Building a Wave Pool in the Middle of a European City with Tom Lochtefeld

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. 

Bryan talks with Luke Wallace, CEO and Co-Founder of Flowstate, the premium AI-powered camera system reshaping how surf parks capture and deliver video content. Luke explains how Flowstate automates video recording, detects maneuvers like snaps and barrels, enables surf competitions, and enhances the coaching experience. He also shares how the team is expanding from wave pools into snow and beach environments through their mobile broadcast solution.

The machine powering the transformation of German surfing is an Endless Surf 34 caisson wave pool, or ES34 to those in the know. To bring this beast to life, much of the heavy design and programming was done by the talented hands of Clément Ginestet and Axel Terradillos. WavePoolMag wanted to know how the dynamic duo dealt with the stress of bringing a multi-million dollar project to life, as well as how the process of designing a wave pool works. We know that engineers live and breathe CFD models, but what about those little cosmic surprises that occur when the randomness of the universe shows up unexpectedly? In this conversation, Clem and Axel allow us a unique view into the nailbiting debut of the first Endless Surf wave pool.

How do you overhaul the surf experience without disrupting your most loyal riders? What does it take to redesign wave settings that help surfers progress more naturally? And how do you test, tweak, and communicate those changes—all in time for the start of surf season?In this episode of the WavePoolMag podcast, we head to The Wave in Bristol where a major shift has been made: the familiar Waikiki wave is out, and a brand-new "Improver" setting is in. But what exactly changed—and why?Listeners will get a behind-the-scenes look at how The Wave's team approached the challenge, from refining takeoffs to reshaping session flow. Was the change worth it? How did regulars react? And what happens when you ask your own staff to surf for four straight days in freezing water?Tune in to hear the full story behind one of the most ambitious surf setting revamps to date.

In this podcast, we speak with Damon Tudor (former CEO of URBNSURF) and Craig Stoddart (co-founder of The Wave) about their journey and their exciting new Bahrain Surf Park project. Their partnership wasn’t sudden; over six years, they regularly exchanged insights on artificial wave technology, surf school structures, and maintenance systems. Despite operating in different markets — one with a mature surf culture and the other requiring broader appeal — they found common ground. Now, they’re bringing Middle East wave pools to life and ttaking on the challenge of introducing surfing to Bahrain, where half of the 1.5 million population can’t swim.

Mike Goldy’s has spent $15,000 on wave pool sessions. In return he has surfed 15 different wave technologies at 23 different standing and traveling wave pools across eight countries. What is the draw for this wonderful, possibly OCD-afflicted human? Is it the good vibes in the lineup, the guaranteed waves, the pumping soundtracks and close proximity to high-end coffee beverages? In this episode Mike shares what it’s like to be surf-obsessed in Baltimore and how that has led to his current mission - to surf as many wave pools as possible.

We learned about AllWaves last year on a visit to Belgium with Blair Conklin and crew in tow. During our visit, we saw firsthand the wave pool’s potential, documenting the unique circles of swell pumped out by its submerged bouncy pillow wavemaker.Since then, the Instagram-sphere has blown up—not with clips of pros doing amazing airs, but with videos of gentle, perfect, rolling beginner waves.Marie-Laure Clement of AllWaves shares how market demand is shaping the next step for Knokke-Heist’s wave pool technology.

Where do regular people eat in Abu Dhabi? I mean, it can't be a 5-star dining experience for every meal - maybe in the glossy press materials, but not for the average visiting human. But that's how many perceive this place. Former CT surfer Mitch Crews shares what it's like surfing, working and dining on a budget at the world's newest Kelly Slater Wave Co. creation. "My team has become like family to me and they're all, you know, a bunch of crazy surfers from around the globe. And it does feel like an authentic surf trip. I encourage everyone to at least give it a shot because once you've experienced that you know what it's all about. We're pretty proud of what we've done here and hopefully, we'll see many people's faces coming through."

Joe Dale serves as the Head of Commercial at The Wave in Bristol. In his role, he develops strategies to attract visitors to The Wave. Easy, right? Well, no. Joe has been instrumental in addressing the challenges of leading a business in the emerging wave pool sector. As the industry evolves, Joe's insights in this discussion highlight the connection between business growth and the consumer’s interest in distinctive recreational opportunities that, if done right, create a vibrant customer base.