Imagine enjoying a day at a wave pool like you're playing a video game in which you are one of the characters with goals and a mission.
Flowstate is adding a new layer to the wave pool experience by turning every surf session into part of an ongoing game.
The Australian surf technology company has launched Flowstate Game Modes, a points-based gaming platform that rewards surfers for what happens on every wave while helping surf parks encourage repeat visits.
The system is already running at URBNSURF Sydney, URBNSURF Melbourne, Atlantic Park Surf, Lost Shore, and will soon expand to SurfTown MUC before reaching more parks in Flowstate's global network.
Instead of treating each booking as a standalone session, the platform connects every ride to leaderboards, achievements, seasonal competitions, and rewards.
But how does this work?
Every wave now earns points
Flowstate's gaming engine is built on the company's artificial intelligence model, which already analyzes individual waves and surfing performance.
Each session earns points based on factors such as the number of waves caught, ride length, and the difficulty of completed maneuvers.
Operators can then build different games on top of the same scoring engine, each with its own objectives, rules, and bonus multipliers.
According to Flowstate, the AI automatically calculates scores for every wave after park operators define the rules of each competition.
"The Flowstate AI model was built from the ground up to understand exactly what happens on a wave; every maneuver, every section, every ride in full context," said Chris Hausler, Flowstate's co-founder and chief technology officer.
"Whether it's getting to your feet for the first time, surfing backside or pulling into a barrel, every moment is scored with weighted handicap points designed to find a winner across every level of surfer."
The company says the handicap system allows beginners, intermediate surfers, and advanced riders to compete fairly by comparing performances against surfers of similar ability rather than against the strongest surfers in the lineup.
Solving the return visit problem
For most surf parks, attracting first-time visitors is only part of the business challenge.
Keeping those guests coming back regularly is far more valuable.
Flowstate believes gamification can help solve that problem without relying on discounts.
"Every wave pool operator is chasing the same thing: a surfer who books once and keeps coming back," said Mike Mortimer, Flowstate's co-founder and chief product officer.
"Flowstate Game Modes gives us the most powerful rebooking engine we've ever had. When every session earns points, unlocks achievements, and puts your name on a leaderboard, the reason to book your next session is built into the experience itself."
The company says the platform applies ideas borrowed from behavioral science rather than relying only on rankings.
Small rewards can be earned quickly to encourage regular participation. Daily, monthly, and seasonal competitions provide longer-term goals.
Public recognition also plays a role, with surfers earning titles such as "Barrel Hunter of the Day."
Flowstate also attempts to change the emotional response to failure. In one game, even a wipeout can trigger rewards that encourage surfers to keep progressing instead of leaving frustrated.
Four games with different goals
Rather than offering one universal leaderboard, Flowstate has introduced four branded competitions, each targeting different surfing behaviors and commercial objectives.
"Everyday Hero" is designed as a handicap competition that anyone can enter. Surfers collect points throughout daily, monthly, and season-long rankings regardless of their ability level.
"Barrel Hunter" rewards tube riding. Every AI-verified barrel adds to a surfer's score, with the best performers earning recognition and prizes.
"Wipeout Roulette" turns crashes into opportunities. After selected wipeouts, surfers can receive AI coaching feedback, technical tips, or offers for in-pool coaching sessions. The idea is to introduce surfers to coaching services they might not have requested on their own.
"Winter Warrior" focuses on participation during quieter months. The seasonal challenge rewards surfers who log the highest number of waves through winter, helping operators increase demand during traditionally slower periods.
Inspired by arcades and Topgolf
Flowstate says its approach reflects a broader consumer trend toward competitive social experiences.
Luke Wallace, Flowstate's co-founder and chief executive officer, said the company studied businesses outside surfing while developing the platform.
"Driving and maintaining high levels of utilization across the week, the month and throughout the seasonal cycle of the year is the key goal of any surf park operator," Wallace said.
"Consumer spending habits are currently more reserved, and people have been more conservative with their spending."
He added that Flowstate looked at experiences including Topgolf, virtual reality attractions, and traditional arcades to understand how other industries encourage repeat participation and build customer loyalty.
A marathon put the scoring engine to work
Before the commercial launch, Flowstate tested the platform during a 12-hour surf marathon at URBNSURF Sydney.
Australian endurance surfer Blakey Johnston and Red Bull snowboarder Valentino Guseli competed while the AI scored every ride across three different game modes.
Johnston finished ahead in Barrel Hunter, scoring 2,611 points against Guseli's 1,793. He also won "Everyday Hero" with 7,046 points compared with 6,114.
Guseli's aggressive approach produced a different outcome in "Wipeout Roulette." He recorded 75 wipeouts compared with Johnston's 19 and won that leaderboard by 25,266 points to 6,572.
The results highlighted how different games reward different surfing styles rather than favoring only traditional performance metrics.
More than entertainment
The platform also gives surf park operators additional ways to manage their business.
Operators can apply scoring multipliers to encourage bookings during quieter hours or less popular periods. Leaderboards can support sponsorships through branded prizes and seasonal competitions.
Wipeout Roulette also introduces surfers to coaching, AI video analysis, and one-on-one instruction, creating new revenue opportunities alongside standard surf sessions.
Flowstate says Game Modes currently operates across surf parks using five different wave-making technologies around the world.
The launch marks the second phase of the company's rollout strategy.
During August 2026, Flowstate plans to publish its first utilization and leaderboard data before demonstrating the platform to surf park operators at the Surf Park Summit, which takes place in Virginia Beach from September 1 to 3.
As wave pools continue to grow beyond simple surfing venues into destinations built around community, coaching, and technology, competitive gaming may soon become as familiar as choosing which wave setting to book next.
Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com
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