A striking proposal for a surf park at the
edge of the Swan River could elevate Perth’s connection to the water and
generate a new wave of surfing talent.
Wave Park Group and Urbnsurf founder Andrew Ross wants to bring the concept to his home city of Perth after securing sites in Sydney and Melbourne.
The City of Melville is yet to consider or endorse the concept, which would involve relocating the Melville Bowling Club.
Mr Ross, a former lawyer and investment banker who loves surfing, said Perth’s coastal breaks did not match the passion of its surfers.
“The type of wave we can produce is bigger and longer than anything on the Perth coast about 80 per cent of the year,” he said.
Mr Ross said the surf park would be a game changer for people who wanted to learn to surf or teach their children.
The controlled conditions and ability to surf day or night would be safer and more convenient. The park could also host surfing competitions of different standards and act as a “driving range” for skilled surfers looking to hone their craft.
“With any type of skill-based sport, like a ball sport, it’s how many balls you hit,” Mr Ross said.
West Coast stars Josh Kennedy and Will Schofield said they would be regulars at the park, if it went ahead, along with other teammates.
They admitted that they had a lot to learn from talented Eagles surfers Mark LeCras and Jamie Cripps but they would give Jack Redden plenty of space.
“You have to get out of his way because he’s riding a yacht out there,” Schofield said.
Newsbreak:
