Back to School: Peak Surf Park in Tampa does more homework 

From Wave Pool Mag:

By Chris Klein

The developers behind Peak Surf Park, a project that will use Surf Lakes tech located in Tampa Bay Florida, released results from a survey this week.

The company said results showed that the “concept was met with unprecedented enthusiasm with approximately 90% of respondents expressing their interest level as very high or high.”

Most of the respondents were beginners or people who have never surfed. More than half of the respondents expressed interest in tapping into surf lessons available at the park to learn how to surf or improve their surfing skills. Peak Surf Park did not specify how the survey was conducted.

The development said that feasibility and economic impact findings from the analysis of two potential sites both proved positive outcomes for park construction and for the local economies.

Peak Surf Park would cover 30 acres and include a wave pool and a handful of other amenities like a cafe, restaurant, and shops. The company website says they will also include skate, bike and climbing facilities as well as lessons, coaching and competitions.

Advertising executive Tony Miller has spent the last year assembling a team to pursue the project which is projecting development costs at around $60 million to $70 million. Miller has also gathered a small group of private investors to help ensure the finance side of the deal works out in the hot Tampa real estate market.

According to the Tampa Bay Business Journal, Miller purchased a Surf Lakes license for Peak Surf Park. Surf Lakes has been actively licensing its technology worldwide and announced deals for the USA, China and Hawaii in 2021.

“Compare [Tampa Bay] to the Gold Coast — it’s double the market,” said Surf Lakes CEO Aaron Trevis. “We’re excited about the one we’re going to build here. Tampa is such a great destination; it just needs waves.”

The breadth and scope of building one of these wave pools can be daunting, and Surf Lakes now offers two sizes for different development targets and budgets. Surf Lakes Standard has a smaller footprint and is designed for the beginner to intermediate markets. Surf Lakes XL is meant to be a premium surf destination or resort appealing to all skill levels. Each system produces 2000 waves per hour. Currently, the prototype in Yeppoon Queensland is becoming a public-facing surf park.