So far reviews have been mostly positive, with a few caveats. The 6ft barrels that were promised prior to opening haven’t yet materialised, and the radically different playing field can take a while to get used to, but the general consensus is that once you get your bearings the place is bags of fun and a great way to improve your surfing, whatever your ability level. The inaugural Red Bull Unleashed contest, the first high profile surf contest to be held in a wave pool in years, took place in September of 2015, and was largely successful — although many, this author included, remain unconvinced that real competitive excitement is possible in such a predictable setting, where every wave is essentially the same. The contestants tended to liken the shape and pace of the wave to Lower Trestles — high praise — but noted that the wave lacks a steeper ramp section for big aerial manoeuvres.

There have been mechanical failures too, resulting in several sustained flat spells and an early closure for winter, which meant the laying off of numerous seasonal and several permanent staff. Perhaps such problems were somewhat inevitable for the world’s first commercial wave pool of its kind, and they now appear to have been solved; arguably a greater setback came in the form of Kelly Slater’s wave pool, which was unveiled in December of 2015, and next to which the Wavegarden all of a sudden looks a little underwhelming.

“Just like the ocean we use wind (pneumatics) to create our waves,” says Wave Loch founder and CEO Tom Lochtefeld. “After years of research and testing we found that this was the best way to deliver a vast quantity of almond-eyed barrels. By simulating ocean swells that shoal and break over our surfing optimized reefs, we can replicate an experience that is closely comparable to ocean surfing.”

When it opens — no date has been announced yet — the loch will be accompanied by both “sensory gardens” and “healing gardens”, whatever they are, as well as “activity areas, peaceful hideaways and kitchen gardens, a natural swimming pool, café, changing facilities, accommodation, education centre and retail experience”. Sounds delightful.

Surfing Wave Pools: The Loop FlowRider, Cornwall

The experience of “surfing” a FlowRider is only loosely comparable to that of surfing a real wave in the ocean, in fact it’s probably just as close to skimboarding or snowboarding, and only partly because flowboards don’t have any fins. A FlowRider isn’t actually a wave pool at all, but rather a kind of standing-wave machine, which works by blasting a continuous sheet of water several inches thick at high speeds up a stationary rubber ramp. Regardless of whether or not it’ll do anything to improve your surfing, its synonymous with a jolly good time, and there are several in the UK — including The Loop FlowRider at Ratallack Resort in Cornwall, not too far from Newquay, where admission will cost between £25 and £30.

There are also FlowRiders at Flow House Bedford, Heworth Leisure Centre in Gateshead, Redcar Leisure Centre in North Yorkshire, Cardiff International White Water, and Merton Hotel on Jersey.