Flowstate has launched Flowstate Game Modes, a points-based leaderboard platform designed to increase repeat bookings, guest engagement and product cross-selling at surf parks. The platform is live at URBNSURF Sydney, URBNSURF Melbourne, Atlantic Park Surf, Lost Shore and will next roll out at o2SURFTOWNMUC before expanding across Flowstate’s global partner network.
Guests earn points for waves caught, ride length and manoeuvre skill level during each session. Flowstate AI calculates scores based on the rules and multipliers assigned to each game.
Ahead of the wider rollout, Flowstate tested the platform during a 12-hour AI-scored surf marathon at URBNSURF Sydney involving surfers Blakey Johnston and Valentino Guseli across three game formats. Johnston led the Barrel Hunter and Everyday Hero leaderboards, while Guseli recorded the highest score in Wipeout Roulette.
Everyday Hero is available to all guests and is intended to increase purchase frequency.
Barrel Hunter tracks and scores completed barrels for regular surfers with monthly and season-long recognition.
Wipeout Roulette scores wipeouts and links participants to coaching sessions and progression packages.
Winter Warrior is a season-long challenge designed to maintain session demand during winter and is currently fronted by ambassador Blakey Johnston at URBNSURF.
Flowstate said operators can configure scoring multipliers, including off-peak and same-day booking incentives, and use the platform to support coaching programs, loyalty initiatives and sponsored competitions.
“Every wave pool operator is chasing the same thing: a surfer who books once and keeps coming back,” said Mike Mortimer, Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer, Flowstate. “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.”
Earlier this month Chris Hausler, Co-Founder & CTO, Flowstate, said in a WavePoolMag podcast that there are many customizable advantages to building an AI video system from the beginning.
“The Flowstate AI model was built from the ground up to understand exactly what happens on a wave; every manoeuvre, every section, every ride in full context,” said Hausler. “Flowstate Game Modes is the gamified engine that feeds off this powerful new model. 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.”
Luke Wallace, Co-Founder & CEO, Flowstate said Gamification drives and maintains high levels of utilisation across the week, month and throughout the season cycle.
“Consumer spending habits are currently more reserved and people have been more conservative with their spending,” said Wallace. “Developing creative and fun ways to boost repeat purchases has been a big challenge to try and solve. Competitive socialising is one of the key consumer trends globally, in which we’ve looked at experiences such as Topgolf, virtual reality zombie experiences, and the good old-fashioned arcade for references as to how other industries use similar tactics to drive repeat purchases and deepen engagement with core demographics.”
Flowstate confirmed that the launch follows a phased rollout that includes publication of initial leaderboard results and utilisation data ahead of the Surf Park Summit, scheduled for Sept. 1-3 in Virginia Beach, where the platform will be demonstrated to surf park operators.
