The 2025 Surf Park Summit was the largest gathering yet of the surf-anchored real estate industry. Hundreds from around the globe attended as Surf Park Central brought the industry’s annual, industry-focused event to the East Coast.
Attendees got a look at brand-new technology, discovered new surf park destinations, and were able to connect with others to help take their surf park plans to the next level.
While every event is loaded with significant moments that bring more waves to more people, here are some of the biggest takeaways from this year’s event.
The Real Estate Walking Tour at Atlantic Park
Surf Park Summit has more than a decade of history behind it. For years, only a handful of parks existed and renderings led the way to the future. But now that is in the past. This year’s event kicked off with a walking tour of the brand new Atlantic Park and the surrounding development to show how powerful surf-anchored destinations are for fueling economic growth.
The tour included a look at the actual surf park, the nearby theater, apartments, a hotel, a private members club and more. Plus, plenty of attendees had time to get a surf session in, making this start to Summit one to remember.
Operators Committee Announces New Safety Guidelines
“As surf parks surge into global mainstream consciousness, we find ourselves at a critical juncture. We’ve proven we can deliver perfect waves on demand. We’ve built beautiful facilities, created jobs, anchored major mixed-use real estate developments … But alongside this momentum, as many millions of surf park waves are now ridden each year, comes an increase in the risk of serious accidents,” Surf Park Central’s CEO Jess Ponting wrote earlier this year.
The result was the formation of a brand-new Operators Committee outlining new safety guidelines. Ahead of Summit, leaders from surf park destinations in the U.S., Europe, and Australia came together to discuss how to make the future of surfing outside the ocean safe for everyone. These guidelines will help ensure surf-anchored destinations stay in a good light with the public and media, while ensuring they are taking care of a growing customer base.
Surf Park Sharks Returns for the Second Year
Surf Park Summit received rave reviews last year during its first Surf Park Sharks event. The program gives new and up-and-coming surf parks an opportunity to present their projects in front of a panel of investors. These judges have years of experience and billions of dollars’ worth of understanding of what makes a successful project.
At this year’s Summit, we heard from three new projects. They included Crest Surf Clubs, a planned multi-destination private membership club that’s kicking off its first project in Long Island, NY. The project has a lot of interest and is in the process of unveiling its own wave technology. Next up was Boca Surf Park, a Florida destination recently sidelined by community pushback, but with great things still ahead. And finally, The Break – Surf & Stay, South Australia’s first surf park destination.
In the end, the judges went with Crest, which will receive prizes from Surf Park Central, while each park also receives extra publicity from its time in the spotlight.
Adam Neumann, Co-Founder of WeWork, Makes an Appearance
Surf Park Summit had a surprise guest at this year’s event. On Thursday, Adam Neumann, the co-founder and former CEO of WeWork, took the stage to discuss the power of surfing and how exciting it was to see the industry grow. Neumann highlighted moments from his own surfing experiences and his brief journey into the surf park industry when he worked with WaveGarden. While there, Neumann also discussed his new project, Flow, a residential real estate company. His presence only further legitimized the positive trajectory of the industry.
This Year’s Surf Park Awards Winners
Every year, Surf Park Summit highlights achievements in sustainability, accessibility and innovation by people and companies in the industry. Plus, we award outstanding leadership in the industry
Here are this year’s winners:
- Most innovative development project: Crest Surf Clubs
- Sustainability: O2 Surftown MUC
- Innovation: Lost Shore Surf Resort
- Democratizing & Accessibility: Atlantic Park Surf
- Summit Leadership:
- Blake Hess of Atlantic Park and Beach Street Development & Operations
- Josema Odriozola of Wavegarden
Read more about the awards in our full post.
What’s Next
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