Surfing
Surfing
Red Bull Pool Clash: Surfing's favourite freshwater series goes global
Mix surfing, chlorine and taurine and you get Red Bull Pool Clash, a freshwater take on competitive surfing that's open to anyone. Read on to find out why the event is fast developing an army of fans.
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After launching in Brazil in 2022, Red Bull Pool Clash is back for 2025 with events scheduled in Germany and the Netherlands. These aren't your typical surf contests and while the obvious point of difference is the reduced dependence on the weather, the intangibles are where the magic truly lies. With an endless supply of waves and judging that prioritises creativity, flow and risk, Red Bull Pool Clash is more about performing in the moment than it is about competition.
Jao Errera behind the peak in the Alps
© Marc Weiler/Red Bull Content Pool
By eliminating the variables, competition turns more inward, allowing comradery and support for fellow competitors to flourish. The paddle battles and priority games that form a large part of a regular event are replaced with jam session energy and a strong sense of local surf culture and community.
Here's all you need to know about the event that's set to shake up surfing.
01
Where Red Bull Pool Clash all began
Red Bull Pool Clash launched in São Paulo, Brazil. Boa Vista Village's Wavegarden Cove proved the ideal proof of concept as the surf-mad community came out in force to see local heroes trade tubes and turns, all set to a samba soundtrack.
The second outing of Red Bull Pool Clash took place at Sion, in Switzerland. Nestled in the heart of the snowcapped Alps, Alaïa Bay might seem like an unlikely setting for a surf competition, but the Wavegarden Cove creates consistent waves that offer surfers of all abilities a broad performance canvas – perfect for an inclusive event like Red Bull Pool Clash.
Leonardo Fioravanti
© Gabriele Seghizzi/Red Bull Content Pool
I loved going to the Red Bull Pool Clash in Switzerland! It was really cool to check out surfers I'd never seen before absolutely ripping. I can’t wait to check out the next one
Key themes emerged at the maiden Pool Clashes. The jam session format levels the playing field and allows lesser known surfers to shine, while the head-to-head finals provide the perfect climax.
"We learned a lot from the first two events in terms of flow, wave timing and how to keep the crowd engaged all day," says Red Bull Pool Clash project manager Aritz Aranburu. "We also fine-tuned the balance between pure competition and entertainment.
"The level of connection between the surfers and the crowd is surprising. Pool surfing puts everything on display – you’re up close, there’s music, lights, energy – and that changes the whole experience. It's more like a skate contest than a classic surf comp. That vibe surprised me in the best way."
Hall of Fame Euro ripper turned Pool Clash project manager, Aritz Aranburu
© Edu Bartolomé/Red Bull Content Pool
02
The road ahead
In 2025, the Red Bull Pool Clash series continues its expansion with stops in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on August 3 and Munich, Germany, on September 13. While each event delivers its own flavor and community, this year will be the first time that Red Bull Pool Clash runs in non-Wavegarden pools.
Italo Ferreira putting on a show for surfing's closest crowd
© Jason Broderick/Red Bull Content Pool
RiF010 in the heart of the Rotterdam will host the next clash. This innovative facility features a wave that's unlike any other in the world. Unlike traditional wave pool tech, RiF010 channels water through a purpose-built structure that generates a consistent, powerful wave that allows for street-level ripping.
O2 Surftown Munich, the site of the final Pool Clash of the year, is a state-of-the-art facility powered by Endless Surf technology, which allows for infinite wave variations, with no shortage of tubes, ramps and critical sections. O2 Surftown is one of Europe's largest surf pools and is powered by energy-efficient solar energy and green electricity.
Leo Fioravanti and a heavy dose of freshwater fire
© Jason Broderick/Red Bull Content Pool
"The venues are super unique," says Aranburu. "RiF010 in Rotterdam is literally in the middle of the city, so people will be watching from the streets. In Munich, we're working with a brand new facility and pushing the format further. I'm excited to see how each location puts its own twist on the event and to see the crowd get loud."
03
The format: Jam, duel, win
Red Bull Pool Clash is driven by accessibility and expression. Events are open to anyone aged 16 and over, with surfers signing up online to earn their spot in the arena. There are male and female divisions, with 40 berths to be filled in each category.
"It's a full-day event," says Aranburu. "From early warm-ups and jam sessions in the morning, to the head-to-head finals in the evening. Then we party! It's not just about crowning a winner, it's about giving people a full experience from sunrise to sunset."
The day gets started with a jam session format, where groups of surfers share waves and try to rip as hard as they can. Traditional scoring is ditched and the judges simply pick winners.
Red Bull Pool Clash judges
© Ondrej Kolacek/Red Bull Content Pool
"Our judges are a team of surf experts; some former pros, others deeply involved in the surf scene, and they judge across three main areas: creativity, flow and risk. Each judge focuses on one of those. It keeps things clear and sharp.
"The fundamentals are the same, but in a pool environment you have more consistency, so it puts the spotlight on execution and innovation. As the conditions are equal for everyone, the surfers can take more risks and the judges are looking for that extra spark: style, originality and commitment."
The best surfers in the jam sessions advance into the knockout bracket and from here it's two-surfer knockout heats till the finish; five back-to-back waves per matchup, judged qualitatively more than quantitatively and with winners progressing until a champion is crowned.
04
What's at stake?
Winners claim Red Bull Pool Clash trophies and bragging rights as King or Queen of their pool. Beyond prizes, though, the day is about something deeper: local pride, performance under pressure and pushing progression.
There's an emphasis on respect throughout and fair play is enforced. The culture being cultivating is one of support, innovation and authenticity, and when the final wave is surfed there's an afterglow that lingers long after you've left the pool.
Leo Fioravanti and Teresa Bonvalot congratulate Red Bull Pool Clash winners
© Ondrej Kolacek/Red Bull Content Pool
05
The future of surfing?
Red Bull Pool Clash is more than just an event series, it’s a glimpse into surfing's future.
"Surfing in wave pools is opening new doors," says Aranburu. "You can host competitions in places that don't even have a coastline. It's inclusive, fast-paced and adaptable, and I think that it’s going to connect with a lot of new audiences."
Project manager Aritz Aranburu putting on a show in the brine at Mundaka
© Edu Bartolomé/Red Bull Content Pool
With the Red Bull Pool Clash series, Red Bull has struck a balance: part serious sport, part social experiment, part festival. It’s a place where high performance meets high vibes. A modern day bowling league, if you will.
As one judge put it: "You either throw something original, or your competitor will. And the crowd here? They’re right on the wall. They see everything."
06
Closing thoughts
Red Bull Pool Clash has made a serious impact in a short time. With events in Sion and São Paulo proving the concept and new chapters coming to Rotterdam and Munich, the future is bright for urban surfing. It's a competition where the format prioritises style, not stats. The judging is transparent, intuitive and performance-based, while the community is open, respectful and creative.
Franklin Serpa wins the Red Bull Pool Clash in Sion, Switzerland
© Marc Weiler/Red Bull Content Pool
By melding surf culture with cutting-edge infrastructure, Red Bull Pool Clash is not only making waves, its building them – and in doing so, opening a whole new frontier for the sport.
Keep your eye on August 3 in Rotterdam and September 13 in Munich as Red Bull Pool Clash takes its next steps. The waves might be artificial, but the energy, the talent, progression and the excitement are absolutely real.
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