A summer of training and then... the ultimate surfing experience! For surf club Rats & Chicks from Surfers Paradise, the opening of RIF10 in Rotterdam was the chance to take their skills to a new level. This revolutionary artificial wave paradise in a canal, in the middle of the city, provides a surfing experience you would normally only find on the coast.
Surfing downtown: how does RIF10 work?
RIF10 is not just any pool. The channel was closed, drained and then transformed into a surf spot with an artificial reef at the bottom. This reef, combined with a pneumatic system, generates waves that can be from 1 to 1.60 metres high. The system directs the water towards the reef, then creates perfect waves at the surface. This gives surfers a reliable wave of as much as 25 metres to surf - the same one time after time, ideal for making fast progress!
Exclusive session for Rats & Chicks
The surf club was given exclusive access to the RIF10 pool, which can accommodate 30 surfers per session. Thanks to the convenient turn-roll system, each surfer could count on as many as 15 waves per hour - much more than at sea. This means not only more time on the wave, but also faster progression, as each wave is exactly the same. The surfers from Rats & Chicks were in good hands with their regular instructors from Surfers Paradise, who guided them during this unique experience.
The appeal of RIF10: the complete surf package
Since its opening, RIF10 has become a popular attraction. Surfers book en masse to enjoy an hour at this urban surfing paradise, which has decided to stay open even during winter. The complex offers more than just surfing: a clubhouse with a restaurant and a surf shop provide a complete surfing experience, and supporters can sit around the pool to watch the action up close.
Back home, but you can still surf!
Although the session at RIF10 was a highlight for surfers, Surfers Paradise itself remains active until the end of March. Every weekend and on holiday days, they are open from 12 noon, with heated changing rooms and the option to take a hot shower after surfing. This way, surfers can continue to develop their skills and prepare for a new surfing adventure - perhaps again in Rotterdam!
Our thoughts: is urban surfing the future?
With this unique combination of technology and urban experience, RIF10 takes a new step in the surfing world. For surfers who cannot always reach the coast, this indoor wave experience offers a perfect solution. A surf spot in the city also attracts a completely different audience, which may well generate new interest in the sport. In short, with RIF10, the surf world seems to be heading in a new direction - one that is more accessible and closer to home than ever.
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