News Release
27 July 2026
When Alaïa Bay opened beneath the Swiss Alps in 2021, it challenged long-held perceptions of where world-class surfing could exist. Five years later, the iconic Swiss wavepool is hosting the first Wavepool Surf Tour event, bringing together surfers from around the world for the launch of a new international competition.
The Wavepool Surf Tour could only begin at a venue that reflects how far wavepool surfing has evolved. Set beneath the Swiss Alps, Alaïa Bay has established itself as one of the best-known destinations of the wavepool era.
Since opening in 2021, Alaïa Bay has welcomed everyone from first-time surfers to elite professionals. Built using Wavegarden Cove technology, it has become a venue for coaching, high-performance training, and international events, demonstrating the growing role wavepools now play in surfing.
Those qualities make Alaïa Bay the natural home of the Alaïa Surf Challenge, the first event on the Wavepool Surf Tour calendar. From 1 August, surfers will submit their best rides for judging through Surf Eye Technology, establishing the first rankings of a competition designed specifically for wavepools.
Launching the tour at Alaïa Bay also reflects the international reach of surfing today. A purpose-built surfing venue in the heart of Switzerland would once have seemed improbable. Today, it stands as one of the sport’s most distinctive destinations, illustrating how surfing has expanded beyond traditional coastlines while remaining firmly rooted in performance and community.
For decades, competitive surfing has been built around the same contest model. As the Wavepool Surf Tour’s first season gets underway at Alaïa Bay, a new competitive format is taking shape, one shaped by wavepool technology and built around accessibility, inclusivity, and performance.
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For more information, visit:
Alaïa Bay
Partnership & Sponsorship Enquiries
Mark Fessler
Founder
mark@wavepoolsurftour.com
Athlete & Competition Enquiries
Clyde Martin
Co-Founder
clyde@wavepoolsurftour.com
Media Enquiries
Craig Jarvis
Head of Marketing & Communications
craig@truthcollective.co.za
FAQ’s
About The Wavepool Surf Tour
The Wavepool Surf Tour connects surfers from wavepools around the world through a shared online competitive format built specifically for wavepool surfing. Competitors participate throughout the season from their local wavepools, with the leading performers advancing to the Wavepool World Finals, the first live event of the season.
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