Boscombe surf reef branded ‘a white elephant’ (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Boscombe surf reef branded ‘a white elephant’
7:00pm Thursday 22nd October 2009 in
WITH just days before the long-awaited launch of Europe’s first artificial surf reef, a water sports enthusiast has branded the £3 million attraction “a white elephant”.
Chris Roberts, whose home overlooks the reef, told the Daily Echo: “It’s on the wrong side of the pier, the wrong way round, too big and potentially dangerous.”
Businessman Mr Roberts, 31, added: “The reef is way too steep and at the wrong angle. Instead of breaking on the reef, the water runs off either side, breaking underwater. If you look closely, as we have all done for many hours, you can clearly see a ‘hand-clap’ effect whereby the water then runs directly into its own path.
“Water does spill over the top but there is no power behind it. When we get a honking south-westerly wind, the wave on that reef is gong to be really big.
“People will be surfing in a very shallow depth and running the risk that if they get it wrong they could fall straight through, which is potentially very dangerous.”
Mr Roberts added: “It is a white elephant. Every day I see more surfers to the right of the pier than the left because, like us, they have already realised that the reef doesn’t work.”
But Bournemouth council’s executive director for environmental services, Tony Williams, said: “The location was carefully picked to maximise opportunities of both land and sea-based regeneration, after all relevant studies confirmed that tidal and other conditions were right for an artificial surf reef to be constructed here.”
He said the underwater phase of the reef was complete and safety aspects were being finalised with the help of the RNLI.
“They are still waiting for the right conditions, including challenging waves, so they can conduct their formal training. Safety checks have all been completed successfully,” he said.
Nick Behunin, managing director of ASR, the contractor which built the reef, said: “While people may have the skills to enjoy the surf, few have the knowledge to truly understand the construction of reefs.
“ASR is the world leader in the design and construction of multi-purpose reefs. Each is designed based on the specific location, taking into account a variety of natural elements to ensure it works in concert with the environment rather than against it.
“In the case of the Boscombe reef we have built a structure that maximises surfability of conditions that exist in the English Channel.”
Comments(68)
briankrj
says...
7:44pm Thu 22 Oct 09
Get real Council, the people see through fools and you are as transparent as the 12.5 mill ripp off.
How many surf pods have you sold? How much will it cost us to outsource this job to somebody more competent? you BBC are a total shower.
marqueemark
says...
7:44pm Thu 22 Oct 09
http://blogs.nzheral
d.co.nz/blog/your-vi
ews/2009/1/29/mt-mau
nganuis-15m-artifici
al-surf-reef-waste-m
oney/?c_id=91
ferret38
says...
8:14pm Thu 22 Oct 09
marqueemark wrote:A good read and so true thanks for posting link .
A quick google reveals that the reef built by ASR in New Zealand does not work very well either...
http://blogs.nzheral
d.co.nz/blog/your-vi
ews/2009/1/29/mt-mau
nganuis-15m-artifici
al-surf-reef-waste-m
oney/?c_id=91
pipistrollers
says...
9:14pm Thu 22 Oct 09
John T
says...
9:58pm Thu 22 Oct 09
pipistrollers wrote:' Sorry, too busy surfing for ****, to think about pawning for surf.'
Hey mister can we have our over £3 million back!
Mr Mac
upyourpipe
says...
9:59pm Thu 22 Oct 09
What the hell does Tony Williams know about surfing, he is the chief executive of enviromental services, i have had dealings with his department in recent years and he was about as much use as a chocolate fireguard.
Enviromental services is a department full of an abomonation of dipsticks and no brainers all of which draw their extremly generous paycheck under false pretences.
This council were told for months by people who involve themselves in the sport of surfing that this waste of time, money and space would not work and it has been proved so.
After spending, no wasteing, all this money on this absolute load of rubbish this counci will now be looking to all council tax payers for a heafty hike in bills next April of around 5% even though inflation is nowhere near that amount or they will be banging on about cutting back on vital services.
I would have thought that they should have put vital services first before spending over three million pounds on a few thousand bags filled with sand.
Every body involved in this should be thrown out of the council and taken to court for misappropriation of funds.
When will these dipsticks learn that they have no experiance in building anything, they should leave it to the experts, the money spent on this giant sand castle will take years to come back and it wont come from any money generated by this surf reef, it will be us that has to pay this back in rising tax bills.
I think that most of these council officers suffer with delusions of grandeur, they think they know it all when in fact they know nothing.
They are all overbearing and overpaid cretins who should be voted out at the next general election, but of course it wont really matter who gets in because they are all the same, money grabbing snobs a knowalls who in their spare time warch **** on their laptops.
ferret38
says...
11:55pm Thu 22 Oct 09
[Chris]
says...
12:15am Fri 23 Oct 09
.
Will someone from the Leisure Dept please admit to a huge folly. The reef is rubbish as pointed out by other Surf Reefs in the link above, and this is not the only one. The lack of sale of the pods. Who wants a pod, sold or rented, if you cannot stay in them. Roger Brown, Beverley Dunlop and all those of the Leisure Committee need to stand up and be counted on this.
mikal mhor
says...
2:07am Fri 23 Oct 09
Gastines
says...
7:18am Fri 23 Oct 09
Mediclogan5
says...
7:31am Fri 23 Oct 09
The-Bleeding-Obvious
says...
7:36am Fri 23 Oct 09
ben111
says...
8:29am Fri 23 Oct 09
alumchineboy2
says...
8:57am Fri 23 Oct 09
Cazzam
says...
9:07am Fri 23 Oct 09
time nor Tide
says...
9:23am Fri 23 Oct 09
time nor Tide
says...
9:42am Fri 23 Oct 09
Millygee
says...
10:10am Fri 23 Oct 09
John T wrote:Could you put that into English please so we can all understand it?
pipistrollers wrote:' Sorry, too busy surfing for ****, to think about pawning for surf.'
Hey mister can we have our over £3 million back!
Mr Mac
localsurfer
says...
11:43am Fri 23 Oct 09
Does no one see the bigger picture???? Come on Boscombe was not a great place to go to, and look what they have done to the area, and if it was not for the reef, it would be the same old avoidable Boscombe, and none of this came from the local tax I pay- people really need to understand this.
And the reef in NZ , does work, perhaps spend a few more minutes on google and you will see pictures of barrells.
Lets all be a bit more patient and actually give the council a chance.
upyourpipe
says...
12:05pm Fri 23 Oct 09
localsurfer wrote:For the majority of us Boscombe is still avoidable, might be alright for the occassional surfer and the snobs who can afford half a million for a seafront apartment but for the rest of us no difference.
I think everyone who commented seems to either be confused on how the reef actually works, and what type of conditions it is actually dependant on.
Does no one see the bigger picture???? Come on Boscombe was not a great place to go to, and look what they have done to the area, and if it was not for the reef, it would be the same old avoidable Boscombe, and none of this came from the local tax I pay- people really need to understand this.
And the reef in NZ , does work, perhaps spend a few more minutes on google and you will see pictures of barrells.
Lets all be a bit more patient and actually give the council a chance.
How anybody can say that this reef is an improvement is beyond me, how can you compare Boscombe to New Zealandthats like comparing an ugly weaver fish with tasty cod.
The people of Dorset were patient when the imax was built and look what happened there, this white elephant will be exactly the same.
Laurie H Marsh
says...
1:08pm Fri 23 Oct 09
localsurfer wrote:I use to live in Boscombe and every so often the weather conditions allowed surf-like conditions to exist.
I think everyone who commented seems to either be confused on how the reef actually works, and what type of conditions it is actually dependant on. Does no one see the bigger picture???? Come on Boscombe was not a great place to go to, and look what they have done to the area, and if it was not for the reef, it would be the same old avoidable Boscombe, and none of this came from the local tax I pay- people really need to understand this. And the reef in NZ , does work, perhaps spend a few more minutes on google and you will see pictures of barrells. Lets all be a bit more patient and actually give the council a chance.
I dont remember anyone spending millions to make this happen!
Also, Boscombe used to be a safe place to be (even late at night)!
I used to like a drink (still do) but no-one was afraid to walk past me or my inebriated friends at any time, day or night!
Maybe they used the wrong material to build the reef!
time nor Tide
says...
1:47pm Fri 23 Oct 09
com/2009/06/11/the-t
ruth-about-the-mount
-reef/
yes localsurfer look and see what the mount reef local surfers have to say.. Nothing wrong about feeling good about yourself , your town and your occasional waves but it should be based on a truthfull product. Then its all right! please leave fantasy for adolescence!
Papa Joe
says...
2:39pm Fri 23 Oct 09
ASR have sold a large stake to an American company around the time that the reef was completed. What you may find is that the ASR of today may wash there hands of the project.
I do like the article, but I wish they had spoken to someone a little more ground in why the design does not work.
In the scoping meetings, ASR presented that the surf reef will work on any waves with an 8 second swell period. (this means the time between the waves). This is a very common period for this part of the coast and would provided waves more often than not.
This week the swell period has ranged from 6 second (reef not to work) to a swell period of 18 seconds plus (which is the type of sweel period you get in Hawaii.
The facts are, if it reef was going to work, it would have done this week.
If you checkout the other ASR projects, you will see that non work to the agreed spec's most are over budget and unfinished.
Surley there must be a call for legal charges to be sale of good act : )
xxpj
pipistrollers
says...
2:44pm Fri 23 Oct 09
pd7
says...
4:42pm Fri 23 Oct 09
Papa Joe
says...
4:49pm Fri 23 Oct 09
localsurfer wrote:Hello Localsurfer, I understand how the reef actually "should" work and I know that the mount reef doesn't work. You should spend a further few minutes seeing if you can find some uptodate photo's of the mount reef : )
I think everyone who commented seems to either be confused on how the reef actually works, and what type of conditions it is actually dependant on. Does no one see the bigger picture???? Come on Boscombe was not a great place to go to, and look what they have done to the area, and if it was not for the reef, it would be the same old avoidable Boscombe, and none of this came from the local tax I pay- people really need to understand this. And the reef in NZ , does work, perhaps spend a few more minutes on google and you will see pictures of barrells. Lets all be a bit more patient and actually give the council a chance.
Sadly time and tide will not improve this situation.
I also think it's sad to see so many of the honeycombe chine flats sold as weekend places.
Go down there at night and only a few lonely lights shine bright from the complex.
This doesn't help the local business as most people will bring what they need for the weekend with them.
xxpj
Perihelion
says...
5:23pm Fri 23 Oct 09
We await the proper conditions for the reef to work.....
time nor Tide
says...
6:54pm Fri 23 Oct 09
be 75-100 m, which, in water of depth 4-6m, gives a ride duration of some 12-15 s."The modelling was conducted with a tidelevel of 1 m above CD, which is near midtide, wave period of 7 s, and offshore wave height of 1 m." Also "The final reef will be oriented into the dominant wave direction, which is from 187°T, some 14° out of alignment with the beach." from asr's FIELD DATA AND INITIAL DESIGN REPORT FOR A PROPOSED
ARTIFICIAL SURF REEF - 6 authors
I dont know what 187degrees T is but it doesnt sound like south west -anyone help here? (tNT is not wind or swell waS) I suspect that all large swell comes from around south +_ a few degrees as its governed by the channel and our headlands and the altlantic storms. Offshore winds are always better. So its only wind that can improve what was?
upyourpipe
says...
7:34pm Fri 23 Oct 09
time nor Tide wrote:what the hell are you talking about, is this some sort of forign language or do you require medical attention
Taking the above factors into account, it is appropriate to design the artificial reef with a “surfing difficulty ranking” in the range 4-5 (see panel). An ideal ride length would
be 75-100 m, which, in water of depth 4-6m, gives a ride duration of some 12-15 s."The modelling was conducted with a tidelevel of 1 m above CD, which is near midtide, wave period of 7 s, and offshore wave height of 1 m." Also "The final reef will be oriented into the dominant wave direction, which is from 187°T, some 14° out of alignment with the beach." from asr's FIELD DATA AND INITIAL DESIGN REPORT FOR A PROPOSED
ARTIFICIAL SURF REEF - 6 authors
I dont know what 187degrees T is but it doesnt sound like south west -anyone help here? (tNT is not wind or swell waS) I suspect that all large swell comes from around south +_ a few degrees as its governed by the channel and our headlands and the altlantic storms. Offshore winds are always better. So its only wind that can improve what was?
Papa Joe
says...
7:44pm Fri 23 Oct 09
Perihelion wrote:I agree, there was a southeast wind swell running, but it is possible of several swells to be running at the same time.
Papa Joe retells some of the design of the reef, but omits the part about southwesterly winds and south westerly swell direction. This week's wind and swell has been from the south east or south. And occuring on spring tides. Basically, the reef will operate in specific conditions, and these conditions were not here this week. In the original Echo story, the 'surfers were on the other side of the pier' because thats where they go in this week's weather conditions. We await the proper conditions for the reef to work.....
EGHH
says...
8:22pm Fri 23 Oct 09
pipistrollers
says...
10:54pm Fri 23 Oct 09
EGHH wrote:What a good idea. No doubt the council will take your idea and make a load of money out of it.
Hey don't worry. It'll join the IMAX on the great Bournemouth c*ck up tour! Perhaps some enterprising could could organise the tour for next summer?
time nor Tide
says...
12:08am Sat 24 Oct 09
upyourpipe they are quotes directly from the 77,000 pound report done by the designers and builders - asr's FIELD DATA AND INITIAL DESIGN REPORT FOR A PROPOSED
ARTIFICIAL SURF REEF
That is if you like the designers specifications for the design. sort of like ""Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. 15 "And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits." that sort of specification. "its a foreign language alright sort of technical talk" dont blame me -i just found it in their web site??? IT SAYS WHAT THE REEF IS DESIGNED FOR ! And yes due to a severe allergic reaction to loss of an expected amenity of international scale - i do need medical attention. I do feel very unwell about it all!
PTBarnum
says...
9:02am Sat 24 Oct 09
Azrael
says...
10:27am Sat 24 Oct 09
bald barry bredknop
says...
12:23pm Sat 24 Oct 09
Sadly confused and hose bound
security word cath-eter
briankrj
says...
1:01pm Sat 24 Oct 09
pipistrollers
says...
2:39pm Sat 24 Oct 09
briankrj wrote:I think you will find that the elusive Roger Brown was right up at thr forefront of this
Can somebody give the names of those at the Council that pushed this through? Then these can be removed from ever having responsibility from future projects.
Was Charlie
says...
5:59pm Sat 24 Oct 09
If it works every day for one year that will have cost £8,200 per day. If it works every day for 10 years that will have cost £820 per day.
Value for money? I don't think so.
I gather from what's been said that it will only work for a few days each year.
M0Z
says...
7:26pm Sat 24 Oct 09
Forget some of the technical excuses mentioned above. I overlook the reef every day - high tide, low tide, mid tide, spring tide, big waves, small waves, high wind, low wind, any wind/wave direction you fancy. It just doesn’t work!!
The only time you see surfers or swimmers near the reef is at very low tide, when the sandbags are 2-3 feet above water. They use them to sit or walk on (I’ve got some great pics). But when they want to surf, they move elsewhere. Watch it with your own eyes – I’m no surfer, but these folk are the evidence!!
I’m sure this info is already known throughout the serious surfing community. The reef has been massively over-hyped for tourism purposes, and I believe the reality will backfire unless the hype is toned down.
Does anyone know if a date/time has been fixed for the opening ceremony yet? They’ve been delaying it to await better waves for the photos . . . . . .
bald barry bredknop
says...
8:25pm Sat 24 Oct 09
peter hurt
says...
1:04am Sun 25 Oct 09
PTBarnum
says...
9:13am Sun 25 Oct 09
horizon
says...
9:51am Sun 25 Oct 09
What is with the disrespect to a truthful observation?
And what about hanging the 5 dudes, (designers) who should have observed the sea temperatures, swell, wind & pressure before making all those promises and getting the finished product so wrong.
The end result is a sculpture of sandbags, useless for surfing.
But hey your crabs like it.
ASR
says...
3:45pm Sun 25 Oct 09
First and foremost we have a thorough understanding of surfing waves and the reefs that produce them. Any experienced surfer would know that if the natural conditions dont cooperate with respect to wind, tide, and swell it doesnt matter how good a reef is, it will not produce good surfing waves.
We have traveled the world studying and surfing a myriad of high quality surfing waves. More often than not people are dissapointed when showing up at famous waves in Hawaii, Fiji, and Indonesia, only to see windy 2ft slop that looks nothing like the pictures in the magazine that got them to spend $5k to travel there and enjoy the waves in the first place. These locations are all famous surfing destinations with a much higher probability of receiving favorable surfing conditions than those that exist in the english channel.
This reality is a blessing and a curse, as we are almost completely reliant on mother nature. With respect to the development of Multi-Purpose Reefs (and more specifically surfing reefs) the reliance on mother nature presents a HUGE challenge when it comes to educating people on what reefs can and cant do. This challenge is increased significantly when people without knowledge or experience with respect to ocean conditions or wave dynamics make statements that are unfounded and inaccurate.
It is clear to us at ASR that Mr. Chris Roberts does not understand surfing reefs or wave dynamics and may not understand surfing in general. It would be great to speak with him in person to address his statements and concerns but it has been difficult to find out who he actually is and/or if Mr. Roberts exists.
Some of the comments he makes defy logic when it comes to reefs and/or surfing waves created by them.
Chris Roberts, whose home overlooks the reef, told the Daily Echo: “It’s on the wrong side of the pier, the wrong way round, too big and potentially dangerous.”
The predominant wind in this area blows down the channel towards the reef. The pier acts as a moderate barrier to help calm some of the chop associated with the wind. It doesn't do an great job of this because it is not a solid structure or wind barrier but if the reef was placed on the other side of the pier it would be worse. With respect to swell exposure there is no difference because on either side of the boscombe pier the swell exposure is the same. The only variance between the two sides of the pier are exposure to wind and the shape of the sand bars at any given period of time.
The reef slopes upward at a gradient as it heads towards the shore much like a ramp. This is consistent with majority of natural surfing reefs around the world. If it was "the wrong way around" and we rotated the reef as Mr. Roberts suggests it would have a huge negative impact on the reefs performance. The incoming wave energy would hit the reef without any chance to shoal as it comes up the focus of the ramp and then quickly dissipate into deep water without creating any wave that surfers could ride.
The size of a reef is a VERY important factor in determining the length of ride that can be achieved on any reef. Its pretty simple: the bigger the reef the longer the wave that reef can create. Natural reefs and points around the world that create high quality surfing waves are MASSIVE (ie hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of volume and in some cases millions) the Boscombe Reef is 14,000 cubic meters. The Reef is definitely not too big.
Clearly all surfing reefs have an element of danger and inherent risk associated with using them so this is actually the only point that Mr Roberts makes that we would agree with. This is not new information.
We are very proud of the impact that the reef has made on the Boscombe Spa Redevelopment Project and the corresponding socio-economic benefits the area has seen because of this project. In this regard the project has already been a huge success.
While we acknowledge that the natural conditions in the english channel are not going regularly create consistent high quality surfing waves on the reef we look forward to seeing the reef improve existing surf conditions when the natural conditions allow. Many of us have already surfed the reef ourselves and even seen some tubes on the reef which is not very common in Bournemouth/Boscombe
.
bald barry bredknop
says...
6:38pm Sun 25 Oct 09
briankrj
says...
7:42pm Sun 25 Oct 09
PTBarnum
says...
8:08pm Sun 25 Oct 09
please be so kind as to succictly answer each of the above questions.
(The right conditions being 1m 187t swell and a light offshore wind), Last question is how often can we expect that will happen.
time nor Tide
says...
10:33pm Sun 25 Oct 09
aches.blogspot.com/2
009/08/do-artificial
-reefs-work-vol-4-tr
ack.html#IDComment40
248209
If you read volumnes 1 to 3 as well and see the time line much of this was known and ignored before any contarct was signed. Yes ASR it is a HUGE task to make people understand that they pay a lot and get little and have to accept that. "its tough tittiess" is hard to swallow. I think there may even be laws against setting these situations up. We all now hope there is! Thats sad about the reef cafe going broke!
woolamai
says...
8:39am Mon 26 Oct 09
briankrj
says...
8:44am Mon 26 Oct 09
woolamai wrote:Hope you weren't late for work at the Councils 'communication' department.
What are you people whinging about. I just come back from a great session on the reef. 6.30 am, the beaches were 1-2 foot and closing out and the reef a hollow and solid 3+ winding down the reef for the promised 75m. And it's been like that on numerous occaisions since it was built - job done. Instead of moaning about ASR we should be congratulating them on building something that works so well. As for the people who say they overlook the reef, and the water sports enthusiasts who haven't seen any waves - you need to get up earlier, rinse out your Tena pants, and paddle out for a look.
Skono
says...
9:39am Mon 26 Oct 09
I did love the 'white elephant Bournemouth tour' comment.
Seriously though, please ASR do not keep telling us that you are waiting for the 'right type of wave', or the 'right type of wind to launch the reef'......that strikes of British Rail with the 'wrong sort of leaves' and the 'wrong type of snow'. We are adults not children.
People feel rightly aggrieved and mislead by both ASR and the Council and feel seeing as though THEY PAID for it that they should have some sort of feedback.
Imagine if you will that we spent £2.6m on a giant state of the art Lido swimming pool at Littledown but could not use it as the water was the wrong type, or the air in there wasnt right, or even that the water was sloshing around the wrong way?????
Just my opinion but Im a kitesurfer of 7 years + and I have kited all over the World with many of the worlds top professionals and I have even kited the reef, and to be honest, it just wasnt really anything other than some bubbly water that broke in all directions, that looked like wind over tide and then it stuck up out of the water and nearly snapped my fin, so I left it alone and went to annoy the surfers by the pier.
I think a collective voice should ask of ASR and the Council to come on down and have a chat to a TV crew.....let's see how quiet that makes them go.
If you build a state of the art gym - ask the gymnasts. If you build a state of the art climbing wall - ask a climber. Build a reef and the surfers/kiters/winds
urfers/bodyboarders all tell you in unison 'IT DOES NOT WORK' then there is a problem that needs a formal Council investigation to be undertaken, keep it simple.
woolamai
says...
9:53am Mon 26 Oct 09
com/photo.php?pid=87
01557&op=1&o=global&
view=global&subj=230
8959806&id=760060021 - looks pretty good to me from even so far away.
time nor Tide
says...
10:43am Mon 26 Oct 09
time nor Tide
says...
10:51am Mon 26 Oct 09
you can have a yellow card now to answer!
time nor Tide
says...
11:24am Mon 26 Oct 09
ask a barber if you need a haircut?
woolamai
says...
12:37pm Mon 26 Oct 09
That's the problem with having a quick look on a surfcam and trying to work out what it was like hours ago, or will be in a few hours.
Anyway bored of the whining now. We have our reef and who cares if the ramp is over or under the flat bit as long as it works.
It's now easily the best wave around the Bournemouth and Christchurch bays when it's on. Now that Southbourne has gone maybe it's the only wave this side of Durlston that's worth paddling out for. It saves us hours of driving, and it's free. I was in the car by 8, so it didn't even cost me a £1 to park, and I was home for eggs benedict by 9. Can't get better than that.
If people can't be happy that it's a better spot to surf than it was before then they will have to learn to live with it- or dig it up.
See you out there with your spade.
time nor Tide
says...
3:10pm Mon 26 Oct 09
bald barry bredknop
says...
3:26pm Mon 26 Oct 09
reefskeptic
says...
10:20pm Mon 26 Oct 09
I question why, for what and for who?
reefskeptic, bournemouth says...
10:07pm today Mon 26 Oct 09
For what gain does the reef need more time? It is there, it is as the surfers agreed and wanted it to be and it will be as the weather and ocean circumstances allow it to be. So what does it have to prove to who? The moneys spent and the surfers have no reason to complain, they have everything that they asked for and more. So who are these special interest groups & individuals that are speaking out? It seems that we have community who may wish the money were differently spent, we may have commerce who wish to create, maintain and perpetuate an illusion that all is well and of course the stewards of the entire process. The council whose job it was to attempt to make the best out of a sorry state. Oh theres an important sub-group here , it seems a number of the surfers are not impressed with the results thus far. The last group are the most vocal as they are half the reason for the reef being there. The first half is to protect the foreshore in front of the cash cow that is supposed to pay for it all. The surfing was always known to be minimal. An attempt to add value to a protection reef by adding surfing amenity seems to have been , in most peoples view -oversold. A reef that turrns a 1m wave into a 2m breaking wave for that height for 75 to 100 meters is now looking like a wedge at the peak of the reef. Is the selected reef design 21 falacious and erroneous in its ability to be created, real and performing?. (187t/1m offshore ) Others, the users and the designers can answer that. I notice ASR have been asked? Also can someone tell me why the reef has been built bottom layer last on top and the top layer first on the bottom? Is this the reason that the promised results of reef21 will not happen ? I hope that everyone can appreciate my attempt at dissecting the issues. Surfing is only one and those with fervour for surfing could be expected to be on the shore everyday "for a paddle of confidence " out to the reef and back. Show your support for the surfing reef that way. you dont need to use words as your reef has been built -what more do you want now than for you to use your allocated oxygen in the water. ASR as you promised -answers please? oh and me -I'm a skeptic of everything because thats the way i learn the truth. Just ask me about global warming -thats not happeing either -or is it?
horizon
says...
10:40am Tue 27 Oct 09
First and foremost we have a thorough understanding of surfing waves and the reefs that produce them. Any experienced surfer would know that if the natural conditions dont cooperate with respect to wind, tide, and swell it doesnt matter how good a reef is, it will not produce good surfing waves.
-------
First and foremost you have a thorough understanding of B.S. marketing & the lies that produce it. Any experienced business person would know that if the news reports do not cooperate, it does not matter how good your B.S. is, it will not produce good comments
PTBarnum
says...
9:09pm Wed 28 Oct 09
Haven’t blown your cover with a Freudian slip have we?
.
If you are wool whose eyes are you trying to cover?
.
“Pull the Wool Over His Eyes
Dates back to 1839, meaning "to deceive". "Wool" refers to a powdered wig, such as men used to wear. Pulling down the wool wig would temporarily blind the person wearing it.”
.
Tsk tsk , it’s a **** shame when ones too silly not to think carefully before adopting a stage name . You are now a registered member of the “circus’, welcome aboard!!
The wigs not the surfboards are getting dusted off at the moment………… woooolly r u?.
All CCtv will show who you are, if indeed you do exist! Then you and your wooly wig will be more than welcome at the party!
There are many people who think you and your kind have been “pulling the wool over our eyes” wool am you!
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Our unsubstantiated opinions mean little here -what will count is a proper set of woolen wigs examining proper evidence in a proper court.
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They won’t have the woollamyou pulled over their eyes. That will be the proper place where process is properly done.
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Feeble, rude defense of anything at the moment is just so obviously that and just making it easy for people to know where its coming from.
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dont make it any worse than it has to be for yourselves!
Watching You
says...
3:22am Thu 29 Oct 09
The results could conclude some heavily and frequently asked questions by tax payers sitting on the pier awaiting somthing thats not going to happen.
Go ahead search
time nor Tide
says...
11:37am Fri 30 Oct 09
11:31am Fri 30 Oct 09
www.stuff.co.nz search the site for opanake reef will find the reef grief story - now our surfing wreath?
Construction of the reef began in March 2006 with placement of bag anchors. It has been delayed by equipment problems and rough weather. the entire budget was spent in putting 10% of the bags in.
18 April 2008
The reef, which was the first to be finished in New Zealand, just needed a little fine-tuning, Reef Trust acting chairman Neil Walker said.
18/04/2008
"It is kind of experimental in the filling of the bags. This year because they knew what they are doing and they've got the right equipment the bags have just gone in."
The reef was already showing signs of its potential.
09/02/2009
Mr Lusk said: "ASR acknowledge they did get some things wrong which resulted in only four bags being filled in the first two years and that delay has cost us money. ASR were contracted to secure 28 bags to the seabed and fill them with sand. The end sections of those bags remain to be filled to create the shape that causes a wave. It's not certain when the work will be done at this stage but they have agreed to proceed.
15/04/2009
"Surf reef representatives say they will be back in Opunake this week to do an underwater inspection of what some locals are now calling the "surf grief".
But the Raglan-based designer and contractor, ASR Ltd, is keeping its options open about when the reef might be completed and operational."
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04/07/2009
Containers, industrial equipment and piles of sand are ruining the view at the northern headland spot, frustrated locals say and they want it cleaned up.
The unsightly equipment is part of the town's artificial reef construction, which stalled more than a year ago.
The family say the lookout is just another example of the controversy and hold-ups Opunake has dealt with over the reef issue.
"David Lusk said they'll (ASR Ltd) will be coming back but there are half-finished reefs around the world from Wales to India. I don't think they'll be coming back to Opunake.
"We could be waiting forever," they said.
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11/09/2009
Although ASR has "purchased" a floating pipeline and sand pumping gear from the trust, Dr Mead used the term "circus" when referring to the complex setting up and dismantling of that operation.
He says a tug-towed barge carrying a hydraulic excavator might be the best method to complete the job, instead of pumping sand out from shore. The digger could excavate from the seabed, fill the bags and lower them into place. But it would depend on whether a further consent to excavate was required.
"We did the survey using depth sounder, GPS, video cameras and tape measures. We have gaps to fill between the three sections of the reef and the height has to be raised to a uniform level to make the wave curl."
Yesterday Dr Mead said: "Boscombe will be our showpiece reef. People are surfing that reef now, but it will perform better in winter when the big swells come in.
"The Bournemouth Borough Council are partnering up with us to take the technology to the European Union. The more EU links they get, the bigger grants they can apply for, and for us it means more reef projects."
Although ASR has "purchased" a floating pipeline and sand pumping gear from the trust, Dr Mead used the term "circus" when referring to the complex setting up and dismantling of that operation.
www.stuff.co.nz search the site for opanake reef will find the reef grief story - now our surfing wreath?
PTBarnum
says...
9:49pm Sun 1 Nov 09
I haven’t seen as many long range lenses and cameras since the pipeline masters. Jet skis and helicopters were the best way of capturing the footage and it was reassuring seeing them gather that close up footage.
What was even more assurring was ASR was right in their gathering all the scientific data on the fine tuning that they had done. Thats the thing about that firm and its directors -right there when it counts doing what counts. They really are in this for the long haul?
Our tent had a huge ASR screen that showed every surfer getting fully barreled for the full length of the reef. It was amazing! The ASR person at the door said it was not safe to go outside –and the TV was a better way of watching the action
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Considering what’s at stake for a commercial interest here (big money), Its not surprising that professional surfers in their hordes took to the reef yesterday as The bad press that ASR have been hammered with has left them a little ... sad and lonely.
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We can expect that every wave will been recorded in its finest detail for complex analysis and dissection.
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Firstly because ASR in their professional obsession with quality waves see the fine detail of looking, recording, measuring and analyzing every little swell as important as every design/construction choice they made.
The following is a leaked presentation given to council on the special skills and technology that ASR had as a hallmark of their sucess.
"Narration: Kerry is currently involved in designing and constructing dozens of artificial reefs all over the world. The Mount Maunganui reef in New Zealand is a good example of a small reef built especially for pushing up surfing waves.
Kerry: The thing about surfing reefs is that you need a very precise surface because if the reef is full of bumps the wave gets all these ugly discontinuities on the wave face and it really upsets the surfing wave.
Narration: Incredibly, the construction process Kerry developed to build Mount Reef made it plan accurate to within ten centimetres. "
It was on this basis that the Bournemouth reef was purchased and its so good to know that long haul ASR will honor that promotional aspect of their product to the centimetre! No wonder the hordes were there!
That is the way that this world leader has emerged from one small sucess to evergrowing huge sucess in their products.
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Their attention to guarenteeing customer satisfaction and full delivery of product. Product that complys with every sales promise made. Complys to every letter of every word. That why every second person on the reef was an ASR scientist doing their jobs well! QA where it counts.
One bag more than 100mm out of place they are there to fixit. Council were told that only ASR had the special secret to build with that tolerance.
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They see a immediate feedback of information from waves like today as being a part of the evolution process. (The new range of reefs will be called the BBC EVOLUTION series special edition.)
This is the sort of professional service and after sales support that will be the a hallmark of the Artificial Surfing Reef Industry for centuries to come. Just wait until the “anniversary leviathan model “ is sunk .
It will only be offered to past full paying customers on “the surf now pay before” plan. So Bournemouth if you want to qualify for that you have to settle your bill outstanding now. ( please, please can we have one?)
We can now expect this event to be plastered over every surf media and tabloid globally.
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At last Bournemouth Artificial surfing Reef will get the recognition it deserves -Bournemouth now is on the cusp of a wonderful future. One more reef on the second order quick two4one deal will seal the benefits. Come on council get that order book out - I say as I gently wipe a tear from my eye.
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These guys are GOOD -they deserve it. But please 5mill. This time? Just think how much better it will be if they can have some more latitude in design. (That’s how it went from 250k to 3mill remember and look at the difference it made.
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These photos, video and continuous commentary by professional surf callers for future customers including but not limited to BBC IOC, ASP , EU , SURFAID, BANDAID, UNESCO, REDCROSS, robert mugarbe and of course his majesty, the last king of scotland. (psst we get 5% spotters as we were first)
Asr's assistance in this is gratefully acknowledged and they of course deserve a bonus. This is mooted to be a special presentation by none other than MH POW. Where after the directors will be pleased to know that they will be bestowed the honor of being made guests of the crown.
This has been a wonderful thing for Bournemouth and the announcement of the special royal gift to be bestowed upon them is indeed , an early Christmas for Bournemouth.
How lucky for Bournemouth was their chance observation of the consistent wave conditions here being best for the European demonstration reef. Council gets 5% of all sales from our demo. How good is that?
I got to run as they need more batteries down at the beach hoot-an-anny for tomorrow mornings grand ceremony.
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Now no sneaking or skulking off - ASR as your gift back stage tickets from the crown will be the highlight of the morning festivities.
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ASR and the six authors - you be sure to have yourselves a nice day whilst you have this chance to fully bask in the limelight or if you like in “sunshine of Bournemouth’s peoples love” whilst being hosted by the crown
time nor Tide
says...
6:56pm Mon 2 Nov 09
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Oh didnt that doctor from downunder just have his advertisments and over the top ( or was that under) promotion banned.
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(for being morally offensive?)
reefskeptic
says...
10:38pm Sun 8 Nov 09
More Surf Reef stories
- Researchers look into value of £3m Boscombe surf reef
- Boscombe surf reef: Marine firms claim ASR owes them £60,000
- Sub-contractor wins county court judgement against ASR
- Boat strike at surf reef is no longer ‘clear cut’
- £150,000 in reserve cash being spent on surf reef
- ASR to come back in 2012 to improve surf reef
- Handling of surf reef not been our 'finest hour'
- Future of Boscombe surf reef hangs in balance
- Weather delays surf reef repairs
- Work begins on Boscombe Surf Reef
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briankrj says...
7:19pm Thu 22 Oct 09
How many needed services were cut to fund this egotistical attempt at local imortality. How many suffered at the hands of this 'White Elephant'?
Still, those who signed it off can blame the Consultants (hired at our expense) when they can hang on to their council pay checks and sub their own jobs out at no risk to their cushty positions.
We pay twice, their life is nice!