Flowboarding at Flow House Manila

Calling all thrill seekers out in there! A new water activity has set and waiting for you to be tested! Have you already tried wakeboarding? Surfing? Skimboarding? Yeah? Hmm... how about flowboarding? Not yet? Well, flowboarding is the new hype in town which gives waterboard sports a new kind of face. Flowboarding combines the look of surfing, the tricks of skateboarding, and the boards of wakeboarding yet instead of doing it outdoor, flowboarding are being manipulated/controlled by mechanics. The said sport has been evolving since the 80's but been an underdog since the market which offers this sport is just limited as they are only seen on some resorts, cruise ships, etc. But worry no more because Flow House Manila brought it to the metro and they are now operating!

How to get there?
Flow Hose Manila is located at Molino Boulevard corner Masaito Drive in Bacoor City. If you are going to commute, you may take a commercial van in MOA having a signboard of Paliparan-Molino. Just inform the driver to drop you off at Flow House Manila as it is just along the road. Just in case the driver do not know where Flow House Manila is (since it's just new in the area), just tell them to drop you at V-Central Mall along Molino Boulevard. V-Central Mall is just beside Flow House Manila. Travel time is maximum of an hour.

Option 2: Take a bus at Coastal Mall terminal having a signboard going to Dasmarinas. Then tell the bus conductor to drop you at St. Dominic College of Asia. From there, take a tricycle going to Flow House Manila.

As I am blogging this, Flow House Manila is still in its development period. The area hasn't fully furnished yet like the shopping mall and stuff but the flowboarding area as well as the bar are fully functional. As for their rates and fees, flowboarders will have to spend PhP 650 per hour per head which is inclusive of entrance fee, board rental, instructor, and pool use. For non riders there is an entrance fee of Php 300 which is also a consumable value in the bar/restaurant. Both flow riders and non flow riders can use the pool without time limit. Just kindly refer on the schedule below for the operating hours of Flow House Manila:

Monday – Friday: 10 AM to 12 MN
Saturday – Sunday: 8 AM to 12 MN

The pool side

The bar and restaurant

The flowboarding activity area

Then my family

There are three kinds of position you can do when trying out this activity. First is the laying down position, second is where you are sitting on top of the board and the most difficult one is the stand up position of course. Tip: Flowboarding is considered a sport so basically you will have to keep riding to improve. I fell so many times (surfers called it wipe out) before I was able to do the stand up position. Also always listen to the instructor's advice. They're expert and only wanted to help us to enjoy the experience fully. Do not afraid to get wipe out because the material used by Flow House Manila is similar to that used in trampolines. The ride surface is ready to absorb impacts and will have you bouncing back for more. Yeah I got hurt to some of my wipe out but its tolerable and nothing to worry about.

Lookin' cool right?

Picking some advice from my instructor

Then I let go of the rope and started surfing...

After a minute or less, I got swipe out. lol!

As per what to wear... hmmm there is no dress code in Flow House Manila, but I strongly recommend a boardshort and a rash guard or any comfortable beach clothes. Also bring your own towel and extra clothes. Just anything light and be prepare to get wet!

Flow House Manila also offers not only flowboarding but also a place where you and your friends can enjoy a great drinking experience as its bar has wide range of beverages - Alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Who wouldn't enjoy a glass of Jack Daniels after a nice flow ride huh?

This is me chillin'

So, what you waitin' for? Grab a friend now and experience flowboarding at Flow House Manila!

Flow House Manila
Molino Boulevard corner Masaito Drive, Bacoor, Cavite
Dial 09985545035 for reservations.
Monday – Friday: 10 AM to 12 MN
Saturday – Sunday: 8 AM to 12 MN

Breakdown of Expenses:
Transportation: Below 100 Pesos from Manila (one way)
Flowboarder: 650 Pesos per hour per head
Non rider: 300 Pesos

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Republic Wake Park: Wakeboarding in Nuvali, Laguna

Finally! I got to see and experienced wakeboarding at Republic Wake Park in Nuvali. It's been two months since I first heard this thrilling sport is happening in Nuvali and since then I've been wanting to try it myself. Good thing that my rest day from work was matched with my friends' rest days also. So there's no stopping for this trip to happen.

How to get there?
Nuvali is just a 2-hour drive from Manila. You can take South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and turn right as you reach Sta. Rosa Exit. Turn right again after the toll gate and just follow the main road.You'll know your're in the right direction if you passed by Paseo de Sta. Rosa (found in the left side of the road). Just a few kilometers away, you'll see a big sign of Nuvali and Solenad. This is the time you'll turn left (from the traffic light). Just go straight ahead until you see a guardhouse which is half kilometers away from Solenad. Just tell the guard that you are going to the Wake Park and they'll give you an instruction on how to get there. It's easy but you have to listen carefully. Tada! Welcome to Republic Wake Park!

Be attentive on this sign... we almost missed it (Photo from Baron Cantonjos)

By the way, food and drinks of your own are not allowed to bring-in at the Wake Park. So don't plan on packing your own food. They serve food inside. An open view restaurant is available so you don't have to worry in case you're hungry. Going back... as you reach the Wake Park, go directly to the information area to have your registration. You'll need to fill up a sheet with your information and in the same sheet you'll also see the rates:

Cable Rate 
1 hour pass – P250
2 hour pass – P475
4 hour pass – P595
8 hour pass – P995
Day & Night pass – P1,500
Night riding pass – P595
Private cable rent – P800/hour
VIP pass – FREE!

Unlimited riding package
1 week unlimited – P5,000
1 month unlimited – P15,000
3 months unlimited – P24,000
6 months unlimited – P35, 000
1 year unlimited (cash) – P55,000
1 year unlimited (monthly) – P60,000

Aside from the ratings above, we have also deposited 800 pesos each (Wristband – P200 plus Life vest & helmet – P600). This deposit is refundable. It was returned to us after we had brought back the gears at the counter (beside the registration area) at the end of our play. This deposit will become a fee in case the user damage or didn't return the gears.

feel free to choose your board (Photo from Baron Cantonjos)

After gearing up, we proceed in the activity. The activity area has two parts, one is for the Pro wakeboarders (the course has ramps and obstacles) and the other one is for beginners (a plain course). Of course, we belong in the beginners area. There is also a deck near the activity area where people can put their belongings as you play.

I dream myself, wakeboarding here... The Pro area (Photo from Baron Cantonjos)

Area for beginners (Photo from Baron Cantonjos)

Viewing deck in the activity area (Photo from Baron Cantonjos)

I suggest to arrive in the area as early as you could to maximize your time unlike us who came late in the vicinity. We only got to try gliding twice due to the long wait since there were so many people who wanted to experience this sport as well.

Photo op while waiting for our turn (Photo from Baron Cantonjos)

We're almost there... still waiting (Photo from Baron Cantonjos)

Before you do your turn, there is an instructor to teach you the basic and also the right positioning on riding the board. Listen to him because he knows what he is saying (which i didn't do). For non swimmers, you should also inform the instructor that you cannot swim so they will be more attentive once you get in to the water (which Aizel didn't do).

Byron listens and I don't... I have my own world. Naaaa! (Photo from Baron Cantonjos)

The park opens at 8:30am and closes at 9:00pm, Monday to Sunday. However, beginners area is only open until 5:30pm. Tip: If you're going in big group, Wake park offers a private cable rental. This is a full exclusive use of the wakeboard area which costs 8,000 pesos and can accommodate a maximum of 30 people.

Aizel in her full wakeboarding gear (Photo from Baron Cantonjos)

Baron, author of Baron the Explorer (Photo from Baron Cantonjos)

and of course, me :] (Photo from Baron Cantonjos)

In the end, I didn't made a stand in the board which makes me a loser. Hahaha. It was tougher than surfing and I didn't anticipate that one. Nevertheless, it was a fun adventure and a good alternative destination. A must try for thrill seekers and adventurous type of person. That was definitely not my last time. I'll visit the place time after time until I start wakeboarding at the Pro area. Now, that's a promise!

Contact Information:
Republ1c Wakepark - West Diversity Boulevard, Nuvali, 4027 Calamba, Laguna
Email: info@republ1cwakepark.com

A shop for wakeboarding apparels is also available in Republic Wake Park (Photo from Baron Cantonjos)

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