July 2016, they signed their letter of intent with Gemeinde Regensdorf.
The team held their first community press conference in June of 2017 and successfully completed a CHF 100,000 ($100,000 USD) crowdfunding round a month later. In November of that same year, the regional plan was adopted by the ZPF Delegate Assembly.
In November of 2018, the Waveup team signed a memorandum of understanding with the landowners in the Wisacher area and published the directive plan.
A public vote in the municipality of Regensdorf said “yes” to the plan and necessary rezoning in March of 2019 and in July of that same year, the Waveup team decided to use Wavegarden Cove technology for the wave pool.
Now the WaveUp team is working on detailed designs which will be submitted to the local council in Regensdorf and the state for preliminary reviews. If there are any concerns, the WaveUp team will have the opportunity to revise the proposal which increases chances of approval later.
Unfortunately, there is a moratorium on construction in the area through fall 2020. That means that the final public vote on the project could be on hold until late 2020.
Sources: Waveup
