Interesting small article in the Orange County Register last week. Seems as though the current wave pool technology out there (i.e. Big Surf in Tempe, AZ, Brutus Maximus in San Diego, Typhoon Lagoon in Disneyworld, Slater's Boat Hull Thing-A-Ma-Jig, etc) is a little boring for some San Clemente entrepreneurs. They plan to combine the popularity of skateboarding with the thrill of surfing for the first ever surfing half pipe. Sound impossible? It will be a 75,000 gallon wave pool that will feature sloping walls and sheets of water shooting up the sides. It's going to be part of an entire sports complex called Surf N Turf San Clemente that will feature an 18-hole miniature golf course, a restaurant, sports fields and the wave pool of course. Park developers say the water half pipe will let "Your snowboarders, skateboarders, skimmers, wakeboarders – you can have a competition among all the pro riders." Not sure about what pros will want to 'kook' it out in the wet pipe or whatever it's called- but it will be a novelty worth watching while you have a burger and a cold one. Plans call for the park to open in the spring- barring any last minute finance or environmental problems of course. Who knows- the pipe may be a good thing- a few less kooks at Lowers this summer.
