When our CEO, Josema Odriozola, rings a surfer, they usually answer. This is not the first time Reef has received the call-up, so he knows the drill.
– “Reef, we need you to test some waves at URBNSURF Sydney.”
– “I’m in,” replied Reef, almost before Josema had finished the sentence.
Reef had just received a new epoxy board from CI, a 5’4″ x 19″ Dumpster Diver 2, which he promptly slipped into his board bag after booking his plane ticket.
If you have ever met Reef, you’ll know he’s a frother. He gets stoked on surfing 2-foot onshore slop. So, imagine his level of excitement when he paddled out for a 5-hour session at a brand new Wavegarden on a warm sunny day, alone.
Wavegarden’s tech team was on the sidelines, charged with the preparation of the designing the waves prior to the official opening of the facility. “Reef, let’s start with a few turn waves to get you warmed up,” yelled one of them with a funky Spanish accent. “Nah,” said Reef. “Let’s just start with the air section.”
150 waves later, Reef was spent… but his work was complete. The Turn, Barrel, and Air waves were all perfectly dialed. Reef’s feedback was vital in adjusting the software codes – the first section was now more vertical and powerful, the barrel was straighter than before, and the land on the air section was now more forgiving.
Reef’s air game sits amongst some of the best in the world at the moment, making the maneuvers such as the backflip as well as technical grabs of the Slob, Indy, and Lien, look as easy as a Sunday stroll.
“I was pretty stoked, especially with the backflip,” said Reef. “I don’t usually ride boards so wide, but this one worked really well.”
Sydney is blessed with a large number of surfing beaches, access to those beaches and crowding in the lineup are becoming increasing issues. The revolutionary 46-module Wavegarden Cove surfing lagoon at URBNSURF Sydney is now able to provide an authentic alternative to ocean-based surfing for Sydney residents and visitors, allowing them to surf more safely, easily, and frequently.
URBNSURF Sydney is the 8th Wavegarden project, with each being slightly different from the others. The side walls measure 140m respectively, which is 20m smaller than their Melbourne facility, although it has the same 46 modules of machinery.
Wavegarden’s team completed the Wave Menu of 20 different waves, with waves for every guest profile. This includes 6 Malibu waves, 9 Turn waves, 4 Barrels, and 1 Air wave. There are 2 new Malibu waves, which resemble a great day at waist-high Noosa. The surf park is scheduled to open to the public in May and will operate for 16 hours per day, 7 days per week, from 6 am to 10 pm. The prices for a 1-hour session vary from $30 to $159 AUD depending on the level. Each surfer will enjoy approximately 10-12 waves per session and there is a wide variety of different options to choose from, from introductory lessons through to sessions for the most advanced professionals.
The 3.6-hectare site features the latest version of Wavegarden Cove technology and is designed to accommodate 1000 visitors per day. The surfing lagoon boasts the most energy-efficient technology, the highest surfer capacity, and the widest variety of waves.
Following the success of URBNSURF Melbourne, the URBNSURF group has become the first repeat client of Wavegarden by opening its second surf park, further solidifying their commitment to bringing innovative surfing experiences to urban areas.
