Lost Shore Wave Park Edinburgh – Coast to Coast Team Surf the New Wave Pool
We were super stoked to accept a special invite for our team to surf Lost Shore Wave Park in Edinburgh, Scotland’s brand new multi-million pound surf facility.
The rise of inland wave parks around the world has been huge over the last decade. New parks now appear every year across Europe, Australia and North America.
The vision for Lost Shore began almost ten years ago when founder Andy Hadden set out to bring Scotland its own surf park. The project has now become a reality, with Lost Shore officially opening on 11 November 2024.
Photo by Sam C ( Mike K drawing nice lines on the log)
The Rise of Wave Pools
Wave pools are not a new idea. Versions have existed since the late 1960s and were famously featured in the cult surf film North Shore.
In that film, surfer Rick Kane wins a ticket to Hawaii after competing in an Arizona wave pool competition. When he arrives in Hawaii, he quickly learns that ocean waves are a completely different challenge.
Modern wave pools, however, have evolved dramatically. Today they can generate waves for every level of surfer, from beginners learning to stand up to professionals training advanced manoeuvres.
The Lost Shore wave park in Edinburgh is now one of the most advanced wave pools in Europe and runs using the Spanish Wavegarden technology.
Photo by Clive Christopherson (Josh making the most of the Turns setting)
First Impressions of Lost Shore
For the Coast to Coast team, the experience started with a strange feeling.
Leaving Dunbar to go surfing inland near Edinburgh Airport definitely felt unusual.
Lost Shore sits inside a former quarry, creating a dramatic amphitheatre around the wave pool. As the machines started generating waves, the pool produced set after set of perfectly peeling waves, running for up to 15 seconds on each side.
Even on a lower wave setting, it was difficult to resist jumping straight into the water.
Exploring the Surf Resort
Before surfing, we were welcomed by Andy Hadden and Martin McQueenie, who showed us around the new facility.
The purpose-built surf shop features a range of wetsuits and boards. Local board shapers Jay Surfboards and Farr Surfboards are also represented.
There are some nice local touches as well. North Berwick artist Charlotte Herd has ceramics on display and there is also a nod to the local surf clothing brand Slab.
Photo by Clive Christopherson (Tim in the end section of manouvers)
Surfing the Wave Settings
Once our session was called, we suited up and received a short briefing from the Lost Shore staff.
Our demo session allowed us to test three different wave settings.
Cruiser Wave
The session began with the Cruiser setting.
This was a gentle waist-high wave that peeled for around 10 to 15 seconds. It was perfect for minimal boards or soft boards and allowed three or four smooth turns.
Turns Setting
Next the wave stepped up to the Turns setting.
These waves were steeper and longer, ideal for intermediate surfers using grovellers or shortboards. Each wave offered around four quality turns on a shoulder-high face.
It was incredibly fun and a great development wave for surfers progressing their technique.
Manoeuvres Setting
The final setting we surfed was the Manoeuvres wave.
This produced powerful shoulder-high waves that peeled down the reef section of the pool. The wave offered multiple turn sections and even a small tube at the end.
It genuinely felt like surfing a good shoulder-high reef break somewhere on the Scottish coast.
Photo Sam C (Californian young surfer, Makena Burke, ripping in the wave pool)
Wave Quality and Technology
Having surfed at The Wave in Bristol, we noticed several improvements in the Wavegarden system used at Lost Shore.
The waves felt very consistent, with almost no variation between sets. Waiting time between waves was also short, around 30 seconds, meaning surfers spent more time riding waves and less time waiting.
The waves also had strong, reliable power and longer ride lengths, which made the experience feel surprisingly close to ocean surfing.
Photo Sam C (Unidentified Bodyboarder lining up for the barrel)
Beginner Waves and Training Areas
We did not see the beginner setting running that day, but we have since watched it in action.
The beginner section features a gentle 1ft whitewater wave that breaks for around 20 metres. There is also a large artificial grass area for pre-lesson practice.
The only drawback is that the shallow beginner waves break over a concrete base, which beginners will need to be aware of.
Advanced Waves and Barrels
The most advanced setting is the Barrel wave.
This produces a genuine tube section and has already become popular with experienced surfers. The wave even finishes with a small section suitable for aerial manoeuvres.
Community and Atmosphere
One of the nicest surprises was seeing so many familiar faces in the water.
Many surfers in our session had been surfing the Pease Bay and East Lothian coastline for decades. There were lots of smiles, nods and a strong community atmosphere throughout the session.
After surfing, we relaxed in the resort restaurant with some great food and drinks.
Final Thoughts from the Coast to Coast Team
Overall, the experience exceeded expectations.
Lost Shore is an impressive facility and a really fun place for surfers of all levels.
It also has the potential to become an excellent training environment for Scottish surfers.
Encouragingly, the team at Lost Shore has also expressed interest in working alongside Scotland’s coastal surf schools. The goal is to help surfers transition safely from inland waves to the real ocean.
Because while wave pools are amazing training tools, surfing in the sea remains a completely different experience.
Staff Reactions
“Good waves, good food, good times.” – Lachlan
“Massive smiles. Still tripping out that you can surf waves like this next to Edinburgh Airport.” – Tim
“Exceeded all expectations. We now have an excellent training environment for all wave crafts.” – Josh
“Andy and the staff couldn’t have been more welcoming. An incredible facility for Scottish surfing.” – Sam
“So stoked to surf Lost Shore. Amazing waves so close to home.” – Clover
