Nearly ten projects of this type have already been shattered in recent years against the wave of protest, or quite simply the wall of economic reality. Will the Canéjan (Gironde) “surfpark” project, south of Bordeaux and around fifty kilometers from the ocean, be the first to see the light of day in France?
After aborted attempts in Castets (Landes), on the Futuroscope site in Poitiers (Vienna) or even in Saint-Père-en-Retz (Loire-Atlantique), this project for a giant “artificial wave pool”, entitled “L ‘sliding academy’, is the first to have passed the building permit stage, granted by the town hall in February 2023. But, as with the others, environmental associations were quick to come down on it. . Two of them, Sepanso and Surfrider, attacked this permit before the Bordeaux administrative court at the end of July. And a petition against this project has already gathered more than 60,000 signatures.
“Surfing in a box”
Planned on an industrial wasteland on the edge of the A63, “The surfing academy” would consist of two huge surfing pools, one of which is 180 meters long, producing “perfect” artificial waves all year round. . The investment would be between 20 and 30 million euros, and the site would target attendance of around 300 visitors per day to achieve profitability. It would rely on Cove technology from the Spanish engineering company Wavegarden, already proven abroad. Nothing has filtered for the moment on the entry price, but the existing structures in Europe, in Swissin Wales and Bristolin England, charge around 100 euros per hour of practice.
“Surfing in a box”, a “supermarket of surfing”, say the opponents… “These are projects with a mainly economic and recreational vocation whose relevance can be widely questioned, especially when the location is relatively close to the “ocean, near natural waves” denounces, for example, Surfrider, an environmental association created by surfers. “Surfing is in the ocean, not in a warehouse,” protested a surfer, commenting on the project on social networks.
“Surfers don’t live in the mountains”
However, the people behind the “Sliding Academy” also present themselves as surfers “in love with the ocean.” » Among them, Edouard Algayon, former candidate of the Star Academy, or Nicolas Padois, who runs a surf school in the Arcachon basin. After an intense marketing campaign in 2023, they did not respond to our requests, no longer wishing to communicate on their project for the moment. But in a video posted on the networks, they explain why it is wise, according to them, to position their structure “one hour from the ocean”, near Bordeaux, “the European surfing metropolis”. This will help “reduce traffic jams” towards the Atlantic coast “for often disappointing surf sessions”, they argue. “Children will also be able to practice in complete safety. »And then, “surfers don’t live in the mountains…”
The defenders of these structures highlight that it will be a “real plus for the training of the wider world and the development of high-level athletes”. This is the case of this manager of a coastal surf school, who rather looks favorably on this type of project. “This would offer access to the discipline to everyone, including in winter or when the weather prevents surfing the ocean,” assures this experienced surfer. This would also allow schoolchildren to discover a new activity. It’s complementary, and what’s more, it would create jobs. Now, this must respect environmental specifications, obviously. »
The French Surfing Federation (FFS) explains for its part 20 minutes be favorable to artificial waves, “a sporting equipment which can find its place in the development of the practice by remote audiences. » Equipment which “can also, in addition to training in a marine environment, enable the preparation of high-level athletes. »
“Cocktail of microbes”
Why did the FFS finally withdraw its support for Canéjan’s project? If she does not say she is “against”, she wants “guarantees, particularly with regard to water consumption” she explains. “The figures announced by the promoters and their opponents are very different; meters are not installed on parks of the same nature in operation, and this does not allow the FFS to form an opinion on the reality of the forecast water consumption of the skiing academy. »
New data were actually communicated on January 10 to the administrative court, and presented Tuesday during a press conference of the two environmental associations supported by Canéjan Transition, a local association. The three structures point out in particular the water consumption and the “health danger” that the surfpark would pose to its future users.
In the project, rainwater recovery tanks from the 25,000 m2 roof of adjacent buildings would supply the two basins. And “no need to drain the water for hygiene reasons”, defend the project leaders in their video, because “the waves oxygenate and stir the water. » Result: “we have water which purifies itself and which requires no more chlorine than that of the tap. » The associations fear “health risks linked to the much greater presence of the E. coli bacteria, or norovirus, in structures supplied with rainwater as opposed to structures supplied with drinking water. » “This project, as it stands, is a cocktail of microbes, into which it seems unacceptable to dip even a toe,” warns Vanessa Balci, from Surfrider Gironde.
“The operation of the surf park would not last two years without a considerable additional supply of city water”
Another concern of the associations, as we have said, is water consumption. “A surf park is not like a municipal swimming pool, it does not need water apart from filling it” defend the project leaders, relying once again on their rainwater recovery system on the rooftops. The associations, for their part, assure that it is “a veritable deluge of water” that will be needed to supply the basins. They are based on a study by Denis Loustau, research director at INRAE (National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment) in physical ecology, to whom they appealed.
Contacted by 20 minutes, he explains: “after having simulated operation over a period of thirty years using weather data from the region”, we obtain “results quite different from those of the study which was annexed to the building permit. » “Two essential reasons” explain this difference: “the contributions by precipitation have been overestimated, because the efficiency coefficients used correspond to sloping roofs whereas here, the water will be diverted from a flat roof. The second cause is that the water evaporation model that was used actually corresponds to the evaporation of a lawn fed with water, not a wave pool, which is obviously not at all The same. »
Result: “the operation of the surfpark would not last two years without a considerable additional supply of city water, which can reach up to 80,000 m3 per year,” says the scientist. By adding “the hotel complex planned in the project, possible drains, water losses through the activity of surfers, watering…”, we would arrive at “136,000 m3 of city water” adds Rémy Petit, of Canéjan in transition. Or 41% of the water consumption of this town of 6,200 inhabitants.
Supposed to be completed in 2025, the project is awaiting the decision of the administrative court. In the meantime, the construction site is at a standstill. Temporarily or permanently, that is the question.