Can you imagine riding a static wave that, when you fall, you never get wet? Here's everything you need to know about brushboarding.
You could call it a sport, even though it has not yet been recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
And no, we're not being ironic.
If chess, bridge, and cheerleading are governed by sports federations and officially sanctioned by the IOC, anything is possible.
So, what exactly is brushboarding?
Brushboarding is a multi-board sports fitness and training machine that allows riders to glide across a wave-shaped bed of rotating brushes.
The concept probably reminds you of flowboarding/flowriding surfing machines.
Nevertheless, instead of water, it features a cushioned brush system similar to street sweepers.
The Wave of Spinning Brushes
The sport blends and simulates aspects of surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding and can be practiced indoors and outdoors.
With brushboarding, the goal is not to replicate these sports' feel and experience but to complement them.
And how does it work?
Riders are invited to wear helmets, knee and elbow pads, and gloves.
The finless boards used vary in shape and size, and you can even put a kayak on the brush ramp.
When they're ready to ride, the brushes start rotating at high speed, and the sportsperson jumps on it.
"Brushboarding appeals to a very wide demographic," notes Kyle Dent, founder of Extreme Sports Zone and developer of Brushboarding.
"We've tested it with many people of different ages and abilities and even incorporated blind children and a paraplegic person riding in a kayak."
An Expandable Brushboarding Ramp
The concept is modular and easy to install anywhere, and the ramp sizes can be extended in width to provide a larger riding area.
The brushboarding ramp can be installed in shopping malls, business centers, sports clubs, theme parks, beaches, and parks.
"I wanted to try and create something that allowed people in the cities to try a new boardsport in a safe and fun environment," adds Dent.
"It enhances balance and coordination, core strength, transferable to any board sports."
The new sport has been around since 2010 and has been showcased in several countries, including Portugal and Australia.
The plan is to start its expansion to North America in 2022.
Despite being a patented technology, there have been attempts to illegally replicate the formula created by Kyle Dent in Exeter, England.
As a result, the brand's legal team is pursuing those who have violated intellectual property law without the written consent of the original brushboarding company.
The developer stresses that the sports equipment is low on electricity consumption and runs off a regular 415C power supply, providing customers with a quick return on investment (ROI).
Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com