- Title: Hawaiian waves made in Gerrmany
- Date: 29th March 2023
- Summary: MUNICH, GERMANY (MARCH 17, 2023) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (German) CITYWAVE FOUNDER RAINER KLIMASCHEWSKI SAYING: "Obviously it's a challenge we have to work on, especially in Hawaii. If you go there, you will see a giant field with solar panels on the left and on the right, you will see the Citywave pool. And the pool gets its energy from the solar panels, from the sun in Hawaii itself, making it a positive energy-wise."
- Embargoed: 12th April 2023 08:29
- Keywords: Citywave Eisbach Hawaii Munich Surfer The LineUp at Wai Kai Wavepool
- Location: MUNICH, GERMANY; OAHU, HAWAII, UNITED STATES
- City: MUNICH, GERMANY; OAHU, HAWAII, UNITED STATES
- Country: Various
- Topics: Sport,Surfing
- Reuters ID: LVA008095028032023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Considered the birthplace of surfing with waves many surfers worldwide are dreaming to conquer, the Hawaiian island of Oahu now has new waves to offer - made in Germany.
Together with the German company Citywave, the surf park The LineUp at Wai Kai by Honolulu has opened the world's biggest standing wave pool.
According to the company, the wave in the pool is 30 meters (98 feet) wide, with the construction costs for the pool coming up to 40 million euro (43 million dollar).
It took two and a half years for the pool to be build, according to engineers of the Munich company Citywave which holds the patent for this type of waves.
The head of the company, Rainer Klimaschewski, was inspired by the Eisbachwelle, a well-known river surfing spot in Munich in Southern Germany.
"Long ago when I came to Munich to study, we meet daily at the river to surf. And the idea was born in my head that one should develop the technology so it can be build everywhere," Klimaschewski said, shortly before flying off to Hawaii himself for the grand opening of his company's latest pool.
The difference however is that the Eisbachwelle relies on natural slopes causing the waves. In Hawaii and fifteen other standing wave pools built by his company all over the world the waves are created by turbines. While the waves are technically the same, some Munich surfers are sceptical about the need for artificial waves in Hawaii.
"I'd find it a waste to surf the perfect wave when the ocean has so much to offer. And especially in Hawaii you can find amazing waves. It makes me a bit sad, if I went to Hawaii I would want to surf in the ocean and not a standing wave pool," said Patricia Kroeck, a surfer at the Eisbachwelle adding however that she thinks the standing wave pools are fun.
However she isn't the only one who wants to surf in Hawaii, making enough space to catch the perfect wave in the ocean in Hawaii somewhat of a scare commodity these days.
The pool, so the operators, will offer people an alternative.
On top of this, surfing has become an olympic discipline, meaning more professionals will look for a place to practice independent of the ocean's mood.
However this might get pricey after some time. A 45 minute surfing session will cost 140 dollars.
Some surfers likely will prefer the Eisbachwelle where the surfing, while somewhat further away from Hawaii's waves, at least is free.
(Production: Ayhan Uyanik, Louisa Off, Christine Uyanik, Petra Wischgoll, Daniel Kuhn, Anna Dittrich) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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