Female surfers converged on Boogie-Bahn at Schlitterbahn Riverpark and Resort in Corpus Christi on June 12 to celebrate National Women Learn to Surf Week. World Pro Female BodyBoard Champions Cathy and Morgan Seabert, a mother-daughter team, were on board to instruct.
Cathy Seabert is a regular at Schlitterbahn, helping riders tackle the inland surf attraction during the season. Currently, she is ranked second in the world in her division of Pro Female BodyBoarding.
Some 20 female surfers from beginner to expert and ages 8 to 70 slid into the endless inland surf created by a blast of 50,000 gallons of water on Boogie-Bahn. The water is only 3 inches deep on the ride. Wipeouts land on a foam-covered surface, keeping everyone safe from harm.
Schlitterbahn opened for the season Memorial Day weekend, about a month later than usual as it was changing owners. The park was auctioned off on the Nueces County Courthouse steps in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. The International Bank of Commerce paid $20 million after Schlitterbahn had defaulted on a $16 million loan from the financial company.
IBC and the park’s former owners also agreed to continue to license the park as a Schlitterbahn property. Schlitterbahn still owns three water parks in Texas and one in Kansas.
IBC immediately invested $1 million in upgrades and maintenance before opening for the new season under the marketing and management of Diamond Beach Holdings LLC, an affiliate of the bank.
Schlitterbahn hails National Women Learn to Surf Week
A young surfer rides 50,000 gallons of rushing water at Schlitterbahn Corpus Christi’s inland surfing attraction Boogie-bahn to celebrate National Women Learn to Surf Week. The event was held June 12. Photo by Carrie Robertson Meyer/Third Coast Photo