What is "flowriding"

Flowriding (or Flowboarding) is a late-20th century alternative boardsport incorporating elements of surfing, bodyboarding, skateboarding, skimboarding, snowboarding and wakeboarding.

Flowriders ride on artificial waves that are technically called "sheet waves". Powerful pumps project a three-inch layer of water at speeds ranging from 20 MPH to 30 MPH. The water flows up and over surfaces engineered to replicate the shape of ocean waves. Sheet waves are stationary waves, in that the wave does not move forward, and the movement is derived from water flowing over a stationary surface. Flowriders get their speed from the energy of the water flowing at them, and can perform basic to sophisticated turns and tricks within a relatively small area.

Even though there are a number of different types of structures used for flowriding, the two which are recognized at a competitive level are the WhiteWater West Single, Double, and Triple FlowRiders and the Wave Loch FlowBarrel.

The sports has two main divisions, based on the type of board: the flowboard and the bodyboard.