Citywave Vilnius, the first artificial wave pool in Northern Europe: a new era for Lithuanian surfing

This November, the Enefit Arena powered by citywave officially opened in Vilnius, featuring the first artificial wave pool in Northern Europe. This modern space is a new surfing attraction in Lithuania. It is designed for beginners and professionals alike, offering the opportunity to enjoy the waves all year round, regardless of the weather conditions or the season. The new training and entertainment venue, which was spectacularly presented live on LNK TV, opens its doors to all surfing enthusiasts and will contribute to the development of a new generation of champions.
“Citywave Vilnius is the fulfilment of a dream that I have been cherishing for many years,” says the arena’s founder Arūnas Budreckas. The idea came to him while watching international surfing tournaments and considering how to provide similar opportunities for Lithuanian athletes. “My goal was to create not only an entertainment venue, but also a training base to help our athletes prepare for competitions in the international arena. Now we have something that the whole of Lithuania can be proud of,” he said.

Opportunities for athletes are as wide as ever
Citywave Vilnius gives Lithuanian surfers the opportunity to train all year round – a major advantage for a sport that has so far been limited by seasonality. The arena is equipped with modern equipment that allows you to adjust the height of the wave up to 1 metre 60 centimetres, making it suitable for both beginners and professionals.

Rokas Bakstys, Lithuanian surfing champion, sports director and coach of citywave Vilnius, is convinced that this space will provide an invaluable opportunity to improve: “Up until now, my preparation for competitions has required travelling around the world, which was time-consuming and resource-intensive. The pool, while not the same as natural waves, allows me to develop essential skills that would take years to achieve at sea or in the ocean. I believe that this place will help discover many promising young people and pave the way to the world’s surfing elite.”

A sustainable forge for future champions
Arūnas Budreckas admits that the road to the opening of citywave Vilnius was not an easy one, but he believed in his vision: “At first it seemed like a distant goal – it required advanced technology and a lot of finance. But I realised that without such a facility, Lithuania would not be able to compete with the leaders in surfing.”