Australia’s first surf park, URBNSURF, is Melbourne’s own metropolitan beach
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29.10.2020

Australia’s first surf park, URBNSURF, is Melbourne’s own metropolitan beach

Photo by URBNSURF

URBNSURF is on a mission to bring an authentic beach experience to Aussie city dwellers.

This January, Australia welcomed its first-ever surf park. Providing ocean-like waves in a realistic yet controlled environment, URBNSURF aims to develop world-class urban surfing locations around the country so that inner-city folk can enjoy the iconic Aussie pastime and sport that is surfing.

The idea was born in 2012 when URBNSURF Founder Andrew Ross visited Wavegarden’s R&D centre near San Sebastian in Spain. Despite being miles away from the coast, in the Pyrenees mountains, the surf park’s ability to produce consistent and customisable waves inspired Ross to launch his own metropolitan beach back home.

After securing exclusive rights to the Wavegarden technology, including their next-generation Cove design, Ross and his team got to work on bringing authentic surfing experiences to non-beach dwellers Down Under.

This year, the brains behind URBNSURF finally saw their dream come to life when they opened their first park in Tullamarine.

While Melburnians didn’t have long to enjoy the park before it was forced to close due to COVID-19, with restrictions finally easing URBNSURF is declaring, ‘Surf’s up!’ just in time for the warming weather and longer days of spring and summer.

“Following an extended period of closure due to coronavirus, we’re excited to welcome Melburnians for some much-needed stress relief and surf time in our lagoon,” said URBNSURF Group CEO, Damon Tudor.

“After what has been a challenging year, we’re stoked to provide surfers, families, and friends with the opportunity to get outdoors, reconnect, and enjoy perfect waves in a COVID-safe environment.”

 

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Following the Premier’s announcement of Victoria’s coronavirus (COVID-19) roadmap to reopening, we’re planning to have waves pumping again at @urbnsurf #melbourne this Spring as part of the “Third Step” subject to trigger points being achieved and public health advice. From late October, we expect to be permitted to welcome our members and guests from across Victoria to enjoy our surf sessions in The Bays and at The Point, and visiting the park as a spectator. As we receive further guidance from the relevant authorities, and the COVID-19 situation improves in Melbourne, we’ll reopen our booking calendar so you can plan your next surf trip to Tullamarine. Keep the stoke alive, and many thanks again for your continued support! #surfmore

A post shared by URBNSURF (@urbnsurf) on

After a six-month flat spell, the surf park will reopen with two new surf sessions.

There’s Cruiser Sessions, which is designed for novice boardriders to try their hand at pointbreak-style surfing on a longboard, softboard or fish and, for those who know their way around a surfboard, there’s Expert Sessions, which will deliver heavy, slabbing barrels for experienced riders.

In addition to debuting the two new experiences, the reopening of URBNSURF will also see the return of crowd-favourite Intermediate and Advanced sessions.

And for those just wanting to splash around in the surf, there are also Play In The Bay sessions which offer a bit of whitewater fun on softboards and bodyboards or Learn To Surf classes, suitable for kids and adults.

Boasting a two-hectare surfing lagoon, visitors will quickly forget that they’re just a stone’s throw from Melbourne’s CBD once the waves start rolling in.

For the time being, the park will only be open to 60 surfers per hour, with visitors required to abide by the 25km rule. But, as restrictions continue to ease, URBNSURF will be able to offer spectator visits for those who are more comfortable sitting on the shoreline and welcome back guests from near and far.

While restrictions also mean that many of URBNSURF’s amenities will remain closed to the public for a little longer, the park will soon add even more incentive to visit with its new restaurant and cafe by Three Blue Ducks, lagoon-side hot tubs and a playground for any littlies.

“We’re gearing up to open our restaurant and café with Three Blue Ducks, launch our new surf lesson pathways, and host exciting events over summer once restrictions further ease. In the meantime, we can’t wait to see you out in Tullamarine soon for your next session or lesson,” said Tudor.

For more information, visit the URBNSURF website.

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