The World-first surf lagoon and surf academy will open in summer 2015 with first public session hopefully going down in July. With things are gearing up Surf Snowdonia, the world’s first ever publicly accessible Wavegarden® surfing lagoon, has announced a major partnership deal with Rip Curl with the company providing wetsuits for Surf Snowdonia’s Surf Academy as well as wetsuits, clothing and accessories for sale in Surf Snowdonia’s retail space.
The £12m unique facility will have 2m, 1.2m and 70cm high waves in several areas (pro, intermediate and beginner) with larger waves peeling for up to 150 metres (20 seconds rides).
The retail space will be housed adjacent to an entirely glass-fronted 50m hub building on the edge of Surf Snowdonia’s lagoon. Virtually close enough to touch the waves, it will be a unique and visually arresting retail experience.
Rip Curl is the first major surf brand to partner with Surf Snowdonia, which is just months away from its opening date of July 2015. The one-of-a-kind facility is being constructed in the lee of the Snowdonia mountains in Conwy, North Wales.
Sean Harris, Rip Curl UK country manager said: “Rip Curl are stoked to be partnering up with Surf Snowdonia. As the Ultimate Surfing Company, Rip Curl are constantly striving for innovation and technical leadership, and there’s no doubt that Surf Snowdonia are delivering this with the world’s first Wavegarden project open to the public.
“We can’t wait to bring the joy of wave riding to the thousands of people who will, without question, be visiting Surf Snowdonia, including members of our Rip Curl pro team – some of the best surfers in the world.”
Andy Ainscough, director of Conwy Adventure Leisure Ltd, the company who are building Surf Snowdonia, said: “Our partnership with Rip Curl is great news for the 75,000+ visitors we’re expecting to come to surf in Snowdonia every year.
“Being warm and comfortable in the water can make the difference between a good day and a great day, and having the highest quality wetsuits and clothing for our visitors is an important part of the Surf Snowdonia offer.
“We believe that Rip Curl offers the best quality and most comprehensive range of wetsuits out there, which is why we’re so pleased to announce this partnership. Our range will include some of the more advanced Rip Curl wetsuits which you will be able to try out on the wave before purchasing them in our store.
“Rip Curl is a great global brand whose values sit well with ours: a determination to invest in cutting edge design and technology in order to deliver a world-class but accessible surfing experience.”
Surf Snowdonia will provide a safe surfing environment which is ideal for surfers of all ages and skill levels. Beginners and improvers will be able to take lessons in surfing, bodyboarding, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and surf kayaking from qualified watersports professionals at the Surf Academy. Surf Snowdonia will also play host to events, competitions and surf demos, giving the public access to some of the world’s top surfers.
The development of the £12 million Surf Snowdonia Wavegarden is being keenly watched around the globe. A prototype facility in Spain has received rapturous approval from surf pros, including World Champions and Rip Curl ambassadors Mick Fanning and Gabriel Medina.
The progress of the facility is also being closely followed by the International Surf Association, and may see surfing finally recognised as an Olympic sport.
