East Fremantle’s Moses Le Grice says he would love to see a wave park at Tompkins Park.
Camera IconEast Fremantle’s Moses Le Grice says he would love to see a wave park at Tompkins Park. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Proposed Alfred Cove wave park could offer ‘dream world’ says Perth surfer who tested out similar facility in Spain

Bryce LuffMelville Gazette

A PROMISING Perth surfer given the chance to test a Spanish wave park has backed a similar facility being built in Alfred Cove, saying the sets produced would offer amateurs and professionals a “dream world”.

East Fremantle’s Moses Le Grice travelled to Wavegarden’s research and development facility in San Sebastian in August to sample man-made wave riding.

It is the same technology that will be used at Wave Park Group’s $25 million Urbnsurf facility proposed for Tompkins Park.

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With hundreds of surfers putting their hands up to try it and only a handful selected, it was a rare opportunity to test a facility that pumps out more than 1000 waves each hour.

The 18-year-old, an Urbnsurf ambassador, said he was excited to find waves that packed some punch and surf that could be adjusted to suit different riders.

“I was expecting it to be pretty good but it just blows your mind while you’re there,” he said.

“I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face the whole day.

“It was better than I thought it was going to be. You can’t really explain it.”

Le Grice, currently competing on the World Surf League’s Qualifying Series, said Perth’s uninspiring conditions meant he was hopeful Wave Park Group’s development application for a local park would tick all the relevant boxes.

“The waves that they will produce at the wave garden are much better than any waves we’re going to get in Perth 95 per cent of the time,” he said.

“Having something like this would be so good to train in, especially with the Olympics coming up.”

The John Curtin graduate said the facility would cater to surfers with a range of experience, and be popular with people afraid of the ocean’s marine life and waves.

“It will always be perfect,” he said.

“It’s a dream world.”

A development application for the facility at Tompkins Park is expected to be lodged in late 2017.

Opposition to the facility has centred on environmental concerns, with some believing it would be better placed elsewhere.

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