A new surf facility?

[waverider]

What does anyone think about flowriders? has anyone ever used one before and would you use one if there was one in the UK?

[freaky_welsh_chick]

well theres this 'sports village' thing being built in cardiff now (its going to take some years to complete) which is going to have lotsa cool stuff, like a snow dome , and on the web page for it ... cardiff.gov.uk/sportsvillage it mentions 'indoor surfing' do you think that means flowriding?

[Shell]

Disney World in Florida has this place called Typhoon Lagoon. During the day it's packed with kids, but at night you can rent it out and they crank up the wave machine. I went once. It was really different from ocean surfing...chlorine water is not as buoyant...waves were kinda hard to catch. When it's "on" the wave is generated every 90 seconds. There's a loud WOOSH! and you have about 3 seconds to paddle and drop....if you miss it, your turn is over and the next person in line goes....a rental session gives you 100 waves (costs about 1100 US dollars)...they set it up so that you can have about 25 rights, 25 lefts, and 50 center A-frames....usually a group of about 15 people rent it for the night. It was a pretty cool thing to try, but I seriously prefer surfing in salt water. :)

[Duncs]

Well,...

but I seriously prefer surfing in salt water. :)

It also strikes me as a lot cheaper...$1100 is a lot for one night. Yeah you get 100 waves, but isn't hanging around in the surf, chatting with people waiting for a wave half the fun?!

So how long a ride can you get on the machine...?

[Guest]

I reckon I'd want at least an hour, otherwise it'd be kinda crap. Like you say though, a lot of its talking and mixing with people. Cant only one go on it at any one time???

I'd give it a go for £20 as a one off. my mate went on one in durban south africa and said it was wicked. Apparently its gonna be up near newcastle though. Would anyone go up that far to try it????

[kieran]

i would

[freaky_welsh_chick]

nah, i'll wait the 8 years it'l take the council to build one in cardiff. unless i happen to be in Newcastle for some reason...