Hydroplane sporting environment and devices and methods therefor

Abstract

A hydroplaning device for a rider to perform liquid sport athletic maneuvers, which comprises a support member having a height relative to the ground and a slope; a surface member disposed on the support member, wherein the surface member forms at least an angled surface and a catchment area. The device also comprises a liquid circulation system, having a liquid source, at least one feed line and at least one return line with the liquid source being in fluid communication with the at least one feed line and the at least one return line being in fluid communication with at least one of the liquid source and a disposal location. The device includes at least one liquid dispenser disposed adjacent to the support member or the surface member.

1 . A hydroplaning device for a rider on hydroplane equipment to perform liquid sport athletic maneuvers, comprising:
 a support member having a height relative to the ground and a slope;   a surface member disposed on the support member along the slope, wherein the surface member forms at least an angled surface and a catchment area;   a liquid circulation system, having a liquid source having a liquid, at least one feed line and at least one return line, the liquid source being in fluid communication with the at least one feed line and the at least one return line being in fluid communication with at least one of the liquid source and a disposal location;   at least one liquid dispenser disposed adjacent to at least one of the support member and the surface member, the at least one liquid dispenser being in fluid communication with the at least one feed line;   at least one drain disposed at least one of adjacent to and within the catchment area of the surface member and being in fluid communication with the at least one return line; and,   wherein when the device is in use the liquid from the liquid source will flow through the at least one feed line, out the at least one liquid dispenser, down the angled surface at a sufficient rate so as to create a hydroplane layer of liquid on the angled surface to the catchment area, through the at least one drain and to the at least one return line, and wherein the rider while on the hydroplane equipment will hydroplane on the hydroplane layer as gravity pulls the rider down the angled surface.   
     
     
         2 . The hydroplaning device, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one liquid dispenser disperses the liquid through the surface member. 
     
     
         3 . The hydroplaning device, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is water. 
     
     
         4 . The hydroplaning device, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the liquid circulation system maintains at least one half inch of water on the surface member. 
     
     
         5 . The hydroplaning device, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the angled surface of the surface member includes a plurality of raised dimples. 
     
     
         6 . The hydroplaning device, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the slope of the support member includes a concave radius. 
     
     
         7 . The hydroplaning device, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the support member is a downhill gradient of earth. 
     
     
         8 . The hydroplaning device, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the surface member further includes a width, a first end and a second end and the at least one dispenser is disposed adjacent the first end along the width. 
     
     
         9 . The hydroplaning device, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the surface member further includes a length and the at least one dispensers is disposed along a portion of the length. 
     
     
         10 . The hydroplaning device, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one dispenser is a plurality of dispensers; and   the surface member further includes a length and a width and the plurality of dispensers are disposed along a portion of the length and a portion the width.   
     
     
         11 . The hydroplaning device, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one dispenser is disposed within the surface member. 
     
     
         12 . The hydroplaning device, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the surface member further includes a plurality of raised bumps. 
     
     
         13 . The hydroplaning device, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the support member includes a wood frame construction. 
     
     
         14 . The hydroplaning device, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the support member and the surface member include a generally half-frustum conical shape upon which the hydroplane layer of liquid is disposed. 
     
     
         15 . The hydroplaning device, as recited in  claim 1 , further including a jump module and a landing module, wherein the jump module includes a support member, a surface member and plumbing operably configured to connect to the liquid circulation system; and wherein the landing module includes a landing support member, a surface member and plumbing operably configured to connect to the liquid circulation system. 
     
     
         16 . The hydroplaning device, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the liquid source includes a natural river. 
     
     
         17 . A device for creating a hydroplane skim surface for allowing a rider to hydroplane on hydroplane equipment, comprising:
 a surface member having an angle relative to the ground;   at least one liquid dispenser adjacent on the surface member; and   a liquid feed being in fluid communication with the at least one liquid dispenser, wherein when the hydroplane surface device is in use, liquid from the liquid feed will flow through the at least one liquid dispenser, down the surface member at a sufficient rate so as to create a hydroplane layer of liquid on the surface member, and wherein the rider while on the hydroplane equipment will skim on the hydroplane layer as gravity pulls the rider down the surface member.   
     
     
         18 . The device, as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the liquid is water. 
     
     
         19 . The hydroplane device, as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the at least one liquid dispenser when in use, maintains at least one half inch of liquid on the surface member. 
     
     
         20 . The device, as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the surface member includes a plurality of raised dimples. 
     
     
         21 . The device, as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the surface member further includes a width, a first end and a second end and the at least one liquid dispenser is disposed at the first end along the width. 
     
     
         22 . The device, as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the surface member further includes a length and the at least one liquid dispenser is disposed along the length. 
     
     
         23 . The device, as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the surface member further includes a length and a width and the at least one liquid dispenser is a plurality of dispenser being disposed along the length and the width. 
     
     
         24 . The device, as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the at least one liquid dispenser is disposed within the surface member. 
     
     
         25 . The device, as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the at least one liquid dispenser includes an adjustable flow rate nozzle. 
     
     
         26 . An extreme action sport method comprising the steps:
 acquiring a hydroplane environment device having at least and angled surface;   flowing a liquid over the angled surface of the hydroplane environment device to create a continuous hydroplane surface;   acquiring hydroplane sports equipment for use on the hydroplane environment device;   fitting a rider with the hydroplane sports equipment; and,   disposing the rider at an elevated portion of the angled surface of the hydroplane environment devices and allowing gravity to pull the rider down the hydroplane environment device such that the rider hydroplanes on top of the continuous hydroplane surface with the hydroplane sports equipment.   
     
     
         27 . The extreme action sport method, as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the hydroplane environment comprises a surface member; a plurality of dispensers disposed on the surface member; and a liquid circulation member in fluid communication with the plurality of dispensers. 
     
     
         28 . The extreme action sport method, as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the hydroplane sports equipment comprises a board member having a first end, a second end defining a length, a thickness, a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first end and the second end have a bend in the direction from the second surface towards the first surface; a plurality of grooves disposed on the first surface, near the first end and generally perpendicular to the length.