Heading to The Wave in Bristol?
Here's everything you need to know before you go...
Hey guys, Chris from Stoked For Travel here - welcome back to the channel!
Now before I get started, make sure you hit that subscribe button so you don't miss
out on any video goodness! Now today we're going to talk about
The Wave in Bristol - the UK wave pool. Now this is absolutely every surfers dream,
serving up perfect waves year round - so we're going
to talk through everything you need to know to make the most of your trip
to The Wave in Bristol. Everything from what board to take, what the water
temperature is like, through to how to catch the most
amount of waves - and of course burning questions like "can you get barrelled"?
So yeah, let's get started...
So how much will a session of the Bristol wave pool set you back? Well this
really depends on what skill level you're at and what level of session
you're heading for. If you're going for an intermediate
session this is £50 for an hour, if you jump up to the Advanced+
which is where the barrel start off this is £55 for an hour.
Or the expert session is £60 for the hour. Now if you are heading there for a surf
lesson this is £65 and includes all your gear and of course your
instructor too. So yeah sessions at The Wave start from £50 pounds, but do
vary depending on the level of wave you want to ride.
Now another thing to keep in mind when heading to The Wave that is super
important is making sure you can surf before you go!
Sure there are beginner lessons so you can learn to surf at The Wave, but I'm
talking more at the intermediate, advanced and expert level waves.
Sure they're perfect waves and they do break perfectly
every time, but you do need to be able to surf a green wave to be able to make the
most of The Wave. If you can't take off consistently every
time and turn left and right on a green wave, chances
are you're not going to have a good time and you're going to get in the way as well.
So yeah make sure your surfing skills
are up to scratch don't overestimate yourself. Make sure you book the
right session for you.
And on that note, make sure you choose the right wave level for you!
The intermediate wave peels a little bit slower across the lagoon and is a
little less steep and large, whereas the Advanced and the Expert
waves are super pitchy and barreling. Be honest about where your surf skills
lay because you're going to get the most out of your session there and gradually
build up to the bigger more advanced waves.
If you do go a step too high you're going to find yourself
not getting so many waves, getting some absolute beatdowns and of course getting
in everyone else's way too! So be honest
with yourself about your surf skill and book the right session for you.
And alongside picking the right session for your surfing skill level,
picking the right session overall can make a huge difference to your
experience at The Wave too. For example on a weekend, in the
middle of school holidays, midday session is going to be a lot more busy than say
a dawn patrol session in the middle of December. So choosing your slot
is really important to maximizing your experience at The Wave.
Now the booking section of The Wave website does give you a bit of
overall availability, so if you can choose a less busy slot that is going to
be awesome. If you do live pretty close and you can
make a last-minute decision, booking it the night or two nights before is going to
guarantee you much less people in the water.
So yeah, picking the right slot will definitely up your game.
And of course the most burning question about surfing The Wave in Bristol is
can you get barrelled? Well the good news is - yes you can!
As from August 2020 the Advanced+ and the Expert sessions do
offer some consistent, barreling sections. Please be aware that though you will
need the skill level to be able to surf this, as i've talked about earlier, but
yes Advanced+ and Expert sessions - you will be able to get
barrelled!
So what about the water temperature? Well the water temperature at The Wave
in Bristol is about 3 or 4 days behind the air temperature.
So in winter, like when I went in December, the air temperature was pretty
chilly and there was frost on the ground, so the water temperature was about
6 degrees! So i did need a 5/4 steamer! Fast forward to summer though and the
air temperature in the mid-20s and you get boardie sessions at The Wave as well.
The water temperature is actually updated on the waves website as well, so
make sure you check that out and make sure you pack the right wetsuit for the
day. That being said though there is a full
range of Ripcurl wetsuits at The Wave for you to use, so you'll be all
kitted out and keeping warm!
So how many waves can you expect to catch in your hour long session at the
wave pool? Well at the moment they're pumping out between about 15 and 20
waves per set, with a two minute wait between sets. So on your
average session of The Wave, you can expect to catch between about 12 and 15
waves in the hour long session. Now this is really going to come down to
how many people are in your group, and also your paddle power too. If it's a
low number in your group and you're really on the ball with your paddle
power you can expect to catch around about 15
waves in that hour-long session. Now this might not sound like a lot, but
if you compare it to a session in the ocean, for solid waves it's a really good
wave count and you're definitely getting your money's worth.
So yeah get your paddle power on form and you'll catch the most amount of
waves!
So what board do you need to ride at tThe Wave? Well the overall assumption is that
you need to take the same board you ride at a waist to chest high beach break
so for me that was the 5'8" Seaside. That being said though The Wave
is a freshwater lake, rather than salt water, so it is less buoyant. If you do
have a board with a little bit more litreage
it will make things a bit easier. Again that really depends on the way you're
surfing as well and if you're going for Advanced or
Expert take your go-to board. If you're an intermediate, something with a little
bit of extra volume and maybe a little bit of extra length will make things
that much easier, and help you catch that many more waves.
So yeah, a little bit extra volume is definitely your friend!
Another thing to bear in mind. is do you need equipment of your own to head to
The Wave? Well no matter what level of surfer you are The Wave does have a full
range of boards and wetsuits to suit, and they have really toasty Ripcurl
wetsuits. So if you are heading in the autumn, winter or spring months they'll
keep you nice and toasty and warm. Even if you don't have your own suit to
bring with you board wise I do advise taking your own board if you
are an intermediate or advanced surfer, as it will
help you make the most of your session and really dial in your equipment. But if
you can't bring your board with you for any reason, there are
a huge range of boards on offer that you can choose from.
You can also swap them out mid session as well so if you do want to try a
different type of board, or a few different styles, or fin setups, you can
do that as well. So yeah, full equipment on site if you need it
but if you can, bring your own gear.
One other important thing to keep in
mind when heading to The Wave, and also booking your session,
is at the moment you can't swap between left and right mid session.
So yeah, you are going to have an hour of lefts or an hour of right so make sure
you choose the best option for you, and of course choose the best
option to push your surfing to the next level.
So if you do need to get that backhand going, don't be afraid to book an hour
and really put the practice in!
Now another really important thing to remember with your session at The Wave
in Bristol is arrive with plenty of time to spare.
So, for example, if your session is at 10am I'd arrive about an hour earlier at 9am,
this gives you plenty of time to park,
get to The Wave - because there is either a shuttle or a pretty long walk
from the car park to the actual wave pool -
get signed in, get suited up, and also warm up ready for your session.
So yeah, make sure you arrive with plenty of time to spare. There's lots of places
to chill out and relax if you do arrive even earlier, so yeah be aware plenty of
time to spare.
Now one of the most helpful pieces of advice i can give you about surfing at
The Wave is how to catch the waves themselves!
Sure this wave pool is serving up guaranteed, mechanical waves, but catching
them isn't quite as simple as it first seems!
So getting this part right will help you make the most of your session!
Now once you've waited your turn and followed the line through to the the
take-off spot at the end of the pool, where the waves
are being generated, you need to follow the person who's in front of you, just
slightly behind them as they catch their wave. You'll want to have your shoulder close
to the wall, and keep paddling to keep your position against the marker
against the wall. There will also be a marshal there so
keep an eye out for him he'll be giving you advice,
and just keep paddling to keep your spot just in front of that marker.
As your wave is being generated you'll feel the the water
pull back from underneath you, and you'll need to keep paddling to keep your
position steady. As the wave picks up, dig hard and paddle
like you would do for any other wave. Pop to your feet, take off, turn and go!
So yeah, just be aware of the motion in the water you'll get that over time. But yeah,
as you feel it drawing back keep paddling nice and steady to keep
your position, so when that wave hits you, you'll be ready to go.
So can you learn to surf at The Wave in Bristol? Well the quick answer is yes,
if you haven't learned to surf yet at beach you can also learn to surf at
The Wave in Bristol too. Obviously the advantages of this are the
fact it is super controlled conditions, and guaranteed waves. They have a great
range of awesome, qualified and knowledgeable instructors who can guide
you through everything you need to know to learn to
surf. So yeah if you're looking to learn to surf, can't head to the beach, or the
conditions aren't great learning to surf at The Wave is another
awesome option.
And of course, after a hard session at The Wave catching heaps of waves
you'll need to refuel! Now the cafe at The Wave serves up some
awesome food, great coffee, and a whole heap of drinks and snacks as well.
So if you are heading there for the day you can refuel there at the on-site
cafe- that also has a vegan and vegetarian options too so, you'll be well taken care
of. Yeah you can take a packed lunch but there's heaps of awesome food there too.
So how does The Wave in Bristol compare to the ocean, and is it worth it?
Well in comparison to the ocean, nothing's really going to beat a
good day at the beach, with pumping surf, and your mates in the sun!
However, The Wave is an amazing place to head if you want to push your surfing to
the next level and practice your skills - and for me
that's how I view a session at The Wave - as a training session.
You've got guaranteed, perfect waves, so really put your skills to the test and
practice those manoeuvres. So when you do head back to the ocean you're going to
be that much better.
Being sat in a wave pool
surrounded by concrete and metal is slightly industrial,
and it does feel a bit weird - especially compared to the nature you're immersed
in when you're in the ocean. All that salt water, those
palm trees, and the sand - you can't really beat it! That being said
though I did really enjoy my session at The Wave and if you are a
bit wave starved, want to push your skills to the next level,
want guaranteed waves for your day out, it is the perfect place to head and you are
going to get your money's worth. In terms of the pricing, yep it's not the
cheapest way to spend your day - but if you compare it to something like
paintball, laser tag or anything like that
it's really good value for money. And of course guaranteed waves year-round!
So yeah, if you're serious about your surfing, want to push your skills to the
next level, and want to experience perfect waves day in and day out,
The Wave is the perfect place to head.
So there you have it guys, those are my
top tips and FAQs about surfing The Wave in Bristol, and making
the most of the UK wave pool/. Now if you have any other questions make
sure you add them in the comments below and i'll do my best to answer them and
if you want to check out my full review and guide to The Wave,
you can also check out the link in description below for my full written
blog post. As always guys: like, comment, subscribe
and i'll see you next week!
Yeeeeeeewwww!
you