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TWO young entrepreneurs are seeking prime sites on the Gold Coast to develop Australia's first ever Flow House - an entertainment destination for surf-enthusiasts looking for perfect waves all year round.
The locals behind the project, Corey Vogt (26) and Ryan Mulhern (22), gave Gold Coast Business News a "sneak peak" of the proposed plans which incorporate a Flow Rider machine for body boarding and surfing, food and beverage venues and retail facilities.
The $4 million Sneaky Peaks Flow House is in the early stages of securing a location with discussions taking place with a number of shopping centres.
Although Dreamworld boasts a Flow Rider machine, this development is to be one of six specifically designed "flow houses" in the world. Other flow houses are located in the US, Thailand (pictured left), the Philippines and the UK.
"A few years ago we were riding on the Flow Rider at Dreamworld and we thought it would be a great concept to combine food and beverage and retail facilities so you could have a beer and lunch and watch people ride the machine, or ride it yourself," says Vogt.
"Flowboarding is not only a captivating sport for riders, but for spectators as well, so it is an entertainment hook that truly mesmerizes audiences and creates a totally unique environment and surf culture.
"The Flow House recipe is simple - mix great food and drinks, sprinkle in a surf shop, and with the FlowRider as the epicentre in our venue, you have all of the ingredients for a great time."
The Flow Rider, which has a patent, works by generating a thin sheet of water which flows over a shape in the form of an ocean wave.
Vogt and Mulhern are seeking property up to 1500sqm in size. The partners, who currently work fulltime as tradesman, say it is their passion and determination that will get the project off the ground.
"People have tried before to bring this concept to the Gold Coast but they have failed because they have found it too hard," says Vogt.
"We are working eight to 10 hours a day and we are still working on this at home - it is pure passion that is driving this project."
Sneaky Peaks Flow House is expecting to create up to 45 jobs once in operation by the end of 2016.
Vogt is also seeking potential investors to help fund the project.
The VP for Flowrider and Waves Business Development for North America, Asia and Australia of Flow Rider is flying to the Gold Coast this week to meet with the proponents behind the Gold Coast Sneaky Peaks Flow House as well as help to secure a location.
Picture L-R: Corey Vogt and Ryan Mulhern.
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