A Surfboard Shaper's View of the East Coast's Newest Wave Pool

The Wave at Atlantic Park Surf

The newest wave pool in the U.S. is located just a couple of blocks from the Ocean Front in Virginia Beach. Atlantic Park Surf is powered by WaveGarden technology. Upon arrival I was blown away. They really have this place dialed. It’s a mirrored pool with long running rights that run and fan out into the lagoon, which makes it feel like you’re surfing towards a beach rather than up against a structure.  The other side is lefts. They have multiple settings and you book your session based on skill level. I chose the advanced setting and it was perfect for what I wanted to do…cram in as many turns as possible!

What’s Included

When you get there, after you’ve signed a waiver, you get a wristband which opens the gates. You can choose from upwards of 100 rental boards (most of which are epoxy). There are free lockers, outdoor showers, indoor heated showers in the locker room, a patio and lawn area for viewing, and a couple of small pools for chilling. There are cabanas for rent and it’s surrounded with what will be new restaurants and shopping upstairs. it's dialed!

What Boards Work Best

One critical aspect of wave pools is the physical difference between chlorinated freshwater and the saltwater of the ocean waves we surf. Salt water is more buoyant than freshwater. Also wave pool waves are typically pretty fast moving and because they’re less buoyant you want a board that paddles fast and helps you get in early. Because they’re not overhead waves, something shorter that fits in the pocket typically works great. In my humble opinion, epoxy boards excel in wave pools. We surfed my Pool Edge model, which is a groveler twin-fin shape with a wider nose and overall outline, and had a blast. I caught 17 waves in 55 mins. I didn’t blow or waste any of them and was able to get up to five turns on my best waves. They even have a “FlowState” camera that records all of your waves.

After my session was over I stayed and watched an expert session, which has barrels. This setting is pretty dope, and the pro session has a barrel-to-air combo that’s pretty sick. All in all, I was blown away and left with a smile on my face and pure, unadulterated stoke.

The best part is, it’s relatively affordable. Cheaper than a day up at Mammoth or hitting the snow at your favorite winter ski/snowboard resort. The staff  makes  you feel comfortable, and you get plenty of really fun waves. Just remember to ride an epoxy groveler shape and you will be set. I highly recommend it. Hands down, I think this is one of the best wave pools in the U.S.