"X-park: The Largest Active Park in Europe — History, Mission, Franchising"
Introduction
Hello everyone, my name is Yuriy Zozulya. I am a Ukrainian entrepreneur, a former military aviation engineer, a reserve officer, and the founder and owner of 18 companies specializing in industrial automation systems, security systems, and innovative technologies. This has been the professional and central part of my life. However, there is another equally important side — my hobbies and lifestyle, especially kitesurfing in various corners of the world. This passion inspired me to create a park where sports activities provide real enjoyment and maximum health benefits.
In the early 2000s, I discovered kitesurfing and wakeboarding — sports that, at that time, were nothing more than "unfamiliar words" for most Ukrainians. That’s when my passion for water sports began. Imagine this: summer, sunshine, nature, fresh air, and the vivid spray of water that, even during an intense workout, keeps you cool. Then there’s the speed — the incredible sense of freedom it gives, as adrenaline floods your system and you gradually begin to fly above the water. As you master new tricks, you conquer not only the water but also the air. Sounds exciting, right? And, spoiler alert, it’s even more thrilling than you can imagine.
But wait, I'm still a businessman, and my mind is always oriented towards thinking big and improving everything that excites me. So, when I get truly passionate about something, I naturally want to enhance and scale it — and ideally, turn it into a successful project with like-minded people, while continuing to invest in Ukraine. That’s how my genuine love for wakeboarding led to the creation of a place where every Kyiv resident can find their sport — for any taste, fitness level, age, and budget.
I have always believed that sports and recreation should unite people, creating a space for growth and self-expression. When we began the creation of X-park in 2002, it was a simple idea — to build a place where anyone, from a small child to an adult, could find an exciting activity and enjoy time outdoors.
Today, X-park is no longer just a wakeboarding base; it has become a true center for health, development, and active recreation. Over the past few years, it has transformed into the largest active park in Europe.
The Story of Creating X-park
The X-park Project
Our journey began near the strategic route of the Northern Bridge in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, with a small wakeboarding base located on a neglected, abandoned piece of land next to a swamp in the "Friendship of Peoples Park" (later renamed "Muromets"). Our team started by cleaning up the area and preparing the water bodies. We installed Ukraine's first cable wakeboarding system, a circular cableway with professional obstacles, as well as modern linear cable systems for beginners.
As time went on, we gradually added new sports facilities and recreation zones, with the aim of offering something for everyone. Our vision was to create a place where visitors of all ages and interests could find their niche and enjoy wakeboarding and a wide range of other activities.
X-park grew organically, becoming a multi-sport, multifunctional space where people could not only practice their favorite sports but also relax, socialize, and enjoy the outdoors. Today, our park continues to expand and evolve, always with the goal of creating a space for people to connect, stay active, and embrace a healthy lifestyle.
Since 2004, we have been actively improving the park, which helped us attract visitors from all over Ukraine and even international guests. The park quickly gained popularity among active recreation enthusiasts. With the start of a major renovation in 2016, we significantly expanded the park's territory and infrastructure to provide better conditions for relaxation and athletic achievements.
The Largest Active Park in Europe
Today, X-park is not just a place for sports, but a complete ecosystem for a healthy lifestyle, where visitors can relax, develop physically, socialize, and make new friends.
Our park is the largest active park in Europe, covering over 150 hectares, with more than 190 types of physical activities and sports available. Over 350 sports competitions and events have been held here. X-park is home to a variety of activities, with its main attractions being wakeboarding and wakesurfing, but it also offers many other extreme sports, including fitness zones, kayaking, a trampoline park, martial arts, yoga, SUP boarding, bike rentals, and more.
Known for its innovative solutions, the park continually adds new, modern activities. It offers unique water sports, top-tier facilities for team sports like football, volleyball, and tennis, as well as specialized spaces for family recreation, where children can play and grow safely.
Variety of Sports Activities at X-park
At X-park, we offer a wide range of sports and recreational activities, ensuring that everyone can find something they enjoy. Here’s a glimpse of what we have to offer:
9 summer camps and sports schools
Foiling, electric foiling, and ski foiling
Aquabikes, flyboarding, water attractions
Boat service café on the water: "City Swell"
14 beach volleyball courts
Running club, triathlon, yoga
Basketball, baseball, bumperball, obstacle course
"Penguins" cold exposure center, wellness & spa, massage
SUP, kayak, and catamaran rentals
15 cafés, restaurants, and bars
Corporate events, quests, children’s parties
8 playgrounds for children
2 indoor football fields and 3 outdoor fields
Zumba, cheerleading, CrossFit
Rollerblading, skateboarding, longboarding, mountainboarding
Table tennis, billiards, pétanque
Boxing gym, martial arts school
4 hookah lounges, coworking spaces
4 bike rental stations, 2 pump tracks
Segway rentals, trial biking, skimboarding
Motorbike, ATV, and scooter rentals
RC car track, drone racing
Motorcycle school with a track
Paintball, airsoft, shooting range, archery range
Rope park, rock climbing, slackline
5 changing rooms with showers, 11 toilets throughout the park
Bodybuilding, protein bar, healthy eating establishments
Gym, strongman, arm wrestling
Pull-up bars, workout area, parkour, frisbee, slackline, mini-golf
Swimming pool
Banquet hall with a terrace
Landscape and picnic zones
Boat parking area
At X-park, you’ll find everything you need for both active recreation and relaxation, all within one incredible space. Whether you're looking to challenge yourself, unwind, or spend time with family and friends, our park offers a diverse range of activities to suit everyone’s preferences.
History of Xpark 2002-2023. From the swamp to the largest active park in Europe.
X-park: A Place for Everyone to Find Their Activity and Fulfill Their Sporting Ambitions
X-park was created to ensure that everyone can find their activity and realize their sports ambitions. Whether you want to conquer the waves, master extreme tricks on a skateboard, or simply practice yoga in the fresh air — we have everything for your active recreation.
X-park for Every Taste
X-park is a place where everyone can find their own favorite sport or hobby, and spend the weekend with family or friends, enjoying both physical activity and relaxation. We offer special programs for people of all ages:
For children and families — specially designed areas for young kids, water parks, playgrounds, and children’s sports courses ensure that time spent here is both fun and safe.
For youth — young people can engage in extreme sports, participate in competitions, and connect with like-minded individuals in sports clubs that operate within the park.
For adults — adults can enjoy not only active sports but also relax in specialized relaxation zones, take fitness or yoga classes, and join the large community of cold exposure and winter swimming enthusiasts, known as the "Penguins".
For seniors — we offer yoga courses, SUP, kayaking, aquafitness, and outdoor walks to help maintain physical activity and health.
We understand that the need for activities varies depending on age, which is why we've created an inclusive space for people of all generations. The innovative rehabilitation center "Baza 4.5.0." provides training and recreation opportunities for injured veterans and the families of defenders, offering a place for healing and outdoor activities.
At X-park, we believe in creating an environment where everyone, regardless of their background or physical capabilities, can stay active, healthy, and engaged in a community that values wellness and sports.
The Benefits of Wakeboarding at X-park
X-Park 2023. ВСЕ ДЛЯ ЛЮДЕЙ. Найбільший актив-парк Європи.
One of the greatest achievements of X-park is the popularization of wakeboarding and wakesurfing. These incredibly exciting sports combine elements of waterskiing and snowboarding. Wakeboarding at X-park allows athletes to perform tricks on the water, feel the adrenaline rush, and enhance their physical capabilities.
Development of Physical Abilities:
Wakeboarding strengthens the muscles of the back, legs, arms, and core, toughens the body, improves balance, and enhances coordination.
Stress Relief and Mood Improvement:
Wakeboarding helps relieve stress, boost mood, and improve overall psychological well-being.
Accessibility for All:
Wakeboarding is suitable for both beginners and professionals. X-park has special instructors who can help even those who have never stood on a board before to master the sport.
Sun, Air, and Water - The Best Friends:
In addition to the physical activity, water sports are widely considered by medical professionals worldwide as one of the best types of exercise for health and well-being.
Expansion of X-park Across Ukraine:
X-park has become a flagship and a model for sports and wake parks in Ukraine. Since 2008, the company has developed its own production of ring and linear cable systems and obstacles for wake parks under the brand “X-traction.” The ecological cleanliness, high quality of X-traction cable systems, and flawless operation with professional support are highly appreciated by clients and ensure reliable operation throughout the season for wake park owners and enjoyment for riders.
Since 2010, the concept of X-park has been widely replicated across Ukraine. Wake parks and wake clubs have sprouted like mushrooms on many water bodies throughout the country. While most wake parks primarily use linear wakeboard cable systems, by 2022, the total number of installations across Ukraine had reached 93. The boat-based version of wakesurfing also grew exponentially, with the number of clubs and wakeboats multiplying significantly. This marks an incredible leap in the development of wakeboarding.
Our next big step is to expand the X-park concept to the international stage as a proven, profitable, and successful project.
Our Plans: Expanding the X-park Network Across Europe
We see significant potential for the growth of our concept across Europe. Our goal is to build similar wake parks in other countries, allowing more people to access innovative sports and active recreation. We also offer opportunities for franchising, partnerships, and investment.
Our experience in creating and developing X-park in Ukraine has been a crucial milestone for us, and now we are ready to share this concept with other partners across Europe. In a world where sports tourism, active leisure, and cultural initiatives are gaining popularity, we see enormous potential in establishing new wake parks that can become iconic destinations for both tourists and local communities.
We already have ambitious plans for expansion and a clear vision for creating a unique network of wake parks across Europe, offering quality recreation, sports, and cultural events in harmony with nature. We want each new X-park to not only be a place for active leisure but also a center for local community development, technological innovation, inclusive spaces for people with disabilities, and sustainable tourism.
Franchising: Opportunities for Partners
One of the key areas of growth for X-park is franchising. We aim to offer potential partners across Europe the opportunity to join our successful concept, adapting it to local needs and conditions. Franchising not only allows you to access a proven business model for water-based recreation, but also to benefit from the support of an experienced team that will assist at every stage—from initial design to the park's launch and ongoing development.
We offer:
A Proven Concept: A business model that has already demonstrated its effectiveness in Ukraine and Europe, and can be adapted to various European markets.
Support at Every Stage: From helping with project development and providing "X-traction" cable systems (manufactured in-house, with a guarantee and professional support) to offering marketing assistance and staff training.
An Innovative Approach: The integration of cutting-edge technologies, eco-friendly solutions, and sports programs that meet the highest standards.
We are looking for ambitious partners who are ready to invest in the development of modern infrastructure for active recreation and sports, and who can ensure stable profitability and business success in their respective regions.
Investment: Opening New Horizons
X-park also offers exciting opportunities for investors looking to join the development of this unique business model in the European market. We are actively investing ourselves and are seeking co-investors for large-scale projects, the expansion of our wake park network, and the implementation of new technologies. Investing in X-park is not only an opportunity to generate profit, but also to support the development of sustainable tourism, an active lifestyle, and environmental initiatives in Europe.
Every investor will receive:
Strategic Support: Guidance and assistance at every stage of investment and project development.
A Profitable Model: A high-growth potential business model with stable demand for wake park services.
Leadership Opportunities: The chance to take a leading position in the active recreation, sports tourism, and cultural development sectors.
We believe that the European market has great potential for the expansion of a concept like X-park, and we are eager to collaborate with partners and investors who share our values and vision—creating spaces where people can engage in active recreation, grow, and contribute to positive change within their communities.
Collaboration and Strategic Partnerships
In addition to franchising and investment opportunities, we are open to collaboration with various businesses, organizations, and government entities to implement joint projects. These could range from local initiatives to large international partnerships aimed at developing infrastructure, promoting active recreation, and supporting sustainable tourism.
We are also seeking partners for:
Supporting Cultural and Sports Events: Partnering to host cultural and sports events at our parks in Ukraine and across Europe.
Joint Development of Technological Innovations: Collaborating on technological solutions that enhance the comfort and safety of our visitors.
Environmental Initiatives: Partnering on eco-friendly projects focused on preserving nature and promoting sustainable development.
Through these collaborations, we aim to create synergies that will help drive the growth of the wake park industry, foster positive social impact, and contribute to the sustainable development of the regions where we operate.
The Future of X-park: Expansion and Innovation
We envision X-park as part of a global network of modern centers for active recreation and sports, blending eco-friendliness, technology, and comfort. Our mission is to create sports parks where every visitor can find not only a place for physical activity but also new experiences, meaningful connections, and opportunities for personal growth.
We are excited about the prospect of realizing our expansion plans across Europe, working with partners, investors, and teams who share our commitment to creating a healthier, happier, and more innovative future for residents and tourists alike. X-park is more than just a business—it is a project that redefines the approach to recreation, sports, and life as a whole.
Conclusion
The expansion of the X-park network across Europe is a crucial step towards sharing our success and experience with other countries, while also creating new opportunities for investors, partners, visitors, and tourists. We aim to build not just wake parks, but true cultural hubs that will promote healthy lifestyles, innovation, and sustainable development in every country where they are established.
Founder and Investor of X-park, Co-owner of the "X-traction" Cable Systems Factory
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