At first sight, the project may seem totally utopian, but the future possibility of enjoying a good surf session just 20 minutes from the capital is well and truly real. With the Okihana Wave project, WaveRiding Solutions is aiming to create a “semi-natural wave” right in the heart of the Lac de Créteil, making it possible to surf using an environmentally-friendly solution. So, will we be able to break out the boards and wax in the Paris region in a few years’ time?
Soon a surf spot just 20 minutes from Paris?
No time to take the train to the Atlantic coast? No desire to opt for polluting artificial waves? Be patient, because you may soon be able to find the right alternative for surfing without having to leave the Paris region. Thanks to its natural wave system, Okahina Wave offers an on-site installation inspired by Polynesian atolls, making it possible to surf on any body of water, while offering a low-pollution solution.
Thanks to an ingenious system, it will be possible to surf waves of gradual difficulty, from 60 centimetres to 2 metres, that dig and tube. This means that beginners can learn to surf just as seasoned surfers can train! The system’s main strength is its low energy consumption, equivalent to “that of a 150-cover pizzeria”. It should also be noted that no waves will propagate beyond the wave zone, thus having no impact on the surrounding biodiversity.
To develop this first system in France, the Créteil lake has been chosen. Now that the green light has been given by the syndicat mixte d’études d’aménagement et de gestion, the feasibility study phase has just begun. This could mean surfing in the Paris region between late 2026 and early 2027, just 20 minutes by train from Paris. This will be the first project of a small series, as installations are also planned at Futuroscope, Livorno and on the Vaires – Torcy lake.
All we have to do now is wait!