Hong Kong got its first indoor surfing spot when Groundswell at Airside mall in Kai Tak opened earlier this month. The venue spread across 14,000 square feet has the city’s first FlowRider — a wave machine that simulates surfing conditions in a safe and controlled environment — so that anyone from grommets to seasoned surfers can practise their technique.
Visitors can book 60-minute open sessions any day of the week at HK$500, and get training from a professional surf coach, as well as access to equipment, towels, changing rooms, locker, and showers. Anyone who pays HK$1,500 and above and signs up for a membership will get additional benefits.
Try a spot of flowboarding — a water sport that combines surfing, skateboarding, wakeboarding, snowboarding, and bodyboarding. Remember that there are height restrictions, depending on the way you surf. Visitors who skateboard surf should be over 107 cm tall, while those who take part in stand-up surfing activities should be taller than 120 cm.
If you’ve worked up an appetite after all that surfing, you can order from Groundswell’s surfing island-themed bar and restaurant helmed by Michelin-nominated chef Heri Raharjo that serves Southeast Asian cuisine favourites such as Larb Gai Salad, Durian Shakes, Ikan Bakar, and Seafood Nasi Goreng.
Want to share this surf-and-dine experience with friends and family? Host a private event at Groundswell’s main dining area or outdoor patio. You can even gather your tribe at the Viewing Deck and Bar for a unique surf-themed party or a team-building session with work buddies.
Airside is one of the newer entrants on Hong Kong’s retail therapy scene, having opened in September 2023. The mall is built on the site of the historic Kai Tak Airport and housed in a 47-storey multi-complex spanning 700,000 square feet. It has around 40 restaurants, a 900-seat movie theatre, and a flight experience zone, as well as a rooftop garden, an amphitheatre, and urban farms.
Image credits: Airside
