We were super excited to find out that Flow House was a lot closer to the bazaar offices than we thought. You now no longer have to consider a trek all the way down south to get your flow on, as Flow House has taken on a new space in the city. We threw on our baggies and eagerly nipped across to the new location to the right-hand side of Aquapark, behind Kuwait Towers.
There was already a small queue despite arriving there well before the 10am opening time, and we could see private lessons already taking place as we walked across the astro-turfed bridge that overlooks the park.
Two huge “Flow Riders” loomed up at us, and it was hard to hear anything above the thunderous sound of thousands of liters of water being pumped across the installations surfaces, a number of jets producing hard wake. We’re totally amped!
Kids were surfing like it was California’s Venice Beach, all sun-bleached hair and tanned skin jumping on and off boards with practiced ease. This can’t be too hard. Having said that, I still decided to ask another bazaarite to tighten my swimsuit straps as much as they could go. One wrong jet in the right place and the lot would be off.
The instructors told us to gently take their hands as, having placed our feet in the right positions to stand on the narrow surfboard, they slowly backed us into the water jet stream, “lean on your back foot” they said encouragingly.
Like he’d been doing it for years, our graphic-designer was practically hanging ten, too cool for school. Well, if he can do it! Confidently, I go next. WHOOSH! Feet knocked out from under me, landing on my back, ankles uphill, head bouncing off the ground, and chlorine water rushing up my nose, the sheer juice of jets unceremoniously lifting, dragging and dumping me, and I slam into the inflatable barrier at the top of the ‘Flow Rider’. I take a moment to take in everything that’s just happened, as I feel for any broken bones. Bodyboarding looks good right about now.
Bodyboarding is infinitely easier as it involves starting prostrate anyway, and the ‘boogie’ board is twice the width of the standing boards. Starting from the bottom of the Flow Rider, little by little you nudge yourself into the jets. Clasping both sides of the board you lean into whichever side you wish to go. Easy peasy!
Pleased with myself, I look up and see a bazaar writer, hitting air having launched herself from over the top of the Flow Rider’s crest, landing on her knees, turning 360, and then expertly slaloming across the face of the ‘wave; what would be a ‘piste’ if this was a snow run.
Perhaps this is a younger person’s game as they have yet to learn about consequences, and I can only envision broken bones and a concussion in my immediate future. I retire, annoyed that this sport has gotten the better of me, and watch the others’ progress.
This sport is exhausting and if you’re not already fit, surfing in these extreme conditions should get you pretty ripped. I am almost certain that if you can get the hang of these jets, then you can pretty much handle anything a real wave will bring you.
The look of sheer concentration on the face of that same writer who, moments ago was flying through the air, is something to behold and with baited breath you know she is going to get to stand on her own this time, until a body boarder dashes that dream and they both wipe out.
“I was scared,” confides the writer adding, “It would’ve only taken being only a little more confident enough to relax and allow me to let go of the instructor’s hand.” But it is not so easy to ‘relax the body’ and even just the slightest fingertip to fingertip touch somehow gives the beginner confidence to remain upright, so the instructors empathetically do not leave your side before you’re ready.
It’s tempting to stay in the sun on the Flow Rider for long periods, because you want to master the challenge, but you must take time out to drink plenty of water. There are cafes around where you can get food as well as drinks and it is worth planning to be here for a number of hours if you decide to give Flow House a go.
You can get one-on-one lessons here, or have an instructor oversee your group of six participants. Instructors also double as trained Life Guards and you can clearly see at least a few of them at any one time. There are other attractions within this area, a pool and an underwater café to explore, and this makes for good family fun and well as for groups of like-minded dudes and dudettes.
For more details on Flow House follow @flowhousekw on Instagram or visit www.flowhousekw.com. Open daily from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, and for further enquiries call 5654 5000 0r 2220 4706.
