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OGDEN — Flowboarders will take to the waves in the fourth annual FlowRider FLOW Championships on Thursday.
It's a unique sport, which some describe as indoor surfing. The sound of rapid waves crashing against an indoor set keeps many of these pros coming back year after year.
Nick Nguyen is the current world champion bodyboard flowrider, and he's back this year to defend his title.
"The wave's like nonstop — it's like a big trampoline, so when you fall, it doesn't actually hurt. It's like falling on a bed of water," Nguyen said.
The U.S. Flow tour started just over a decade ago. Organizers say the number of competitors in this part of the tour has doubled in one year's time, and continues to attract athletes from mainly snowboarding, surfing, and skateboarding.
"It never gets old. It's pretty big now, since four years ago it was nothing," said defending stand-up world champion Sean Silveira. "I really go out there and I have a passion for it. I love it, and I love hanging out with everyone and meeting new people."
Each rider will get three rounds, each just under one minute long — a chance to stay up, and show off, for the judges and crowd. Flowriders are here from all over the U.S. and Canada. Competition starts Thursday morning at 10:00 a.m. and seats will be set up for spectators. The world championships will then make its way back to Ogden in October.
