Artificial waves are hard to create. But get one right and you’ll have surfers queuing up, and open the sport to people who’ve never dipped a toe in the ocean. Well, it looks as if this is the plan for surfing in Paris with a Wavepark due in 2014.
Surfing in Paris
If a proposed sporting and social complex by ‘Waves in City’ gets built, surfing in Paris will become a reality, saving a lengthy trip to the coast. It would be a real feather in the cap for a capital that’s already got a great reputation for its urban sports.
Surfing in Paris would be the perfect mix. You not only get to chill in one of Europe’s most beautiful and historic cities, but also to surf to your heart’s content.
Building waves
It’s not easy to build a wave. the waves you’re used to riding are made hundreds of miles away during offshore storms. And if there’s one thing that’s hard to imitate, it’s nature.
So far there have been a few high profile attempts that have disappointed – take for example the artificial reef built off Bournemouth, UK. Years of development and mountains of money, and the Boscombe surf reef fell apart in a storm.
However, the success of the Wavegarden Park in Northern Spain is proof that it’s possible. Pro riders have lined up to play on its 120 waves per hour and raved about it.
So, can they pull it off and set up a decent facility in Paris? Why not. In terms of innovation you only have to look at the emergence of Parkour in the parisian suburbs.
Moves that originated back to soldiers looking to cover obstacles have evolved into the urban sport of the century. Incredible gymnastics and creativity combine to conquer the most technical transitions – stairwells, walls and road furniture all get taken on and flipped from.
Stay a weekend in Paris and walk across the Seine and you’ll see some rollerblading and skateboarding going on, too. Perhaps surfing in Paris will be joining them with the Wavepark due in 2014!
