Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

It would seem that the search for thrills, cheap and otherwise, knows no bounds.  The world of extreme sports, also known as adventure sports or lifestyle sports, is growing at an incredible rate of speed. In this sports arena, Europe has exceeded America, as 2011 becomes the promised time when London will partake in the world’s first artificial outdoor surfing experience (in between tea, crumpets and various other proper English activities).

Venture Xtreme is more than just a multi-sport, shopping and leisure complex on an unprecedented scale; it provides a lifestyle that has the unique ability to combine sports participation with spectator attraction.  It is reported that this artificial surfing machine will feature 6-foot swells, which will, upon command, break gloriously upon the Thames in a magical place called Silvertown Quay. It is hoped that this unique attraction will draw the ever-growing ranks of urban surfers throughout the world.

Estimated to cost a mere £20 million (40 million US dollars), the goal of the creators of this machine is to rival, through the utilization of “cleaned river water,” the Atlantic breakers of Devon and Cornwall. Building to transform the former grain dock is slated to begin this year.

As if the surfing machine wasn’t enough of an achievement, creators are also planning on an artificial beach with palm trees, boardwalks and rentable fire-pits for barbecues to create a more realistic setting. (They left out sharks and other perils, which would surely enhance the surfing experience as well.)

Happy hi-tech surfing!

Read [New Launches]