Saudi Arabia's first-ever pool surf competition is making waves at Aquarabia
Surf’s up in Riyadh… and no, you don’t need the ocean for this one
Saudi Arabia’s surf scene is making waves this summer with the launch of the Kingdom’s first-ever pool-surf competition, set to take place at Aquarabia Qiddiya City on Saturday June 13.
Here’s introducing the Red Bull Pool Clash. The high-energy showdown takes surfing out of the ocean and into Aquarabia’s artificial wave pool, where surfers can focus on style, creativity, and big tricks rather than waiting for the perfect wave.
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Set within Surftopia, Aquarabia’s much-talked-about surf pool, the event promises more than sport. Expect a lively crowd, music, festival-style atmosphere, and front-row views of surfers battling it out on perfectly consistent waves designed for big moves and bold performances.
How it works
Unlike traditional surfing competitions, where athletes wait for the perfect wave, Red Bull Pool Clash keeps the action flowing.
During the Jam Sessions, surfers will have a set number of waves within a time limit, and judges will score on style, execution, innovation, and progression. Competitors are encouraged to vary their lines, showcase different tricks, and take risks, with only their best waves counting towards the leaderboard.
The top scorers will then move into the Head-to-Head rounds, where surfers compete directly against one another in knockout-style heats, progressing through the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals until one winner claims the title.
And the prize? A surf trip to Munich, Germany, home to the legendary Eisbach wave, one of the world’s most renowned river-surfing spots.
For those keen to take part, registration is still open for surfers ready to test their skills on Surftopia’s waves.
And if competing isn’t quite your thing, the event is also open to the public, so you can simply turn up, catch the action from the sidelines, enjoy the music, and watch some of the Kingdom’s most daring surfers battle it out in the pool.
Red Bull Pool Clash is fully organised and operated by Red Bull, with the Saudi Surfing Federation as an official partner.
Location: Surftopia, Aquarabia Qiddiya City
Timings: June 13, from noon (Doors open at 10am)
Visit: Redbull.com
