Kiwi surf doctor changes British coastline

Posted by Simon Pride, Deputy MD, RLA Group

Yeah right, we didn’t believe it either when we first discovered this project on our doorstep.

It’s not every day that you get the chance to be involved in creating and naming a new piece of the United Kingdom.

But that’s exactly what the Reef project is all about.

Costing £2.7 million, the first artificial surf reef in Europe is arriving this autumn in Bournemouth. Eco–friendly, sustainable, world–leading engineering designed to create a 75–metre long surf ride and Grade 5 wave with left and right breaks out of the calm waters of the South Coast. Plus it will increase the number of surf days in the year.

Why slog all the way down to Devon and Cornwall when surfing can be had an hour and half from London?

What’s more, there’ll be 58 individually designed Surf Pods (the beach hut is so yesterday) – courtesy of Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway, a surf academy, and a funky café from the same people that created Urban Beach.

No surprise then, that it’s expected to be the biggest news in UK tourism this year and likely to attract £10m worth of publicity.

All this project needs now is an ambitious and exciting sponsor... um, do you know of anyone? If so, please drop us a line...