Guest Article
www.parkworld-online.com
High tech sporting for the masses Surf Parks represent a unique and growing opportunity says Nuresh Maredia CHIA
A
ccording to the 2021 Outdoor Participation Trends Report published by the Outdoor Foundation, interest in surfing surged in 2020, with participation increasing nearly 30% over 2019. When you consider that surfing depends on access to waves that not everyone has, it’s an impressive number. But access to quality surfing waves may quickly become a thing of the past as surf parks grow not only in popularity, but also in technological advances. Surf parks and their associated advancements in wave technology are beginning to capture new markets and segments of the population that have never had contact with surfboards. This has investors, residential and commercial developers and operators now looking with great interest at the potential of this growing industry. This potential could translate to unprecedented growth in the sport, giving rise to a new generation of surfers who would otherwise not have had the opportunity to give surfing a try. The influence of surf parks has had in welcoming new first-time surfers in a fun, social, non-intimidating version of ocean surfing is undeniable. Existing surfers have an opportunity to improve on their skills and be very creative on a highly repeatable wave.
Surf Parks
Africa Asia
Europe Middle East
North America Oceania
South America Total
by World Region Existing Planned 1 4 5 1 5 2 0
0 1
21 0
18 5 2
18 Source: Hotel & Leisure Advisors 54 47
Supply Hotel & Leisure Advisors conducted its first surf park study of a surf park in 2008 in the United States. Since then, we have been tracking the growth of this industry. The following table shows the number of surf parks open globally and those in planning, proposed or under construction. These do not include projects in very preliminary stages.
A Unique Opportunity Recreational man-made waves have been around for generations, and the technology has continued to advance in search of building the “perfect wave.” The first model suitable for surfing opened at the Big Surf Waterpark in Tempe, Arizona, in 1969. Twenty years later, Scottish engineer Douglas Murphy designed Typhoon Lagoon at Disney World in Florida. Murphy remained the leader of artificial wave technology until around 2010, when new technologies began to appear. There are a handful of wave pool technologies, and each company develops and sells its own patented concept. The biggest benefit of the development new of technologies has been the development of surf parks in inland locations or urban settings. Modern technologies and design allow the operator to target multiple skill levels within the same surfing session. Manmade surfing has the potential to bring that same culture outdoor adventure to virtually everyone in the world. The fact that surfing is an Olympic sport has been a catalyst for many developments and is seen favorably in the eyes of many developers, sports organizations, and governmental entities.
Operating Models
The development of a new surf park brings with it challenges and issues. For developers and investors one of the key challenges is to identify if it is financially feasible to develop and operate a surf park. As the technology is relatively new, developers and operators are tweaking a variety of operating models to maximize the potential. We have identified two key operating models..
1. Stand-Alone – This model involves the development of the surf park only with limited food and beverage on site, allowing the park to focus on training and skill building. Attendance to the venue is limited to participants and spectators during competitions and events. The stand-alone model would be for developers that have limited land
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021
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