Kelly Slater's Wave Pool Network Announces European Expansion

Kelly Slater Wave Company confirmed last week that a Surf Ranch facility is under construction outside Hossegor in the Landes department of southwestern France, with an anticipated opening in the northern hemisphere summer of 2028.

The announcement is the most significant expansion of the Surf Ranch concept beyond North America. Hossegor was chosen for its proximity to Europe's most concentrated surf culture market and its existing infrastructure — the region already hosts a Championship Tour event and supports a large population of professional and semi-professional surfers who could provide a year-round customer base.

Two additional sites in Andalusia, Spain are in negotiation, according to company documentation reviewed by Breakers. The Spanish sites would target the inland leisure market rather than the surf training demographic, representing a broadening of the commercial model beyond elite athlete preparation.

Critics of wave pool expansion have raised concerns about the energy and water consumption of large-scale artificial wave facilities, particularly in regions experiencing increased drought pressure.