– Surf Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest surf facility, opens in Abu Dhabi
– Venue hosts its first professional surfing competition from 27 September
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – 24 September 2024: Chilean wingsuit flyer Sebastián Álvarez has made history after leaping from a Bell 212 helicopter travelling at 3,657 metres (12,000 feet) over Hudayriyat Island in Abu Dhabi, before dropping into a wave in the most spectacular style.
A world-renowned BASE jumper and outdoor skydiver, Álvarez has successfully completed thousands of similar jumps. But on this occasion, he made history. Over two years in the making, this project is a high-level combination of three unique disciplines – skysurfing, swooping, and surfing. The preparation and the training required was not just focused in one sport, but all three, achieved in partnership with Experience Abu Dhabi, the destination brand of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).
“This idea has been in my mind forever,” Sebastián Álvarez said. “I remember as a kid watching pelicans soar over the waves, thinking how gently they fly and approach the ocean, using the dynamic wind to keep the speed and stay with the wave, almost touching the water with wings. That’s when it clicked in my mind. The dream of using a high-performance canopy at a high speed… it’s the same as a pelican, or a seagull, using waves to fly.”
Developed by Modon Properties, Surf Abu Dhabi uses the Kelly Slater Wave Company’s proprietary wave technology to create the world’s longest ride and biggest barrel, providing the perfect venue for Álvarez to achieve his record-breaking dream of “Skydiving into a Wave”.
One of the newest year-round surfing venues in the world, Surf Abu Dhabi promises to enhance the emirate’s appeal to adventure enthusiasts and sports fans from around the globe. Whether an avid surfer or simply seeking a new experience, Surf Abu Dhabi is designed to offer excitement and enjoyment in a world-class setting.
“It’s incredibly special to perform this project here in Abu Dhabi,” Álvarez said. “I consider this technology, the wave, as one of the most amazing things that humans have created. It is a perfect wave.”
Sebastián Alvarez’s swoop from helicopter into surfing a wave is a world first, and his success goes down in history across not just one discipline, but three.
“Achieving this, it means the world to me,” Álvarez added. “It has felt like entering into the unknown, doing something that nobody has ever attempted to do before. It really is a dream come true.”
The Surf Abu Dhabi facility will host its first professional surfing competition, the Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic, on September 27, 28, and 29, which will be the third stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2024 Longboard Tour. Surf Abu Dhabi will also host a WSL Championship Tour event in 2025.
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