A FlowRider® (or Flow Rider) is an artificial sheet wave surfing environment incorporated in many waterparks and hotels. It was originally invented by Tom Lochtefeld, a surfer, for the Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort in New Braunfels, Texas.
The Flow Rider is manufactured by Wave Loch, Inc. of La Jolla, California and range in cost anywhere from 1 million us dollars and onwards. There are currently more than 100 FlowRider installations around the globe, including five units on cruise ships. Wave Loch also has a mobile unit that can be moved by truck.
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Description
Flowrider uses an array of high-output waterpumps to produce a stationary sheet flow of water approximately 2 inches thick that flows over a fixed, foam-padded surface. A rider sides down a ramp on a flowriding surfboard into the curl of the wave.Water recirculates through pumps located in a reservoir. The Flowrider unit shoots up to 60,000 gallons of water a minute.[citation needed]
User equipment
Stand-up boards for FlowRiders were first developed by Carl Ekström. They are about the size of a small wakeboard, since moving water requires less board surface area to maintain flotation. They do not use skegs but instead use their edges to provide stability. Bodyboards for FlowRiders are rounded to afford enhanced maneuverability. Height restrictions of 58"/147cm(standing) and 52"/132cm (bodyboard) are required.
FlowRider Locations
FlowRiders can be found at any of the International Wave House locations, including Wave House San Diego, Wave House Durban, Wave House Santiago and the upcoming Wave House Sentosa, as well as in many independent water parks and retail locations.
Cruise ships offering the Flowrider
Currently, there are five named ships offering the flowrider. The Freedom of the Seas, which was the first to feature the flowrider on a ship, the Liberty of the Seas, which was the second ship to ever feature the flowrider, and the Independence of the Seas, which had its maiden voyage in 2008. The Oasis of the Seas and the Allure of the Seas both feature two Flowriders.
External links
- Article: Profile of Tom Lochtefeld and WaveLoch
- WaveLoch Inc. site
- Official FlowRider site
- Wave House San Diego, home of "Bruticus Maximus" offering 8'+ barrels
- Wave House Durban, home of "D-Rex" 10' barrels left and right
- Wave The Planet - Flowboarding community, news and info
- Image of a FlowRider
- Flickr photos tagged FlowRider
- [1]
- Flowboarder Magazine
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