Surf the Smokies brings eFoiling to the mountains, giving visitors a new way to experience Douglas Lake.
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (Smokies.LIVE Adventure Center) — I’m not exactly what you would call a water sports guy.
But I did it.
I climbed onto an electric hydrofoil board at Surf the Smokies on Douglas Lake, and before long, I was rising above the water with the Smoky Mountains behind me.
WOW.
“It was fun — and I am not a water sports guy,” I said after the experience. “I did it! WOW! It was amazing to feel yourself rising above the water and feeling the wind blow across your ears.”
That is the experience Surf the Smokies is bringing to Douglas Lake: a chance to ride above the water on an electric-powered hydrofoil board without needing any previous experience.
From crawling to flying
Surf the Smokies owner Trey Broome says the experience is designed for beginners.
The standard introductory lesson lasts about two hours. Riders first learn about the equipment and safety before gradually working their way through the basics.
“You get oriented to the board,” Broome explained. “We teach you all the safety, how to control the board, and then we walk you through crawling, walking, running, so to speak.”
Riders start by learning to control the board on their belly, then progress to their knees before attempting to stand and experience the hydrofoil lifting out of the water.
And yes, you probably will fall.
Broome says that is part of learning.
“The first time anybody does that, it’s like, ‘I’m flying,’ and then you crash, and then you get up again,” he said. “It gets better every time.”
Bringing surf culture to the mountains
There may not be an ocean anywhere nearby, but Broome believes Douglas Lake provides the perfect setting for the experience.
Surf the Smokies is located away from the busiest tourist areas of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, giving visitors a chance to explore another side of the region.
Broome said the west side of Douglas Lake remains an untapped resource for adventure tourism.
The area already offers outdoor recreation, dining and entertainment, but eFoiling adds something different — an adventure that combines technology, water and the mountain scenery.
Broome believes it could appeal to the same visitors who come to the Smokies for hiking, zip lines, ATV adventures and other outdoor activities.
The biggest difference?
You get to fly.
And I can tell you firsthand: even if you’re not a water sports person, it is worth trying.
Try it for yourself
Surf the Smokies offers introductory eFoil lessons on Douglas Lake. No previous experience is required, and safety equipment is provided.
Surf the Smokies
729 Wander Way
Sevierville, TN 37876
Email: surf@hunkerdownhollow.com
Phone: (865) 280-3398
Smokies.LIVE Adventure Center: Sometimes the best way to experience the Smokies is to try something you’ve never done before.
I did — and yes, I flew.
No responses yet