Melbourne Sports Hub launches landmark Double FlowRider wave simulator

Victoria's State Sport Centres Trust (SSCT) has launched south-eastern Australia's first double FlowRider at the Melbourne Sports Hub.

Sited in the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC), the FlowRider was launched with the support of Drumstick, Rip Curl and Coca-Cola and featured opening demonstrations by Rip Curl team riders and Victorian Champions Nikki Van Dijk, Mitch Baker and big wave legend Tony Ray.

Located alongside the MSAC outdoor pool, the FlowRider is an artificial surfing wave that brings together the sports of surfing, skateboarding, wakeboarding and snowboarding in an exciting and fun way.

Built for all age groups and skill levels, Sports Hub Chief Executive Simon Weatherill predicts that the FlowRider will be a huge hit with families, school groups, teenagers, as well as serious Flowboarders, and surfers looking to hone their skills when there is no surf. Weatherill explains "we're thrilled to offer the Victorian public of all ages the opportunity to experience surfing in a fun, relaxed and safe environment, and with the FlowRider people can ride the perfect wave all day, every day."

The MSAC FlowRider is just the fourth FlowRider in Australia and only the second FlowRider in a public aquatic facility in this country - the other being sited in the Goldfields Oasis centre in Kalgoorlie.

"Its opening at MSAC may well pave the way for other public facilities to install artificial surfing waves in aquatic centres across Australia.

Weatherill (pictured below) expects that the MSAC "FlowRider will be a big attraction for the youth and teenage market" adding "we will program it like any program space with passes for off peak use and working on a fee per ride at peak hours."

The MSAC FlowRider was installed by Whitewater West Australia with filtration from Pratts. It will be officially open to the public from 3rd January 2012.

For further information about the FlowRider please go to www.melbournesportshub.com.au

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