Imagine living so far from the ocean, never thinking for a second you’d get the chance to learn to surf. Imagine being able to surf but your only choice is in shark infested waters? Now, say goodbye to those thoughts and hello to Wavegarden.

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“Engineer Josema Odriozola and sports economist Karin Frisch decided to combine their expertise in designing and building sport facilities, particularly skate parks, with their passion for surfing, for people not fortunate enough to have an ocean break nearby, or where ocean waves are too crowded or of poor quality.

“Surfing has become a metaphor for living a healthy, natural life in tune with nature’s rhythms.”

“Wavegarden works in the exact same way an ocean wave does. A mass of water is systematically moved over a surface that causes the wave to form and then fold on itself – just like a wave breaking over a reef or sand bar.”

I love that this story fits under both SeaLife and LandLife… and it’s more rural life inspired by technology. Maybe it’s got nothing to do with the sea at all, other than that was the only place to surf – until now.

The Wavegarden prototype can be found somewhere in Basque Country, Spain and there’s plans for head high waves in the near future. It might be not be Pipeline just yet, but it sure makes a super sweet longboard wave… country kids will be getting toes on the nose in no time!

Will we see a generation of pros bred inland? Who knows, but it’s certainly an innovative way to get people active and closer to nature in an about face kinda way.

Visit Wavegarden for the full run down.

Ion Eizaguirre, walkin' the plank

Indar Unanue

Bobby Martinez... whoo!

Images © courtesy of WaveGarden

About Ingrid Schroder

A Sydneyside corporate graphic designer, photographer & yoga teacher - I find myself turning to nature for guaranteed revival from the crazy pace of city life - be it digging in my garden, capturing natural beauty through a lens, floating in the ocean, practicing yoga or out exploring this incredible planet we all call home. Follow me on twitter @Cohabitaire