Well, now Trident has gone and done it. We’ve waded right into one of the greatest controversies of the modern era, right up there with 5G causing scabies, precisely when will World War 3 start (or end), is the earth flat and should pineapple be on pizza. (Ed’s note: That’s a hard no.)
Go ahead and randomly search for anything surfing related online. It won’t be long until you discover angry ranting and/or praise for wavepools. So man-made waves versus natural waves? Trident ain’t afraid; we’re gonna dive right into it and highlight five reasons wavepools kick ocean surf spots butt. (Disclaimer: Trident will follow this Top Five list with another one entitled: Top Five reasons ocean waves are better than wavepools.) Also, another disclaimer – like most South Africans surfers we suspect, nobody at Trident has ever surfed in a wavepool. So we speak with no authority. Sigh.
Number 1: Consistency.
No more waiting for swells. Wavepools mean less time contemplating taking up pickleball or competitive Prestik rolling (all while aimlessly scrolling on your phone) during flat spells. No more ritual sacrifice when looking at flatlining surf charts online. Yes team, wavepools work according to human design and not the will and whims of nature. At worst, you can be underwhelmed (if you shred) on the beginner setting, or overwhelmed (if you’re a relative newbie) at more advanced settings. Nonetheless, you still won’t be faced with waves like those ridiculous AI generated clips of Chopes-like tubes in indoor wavepools. Nor will you be skunked. A wavepool, as its very name suggests, is a pool with waves. Pretty much 24/7.
Number 2: No dangerous wildlife. (That we’re aware of…)
Unless mosquitoes and rogue groms count. Nor is it likely you’ll encounter sewage spills. Or E Coli. Maybe something goes wrong with the chlorination and you’ll be faced with a blight of algae, but you won’t be seeing any great white sharks in a wavepool. We don’t think? Nor sea urchins, rabid seals, blue ringed octopuses nor seething grizzled old locals * (see points Number 3 and 5). Bottom line is, some of what nature will throw at you while in the ocean is unlikely to affect surfing in a wavepool. Sure, one can argue wavepools aren’t immune to earthquakes, hurricanes and other natural disasters, but Trident would like to assume that was taken into consideration when selecting the site in the first place.
Number 3: There is (apparently) some sense of order.
Well there kinda has to be. A wavepool is certainly more akin to an amusement park ride than free surfing in the ocean is. You pay your fee, wait your turn then take a wave. Simple. Straightforward. Just as surfing in the ocean should be. Apparently some snaking and disorder still occurs, but the paid supervisors and experienced wavepool riders should take care of that. We’re still fuzzy on what could make a surfer at a wavepool a local though.
Number 4: The waves are repetitive and/or identical.
So you can be the next surfer to land a stalefish flipper. This point cannot be disputed. One of the more frustrating aspects of ocean surfing is the simple fact no two waves are identical. Even in a single surf session. Now, here at Trident we view the random nature of, er nature – as a blessing. However, in terms of perfecting technique, upscaling skill, learning new tricks and turns and just getting radical, it can be difficult to hone your abilities within the confines of the randomness of the ocean. In a wavepool, assuming you know what the wave setting is – you can use it as a skate ramp to get really good. Nice.
Number 5: Exclusivity combo-ed with inclusiveness.
I say old chap, isn’t this wavepool a lark what?! And of course, the price keeps the riff raff away, pip pip! So the cross-eyed, behemoth with sun wrinkled skin resembling a mutated manatee who cursed you and your unborn family the last time you surfed an ocean break is unlikely to hang around at a wavepool.
