The Munich-based company Citywave is building what it claims is the world’s largest artificial wave for surfers in Hawaii. The system with the 30-meter-long standing wave is scheduled to go into operation on March 21 in a leisure facility on the Pacific island, the company announced on Monday. The project costs 40 million US dollars and is being financed by a Japanese investor.
Selling a wave from Germany to Hawaii is almost “as if Alaska were selling sand to the desert,” said the company boss, engineer and former professional athlete Rainer Klimaschewski. But surf tourists could now gain standing wave experience before venturing onto the mighty waves of the Pacific. And, given consistent conditions, pro surfers could perfect tricks and practice new moves before attempting them in the ocean.
Klimaschewski and his wife, the architect Susi Klimaschewski, had built ski jumps and snowboard halfpipes before they discovered surfing at Munich’s Eisbach, as they say. Her company now operates 15 waves in nine countries, and more are in the works. Citywave put its turnover at ten million euros.
Citywave locations
