Picture this: you’re having an epic day full of flowboarding and aquatic fun, all while surrounded by the gorgeous mountains Utah has to offer. That’s what a typical day looks like at the amazing Lindon Aquatics Center! We caught up with Alan Walker, the Aquatics Manager and Recreation Coordinator at Lindon Parks and Recreation, to learn more about how they made the FlowRider® an exciting centerpiece to their venue.
Lindon Aquatics Center opened in 2009, and Alan recalled the slightly chaotic series of events leading to the opening. The plans were laid out with all the makings for a great family-oriented venue, complete with slides, a lazy river, five pools, hot tubs, and anything else guests could want. But just months before opening, they realized something was missing; the team wanted this to be a great place for families to spend time together over the summer, but what would keep the teens occupied all day? They found their answer in FlowRider, and with just months to go before opening, our team quickly installed the wave, just in time for opening in the summer of 2009.
Making a Big Splash
The public response to the FlowRider was exactly what the Lindon Aquatics team was hoping for “The FlowRider is a big attraction for the facility. Parents will bring their young kids here, and the teens stay occupied riding the FlowRider,” says Alan.
“The FlowRider is a big attraction for the facility. Parents will bring their young kids here, and the teens stay occupied riding the FlowRider,” says Alan.
Unexpectedly, our big flowboarding fanbase in Utah proved to be a major asset to their venue. Not only did the FlowRider bring in lots of teens, but they found that guests would drive upwards of an hour just to check out the FlowRider. Especially in the first 5 years after opening, a group of pros in the flowboarding community would make the trek to this venue to ride regularly.
Lindon Aquatics Center still reaps massive benefits from the addictive nature of flowboarding, with a community of regular riders who come in multiple times a week. “Any time there’s bad weather and we have to shut down the pools, the FlowRider is always packed with regular riders,” Alan notes. Repeat riders take advantage of days they know will be less busy, meaning venues still have revenue coming in on days that would otherwise be empty.
“Any time there’s bad weather and we have to shut down the pools, the FlowRider is always packed with regular riders,” Alan notes.
Attracting Talent
Lifeguards join in on the fun as well. Alan shared with us that many community centers have difficulty attracting and retaining staff, but this has never been a problem for Lindon Aquatics Center. They smartly offer FlowRider incentives for lifeguards and have fun team bonding events on the FlowRider to keep their team engaged. Many of their guards become stoked on the sport, and they’ve even had lifeguards travel to compete in the FLOW Tour! Not to mention, staff will bring in their friends to test out the FlowRider, contributing to the area’s dedicated community of flowboarders!
Bringing in Revenue
Programming the wave is a big part of maximizing revenue, and really the only limit to creating new revenue streams for the FlowRider is imagination. Alan mentioned that Lindon Aquatics Center has had great success with their programming, and here’s how they do it:
1. Day Passes
The most typical revenue stream for the FlowRider is the day pass. Guests purchase a separate pass that gives them access to ride the FlowRider all day, along with the other aquatic amenities the venue has to offer. Alan noted that people tend to appreciate that they are not timed and can enjoy the wave all day. Teens can hang out with their family and have the option to escape to the FlowRider whenever they want. And the unlimited riding time tends to keep people at the venue longer!
2. Flow Lessons
Once guests are hooked on the FlowRider after buying a day pass, they can work with a skilled instructor to improve their flowboarding. These lessons take place in the morning during swim lessons before the wave is open to the public, and they sell out every single time they’re offered.
This is a fantastic way to amp up revenue when the wave wouldn’t normally be in use. Instructors work with anyone from beginners to proficient riders, helping them feel more comfortable, learn tricks, and perfect skills. By helping people progress their skills, they also add to their community of dedicated repeat riders!
3. Private Facility Rentals
Alan says, “It’s a huge revenue stream for the venue. Tuesday through Saturday night is completely booked all summer, and the FlowRider is packed every time there’s a rental.”
Every night Tuesday through Saturday, Lindon Aquatics Center does private rentals for the facility, and the FlowRider is a huge draw for these rentals. In fact, the center used to rent the FlowRider separately from the rest of the venue, but they combined the offering as every single guest opted to rent the FlowRider. These rentals are generally parties for big organizations.
Alan says, “It’s a huge revenue stream for the venue. Tuesday through Saturday night is completely booked all summer, and the FlowRider is packed every time there’s a rental.” He mentioned that they even increased their hourly facility rental price for 2022, and there was no change in demand—the draw to the FlowRider is still strong!
Keeping the Wave Like New
Lindon Aquatics Center is great at staying up to date with their maintenance. Our team was at Lindon Aquatics Center in early April refurbishing their side padding, side enclosures, and inflatable divider. They do just a little bit of refurbishments each year, and Alan is excited to share that by doing that, their wave looks brand new!
He also mentioned that the experience they’ve had keeping their wave in great shape has been awesome. “Zak (FlowRider Aftersales Manager) takes care of us. He’s kind and quick to respond, and he helps us out with whatever we need, even if he needs to send someone out to help us,” Alan says.
“Zak (FlowRider Aftersales Manager) takes care of us. He’s kind and quick to respond, and he helps us out with whatever we need, even if he needs to send someone out to help us,” Alan says.
We always love being part of a major FlowRider success story, and keeping our customers happy with impeccable service is the cornerstone of our business. If you’re interested in learning more about Lindon Aquatics Center, check out their website at lindonpool.org. If you’d like to know how a FlowRider can engage the community with your parks and recreation department, shoot us a message at our contact page to connect with one of our awesome team members.
