Inland surfing sites really making waves

WAVE pools are a hot topic.

It seems there are about four models to create wave pools, but only one is active.

Snowdonia, in Wales, has a pool known as Wave Garden. It was the first commercial pool, established three years ago, and last year saw a second in Texas, with more planned.

The best publicised is the Kelly Slater Wave Pool.

Created in a trial facility in California, the quality of the wave is flawless and has been tried by many professional surfers and the feedback is incredible.

It was recently announced this pool will be built in Florida, appropriate given Slater is a Floridian.

Every surfer dreams of surfing the Slater wave.

Now there is a wave pool being promoted by Mark Occhilupo, known as Surf Lakes, which apparently will be operational in Queensland early next year.

The difference between Surf Lakes and the other pools is a shorter but quality wave. However, the rate of waves produced is more frequent than other models.

These are intriguing concepts and who wins the battle of the wave pools will be interesting because, the overriding belief is that wave pools will be a big business.

Maybe there is a place for a variety of pools and, like artificial snowfields, you will be able to go surfing in landlocked cities all over the world.

Four-day Surf Forecast:

Reasonable waves at best with winds generally onshore. Waves around 1m on reefs today and tomorrow then small surf into the weekend favouring the eastern coastline

beach breaks.