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07 June 2012

Armchair BEA, Day 4: Beyond the Blog

So for Day 4 of Armchair BEA, we could write about our life "beyond the blog".  So, because I got a lot of comments on my introduction post about flowboarding, I thought I'd write about that. 

Flowboarding is surfing and bodyboarding on a manmade wave.  I can do both, but I enjoy surfing more (just don't call it surfing in real life, people get mad...I've heard it called either "standup" or "flowboarding").  My husband, who can also do both, enjoys bodyboarding more.  We have both competed on a national level in flowboarding, traveling across the country to compete.  He, however, is a national champion (in the 30 and up category), in addition to being a 2 time tour champion. 


This is a video I made 3 years ago of my husband, I'm sorry I don't have anything more recent.  I have a ton of pictures of the both of us on facebook (but I can't get them to copy and paste)

Our "home wave" is at Massanutten Resort and Waterpark, just outside of Harrisonburg, VA.  But, we've ridden at:  Sahara Sam's Oasis (NJ), Great Escape Lodge (NY), Camelback Waterpark (PA), Kalahari (Ohio), Wilderness of the Smokies (TN), Solomon Center (UT), Silver Mountain Resort (ID), Spash City (IL), Waterville (AL), Moses Lake (WA), Alberqueque (NM), Waterpark of America (MN), Waterworld Denver (CO).  My husband has ridden at Great Escape Lodge in Williamsburg (VA), Wavehouse San Diego, Vista, Lindsay and one other in California (but I can't remember the name of the town).

While we are now "old" (almost 30 and 33, respectively---hey, its hard keeping up with those darn kids!), and don't want to compete on the tour anymore, we still make it an active part of our lives.  As part of our summer vacation this year, while we are planning on going to visit San Francisco, Seattle, Crater Lake and Glacier National Park, we're going to be able to ride at about 5 (or more) different waterparks.   


Me competing 2 years ago in Ogden, Utah.
 My husband's bodyboard is a little more curved than an ocean bodyboard, and instead of really having to muscle the board around (like you do in the ocean), its more about balance and weight placement.  My board is just long like a surfboard, but isn't as wide, nor does it have a tail fin.  Its just smooth all the way around.  The movement for that is more like that of a wakeskater or skateboarder (and oftentimes the tricks are similar).  In surfing you lean forward, doing standup, you lean back. 
Flowboarding isn't all fun and games, both my husband and I have really hurt ourselves while riding.  He's jammed fingers, torn cartilage in his shoulder, and now has arthriis and bursitis in it.  I've sprained my ankle pretty bad, fallen and had my knee-cap move over and back, jammed my shoulder; in addition to bumps, bruises and just the impact of falling.

But, its worth it, not just the time I can spend with my husband doing something positive, but the places we've been and all the people we've met have been wonderful.  I've friends all over the world because of flowboarding.

I do keep a blog of our summer adventures, The Furmans On Tour, if you'd like to check it out and keep up with our adventures.

21 comments:

  1. Oh my. this is incredible!! I didn't even know such thing existed!! And it looks so cooL!! Awesome! Should definitely try one day!! :) Enjoy aBEA and thank you for sharing this! :)

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  2. That sounds like so much fun. Of course, I can't even walk without injuring myself..I doubt it'd be a good idea for me to try.

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    1. You would think I was super coordinated...but I'm really not! I don't know how I haven't seriously hurt myself yet!

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  3. Wow, fun! If I wasn't petrified of embarrassing myself, I'd probably try it! hahaha

    Thanks for stopping by to visit my blog :)

    Book Drunkard

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    1. Thats what I thought for the first year my husband rode....then I just got tired of sitting and watching him have all the fun! :)

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  4. ooh this is such an awesome hobby! I didn't know flowboarding is what that was called. There's a display in a mall here where people do it. Looks fun!

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    1. Thats so cool! Definitely my husband's kind of mall!

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  5. Wow! I'd never heard of that before. Sounds cool but dangerous at the same time.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog.

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  6. wow love what you do beyond the blog. Looks like alot of fun.

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  7. That looks like so much fun! During this hot months of summer, I would kill to be in the water like you!!

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    1. And luckily enough, its an indoor waterpark, so we can pretend we're at the beach during the winter, too!

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  8. That looks awesome, and like so much fun! Not that I would EVER be coordinated enough to do it, but I can dream.

    And I took a vacation at Massanutten Resort when I was in high school :-)

    Great post! Thanks for stopping by my Armchair BEA Beyond the Blog Post!

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    1. You would think I was super coordinated...but I'm really not!

      If you ever decide to take another vacation to Massanutten, please let me know!

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  9. Wow, I am impressed and it sounds like a lot of fun! Would love to try flowboarding one day =D

    My Armchair BEA: Beyond my Blog post.

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    1. You should! I won't lie and say its super easy...but it isn't as hard as you may think :)

      Amanda

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  10. Ohhhh, that sounds seriously cool. :D I love to get to know some more about that, 'cause I didn't have any idea what it was before either.

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    1. You're lucky---Sweden is home to the northern-most flowrider in the world!

      http://www.skistar.com/en/experium/adventure-pool/FlowRider/ is where its located...you should definitely give it a try :)

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  11. HI Amanda! I am a bit behind on visiting. I have to say that I might work with your husband(can't pull up the video to be sure) but based on your area I am almost positive. I have heard of your trips and you both have been to some great places!

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    1. And if I read your intro post first*facepalm* I would have know your last name and said yes I do! LOL

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    2. It's all good :) Thanks for stopping by. He had told me that you had a blog, but couldn't remember the address or what it was called. So, now I know!

      Amanda

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Gold stars given to good comments.