This whole podcast started as the result of a WhatsApp text exchange between myself and Baptiste Caulonque of Endless Surf. I was on deadline for a story on prices for wave pools and had asked him how much it costs to build a basic surf basin. I knew it would be hard to get a direct answer because I know there is a shopping list of variables, like soil, power access and local costs.

Baptiste shut me down. "What country? What model? Full concrete or engineered soil? What waterproofing solution? I can't give you a value that I can back. And, because WavePoolMag is a reference, we will get asked to justify the prices that you quote. Even if you just want a ballpark figure.”

Fair enough, Baptiste.

So in this podcast of wave pool costs and considerations, Baptiste (pronounced "Bah-tiste") explains why getting a clear, simple sticker price for a surf lagoon, can be so difficult. Spoiler Alert: it’s mostly about the soil.

Launched by Adam Bonvin, Alaïa was born following a surfing trip to France. His desire: to recreate this surfing atmosphere in the Swiss Alps. Alaïa Bay became the world’s third Wavegarden Cove opened to the public. But the real story here is what happened after the grand opening. Dealing with harsh Swiss winters, pool bottom issues, and operating within a non-endemic surf culture, Adam learned harsh operational lessons early on.

It’s a common theme in the surf park space as projects discover that a successful facility relies less on sizzle reels of the pros and more on how you cultivate customer experience beyond opening day. In this candid interview, Adam shares what went wrong and how the team made adjustments to remedy each issue as it surfaced - the ongoing process of which has molded Alaïa Bay into the premier surf experience it is today.

Nate Stevens started at the NLand wave pool in Austin, overseeing retail. He first learned about the Atlantic Park Surf project in 2017 while it was still in the early planning stages and followed its development for several years before working his way onto the team. Today, as general manager, he guides multi-department operations, including guest services, marketing coordination, HR collaboration, accounting oversight, and policy development, overseeing more than 65 employees across operations and coaching.

The perfect wave pool surf shop is hard to build. Go too core and casual surfers feel excluded. Go too mainstream and locals lose interest. That’s why the Lost Shore surf shop works so well.

Run by Kim Travers and Keir Smith, the shop blends global surf brands with independent local labels, creating a retail space that feels authentic without losing broad appeal. Miles from the ocean, it has become one of Scotland’s most respected surf destinations.

As the Surf Experience Manager at Alaia Bay (oops, I mistakenly call him CEO in the podcast), he oversees all aspects of the surfing operation within the wave pool. He is responsible for designing and scheduling surf sessions, managing staff planning, and ensuring every guest enjoys the best possible waves and overall experience.

David develops and operates surf-centered real estate and club projects. He describes his work as figuring out where artificial wave facilities can function as part of a larger business, especially in residential communities and private clubs. That includes evaluating land, working with capital partners, finding local development partners, planning operations, and making sure the surf component can be supported by the surrounding economics. His earlier work included executive roles in the ski industry, serving as chief operating officer at Surf Ranch and later helping reposition Waco Surf. In those roles, he focused on resort operations and customer-use patterns. At Meriwether, he is now applying that approach to projects featuring Endless Surf technology in Baja, the California desert, and other markets.

New platform Wavepooljobs connects wave pool employment at surf parks, currently listing nearly 100 roles across global operators in a growing industry. We speak with creators Paolo Formenti and Bruno Gujer.

Bill Duncanson came up surfing the beaches of New Jersey, working at one of the area’s core surf shops before architecture became his second passion. Over time, those two paths merged.

Today, through BAR Architecture and Design, he’s carved out a unique niche designing surf lodges and surf parks—combining architectural thinking with a surfer’s understanding of how these spaces should feel and function.

In this podcast, we dig into what makes a good surf park design, what makes a great one, and where some parks still fall short.

One year ago, I sat with Eneko Elosegui at a restaurant overlooking the ocean near his home in St Jean De Luz, a Basque seaport famous for jai alai, artisan patisseries, and being one of the oldest whaling ports in Europe. Today’s meeting was less picturesque; instead, carried out remotely on a generic conferencing platform. But the subject matter was lively and somehow more inspiring than a plate of Poulet Basquaise and a view of the Atlantic. How? Well, announcing that you have 5 surf park projects in the works and shovels in the ground is a huge deal. In this podcast, Eneko shares how being raised in the family development business, becoming an engineer, working at Wavegarden and surfing, have all merged together into his current role to take on the world of wave pools.

In Episode 87 of the WavePoolMag Podcast, with Skip Taylor of Surf Park Management we dig into some industry secrets and insights from someone who's been in the game longer than most. This conversation touches on the evolution of the space post COVID, including increased capital costs, residential versus turnstile developments, booking systems, water filtration and, uh, bowling. What does this all mean for the estimated 15 parks opening this year? Find out.

In the early days, artificial standing waves struggled for recognition outside of Munich, Germany, and a few niche surf communities. But today’s advanced systems closely replicate the feel of natural river waves. These next-generation wave pools now offer unique advantages that are reshaping how the waterpark industry views artificial waves.

Citywave, originally born from Germany’s river-surf scene, has expanded to 20 installations worldwide. To support growth in the U.S. and select territories, citywave® USA was formed and is now backed by legacy venue leader Aquatic Development Group (ADG). With more than 50 years of expertise in water attractions, ADG now oversees CityWave USA, providing in-house engineering, design, manufacturing, and installation.

This partnership adds a substantial amount of weight to ADG’s commercial offerings, while creating an entry point for Citywave USA into the world of aquatic attractions.

WavePoolMag spoke with Bruce Quay, Chief Operating Officer of ADG, and Andrew Limbocker of CityWave USA to learn what developers can expect as each company expands further into the surf park space.