Surfing competition in the mountains

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Family, friends and curious spectators spent Saturday afternoon watching professional and amateur surfers and body boarders compete at Provo Beach Resort’s indoor FlowRider simulated wave machine.

“It’s exhilarating to watch,” said Preston Rigdon, 25, a public relations major from Tremonton. “It looks like something anyone can do.”

[media-credit name=”Luke Hansen” align=”alignleft” width=”189″][/media-credit]
A surfer competes in the Wave Loch Flow Tour at Provo Beach Resort at the Riverwoods on Saturday
Provo Beach Resort held its first annual Flow Tour USA Competition on Saturday. There was a broad range of Flow Tour USA participants. Children as young as 8 competed alongside a 66-year-old participant. Saturday’s event participants were divided into body board and stand-up flowboard divisions, including junior, female, male and expert divisions. A total of $2,500 was awarded to participants in the professional division, with medals and gift bags awarded to the amateur divisions.

“Provo Beach Resort has brought the beach lifestyle to Utah with the FlowRider, and now we are bringing national surfing competitions into the state,” Provo Beach general manager Jay Roberts said in a news release. “This amazing indoor wave machine pumps 30,000 gallons of water per minute right under your feet for the most realistic surfing experience around.”

The participants bodyboard and surf on a FlowRider ride that generates a thin sheet of water which flows over a stationary wave form creating a wave. They are judged on how well they can maneuver on the wave as well as the level of difficulty of their tricks.

Standard carving, ollies and 360s in the stand up division are executed by almost all participants, but professionals are the ones who make those tricks looks simple.

Saturday’s Expert Bodyboarder winner, Nick Nguyen, 24, from Dallas has created his own trick on the flowboard. He proudly named his 360 flip, Rodeo.

Nguyen has been competing in the expert division for three years. He was the 2009 and 2010 undefeated Expert Bodyboard world champion and has competed in Singapore and will compete in South Africa this year.

“This sport is great for kids,” Nguyen said. “It gives people something to do to stay active.”

According to Chris Granone, Flow Tour USA Director, there was an entire family who competed in Saturday’s event.

“Flow Tour USA is proud to offer a healthy sport that appeals to all families,” Granone said. “The entire family can compete and have fun together.”

Roberts said the resort has a universal appeal.

“There is something for everyone here,” Roberts said. “It’s an awesome date night idea because it has everything you can think about doing.”

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