Rachel Agüero and the Experience of Surfing an Artificial Wave in Texas
- Karina Rubilar
- 14 hours ago
- 2 min read
The adventure of our Queen Of The Wave, Rachel Agüero, surfing the artificial waves of Texas was marked by extreme cold, early morning sessions and, above all, a lot of fun.
Training on a wave that repeats itself over and over again can feel like a luxury for any surfer. In Waco Surf, Texas, there is a wave pool where each section breaks almost exactly the same, allowing surfers to work on specific maneuvers and repeat them many times during a single session. This is very different from the ocean, where conditions are constantly changing and every wave is unique.
The Costa Rican surfer spent some time in Texas and took full advantage of the pool’s controlled conditions to work on specific maneuvers, especially airs. It was an incredible experience, although it did not come without its challenges.
“The water was very cold. Sometimes it was two degrees, and other times it dropped to minus two,” she recalls. To handle it, she had to wear full gear, wetsuit, gloves, boots and a hood. “It was really difficult to surf in water that cold, but it was still very, very fun.”
She also explains that the sessions started very early, even before sunrise. “We woke up at five in the morning to surf at night or very early, because that was the only availability,” Rachel says.
Despite the cold temperatures and the early mornings, the experience turned out to be very positive. The structure of the artificial wave allowed Rachel to focus on what she came for: repeating maneuvers and improving her aerial technique.
“It was really fun. I went there to practice airs because the wave has a perfect ramp and it's a great way to train them. It was an incredible experience,” she says. The training paid off. During the sessions she managed to land several airs and also take advantage of other sections of the wave designed for maneuvers.
Beyond the training itself, the trip became one of those experiences that combine challenges, learning and fun. Surfing a wave that breaks the same way every time allows surfers to try movements, make mistakes and immediately try again, something that in the ocean often depends entirely on the conditions of the day.
In recent years, wave pools like Waco Surf have become increasingly popular training environments for professional surfers. The possibility of repeating maneuvers on a controlled wave has turned into a valuable training tool for athletes who want to continue developing their competitive level.
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