Type private Number of employees 25 Founded 2005 | Industry sport, leisure Website wavegarden.com | |
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Products wave generators for surfing Headquarters Donostia - San Sebastián, Spain Founders José Manuel Odriozola, Karin Frisch | ||
Wavegarden SL is an engineering company dedicated to the research, design, manufacture, installation, commissioning and promotion of wave generating systems and lagoons for surfing and other watersports. Wavegarden’s headquarters are based in the Basque Country near San Sebastián, Northern Spain.
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History
Wavegarden was founded in 2005 in Spain when spouses Josema Odriozola (a Spanish Basque engineer and surfer) and Karin Frisch (a German sports economist and surfer) re-channeled their expertise in mechanical engineering and the design of sport facilities into their passion for surfing, convinced that artificial wave technology was the future. Their objective was to combine advanced engineering principles with innovative thinking to produce an authentic surfing experience for everyone, anywhere in the world.
In 2011, the company received widespread media attention across the globe when images were made public of its first full size prototype in the Basque Country (Spain). In 2013, a second bigger prototype was launched to the media and potential customers, offering larger, longer and more frequent rides.
Wavegarden’s staff of 25 consists mostly of engineers, architects, and computer science and fluid dynamic experts working in close partnership with very well-established technical suppliers in the industry such as the Leitner Group.
Technology
A Wavegarden lagoon comprises a range of items that collectively make up the wave generating technology. These include the lagoon design and bathymetry, wavefoil and drive system, control unit, pier structure and dissipative shores. The wavefoil is a large hydrodynamic blade that shares similarities with an aeroplane wing and the plow of a snowcat. Moving at a speed of approximately 4.5 to 7 metres per second, the wavefoil shuttles underwater from one end of the lagoon to the other to create a clean swell. The energy of the swell interacts with the shallowing sections of the lagoons bed, causing it to build in size and steepen. Directly induced by the bathymetry, the swell turns into a wave and starts to break.
Wavegarden surf lagoons
On August 1, 2015 the first Wavegarden lagoon called Surf Snowdonia opened to the public. Based in Dolgarrog, North Wales, Surf Snowdonia is a surf resort that is owned by Conwy Adventure Leisure Ltd.
NLand Surf Park in Austin, Texas will feature the second commercial Wavegarden lagoon when it opens its doors in spring 2016.
NLand opened for business on 7 Oct 16.