If surfing is to ever become an Olympic sport then of course it will take wave pools to get it there. With only a few nations lucky enough to have coastlines with consistent, well formed surf, it can only happen globally when all nations have the same opportunity to learn and compete.For surfing to finally reach the Olympics would be an achievement, but to succeed on the long term the standard of the waves is absolutely critical. If the waves standard is too low, then the first time may very well be the last time. This must be avoided by assessing and comparing, in great detail, all of the wave making options.