Hey Ma! I am just going down the the mall (or Dreamwworld) for a few waves. Can I have fifty bucks pleeeeeze?????
Each year we see the artificial surf park gets more steam. Whether it's the fun-park weak crumbling mush, the Flowrider or Ron Jon's Surfpark it's definitely getting better. I wonder when it will be good enough or what the impact will be on surfing?
Check out some the clips on Youtube
The key questions will be: Will the waves be comparable to the real ocean?
My answer: I guess it depends on where you live? If it's at a good surf break you're going to have to wait to see what the new parks like Ron Jons Surfpark end-up producing. They're promising 4 - 8 feet of perfection for 100 yards. Sheeeeesh sounds pretty good, especially if I could head down for a 10pm sesh when all the grommets should be asleep.
What's it going to do to the crowds?
My answer: I guess, Ron Jon and the other folk are hoping the number of people surfing will increase, especially when you can create a park in the middle of the desert somewhere. It could spread the crowd out... or make it even worse as now we have a larger population of surfers heading for for the same coastline during summer or when the waves are good. So it still remains to be seen.
All I can say is, I hope that we do it in a way that we think about the consequences before it's too late. There's something special about grabbing a surf out at your local break with a few folk in the water, a light offshore breeeze and the sun rising or setting. I hope the lines, fast food, concrete, entry fees don't kill the feeling or making people aware that surf is gift from our planet not a rite - respect it!
After attending Live Earth concert on the weekend, I wonder what sort of energy these surf parks will suck up? I hope Ron Jon and his mates are thinking about this when they build their artificial beaches.
