Running a Surf Park: Lessons from Alaïa Bay Founder Adam Bonvin

How much does a wave pool cost to build

This whole podcast started as the result of a WhatsApp text exchange between myself and Baptiste Caulonque of Endless Surf. I was on deadline for a story on prices for wave pools and had asked him how much it costs to build a basic surf basin. I knew it would be hard to get a direct answer because I know there is a shopping list of variables, like soil, power access and local costs. Baptiste shut me down. "What country? What model? Full concrete or engineered soil? What waterproofing solution? I can't give you a value that I can back. And, because WavePoolMag is a reference, we will get asked to justify the prices that you quote. Even if you just want a ballpark figure.” Fair enough, Baptiste. So in this podcast of wave pool costs and considerations, Baptiste (pronounced "Bah-tiste") explains why getting a clear, simple sticker price for a surf lagoon, can be so difficult. Spoiler Alert: it’s mostly about the soil.

Running a Surf Park: Lessons from Alaïa Bay Founder Adam Bonvin

Launched by Adam Bonvin, Alaïa was born following a surfing trip to France. His desire: to recreate this surfing atmosphere in the Swiss Alps. Alaïa Bay became the world’s third Wavegarden Cove opened to the public. But the real story here is what happened after the grand opening. Dealing with harsh Swiss winters, pool bottom issues, and operating within a non-endemic surf culture, Adam learned harsh operational lessons early on. It’s a common theme in the surf park space as projects discover that a successful facility relies less on sizzle reels of the pros and more on how you cultivate customer experience beyond opening day. In this candid interview, Adam shares what went wrong and how the team made adjustments to remedy each issue as it surfaced - the ongoing process of which has molded Alaïa Bay into the premier surf experience it is today.

The General Manager We All Wish We Had: Nate Stevens of Atlantic Park Surf

Nate Stevens started at the NLand wave pool in Austin, overseeing retail. He first learned about the Atlantic Park Surf project in 2017 while it was still in the early planning stages and followed its development for several years before working his way onto the team. Today, as general manager, he guides multi-department operations, including guest services, marketing coordination, HR collaboration, accounting oversight, and policy development, overseeing more than 65 employees across operations and coaching.

Wave Pool Surf Shop Intricacies at Lost Shore Scotland

The perfect wave pool surf shop is hard to build. Go too core and casual surfers feel excluded. Go too mainstream and locals lose interest. That’s why the Lost Shore surf shop works so well. Run by Kim Travers and Keir Smith, the shop blends global surf brands with independent local labels, creating a retail space that feels authentic without losing broad appeal. Miles from the ocean, it has become one of Scotland’s most respected surf destinations.

Inside Alaïa Bay: Surf Park Operations with Coco Colombo

As the Surf Experience Manager at Alaia Bay (oops, I mistakenly call him CEO in the podcast), he oversees all aspects of the surfing operation within the wave pool. He is responsible for designing and scheduling surf sessions, managing staff planning, and ensuring every guest enjoys the best possible waves and overall experience.