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Wavegarden R&D Center
Photo: Wavegarden
The Wave London
A large Wavegarden Cove in the works.Average Reviews
Description
In November 2018, the team behind The Wave in Bristol announced is the second project in London. The Wave in London will feature Wavegarden Cove technology and produce waves very similar to The Wave in Bristol which range from 2-6 feet in face height to suit beginners, pros and everyone in between.
Wave Size, Shape and Frequency
Six separate areas around the 4.4 acre (1.8 hectare) pool will be organized by skill level. On each side of the wave-making pier, there will be an advanced, intermediate and beginning area.
The advanced area on one side of the pier will produce lefts while the area on the other side will produce rights. The waves will measure up to 6 feet (2m) high on the face of the wave and vary in shape though the course of a 1-hour session. Typically sessions will start with waves that are ideal for high-performance turns and then progress toward waves with air and barrel sections. The length of ride will be around 13 seconds.
With a maximum of 15 advanced surfers on each side of the pier, each surfer should get a shot at 12 or more waves in each 1-hour session.
After the wave passes through the advanced area on either side of the pier, it will reform and break again in the intermediate area with a face measuring 3-4 feet (1m). The intermediate wave will have an open carve-able face that helps surfers dial in their turns and rails. The length of ride in the intermediate area will run up to 15 seconds.
A maximum of 10 intermediate surfers will take turns on each side of the pier, so each intermediate surfer should be able to catch at least 12 waves per 1-hour session.
Beginners will ride the knee-high whitewater rollers that reform beyond the intermediate area. The waves here will provide beginners with rides up to 15 seconds long. The beginner areas on both sides of the pier will be dedicated to lessons. The Wave in London will operate like The Wave in Bristol, which means there will be 2 lesson groups, each containing 8 surfers, on each side of the pier. Coaches helping two surfers (one from each group) into each wave.
Progress
The company behind the Bristol and London projects, The Wave, is partnering with Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA) to create and submit a planning application for the new facility. The LVRPA is a solid strategic partner for The Wave because they are a statutory body that is responsible for managing and developing the 26 miles (42 km) long, 10,000 acres (4,000 ha) Lee Valley Regional Park. The Wave in London will develop ~100 acres of land within the park at an estimated cost of £40m.
Site analysis was scheduled to start in August 2019, and The Wave team has once again partnered with Hydrock for investigation and engineering services. Hydrock will provide pre-planning and geotechnical engineering services, including site investigation and feasibility studies.
After the site analysis is completed and community support secured, The Wave will submit a planning application to the city for formal approval from the London Borough of Enfield and the Mayor of London. That process can take months or years.
Thus far the LVRPA has revealed that the existing lake in the north of the Lee Valley Leisure Complex will not be affected. In fact, the project aims to enhance the area’s biodiversity. Activities at the world-class Lee Valley Athletics Centre would continue as normal.
The LVRPA also said that the Lee Valley Golf Course and Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park in Edmonton will close if the project goes ahead. The Authority is already exploring opportunities with the London Borough of Enfield to provide alternative facilities for golfers.
“These proposals have the potential to create a stunning new regional leisure hub bringing health, fitness, sport and outdoor activities to millions of people along with many new jobs….A generation ago we built what was then Europe’s largest leisure centre. Now we hope to bring inland surfing here to create an outstanding new leisure destination for the capital and the region.”
Shaun Dawson, chief executive of LVRPA
Sources: LVRPA, BoardSportSource, SurfParkCentral, SurferToday
