The Sport of surf simulation flowrideFlowboarding is a hybrid boardsport that has evolved since the1980s with input from some of the world’s best alternativeathletes: Snowboarding champion Terje Haakonsen, bodyboard inventorTom Morey, greatest surfer in the history of the world KellySlater, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, snowboarding half pipewizard Shaun White and skimboard master Bill “Beaker” Bryan are allon the frontline of flowboarding evolution, and they are backed bya rogue’s gallery that includes Rush Randall, Christian Fletcher,Chris Miller, Rob Machado, Andy McDonald, Conan Hayes, Malia Jones,Rochelle Ballard, and the list goes on and on.Going back to the Schlitterbahn in Texas and Bo Summerland inNorway, these board riders have evolved a style of riding – and thewave riding vehicles – that is a complex equation of riding stylesand equipment: (Surfing minus a fin) plus (snowboarding minus themountain) plus (wakeboarding minus the boat) plus (skateboardingminus the road rash) plus (skimboarding minus the sand).Flowboarding starts simply, with everyone from kids to OlympicChampions getting a feel for the flow. But after that, the sky isthe limit, as 21st Century flowboarding has evolved into a unique,high performance art which has created a sport where the bestriders are busting double back-flips, and strapless superman airs.Board riders from the highest peaks to the middle of the PacificOcean travel to their nearest Wave House to practice endlessrepetition of their moves on the endless wave – which has become aworld-class training tool for board athletes of alldisciplines. Please go back and read that again and ask yourself: Is there another water ride that can claim all that Not even close.
