Central Valais set to be home of the Alaïa Wave // Switzerland’s first Wavegarden Cove
Concept rendering of the Alaïa Wave surf pool (Wavegarden Cove) in Central Valais, Switzerland. Image: Alaïa
The Valais is famous for snow surfing. It could very soon be the same for surfing on water thanks to the first large scale surf pool in Switzerland.
A new space will complete the range of summer activities in central Valais and not just any, since the Alaïa Wave team aims to build a man-made pool for surfing. This will be the first in Switzerland. According to Adam Bonvin, co-founder of Alaïa, the investigation took place in May and there was no opposition, “which is rather rare.”
At present, the file is in the hands of the State services and the promoters of the project are waiting for the building permit. “We’re not going to start in the winter anyway, so we’re hoping the machines will start next spring.” It will then take about fourteen months for the facility to be constructed and estimated to cost between $ 15 million and $ 20 million Swiss Francs. According to Mr. Bonvin, “We hope to welcome the first surfers in 2020.”
Up to 1,000 waves per hour at the Alaïa Wave
Technically speaking, the Wavegarden Cove surf pool can produce up to 1,000 waves per hour. “We can guarantee waves ranging from 20 centimeters (0.65′) to 1.8m (6′) all year long,” says Adam Bonvin.
Note that a multi-sport hall project with fitness rooms, badminton, tennis, etc., should be investigated shortly next to the surf pool on the current outdoor tennis courts.
The information in this article originally appeared on Le Nouvelliste on November 7, 2018
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