ASB MAGAZINE: URBNSURF has appointed seven-time world champion and current Chair of Surfing Australia, Layne Beachley AO, and former CEO of Impact Investing Pty Ltd, an Australian company acquired by global Fund Manager BlackRock, Nigel Allfrey.  Beachley and Allfrey both participated in the URBNSURF Sydney capital raise helping to secure the $55 million funding for the Sydney facility. They join the existing board which comprises Simon Bayley, Chair, who successfully completed the development of URBNSURF Melbourne, David Wakeley, former CEO of Virgin Money and Alex Hone, Managing Partner, Realside Financial Group.

 

URBNSURF CEO, Damon Tudor said, “We are thrilled to have Layne and Nigel onboard to help propel the group and work cohesively with our other board members on the business and specifically the Sydney project, which will be accessible by over two million Sydney residents in under 30 minutes.

 

‘“We are excited to finally be delivering on our vision of being a multi-park operator. The potential for the Sydney facility is substantial and these new appointments bolster URBNSURF’s industry knowledge and expertise, particularly in the world of surfing,” Tudor concludes.

 

Despite COVID-19 restrictions and forced closures, the privately owned Australian company has seen a continuing strong appetite for surfing with URBNSURF’s Melbourne park selling over 200,000 sessions to date.

 

“Access to surfing, learning in a safe and controlled environment, and the joy the experience of surfing brings, has seen an exponential growth in surf parks like URBNSURF around the world. I am so excited to come on board as a director at URBNSURF and help introduce the wonderful world of surfing to more surfers, both young and old,” says Beachley.

 

The second world-class surfing lagoon will commence construction with ground preparation work complying with COVID-19 restrictions at Sydney Olympic Park, boosting over 200 construction jobs and 150 operational roles. The lagoon, similar in size to the Sydney Cricket Ground and located at the Hill Road facility, is only 14 kilometres west of Sydney’s CBD and is expected to see up to 300,000 guests catch perfect waves each year.

 

URBNSURF Sydney is scheduled to open in early 2023.

  

About URBNSURF

URBNSURF is an Australian developer and operator of artificial surf parks, and currently operates the only commercial surf park in the country. URBNSURF is a wholly Australian-owned company that has established relationships with multiple landowners and innovative wave generating technology providers to create unique surfing experiences. URBNSURF works in partnership with surfing organisations and surf industry partners. URBNSURF Melbourne opened in January 2020 and URBNSURF Sydney is due to commence construction in September 2021, following successful completion of the capital raising. URBNSURF plans to build and operate multiple venues across Australia in the coming years.

 

VIA PRESS RELEASE