Surf parks are popping up around the world, each promising the same thing: perfect waves on demand.
In Russia, a company called Vertigo Sports is building its own version of that dream.
The system is designed to create ocean-style waves using a compact setup that focuses on energy efficiency and fast installation.
The triangular, cheese slice-like concept is already running in two locations. But how exactly does Vertigo Sports' wave pool work?
A wave built inside a frame pool
At the center of the system is a large artificial lagoon built from modular components.
According to Vertigo Sports director Alexander Ishchenko, the surf facility is made up of four main parts.
"The construction of our wave consists of a pool, wave generator, pumping station, and filtration station," he explains.
The pool itself is essentially a large frame structure built with rigid plastic panels supported by columns.
Inside the basin, a waterproof geomembrane keeps water from leaking while a soft interior lining protects both surfers and surfboards from impact.
The materials are chosen for durability. Galvanized elements and plastic parts are used throughout the structure to resist corrosion and decay.
From the outside, the system looks simple. Inside, it is designed with safety in mind, and everything is made with this tent-like material.
"Under the tent is a soft edge, so boards and people don't get hurt, making everything as safe, comfortable, and awesome as possible," says Ishchenko.
The modular design also helps speed up construction. The pool perimeter can be assembled in about a week, and the entire installation can be completed in roughly a month.
A patented wave generator
The heart of the technology sits along the side of the pool.
Vertigo's wave machine uses 16 water chambers called caissons that release water in a precise sequence to form surfable waves.
"Two sections create the initial wave, and 14 maintain its desired shape," says Ishchenko.
The system contains no moving mechanical parts in the water.
Because each section activates at a different moment, operators can change how the wave behaves. Timing adjustments allow the peak to shift along the wall, change direction, or alter the steepness of the face.
The flexibility allows the system to produce waves suited for beginners or advanced riders. The pool can generate flatter, longer rides for longboards or steeper faces for shortboards.
The waves move forward across the pool rather than holding a surfer stationary on flowing water.
Waves every two minutes
The standard Vertigo pool measures about 120 meters long and 60 meters wide and occupies roughly 0.7 hectares of land.
Inside that basin, waves can reach up to around 1.7 meters in height. A new wave is produced roughly every two minutes, which means about 30 rides per hour.
Up to eight surfers can use the system during training sessions, creating a structured surf-school environment where riders can repeat attempts quickly and build skills faster than in natural surf conditions.
Because the water is filtered and treated, surfers ride in clean, hazard-free freshwater.
For many beginners, that controlled environment is a key part of the appeal.
"Of course, this wave will interest those who already know how to surf," says Ishchenko. "But our main audience is people who've had a dream and decided to try surfing."
"There are four programmed operating modes that you can switch between at any time. The wave will shift either to one side or the other. On one side, it'll be smaller, on the other larger, almost forming a tube."
Plug-and-play infrastructure
Behind the pool sits the technical backbone of the system.
The pumping station and filtration equipment arrive pre-assembled inside shipping containers. Once installed on site, the containers are connected to the wave generator and pool system.
All electrical and control components are already integrated.
"We simply arrive, install the container, connect it to the wave generator, and basically everything works," Ishchenko says.
The filtration system continuously draws water from different areas of the pool, cleans it, and returns it to the basin. The goal is consistent water quality during heavy daily use.
The entire installation requires a site with relatively shallow groundwater conditions and a stable power supply.
The energy challenge of wave pools
Electricity consumption is one of the biggest challenges for artificial surf projects.
Large wave systems can demand huge amounts of power, which can make them expensive to run or difficult to install in certain locations.
Vertigo Sports co-founder Pavel Churin says energy efficiency often determines whether a surf park project moves forward.
"Power consumption kills more surf projects than bad locations," he says.
"It's rarely the land. It's rarely the demand. More often, it's the electricity."
Vertigo's ocean-style wave systems typically operate around 70 kilowatt-hours, depending on configuration, while the full installation may require about 150 kilowatts of electrical capacity.
Lower power demand can simplify grid requirements and make it easier to develop surf parks in different locations.
"Energy is an operating metric, but also a development constraint," Churin explains.
Two surf parks already running
Vertigo Sports has already installed two operational surf facilities in Russia.
The first opened in 2024 at the More Volnuetsa surf park in Rostov Oblast. The setup includes an 85-meter pool producing right-hand waves reaching about 1.5 meters.
A second facility launched in August 2025 in Leningrad Oblast with a larger 120-meter pool generating left-hand waves between 1.6 and 1.7 meters high.
Together, the parks have already trained thousands of surfers. Vertigo reports that more than 17,000 people rode the waves during 2025 alone.
Meanwhile, the company is continuing to push its technology forward.
Engineers are currently working on a future system capable of producing waves up to three meters high, a scale that could place the Russian design among the largest artificial surf waves ever designed.
Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com
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