Kelly Slater Opens A New Wave Pool In Abu Dhabi
Kelly Slater
Abu Dhabi has been an exploding location for sport over the past few years. Since COVID-19 shut down the world in 2020, Abu Dhabi became a place for the sports world to open back up again. The relaxed quarantine protocols at first and the remote location and bubble capabilities drew many people with money to escape to the United Arab Emirates. The UFC for example took their entire business to what they called “Fight Island” and set up their own bubble there for a long time. Now the mecca of wave pool surfing might have found this beautiful location to call home as well.
Kelly Slater is not only the most notorious surfer of his time but he has been single-handedly changing the game in terms of wave pools. With his Surf Ranch in Lemoore California, he introduced a new technology that made a perfect wave miles from any ocean. Now he brings that same engineering to Abu Dhabi.
Kelly Slater is the mastermind behind a new wave pool in Abu Dhabi
Bill O’Regan, CEO of Modon said in a press release, “We can’t wait to welcome surfers of all skill levels to find their wave in Abu Dhabi and benefit from the world-class technology and facilities available to them. Surf Abu Dhabi on Hudayriyat Island in Abu Dhabi is driven by a commitment to enhance Abu Dhabi’s leisure and sports offerings with a destination which attracts surfing enthusiasts from across the world and offers a unique and enjoyable experience for all.”
Slater invited some of the best surfers in the world out to give his new wave pool a try. Included in the opening wave festivities was Stephanie Gilmore, Jeremy Flores, and more. The group was the first to try out the new wave pool which is slightly different from Slater’s first project at The Surf Ranch.
The wave is salt water and boasts the longest barrel of any wave pool in the world.
