The Rise of River Surfing: The Midwest’s Next Big Outdoor Trend

River Surfing Makes Waves in the Midwest, Boosting Economic Growth and Spurring Whitewater Park Development

Hannah Ray J has been around rivers her whole life. Growing up, she fished and kayaked near her family’s farm in Manchester, Iowa. One day, she spotted someone standing on a surfboard in a river in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

“I thought: That looks really fun; I want to try that,” she says. Since then, she has transformed that chance encounter into her life’s passion: surfing America’s rivers.

Hannah is not alone. River surfing is becoming the next big trend in outdoor recreation across the Midwest.

Recently, an urban whitewater park opened in Norfolk, Nebraska, and a surfing area is being planned for Cedar Falls, Iowa, as part of a larger river recreational project. In West Carrollton, Ohio, authorities are set to develop a major project around a new whitewater river park on the Great Miami River, while a similar initiative is underway in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

These new facilities have the potential to attract thousands of river enthusiasts—and their tourist dollars—boosting the economic development of many small, land-locked communities. Some experts have even dubbed river surfing “the future of surfing” due to its rapid rise in popularity.

Badfish SUP, a Colorado-based paddle and surfboard company, reports a surge in sales of its river surfboards since the pandemic.

“We have had far and away our best year ever this year,” says Mike Harvey, co-owner of Badfish SUP. “I’ve never seen this level of excitement from any other river-based activity I’ve been involved in.” The company has even named one of its boards “Wave Farmer” as a tribute to the people who live and work in the landscapes surrounding this emerging sport.

Source

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/river-surfing-midwest

Learn more: https://www.adventurefilm.academy/