Surfing
Surfing
These are the 8 best man-made waves in the world
The best landlocked waves you can find around our globe…
For surfers, the quest for the perfect wave is endless. But thanks to cutting-edge wave pool technology, a new era is upon us folks: the reign of the artificial wave. This means the search no longer requires an ocean. From California’s legendary Surf Ranch to the tropical barrels of Siam Park, artificial waves changed the game, offering consistency, quality, and accessibility like never before.
Jamie O'Brien at Surf Ranch in Leemore, California
© Trevor Moran / Red Bull Content Pool
Beginners looking for a safe place to learn and pros fine-tuning their skills can use the world-class pools for perfect, wave machine-made waves at the push of a button. Red Bull surfer Jamie O’Brien is a pro who’s beyond excited about artificial wave technology.
“I could just retire and surf a wave pool for the rest of my life,” he says.
In no particular order, here’s a look at the some of the best wave pools in the world with the most sought after, and highly anticipated, “fake breaks” to keep you satiated.
01
Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch
17 min
Freshwater Pro
Go behind the scenes at Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch, 100 miles inland from the California coast.
World surf maven Kelly Slater’s Wave Company blew everyone’s mind when it built a fully functional artificial wave in an inland Californian lake in 2015. Located 200 miles from the coast and surrounded by dairy farms, the consistency of the fake waves at Slater’s Ranch in Lemoore, California has raised all kinds of questions and eyebrows since it went public. Though purists aren’t terribly down with Slater’s brown swell, the 11-time World Champion’s freshwater invention was enough to convince the World Surf League to put the Ranch on the 2018 World Championship Tour, with the WSL calling it “the first repeatable man-made wave that convincingly delivers the power and shape of ocean waves.”
02
URBNSURF Melbourne, Australia
As Australia’s first-ever surf park, URBNSURF Melbourne made history when it opened its doors in January 2020. Located just minutes from Melbourne Airport, this state-of-the-art wave pool makes it easy to fly in and surf right after you land. Thanks to URBNSURF’s controlled environment, surfers can hone their skills without worrying about wind, tides, or overcrowding.
The park generates waves in two sections. One side creates consistent left-hand waves while the other generates strong right-hand waves. URBNSURF hosts World Surf League events and other surfing competitions. Pros can compete, while beginners can watch experts show off their skills.
Typhoon Lagoon, Disney World Florida, USA
Though there’s a lot to be distracted by at Florida’s Disney World — the monumental park comprising the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot — there’s really only one place to be when the temperature peaks: Typhoon Lagoon. Surrounded by a litany of water-based frivolity, Typhoon Lagoon is the signature attraction of the Disney water park area: a 2.5 acre, 3 million gallon wave pool, replete with 6-foot kahunas artificially pumped out every 90 seconds for your riding pleasure. But make sure to go during Disney’s surfing season because Typhoon Lagoon does close for refurbishment every year.
03
Siam Park, Adeje, Tenerife
They call it the number one water park in the world, and they aren’t lying. Siam Park is a Thailand-themed water attraction located in Costa Adeje, a suburb of Tenerife in the Spanish Canary Islands. Home to The Wave Palace (aka: where you’ll find the biggest artificial waves in the world) Siam’s three-meter high barrels have attracted some of the world’s most reputable riders in recent summers. As a closing bash to the Las Americas Pro Tenerife Championship in February 2019, 14 pros headed to the Wave Palace to flaunt their skills in an all-star artificial wave face-off. Good times were had.
04
Wavegarden Cove, Montgat, Spain
As well as its impending constructions in the southern hemisphere, Basque-based Wavegarden launched the first public and commercially operating complex in the spring of 2019, in its Bristol, England, and Melbourne, Australia turf. Effectively a carbon copy of URBNSRF, the massive sail-shaped teal blue lagoon delivers consistent sets of A-frame, left and right-handers to stoked local crowds who couldn’t get a look in at San Sebastian or Biarritz.
05
Eisbach, Munich
Set in the middle of the city’s expansive Englischer Garten, the Eisbach River wave is a must-see for any land-locked wave hunter. The river wave was engineered by Rainer Klimaschewski, who essentially ended up one of the pioneers in human-made wave technology. The river and the wave are almost always busy with tourists and locals, but it’s well worth a jump in the icy water. Suffice to say, it’s the only surf wave like it in the middle of an urban center anywhere on the planet (but you will need your wetsuit in the winter).
06
Wadi Adventure, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
There appear to be no upper limits to the UAE’s engineering gall: as well as being home to some of the world’s most soaring towers, it also lays claim to the world’s first human-made white water rafting, kayaking, and surf facility. Despite its artificial status, Surfer Magazine called Wadi Adventure the 41st best surfing beach in the world, which, given its bearings in the middle of a desert oasis close to the border of Oman, is no mean feat. Be sure to stop by on your next layover.
07
Sunway Lagoon, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
It gets hot in KL — real hot — and there’s no better way to cool down without skipping town than hitting up the local wave. When the Perhentian Islands or Langkawi coast is just too much of a mission, locals and interlopers get down in their trunks to Sunway Lagoon: 13,000 sq. meters of artificial summertime glory. Though it can get hectic here, surfing is possible at least for an hour or two each day, with boards available for hire at the main desk (FYI: Only 12 riders are allowed at any one time, so register early and claim that swell).
We'd also like to give a special mention to Japan's Ocean Dome, which is long gone... but boy, were these man-made waves a good time!
Wave pools are the future — and the future is now
Wave pools have gone from novelty attractions to legitimate surf destinations, offering world-class waves in landlocked locations. With technology improving every year, artificial waves are no longer just a backup option. They're a training ground for pros, a playground for beginners, and a revolution for the sport. Whether you're shredding the perfect barrels or carving up the waves one thing is clear: The future of surfing is already here, and it’s epic.
