Blake Hess at Atlantic Park: Building Surf Parks and Teams

Equal parts promise and postponement, SoCal’s first wave pool benefited from stellar branding and relentless Insta reels from some of the best surfers on earth. And all of this during lockdown. Then, beginning in January 2024, came the endless tease of openings and closings. We learned quite a bit during this podcast with Chance Gaul and James Dunlop, details that can only emerge through conversation. Teasers: We found out that the tech’s been upgraded, the wave menu has more than 200 settings and that their core clientele wants slabs. 

What do you do when your wave machine sits idle on a ship for weeks due to a port strike? Blake Hess knows how to handle those challenges. Tune in to hear how he and his team are redefining surf park operations.

What happens when the dream of opening a wave pool becomes a 9-to-5 reality? In his fourth appearance on the WavePoolMag podcast, Andy Hadden of Lost Shore Surf Resort gives us an unfiltered look at what it really takes to launch and run a surf park. From the bright-eyed optimism of 2019 to the operational fatigue of 2024, we’ve seen every version of Andy. This episode pulls back the curtain on the business side of Lost Shore and the hustle behind artificial wave success.

Do you really need Mick Fanning on board to make your wave pool project successful? You need Mick for the zest and allure that attracts aspiring punters to take the plunge at your facility. And you would be hard-pressed to find a more professional, well-spoken athlete representative who just so happens to also be an investor. In this episode of the WavePoolMag Podcast, we speak with Luke Altschwager, Managing Director of Palm Valley Surf Park, who has partnered up with Mick to build the Gold Coast’s first wave pool. Our discussion covers the project’s current status, including funding milestones, some revised master planning, and wave technology selection (spoiler alert: It’s Endless Surf). Luke also shares unique insights learned from visits to other global surf parks and how mixed-use developments might be the solution for several up-and-coming projects.

Paul Chivers is kind of the opposite of how I expected him to be. For whatever reason, I pictured a nervous, sweaty man constantly looking up at the ceiling for loose acoustic tiles or poorly wired lighting. But he isn't like that. He appears to embrace things with typical Aussie swagger and bravado. Whereas I thought having a neurotic outlook on life would be a job asset when it comes to being a risk facilitator, Paul proved me wrong.In this podcast he tells us that 99.9% of the time, your surf park project team will get it right. However, it's when the randomness of the universe shows up that you need to be prepared. For this reason, there are people like Paul who put things into perspective and break down all the factors of "what could possibly go wrong." Join us on the most neurotic podcast yet on WavePoolMag.

Remember that magical moment in December 2015 when Kelly unveiled his wave pool to the world? In this episode of the WavePoolMag podcast, we dive into the full backstory behind that unforgettable day. We speak with Alex Poirot to learn more about working with Kelly, his first impressions of the now-famous wave, and the significance of that moment in surfing. You'll also hear how Alex and Brett Portero are pioneering an entirely new technology at Crest Surf Clubs.

In this episode, we dive into an educational conversation with Lost Shore's Surf & Hospitality Director Lee Wood. Raised on the rugged Scottish coast and shaped by two decades in Ireland’s surf scene, Lee shares how he built an entire team for the surf park in just four short weeks, customized coaching techniques specific for wave pool conditions, tweaked beginner-friendly settings and heaps more. Plus, you'll find out what Lee looks for in new hires to help guests stay happy. Tune in for a soulful, salty, and entertaining look at Scotland’s surf future.

Before their grand opening, Revel Surf had to get sign-off from agencies who’d never even seen a surf park. What if inspectors expect a flat-bottom pool—but your tech depends on complex, surf-specific bathymetry? Welcome to the world of Matt Gunn, co-inventor of SwellMFG, the wave tech behind Revel Surf.Matt’s classic Californian: chill on the outside, no matter the chaos inside. If he was freaking out over Maricopa County not understanding wave pool bathymetry, he wouldn’t show it. And when Canon Beach breaks ground in Texas on the group’s second project, he’ll face a whole new set of county regs.We caught up with Matt as Revel Surf kicks into high season to see how his nerves are holding up after betting millions—and his brand-new tech—on a single day of inspection. Spoiler: they passed. They’re open and thriving.We also dig into the mechanics behind SwellMFG, Arizona’s budding surf scene, and how to build community around your project.

Does anyone remember those Bartender school commercials they used to run on daytime TV? It was a specific school for a specific task - serving drinks. The wave pool world does not have a university program. Surfing does, but not surf parks. Those who excel in this space tend to have a background cobbled from hospitality, resort and adventure tourism experience. And then there are some people who just have a sensibility that allows them to excel at whatever they decide to apply themselves to. Amy Hunt is such a person. The level of knowledge and moxie to deal with the many layers, nuances and chaos control to run a surf park, Amy has in spades. And this is something I’m finding out as we talk to more wave pool operators around the world. The skills needed aren’t so much about having a wave pool-specific background, although in some years there will be a certificate for that - the skill set combines qualities like unicorn communication abilities along with creative problem solving meshed with hyper attention to detail. I discovered this thread during our conversation with Amy. She learns quickly, cares about the details and works tirelessly. The wave pool at Waco Surf is just one, small component to a 500-acre ranch that includes a cable park, lazy river, water slides, cabins, ponds, an island with lemurs and more. In this conversation we are gifted keen insights as she drills down the details of operation at what is today, America’s favorite surf park.

We were lucky enough to catch Tom Lochtefeld at the RiF010 wave pool in central Rotterdam. Tom shared with us how this unique project came into being and why it took 11 long years to complete.