Surfs up Snowdonia

Surf Snowdonia opened in late 2015 as the Worlds first Wavegarden® artificial surfing lagoon. This revolutionary concept, which has drawn the attention of the World’s surfers, generates consistent waves, at varying heights in a massive 300m long lagoon, making it suitable for beginners through to professionals.

The attraction also boasts on site camping pods, crash and splash activities, surf academy, restaurants, surf shops as well as children’s soft play. WCP Associates were employed by Conwy Adventure Leisure to manage the design and construction of Surf Snowdonia including the surf academy. After looking at a selection of building systems for the surf academy, the Collinson range of building systems were recommended to WCP and a meeting was arranged.

Already familiar with tensile structures the Conwy Adventure Leisure Chairman was confident that the Collinson Challenger building system would fit the bill perfectly to create a light, bright and modern facility.

They liked what they saw from Collinson, a quality product from a reputable company with a proven track record of delivering projects on time; Collinson were employed on a subcontractor basis and work began immediately on site to ensure tight deadlines were met. The Challenger building system is based on a clear span, steel superstructure which requires minimal foundations and can be quickly erected.

This modular system is renowned for its efficiency; the frame is covered with a tensioned PVC membrane. The white tensile membrane roof proved ideal allowing light to permeate into the academy, flooding the facility with natural light, giving the effect of being outdoors whilst also minimising running costs.

The surf academy provides 360m2 of additional internal space for the equipment, surfers and instructors with specialist rubber flooring to aid on-land, undercover training for beginners. A glazed curtain walling offers views overlooking the wave garden and divisional netting allows training of different groups to run simultaneously.

Dan Collinson, MD, Collinson plc commented “We’re really excited to have been part of this innovative project; we know it’s a versatile building system from previous projects but a surf academy is definitely a first for us!”

The opening date was set in stone with no margin for error, so the successful completion of the project was reliant on all site teams working independently with a co-ordinated approach.

Surf Snowdonia officially opened in August 2015 and was host to the ‘Red Bull Unleashed’ world wide surf competition in September 2016.