Incoming WSL general manager Andrew Stark looking to bring Wave Pool to Australia

THERE will be two words at the top of Andrew Stark’s list when he takes over the World Surf league’s reinvigorated Gold Coast operations: Wave pool. But will the ‘dream wave’ be coming to the Coast?

THERE will be two words at the top of Andrew Stark’s list when he takes over World Surf league’s reinvigorated Gold Coast operations: Wave pool.

The incoming general manager of WSL Australia and Oceanic region has made no secret his new role will focus heavily on bringing the revolutionary surfing technology to our shores.

“We’re very keen to get the project going,” Mr Stark told the Bulletin.

“Part of bringing me on as GM is to fast track that development and get it happening as soon as possible.”

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New World Surf League general manager Andrew Stark.

After nine-and-a-half years as the head of the country’s peak surfing body, Surfing Australia, “Starky” will be moving out of his Casuarina offices to WSL’s Australian headquarters in Coolangatta.

The new role will also see Mr Stark the general manager of the Australian arm of Kelly Slater Wave Co — which is now partially owned by the WSL.

Ever since Kelly Slater shocked the world in 2015 with his perfect man-made waves, a wave pool “arms race” has taken place globally to provide perfect waves regardless of conditions.

It is understood the WSL wish to replicate the technology on a global scale to provide elite training facilities for up-and-coming surfers.

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Six-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore, from the Gold Coast, competing in the Founder’s Cup at the Kelly Slater Wave Co Surf Ranch in Lemoore, California. WSL is looking to bring a replica version of the man made wave to Australia.

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But despite the WSL’s expansion on the Gold Coast, Mr Stark remains tight-lipped on where the dream pool will be located.

“We’re look at all sorts of locations on the eastern seaboard,” he said.

“We haven’t made a firm decision on where it will be built.

“If we build it within proximity to Surfing Australia’s High Performance Centre there will be no need to replicate some of the facilities already in place.

“Certainly we are looking up this way, but we are also looking far and wide across Australia.”

One of Mr Stark’s other key roles will be overseeing all WSL sanctioned events in the Australia and Oceania region.

This will also include plans to bring a top rated Qualifying Series event to Australia in a bid to help bolster Aussie numbers on the world tour.

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Training room at the HPC at Hurley Surfing Australia High Performance Centre

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Currently there are just seven Australian surfers on the men’s championship tour, compared to Brazil’s 13.

“In the men’s side it is something we are working on,” Mr Stark said.

“There are currently no QS10,000 events in Australia. This is a huge disadvantage for Aussie surfers as these events have a dramatic effect on qualification.

“We need to make sure there are enough qualification events and programs in Australia.

“There is talent coming. It is more about making sure we’ve got that pipeline in place so they can get on the tour.”