Unleashed #69 The spring Issue

Wibit‘s aquatic playgrounds are the perfect supplement to any

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Attract more visitors by turning your location into a number one leisure destination.

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New Forest Water Park Hampshire, United Kingdom Photo by: Jake Moore Photography

WIBIT CONTACT Wibit Sports GmbH Am Gut Baarking 15 46395 Bocholt, Germany

P +49 (0) 2871 23820-0 info@wibitsports.com www.wibitsports.com/cable

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Photographer: Steven Hahn

Louis Floyd / © John Shrimpton

Unleashed Wakeboard Magazine World Headquarter France 2 rue Dorbesson 31100 TOULOUSE

P.R (PRESS RELEASE) Stephanie PROTET +33(0)6 11 11 25 32 stephanie@unleashedwakemag.com

Issue 69 –March April Rider Louis Floyd / photo Jon Shrimpton

CSO , MARKETING & STATS Sophie Sirech-combettes +1(407)800-3567 sophie@unleashedwakemag.com

FOUNDER, CEO, EDITOR & DIRECTOR Philippe SIRECH PUBLISHER Philippe SIRECH +33(0)7 87 95 37 40 Europe +1(407)800-3567 USA/WORLD philippe@unleashedwakemag.com MARKETING MANAGER Philippe SIRECH info@unleashedwakemag.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Phil SIRECH ads@unleashedwakemag.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Elise Fougere +33 (0)6 99 10 62 98 elise@unleashedwakemag.com WORLD REPORTER AND PROOFREADING Vicki Hernandez Dill +1(832)338-8116 vicki@unleashedwakemag.com SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER Hector Urzaiz Calpe +34 69 725 2381 Hector@unleashedwakemag.com

CONTRIBUTERS PHOTOGRAPHERS Hector Urzaiz Calpe, Jon Shrimpton, Peter Vahlfridsson,Tim Spanagel, Nick Taylor, Sebastian Kitzing, Steven Hahn, Yan Lecompte, Susan Larson, Stijn Vanoverbeke, Wojtek Kalka CONTRIBUTERS WRITERS VickI Dill, Morgen Burchell, Nick Taylor, Ernesto Aramburo, Joseph Holub, Annelie Chang, Carlo de la torre, Stephan Theys, Anna Zhakova TRANSLATION Vicki Dill, Dom Granger PRINT : EVOLUPRINT France and Sundance Solutions Orlando USA DIGITAL : ISSUU.COM

COUNTRIES UNLEASHED FRANCE Jérôme Macquart +33(7) 60 89 76 43 jerome@unleashedwakemag.com

UNLEASHED CANADA Dominique Granger +1(514)267-1636 dom@unleashedwakemag.com

UNLEASHED SPAIN Hector Urzaiz Calpe +34 69 725 2381 Hector@unleashedwakemag.com

UNLEASHED USA Philippe Sirech +1(407)800-3567 philippe@unleashedwakemag.com

UNLEASHED JAPAN Nagahisa Matsukawa +81 9 016 752 900 Matsu@unleashedwakemag.com

UNLEASHED SOUTH AMERICA Nathalia Vinee +33750325437 nathalia@unleashedwakemag.com

UNLEASHED RUSSIA Katia Volkova +79169000679 kate@unleashedwakemag.com

Unleashed Wakeboard Magazine is published six-time- sannually by Unleash Communication located at 2 rue d ’orbesson 31100 Toulouse, France. All right reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is strictly prohibited. Unleashed Wakeboard Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited submissions including, but not limited tomanuscripts, photographs and illustrations. Disclamer: The activities described and photographed hereim are performed by trained athletes. Attempting anything contained within these pages could result in serious injury or death. Unleash Communication is not responsible for any injuries sustained by readers or the failure of any equipment shown herein. So wear an Helmet and a life vest !!!!

LEO FRANCIS

#INCONTROL DOMINIK HERNLER

THE MAGICIAN

I N C O L L A B O R AT I O N WITH MYSTIC

IMPACT VEST

T H E U LT I M A T E I N PROTECTION AND STYLE

REMOVABLE VELCRO PATCHES Get creative and personalise your vest with a variety of name patches.

HEAVY DUTY DENIM BACK SHIELD Made from the toughest materials to ensure sustainability.

Dominik Hernler is without a doubt the most talented rail rider in the industry. His riding represents a form of full commitment of style and execution.

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ADJUSTMENT BELT With quick release buckle allowing the perfect fit to your body.

ANTI-SHOCK PADDING Impact foam that provides optimal support through your crashes and hard landings.

2016 will be the year of wakeboarding, wakesurfing and wakeskating events, and we are so proud that UNLEASHED WAKEBOARD MAGAZINE will be the main media supporter of all of the spectacular water shows.

The events we will be covering are: FISE, Plastic Playground, Speed Pilot, Chill and Ride, Wake the line, The Wakeskate Tour, The Wakesurf World Tour, The WWA Pro tour, The Bomber Battles, The WWA World Cable Championship and the IWWF Cable World Championships. The Unleashed Team will be crossing the globe to bring you the best moments from those Worldwide Events .

Now the magazine comes of age and we hope that you’re enjoying the changes we’ve made during the last three issues. We will continue to improve the quality and bring our readers the best content possible. We have reached another level and we are doing that just for you - the READERS of UNLEASHED WAKE MAG. Enjoy this new edition, and we wish you an awesome season on the water!

Philippe

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© Jon Shrimpton

W

ith winter definitely gone, let’s welcome the warm weather with the spring edition of Unleashed.

The April edition announces the beginning of a new season on the water with a few small changes this year. We have added a special 2016 GEAR section about all the products we are crazy about.

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Still as functional, strong and practical to use, it has clearly identified and accessible storage spaces. Its design and elegant look will appeal to urban assets. www.karkoa.com

Onewheel is highly endorsed by noted SUPers Mike Tavares, Luke Hopkins and shaper Zack Hughes. Thanks to the Onewheel, Tavares, Hopkins and Hughes are easily mastering the concrete, dirt and any terrain that comes their way.

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S IZ E: 4 3 /4 ’ (4 . 7 5 “ ) D IAM ET E R W EIG H T : 2 L B S P OW ER R AT E: 1 4 WAT T S VO LTAG E: 1 2 V B AT T ERY L IF E: 2 H R S (AT MINIMUM VIBRATION LEVEL)

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Deej o bega n as t he ins p ir a t ion o f L u c F o in an d S t ĂŠ p h a n e L e b e a u to (re)ki ndle t he p l e a s u re a nd t r a d it io n of t h e p o cke t k n i f e .

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Designated according to their lightness, Deejo pocket knives are available in three exclusive weights across three varieties of material: Deejo colors (27g), Deejo wood (37g), Deejo naked (15, 27, and 37g).

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Pics: Susan Larsson _ Maui Hidalgo

T O B I A S

M I C H E L

C H I L V

For your nearest stockist please email _ johnno@doubleupwake.com 100% Paulonia Wood Core _vimeo_dupwake _Instagram_@dupwake _Facebook_dupwake Dyna 2 Base 360ยบ Polyurethane Side Walls 3 Stage Rocker Sizes: 137 | 141 | 145

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Illustrator, painter and graphic designer, the creative process is always the same according to Christophe Cabanes AKA Bizmut. Starting with illustrations drawn in pencil, it is a handmade style. After more than 20 years of skateboarding and snowboarding, it was natural that Bizmut evolved into the environment of extreme sports as an artist. He worked for 10 years with big brands like DC, Quiksilver, Electric, Billabong, Yamaha, and Dakine.

The production of paintings for exhibitions for animation workshops in art schools is an illustration in his chosen field that this artist excels at everything he touches. His style is similar to that of a comic book. It is corrosive, offbeat with a rock-n-roll influence. He loves to explore the magnitude of mother nature and the human being in all its complexity. A universe that can be summarized in a few words: “Born to be Wild”… www.bizmut.ultra-book.com www.bizmutonmyback.com facebook / bizmut instagram / bizmut

© Odo

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WE WEST

TRIpPIN' A Frenchman, an Englishman, 2 Americans & a pair of Swedes...

Text & photos : Nick Taylor

Su re , i t m i g h t s o u n d l i ke t h e b eg inning of a joke, but for th e m i t wa s t h e s t a r t o f a n epic roa dt r ip t h roug h t h e h ea r t of S o u t h e r n F r a n c e . S t a r t ing out in Toul ouse & t r ippin’ wes t , t h e b oy s f e a s t e d o n a seeming l y endl ess suppl y of un d i s c ove re d w i n c h s p o t s dur ing t h eir 2-week jour ney, a l so ta k i n g t h e t i m e t o s n a ck on a few cl a ssic French ca b l e pa r k s a l o n g t h e wa y. L o c al l eg end Léo La b a dens pl a yed ho s t & g u i d e t o t h e s t a cke d crew of int er na t iona l fl ipt r icker s , c a p t a i n i n g t h e i n fa m o u s S h og un 4x4 t h roug h a l l k inds of te r r a i n ; w h a t eve r i t t o o k t o g et t o t h e next spot .

T h e re we re n o h o t e l ro o m s or comfy a ir-condit ioned rooms wa i t i n g fo r t h e b oys o n t h is t r ip, onl y t h e soft comfor t of M o t h e r E a r t h u n d e r n e a t h t h eir 6-ma n t ent , w h ich h oused th e m eve r y n i g h t t h a t t h ey didn’ t opt for sl eeping under t h e s ta r s . Wi t h s u c h a d i ve r s e l ineup of t a l ent ed wa kesk a t er s , eve r y s p o t wa s g u a r a n t e e d t o b e a spect a cl e of it s own, an d a s t h e vi d e o re a d i l y sh owed us , Léo La b a dens , Ben Ho r a n , O l l i e M o o re , N i ck Ta yl or, Fredr ik Bl omq vis t , & O sk a r G e j l e r b ro u g h t wa ke s k a t i n g in Fra nce t o a w h ol e new l evel .

It’s n o j o ke : We We s t Tr i p p i n’.

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What made you want to put this trip together?

I’ve had this idea in mind for a while. After a couple of trips to the U.S. winching with the Remote crew, I was sure why my life revolved around wakeskating. Winch trips are the best thing we can do; load up a couple friends & a winch in a strong vehicle, then you’re good to go find some prime undiscovered spots while having a good time.

Organizing a trip like this in France is part of me giving back, sharing what I have learned overseas & trying to get the next generation of French wakeskaters hyped to get together & go on trips like this.

Guaranteed good times for all!

What role did you play on this trip?

Mostly official Shogun driver and sandwich maker! Got to ride a lot, plus a little winch driving, filming, & there’s always beer to be put in the cooler (a knotted t-shirt tied to a shoestring dipping in the river)!

Any busts on the trip? Did the locals mind you guys winching in their backyards?

One legit bust and only after 5 hours of shredding! I’ve done a good amount of small winch trips over here, but this one made me realize that French people would rather ask questions & watch us ride than get angry & yell about us trespassing or whatever reason they usually find when we winch in the U.S… Long live French winch trips!

We heard that you backed over a redneck dude riding a moped while doing aroshambo with the car ahead of you under a bridge... True story?!?

Ah ah ah ah kind of... Well, there was a one way tunnel that I pulled into right as another car on the other side started doing the same, so I told “Shotgun Oskar» to play a roshambo with the guy in the car. We lost, so as I was backing up, I heard a noise of broken plastic pretty loud, and turned around to see the redneck dude on his moped. I had crushed his front fender, but he didn’t really seem to give a shit.

Random people started to gather around, so we quickly paid him off with 30 euros and drove away!

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What’s it like traveling in France?

I’ve been all around the world & I haven’t seen anywhere with this many winch spots. Lots of really old spillways & lock systems out there, & the people seem really into the idea of what we are doing; playing in the water. It’s not like that back in the States.

We did get busted at this one spillway, but by the time we did, I was over the spot & ready to go. It’s nice to stay on the move. In Europe, people are more open to the idea of action spots, everyone is so active and when they see other people doing fun stuff, they have a smile on their face. In the states, we would never get away with chilling in someone’s backyard all day that we have never met!

What role did you play on the trip?

It seems like we all played a little bit of every role on this trip. I wish Léo would have let me get behind the wheel of the Shogun though!

Did you guys drink any wine?

Yeah! We got free wine for buying 3 pizzas at the little spot in Montpon. Three nights in a row!

You finally got to hit the small ledges in Montpon, do they live up to the hype?

Man, I’ve been wanting to go to these ledges for a long time.

They’re a bit smaller than they seemed in photos, but damn you can go up them too. Not many spots in the world like that!

Last words?

Just want to thank Léo for organizing it all, it’s up there in the top winch trips I’ve ever been on. Beni with the winch, Paulo for holding down Toulouse, and everyone that went on this trip & did their part to make it happen. It’s really hard to shove 6 dudes in a 4x4 for 2 long weeks and have everyone getting along. Nothing better than trips like this one! I’m stoked!

Any busts on the trip? Did the locals mind you guys winching in their backyards?

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How did this trip compare to other trips?

This was an awesome trip, like others that I’ve been on, but it was rad going somewhere other than the States. It was different for all of us & we definitely soaked it all in making great memories!

What role did you play on this trip?

I logged a good amount of hours driving the winch. I’m experienced and available for hire!

Any injuries?

Slam town went down and I was definitely on that wagon.

Montpon’s ledges let me get some tricks but wouldn’t let me go without finishing me off. Don’t get me wrong now, I enjoy a good slam as long as it doesn’t put me in the hospital.

Any tricks from the trip that stand out?

Leo’s front 3 into the bank to drop was heavy and Nick’s backside bigflip off the upramp come to mind, but everyone was killing it!

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What’s it like traveling in France?

It’s so fkking beautiful. Spending whole days hanging out by quiet vineyard creeks, winching centuries-old spillways decked by castles & arched stone bridges, or driving old country roads through hours of forests & fields to find another small town loaded with spots. We hiked the cloudy peaks of the coastal Pyrenees & skated through historic city squares to grab breakfast at a rad little bakery that Léo already knew about. I fell in love with the rhythm of life in France, as well as the respect the French seem to have for their past. Me & Fredrik want to move there! haha… As for the logistics, Léo had us dialed with the Shogun & big tent. I love traveling with wakeskaters because no matter what happens, we’re resourceful & resilient enough to make any situation work, like stuffing 6 of us into a 4x4 way beyond capacity & living in a tent for weeks on end. It’s all part of the fun for us. I’ll never forget how incredible was my first adventure in France.

trees to watch us while they ate their lunches together. It made me really happy to see that.

You finally got to hit the small hubba ledges in Montpon. Do they live up to the hype?

They are a bit smaller than my imagination had led me to assume, but super fun for sure.

Our first exposure to them was really funny too. We were pulling into this grassy park to hit the staircase dam & Léo points out the window all nonchalant, “And yeah, there’s those ledges you guys have been freaking out about”, as if they were an after-thought, and we passed right by them. I was almost worried we wouldn’t get to hit them, but we stayed around town for a few days, getting to slay them up & down in between sessions on all the other spots nearby.

What did you think of the French wakeskate scene?

On my first night in the country, Léo brought me & the Swedes (Oskar & Fredrik) to TNS cable outside of Toulouse for a little wakeskate jam he’d put together, basically just rallying all the local wakeskaters to come out & ride with us for a few hours before the sun went down. I got to meet a host of stoked out wakeskaters, of all ages & skill levels, all there to shred a few short-notice cable laps with us. Some had been riding since 2001, some only a few months, but all felt the good vibes. I loved it. It was such a rad little sample of what we found all over the country, pockets of wakeskaters based around the cable parks where they learned to ride, with some hardcore elements branching out to find what kind of hidden winch spots their part of France might be hiding. With such a receptive scene & so many winch spots, I won’t be surprised if a lot more international wakeskaters start turning their attention to France.

Any busts on the trip? Did the locals mind you guys winching in their backyards?

Only one! Weeks of winching, dozens of sessions, and only once did a polite little policeman come & ask us not to jump down their dam. We probably would’ve gotten tasered for trying to winch something as epic & historic as a castle ledge in the States (not that we have anything like that), but almost everyone we encountered in France seemed either genuinely interested in what we were doing, or at worst they didn’t acknowledge us at all. During some of our longer sessions, families would set up picnics under shade

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So how’s your French now?

I’ve got breakfast absolutely dialed, but other than that, I’m essentially useless haha. My pronunciation is there, and I can replicate almost all the sounds thrown my way, but I’ve got a long way to go before I can describe my surroundings or hold a conversation. I guess I have to keep working on it!

What role did you play on the trip?

I definitely fell into the role as the trip photographer. Whether that was my position by default or because I got all frothed out to shoot photos everywhere we went, it’s hard to say, but I loved every second of it.

How did you like your first wakeskate trip to France?

Oh, France is the shit! Great food, great spots, great people.

With a solid crew and Leo as a guide, this was a trip of a lifetime!

What role did you play on this trip?

I was definitely the rookie of the gang, trying to figure things out, as it was my first real winch trip. I did spend a lot of time behind the camera, shooting both video & stills at certain spots.

Did you guys get on any good routines?

The bakery-for-breakfast routine was dialed since day one, which explains Nick’s flawless patisserie-french, but Leo’s lunch sandwiches had to be the one routine I enjoyed the most. Everyone gathering together at whatever lunchspot we could find in the woods, eating a crispy French baguette, filled with fresh veggies, and sometimes deli meat & cheese, cut & served on a Remote deck.

Did you guys find any unhittable spots?

We found a couple of spots we couldn’t really hit for different reasons, but there was this one spot man… Next to an old church under a brick bridge. The whole landing was just too shallow and the drop too big to risk it... Maybe next time ;) Tell us a funny story from the trip!

Well, there was this one time when we we’re chillin’ on the roof of

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Léo’s friend’s apartment, overlooking the Place du Capitole in the middle of Toulouse. In front off the building across from us, there were 2 cops guarding the entrance, and after a while we noticed that they were starting too look at us a bit too much. Two more cops walked up to them, then all four of them were staring & pointing at us while one was talking into his radio. All of a sudden, a neighbor pops his head out of a window & shouts “Police, police!”, so we go back inside from the roof & we walk in to see 6 cops with bulletproof vests & shit coming in the apartment looking all pissed.

Léo talked to them in French, & they told him that they had seen

us with some kind of camera (We were all shooting snapchats), so they all came to make sure we weren’t terrorists or plotting something... One hell of a rush! haha Will there be a “We West Trippin 2“?

Yes, no doubt. There were so many sick spots that we didn’t even have time to hit during these 2-3 weeks, and we were only 3 hours away from Toulouse the whole time! There are so many spots you could hit roadtripping France and even Spain for like 1-2 months. So yeah, we are coming back for sure!

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Monster-Truck Heavy

Kniffe Party

Trigger Warning (EP) New Kniffe party EP is full of bass and begs you to jump hard on the dance floor!

(Album) Perfect rock-n-roll tunes for your after ride session.

Turbonegro Hot for nietzsche (single) Wanna start a party?

Play it loud!

Vic-Mensa-Skrillex No-Chill

(Single) It’s time put on your gold chain and grill.

Skrillex and Vic Mensa teamed up and made this trap song!

DJ Snake Propaganda

Biters Electric Blood

(Album) The New York Dools & the Ramones had a baby and it’s called Biters.

(Single) Who can’t stop the French producer Dj Snake and his music propaganda?

Nobody!

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//// ELS I UM W I N C H \\\\

by Ernesto Aramburo

started our own place as we were in 2003: Motivated, less money, a network of friends and motivated riders.

If the Elysium Team went back in time with their staff what would they have wanted their personal winch to be like?

First time travel back in time: What do you want?

“Give me a machine, I know people, I know some spots, I’m motivated and I will pay you the benefits until the cost of the machine is repaid.”

Let’s talk about the first winch that goes backwards and forwards. A few details about the right product, what kind of business model, the marketing, the distribution, and how to find them.

It is back on stage after ten years, having developed the first gasoline winch which was hydraulic. It was about doing things professionally by learning from the past.

If you want to democratize the sport you have to spread people with your products and they need to use it, if not you can’t tell that « democratiszation » For this product that goes without saying! It must be almost perfect: Portable, low noise, electric, continuous backward and forward, can run on asphalt, water and snow, no fixed installation, controlled remotely, customizable ride behavior.

For marketing it’s more interesting. Rather than conceptualizing we

Asking what we would want personally was a good starting point: Offer a type of leasing. By submitting this leasing offer motivated people can test the real numbers of owning their own cable. By doing all accounts the hidden costs are made apparent. These important details were clear: - Wakeboarding is a seasonal activity and facilities are

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depreciated. The seasons are short, sometimes wet weather and the customer is to acquire lots of equipment.

- We might work several years without earning a penny and without spending time with the girlfriend.

- When the cable is full, there is no right way to satisfy a customer that exceeds the capacity of the newly acquired facility (super-frustrating).

- When the cable fails outside the warranty, all goes to the whim of the manufacturer who sends an agent of the corner when he has time. And these are days /weeks of lost production, but many costs fixed to pay(wages, rent, etc.).

Back to the Headquarters: For seasonality: Do pay when the machine generates profits.

- Living to cushion: No bank loans but a reasonable division of revenues and therefore risks.

- Saturated Installation: ELSIUM a book or additional machines.

The fleet capacity following customer curve.

- Breakdown? ELSIUM will respond within 24 hours and if necessary replace the machine 72 hours later.

Second time travel back in time: What do you want ?

“I will sign with you a minimum contract of three months. I’m committed to turning the machine a minimum 4 hours per day, but maximum 20 days on months with 30-31 days. I will buy you a minute less than I sell at the price I want to my customers. If I have a technical problem I want an answer within 24 hours and a functional machine delivered to my spot 72 hours later max. If I have more success than expected there is preferential conditions for an additional machine.”

And here’s how the first “ cable park with services ” of the world was born. ELSIUM markets an experience.

Beyond ELSIUM machinery will provide a full park on the same principle. ELSIUM support and advice to all administrative procedures, realistic simulations of revenues, accessories products (life jackets, boards, etc.), and we help you on your promotion.

What About You? You continue to have a decent life while becoming independent.

You keep your girlfriend and you feed yourself properly.

There is a life during and after the wake. However you focus on the essentials: Acquire and retain customers.

More information: www.elsium.eu , ernesto@elsium.ch

by Phil Sirech / Photo : Peter Valfridsson

I REALLY THINK YOU NEED TO PRACTICE THE SPORT YOURSELF TO MAKE GOOD P H O T O S . YO U N EED T O KN OW W H EN I T ´ S T H E R I G H T T I M E T O TA K E T H E P H O T O A N D W H AT S G O I N G O N O U T THERE.

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flashes. The new transmitter from Elinchrome with Hypersync is awesome!

Hi Peter, can you introduce yourself in few words ?

Hi Unleashed, my name is Peter Valfridsson, and I’m an action sports photographer from Sweden.

Do you take photos of other sports? Do you also do fashion, weddings, and other stuff?

I also love to shoot freeskiing. In Sweden you have five months shooting wakeboarding and the rest of the time it’s winter so it’s a good combination with wakeboarding and skiing. They are also my biggest passions, skiing and wakeboarding. I have been shooting some catalogues and weddings but it is not my priority.

First of all, can you tell us how you came to take photos?

I have always been interested in art and creating things. It started with music and painting when I was young. Then one day, 15 years ago, I decided to buy a camera, and that was the best decision I have ever made. Photography combines a lot of creative aspects and is very social which is perfect for me.

First you get the idea of a photo, you find or sometimes create the scenery, and finally you take the photo. It´s the process I love from planning to shooting, and I am always looking for new spots and ideas.

Do you wakeboard too? Do you find it frustrating sometimes when you see other riders having fun while you’re taking pictures?

Of course I ride! It’s the best thing with everything to combine your passions with photography. I really think you need to practice the sport yourself to make good photos.

You need to know when it´s the right time to take the photo and whats going on out there. I have seen so many good photographers who try to shoot wakeboarding for example and it looks bad because they don´t know how to ride. I have some kind of letter combination (ADD) so I don´t like to sit still therefore it´s a good option to take photos when you rest from riding.

What art form do you like to put forward in a photo? The trick? The colors? Landscape?

I love to create a story about my photos so would like to put the scenery forward. There are so many good photographers out there, so to be unique you have to create a good scene and story. I also like to shoot with flashes to bring a good light composition into the picture.

The finest word I ever heard about my photos was when a friend’s older mother told me, “I love to watch your photos because they are so beautiful.” She does not know what wakeboarding is but can enjoy the story and composition.

So when the rider is satisfied and your friend’s mother likes the photo you know it´s a good one. Thats my goal with a photo, to create good art and I love to create it with wakeboarding and skiing.

Finally, do you have some important tips to give to those who want to progress on 3W photographies?

Yes go out there and practice the sports you want to take photos of. Learn what happens and watch the riders before shooting them so you can capture their own style in a good way. Some riders will be better in rails and some at kickers and the angle is the next important thing. Try out the spot from different angles before you start shooting. Be patient.

Sometimes it takes time to get the right shoot. So it’s important that the riders have the right attitude and you have the same goals for the photo. And don´t forget to have fun.

Is there a place in Sweden where you like to shoot in particular?

Yes of course in my own cable park, Vasteras Cable Park :) There is also a really beautiful 2.0 cable in Gothenburg, Lagunen, with crystal blue water! But most fun is to go out with a winch and find a unique spot. Sweden is an amazing country with a lot of beautiful nature. When the seasons change the colors are beautiful.

Do you have any special configurations?

No, not really. It depends on the weather and light. But I like to use flashes to boost the foreground from the background.

Who do you usually shoot?

I like to shoot people with the right attitude, happy people always portray good energy in the photos. We have a lot of good riders in Sweden, and to mention some of them; William Klang, Jeremia Hoppe, Christian Forssten and Carro Djupsjö.

I think the most important thing is to have fun.

Thanks for your time Peter, if you want to say something else, go for it!

I would like to thank all my friends for always being positive about my crazy ideas and always supporting me with the photos. If you want to see more of my photos just follow me on instagram @picsbypew

What kind of camera, flash and radio do you use?

I use a Canon 5D MARK III, and 3 Elinchrome Ranger

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GOOD BOARD

by Joseph Holub

Goodboards is an owner-managed, Ger man company based in beautiful Ammer see near Munich. With over 25 year s of exper ience in the snowboard industr y, we develop premium elegant flex wakeboards for discerning customers demanding the highest perfor mance. Our limited edition handmade European manufactur ing process uses high-quality and long-las ting mater ials , paying special attention to detail. There will be 700 wakeboards produced this season.

We s tand behind our product and encourage our cus tomer s to come tes t our boards at any of our free demo events throughout the season. We love r iding and want you to have fun as well. Our specialty is high-end real wood core products . Check our our selection of snowboards , skis , longboards and kiteboards as well as wakeboards.

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BRAND Goodboards is an owner-managed, German company based in beautiful Ammersee near Munich. With over 25 years of experience in the snowboard industry, we develop premium elegant flex wakeboards for discerning customers demanding the highest performance. Our limited edition handmade European manufacturing process uses high-quality and long-lasting materials, paying special attention to detail. Goodboards was voted one of the strongest Newcomers in the Sports Industry at its debut in 2011 at the ISPO Munich as a Finalist in the BrandNew category, as well as winning the Best Board Design Award three times already. Our customers don’t choose Goodboards because we have the biggest image or world renowned riders, but value our quality, numerous demo and test events as well as the perfect variety for cables. We reinvest all of our experience and profits into the continuous development of premium wood core products (snowboards, kite-boards, longboards, skis).

2016 COLLECTION We have improved on our wakeboard collection with the introduction of 3 Stage Rocker, Double Carbon Stringers and the new 135 and 136 shapes. The total collection now offers 5 different series designed perfectly for cables.

Riders who prefer long channels can choose between the FORTUNA with fiberglass and carbon or the MENTOR which has the stiffer full carbon construction. Experienced riders and those who love obstacles value the new PURE series which has a soft tip and tail and no channel. Our BONOBO offers channels with a popular average stiffness in the tip and tail. The kids can enjoy fast fun progression on our TOMMYBOY (124, 128 and 132cm) which is lightweight and soft. There will be only 700 wakeboards produced this season.

HIGH QUALITY WAKEBOARD FEATURES � Goodboards are considered very robust thanks to highend European materials, robust construction, wet layup, long press duration. � The fast and durable bases are 0.6mm thick sintered polyethylene. Our material glides better and withstand more than other popular thin foil bases, one of the reasons we have very few customer complaints. � Channels improve steering and stability and ours are especially effective. They are mortised directly in the wooden core.

� All wakeboards have quadraxial fiberglass layer in the top and bottom sheet increasing durability and power transmission compared to biaxial fiberglass boards.

We use a fiberglass layer construction which runs edge to edge guaranteeing 20% higher performance over the standard cheaper fiberglass weaves. � Carbon Power Stingers run longitudinally through the bottom sheet of all of our wakeboards providing more pop and harmonious flex. � A special rubberized layer between the base and ABS edges cushions as well as protects from delamination. � Robust and thicker ABS Edges protect the construction from damage by obstacles � High-end real wood cores specifically with hardwood for the inserts. There is a lot of force leveraged through the bindings into the inserts; hardwood cores ensure reliable hold. � We produce boards with a drill-able inlay rather than with fins, as most customers ride without them. This eliminates potential water damage through the fin holes left in the base when the fins are removed. � Our designs have an elegant and timeless optic compared to our competitors. � We organize over 70 days of free demos for our customers to test the quality themselves; more than any other wakeboard brand!

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GEAR 2016 BOARDS / SIGNATURE BOOTS / BINDINGS VEST / WETSUIT

//// GOODBOARD - MENTOR \\\\ The carbon series Mentor is 10% lighter, has 3 Stage Rocker and was developed for wakeboarders looking for a stiff and aggressive board. The long channels, strong pop and sharp edges are ideal for inverts and towing by boats as well as cables.

//// G OODB OARD- PUR E \\\\

//// GOODBOARD - BONOBO \\\\

//// GOODBOARD - TOMMYBOARD \\\\

Pure is a stable, playful board. A smooth base, rounded edges and more flex in the tip and tail united with a stiff core for stability on the water establishes the Pure as an obstacle loving board.

The Bonobo has the classical all-rounder flex, sharp edges and rounded channels in the tip and tail guaranteeing easy handling in the water. The flat middle base and flex ensures fun on obstacles while the Double Carbon Stringers push performance.

The best board for groms and petit women is the Tommyboy. The lightweight and soft construction make it easy to learn the basics without draining your legs. Make skill progression fast and fun! We have incorporated your feedback in the design making the Tommyboy more colorful and transparent.

//// JOB E - CONC OR D \\\\ Rock the obstacles in your cable park with this board designed to go fast on the rails. The board has a lot of flex, making it really easy to press, a hybrid rocker for added speed & control and a H.I.T. base for even more speed! The nature core makes sure this board can take a beating from the obstacles at your local cable park.

/ / / / J O B E - P IT C H

\\\\

The Jobe Pitch is your ultra-light rail performer.

Its large surface area and flex makes it perfect for presses and it makes use of a special presstechnology to make those presses even easier!

Its continuous rocker ensures speed plus a very predictable pop; some extra grip to bust out your invert without slowing you down on the obstacles!

//// HUMANOID - LANGFIELD PRO \\\\ Slayk Thy Jib Thirst.

The ultimate rail magnet for metal heads Core: Wood (Paulownia Species Woodland i-Core) 0x fins - 141/144

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//// HUMANOID- O’SHEA PARK \\\\

//// HUMANOID- CO PRO \\\\

//// HUMANOID - HUXTABLE \\\\

The Freestyle Float Of Choice For Chris O. The perfect alibi for normcore park boards Core: Wood (Paulownia Species Woodland i-Core) 0x fins - 135/140/145

The Family Workhorse This beast of burden will eat up whatever you throw down.

Core: Wood (Paulownia Species Woodland i-Core) + Full Carbon Topsheet 6x .7“ fins - 135/139/144

A bi-axial fiberglass top & bottom makes the Huxtable more flexible and lighter than ever.

Deep recessed channels on the base allow for a strong edge hold when boosting in the park and also provide the rigidity throughout the centerline for hauling ass behind a boat.

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//// HUMANOID - CIRCUS \\\\

//// SLINGSHOT - TERRAIN \\\\

// RECKLESS WAKE - R.A. SERIES 2.0 \\

Hit The Switches. Its Vandall’s Miracle Whip 64’ Chevy hops with a smooth as corinthian leather interior.

Core: Wood (Paulownia Species Woodland i-Core) + Full Carbon Topsheet 4x .9“ fins - 141/145

The 2016 Terrain is our softest rail board offered in the 2016 line and is an excellent choice for riders either learning to press or looking to take their rail riding skills to the next level. XL sidewalls are combined with an ES base and minimal bottom features to ensure maximum durability and longevity in the park. 136 / 140 / 144 / 148

An absolute jib machine with a 100% paulownia woodcore. It is strong in the center which gives the board a lot of pop, but flexy at tip and tail.

The channels in the center and at tip and tail give the board track, but leave it loose enough to butter around. Due to the new concave at tip and tail the board locks onto rails easily while pressing. 132/136/140/144

// RECKLESS WAKE - S.A. SERIES 2.0 \\

//// HYPERLITE - WISHBONE \\\\

An absolute jib machine with a 100% paulownia woodcore. It is strong in the center which gives the board a lot of pop, but flexy at tip and tail.

The channels in the center and at tip and tail give the board track, but leave it loose enough to butter around. Due to the new concave at tip and tail the board locks onto rails easily while pressing. 132/136/140/144

Future of cable shapes Hyperlite tasked Aaron Stumpf to create the next generation cable specific deck after he hit a home run with the original Union.

Working with our cable team Aaron created the Wishbone, featuring an industry exclusive, The Air Stick Wood Core.

134/138/143

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//// H Y P ER L IT E - U N IO N

\\\\

The Union puts a twist on the new Wishbone shape beginning with its fully machined crossover flex core. The power press rocker allows riders to easily lock into defined presses and the tip and tail concave comes in handy on pipe features. Unique to the Union is the finless feature, Aaron designed this deck for hours of endless fun at your home park. 134/138/143

//// DUP - ANTI PRO \\\\ NEW for 2016. When wakeboarding goes to a new level, the product has to be one step ahead. It’s a constant process. Having had a breakout year in 2015, Antoni Van Der Wekken’s riding progressed beyond belief – Using the Del Taco as his shape of choice, Antoni has put some subtle changes to better suit his new progressive rail style.

Now featuring an adjusted flex profile, for improved rail control and quick transition, in and out of features. This update changes the whole dynamic of our most popular shape to date.

//// DUP - CHILV \\\\ All new shape for 2016. Sometimes less is more. Tobias Michel joined DUP in 2015, and brought with him a fresh outlook and style.

It’s this fresh outlook and style that went into designing the Chilv. This board offers unique benefits for all levels of progression, wether you are working a new trick or just starting to find your groove. Taking some key features from the rest of line, simple channel design, PU sidewalls and the most amount of flex in the line, the Chilv is set to redefine park riding.

136 / 139 / 143

137 / 141 / 145

//// DUP - DEL TACO \\\\ Del Taco, combining the best of our new technology and a new twist on our traditional features. Everything in this board has been designed with performance in mind. Flex is the key to this board, the Del Taco features 600 Gram Tri Axle glass & strategically profiled timber core. Wide tip and Tail profile, with Channelling gives you just enough hold for a solid edge, but not feel like you are on railroad tracks, allowing you to break free on demand.

Our biggest rocker to date, not only provides great pop, but also makes presses seem almost effortless. A bullet Proof Polyurethane 360 degree sidewall combined with the Dyna 2 base makes sure that this board is going to last.

136 / 139 / 143

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//// DUP - VENTURE \\\\ All new shape for 2016. Explore beyond what you know, the latest timber core & layup technology, designed to perform behind the boat and in the park. Taking the best attributes from our timber core line and fusing them with a unique 600 tri axle glass fillet system, gives the Venture a perfect blend of the predictable and the playful. Soft in the nose and tail, firm through the belly through an updated strategic flex glass fillet system means added control and pop behind the boat, without sacrificing the flex for the park. Other features include Reverse V system for locking in rails, PU sidewalls and DUP’s signature profiled core.

136 / 139 / 143 //// SLINGSHOT - WINDSOR \\\\ The 2016 Windsor line has expanded to include a 145 cm option, helping to satisfy the industry’s growing demand for bigger boards. The medium-soft flex pattern of the Windsor is a perfect layup for pro rider James Windsor, who leaves no obstacles untouched as he makes his rounds through the park.

The stiffer flex between the feet helps the board maintain its shape and speed on high impact landings, while the softer tips allow riders to press deeper and harder on obstacles. Dual tip and tail channels provide additional grip for edging into air tricks and the subtle 3-stage rocker gives the board a more controlled feel on the water. For the complete cable park experience, the 2016 Windsor Pro Model is unparalleled.

New for all 2016 Slingshot wakeboards is a revamped version of our industry-first Fastrack mounting system. The G10 Fortified Fastrack is inlaid deeper into the board than our previous system and is locked in place by a thick layer of G10 – an insanely strong glass/ epoxy composite. The result is a significantly stronger and more resilient Fastrack system built to withstand the ever-rising demands of the world’s most progressive riders.

//// DUP - SDR \\\\ Sex, Drugs, Rock N Roll. New for 2017.

A unique concept from the bottom sheet right through to the artwork. The SxDxR is the brain child of Manu Rupp, one of the most original riders on the planet.

Manu went through the entire line to find a combination of features to put into his board that would not only suit his style but also translate well to progression at any level. Combining the shape of the venture with a new hybrid flex pattern, the SDR offers up a board that has unparalleled Ollie power, great rail control and DUP’s signature durability. Not stopping there, the original artwork by wakeboard icon Mark ‘Turtle’ Mcnamara gives the SDR that extra element of soul. Offered as a limited release, keep an eye out for updated art.

137 / 139 / 143

137 / 141 / 145

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//// HYPERLITE - RELAPSE \\\\ //// HYPERLITE \\\\ MURRAY 20TH ANNIVERSARY

Created alongside the deep wisdom of JD Webb, the Relapse features a Biolite 3 Core with a Full Wood PopTop to increase snap and retain the natural wood core feel. It’s been given a Blended 3-Stage Rocker to give the 3-stage pop a little bit of speed for controlled landings. Just know that once you strap into the Hyperlite Relapse Wakeboard there is no turning back. 136/141

Shaun Murray is releasing his 20th Pro Model edition in Hyperlite’s 25th anniversary season, simply named; The Murray. Countless hours on the water have lead Shaun to this shape and the feedback has been mind-blowing. The Murray shape begins with a Subtle 3-Stage Rocker, there is no flat spot, the rocker simply increases under foot for a colossal boost of the wake. Carrying on from past shapes Shaun kept the Variable Edge Design and Center Landing Spine making the board enjoyable for all ability levels. The board’s edge is rounded between the inserts, sharpening under foot and then cupped at the tip and tail delivering solid edge hold when you want it and forgiveness when you need it. Hyperlite’s BIO3 Core and CarboNetX construction keep the Murray super light for easy spinning. This combination makes riding a larger board more suitable.“Ride a Bigger Board” –Shaun Murray 145/150

//// BYERLY WAKEBOARDS BP \\\\ Brenton Priestley brought his creativity into the shaping room designing his BP to be super responsive & poppy behind the boat or at the cable. Utilizing Butch’s Carbon Composite Stringer construction the BP can take a beating.

54“/56“

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//// HUMANOID - HOWL \\\\

Quickest To The Park Scene No nonsense entry & exit with enough ruggedness to make Grizzly Adams blush

//// HYPERLITE - AJ \\\\

//// H Y P ER L IT E - P RO C ES S \ \ \ \

Jimmy LaRiche spent a lot of time thinking about how to create the perfect boot for his style. Designing something that was supportive with great flexion was his main goal. Introducing a whole new look to wake footwear was an added bonus. The AJ boot takes everything Jimmy was looking for from a performance standpoint and packages it in a progressive, street inspired boot. The lower cut of the cuff allows a rider the mobility they need for poked out tricks while the integrated Heel Hold Down System provides added support. The new AJ also utilizes a traditional lacing system for a hassle free session and the added benefit of customizing your lace color.

Beyond his sweet Bristish accent, Nick Davies is a true wake master and we have to admit that we find ourselves emulating his characteristically sick style whether we happen to be in the park or behind the boat.

Now Hyperlite has teamed up with the king of cable to release the Hyperlite Process Wakeboard Boots, fully compatible with their unique and flexible System bindings.

Featuring the tallest cuff height Hyperlite has to offer and a removable power strap to accomplish greater power and support, the Hyperlite Process Wakeboard Boots offer the ultimate in fully customizable comfort.

Pair that with a 2-to-1 lacing zone allowing for added retention, and you’ll feel snug and secure wherever you happen to be riding

/ / / / HUMANOID - O DY S S EY \ \ \ \

//// HUMANOID - WIRE \\\\

Wake Riding Of The Highest Cut Laced up, battle proven and slick as Iceberg Slim on a Saturday night

New Boot Goofin’ Scoop ‘em up and tweak harder, This trip is gonna be the best one yet

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/// / DUP - MOJI TO \\\\

//// DUP - PROGRAM \\\\

//// DUP - COSTA \\\\

The Mojito is the new standard in bindings, focusing on three points; Style, function and support. Full remove-able liner with waffle sole, for ultimate fit and greater connection to your board. The nylon overlay now features a fully customisable Velcro closure that, not only gives the Mojito a unique look, but also provides protection from day to day use. Stage 2 chassis with DUPs signature 84/16 nylon to fibreglass blend for that perfect combination of response and flex.

All new shape & design for 2016, same fit and function with a new look. The program offers all the same support as our Unite and Socket bindings, but with the Ease of entry & Exit that Velcro closures offer. Ultra-lightweight outer shell, an all-new PU upper designed for more lateral movement without sacrificing support.

Other features include Neoprene flex zones for flexibility, redesigned toe box to reduce cramping and improve fit and Double Ups Stage 1 Chassis to give you a true feel with maximum impact absorbsion.

All NEW for 2016. New shape, new look combines all the traditional features our bindings have been known new contoured fixed liner; with this the newly designed PU upper for longer life and instant response while the all new Krank strap forces the heel back into the cup reducing heel lift and forward slide. Other features include Neoprene flex zones for flexibility, redesigned toe box to reduce cramping and improve fit and DUPs Stage 1 baseless chassis to give you a true feel with maximum impact absorbsion.

//// DUP - HERITAGE \\\\

//// SLINGSHOT - SHREDTOWN \\\\

//// BYERLY WAKEBOARDS HAZE SYSTEM \\\\

All NEW for 2016. All the features on the Heritage, for her. A key feature is the lace up shell, that allows for a superior fit. Combine the shell, with a fully re-moveable liner not only provide a great comfortable fit, but provides for pure performance. Stage 2 chassis with DUPs signature 84/16 nylon to fibreglass blend for that perfect combination of response and flex. Also incorporated are the key ingredients that DUP bindings have been known for, Dual Density Eva, Neoprene flex zones and perfect fit.

The 2016 Shredtown boot features our most precise and ergonomic design yet.

Get the perfect fit every time with our most durable liner design, the Reflex liner, which is designed to withstand walks around the parks, winch zones and even your local dining establishments. Including an inner lacing harness as well as Trifecta-S Velcro straps, the Shredtown boot is extremely supportive, while entry and exit remains impressively simple and quick.

A conjuring of some of the world’s best riders, Haze System Boots allow you to take the sport to the next level. Highly customizable with a heat moldable EVA Hyper-Liner and custom memory foam insoles, the Haze System Boots are sized with a slightly shorter cuff-length to allow for even more tweaked out trickery and more natural mobility. Built to be paired with Byerly’s System Bindings, the completely separate Haze System Wakeboard Boots take the pain out of awkwardly struggling into and out of your wakeboard bindings.

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//// JOBE \\\\ EVO BINDINGS The Jobe EVO bindings are called ‘The EVOlution of wakeboarding’ for a reason: these modular bindings save you money, wakeboard time ánd give you more direct control on your board. Then there is extra comfort, because there is no heel cap, and to top it all off the designs are fully customizable: ride your own unique colored bindings! Dominik Gührs, the world champion, sums it all up: “It gives me a better feeling & more control on the rail, and a soft and stable landing on the kicker when I go big!”.

//// HYPERLITE \\\\

//// HYPERLITE \\\\

THE SYSTEM LOWBACK BINDINGS

THE SYSTEM PRO BINDINGS

Featuring a brand spanking Lowback construction designed to provide you with both board connection and freedom, Hyperlite is back with the newest evolution in their unique System wake bindings.The Hyperlite The System Lowback Wakeboard Bindings feature a chassis design, resulting in a lightweight binding that provides maximum support without sacrificing an iota on mobility. Customizable for every boot size, the Lowbacks boast a Fully Adjustable Flexion Ankle Strap and Free Flex Toe-Strap/ Cap making transfers and adjustments a snap. Lighter than previous generations, the Hyperlite The System Lowback Wakeboard Bindings provide the ultimate wakeboard connection while granting free riders unparalleled freedom and flexibility.

The revolutionary Hyperlite The System Pro Wakeboard Bindings are taking new steps every year, and you’re going to love the lighter, stronger, better 2016 design. An even lighter G6 polycarbonate chassis retains board control and will keep supporting you the way it always has while new articulating urethane highbacks have increased response and flex. For you, this translates to optimal board feel, performance and comfort out on the water. Hyperlite makes it easy to setup the System Pro Bindings with auto-centering stability plates that allow you to tweak your bindings’ size in minutes. Unique to the Pro, a removable EVA footpad offers up additional comfort and impact protection underfoot.

Experience the pinnacle of boot/board connectivity with the Hyperlite The System Pro Wakeboard Bindings.

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//// BYERLY WAKEBOARDS SYSTEM \\\\ Designed to work exclusively with Byerly or Hyperite System Boots, these System Wakeboard Bindings give riders more edge to edge control and a snugger (higher performance) fit everytime they strap in.

Borrowing a page or two from the snowboard binding concept, the Byerly Wakeboards System Wakeboard Bindings utilize an Ultra-Light G6 PC Chassis that keeps feet closer to the board for better feel and energy transmission.

//// JOBE \\\\

//// MYSTIC \\\\

MILANO 3/2 WETSUIT

NICK DAVIES

Do you need more warmth and comfort that looks good as well? The Jobe Milano 3/2 wetsuit is your solution! The extra thermo with partial meltdown in combination with strategic placed hydrophobic skin panels on the outside keeps you warm during cold weather conditions. Due to the nuclear flex it is a perfect wetsuit for your sickest wakeboard tricks. The wetsuit has a combination between glued, blind-stitched and taped and creates a bubble by utilizing double or single barriers to prevent water entry on every level. And on top of that, by using the chest zip this wetsuit is even more flexible.

The 3 times World Champion deserves his own range within the Mystic collection.

Working close with the development team, ‘Sick Nick’ now has his own signature longarm shorty and matching impact vest. Riding in ND style is now accessible for everyone.

Critical taping inside / GBS (Glued Blind Stitched) Glideskin thin neck construction / Easy entry / Front-zip / Key loop.

//// JOBE \\\\ HEAT DRY COMP VEST The Jobe Heat Dry Comp Vest looks good on and off the water, but performs even better! It features Jobe’s new Aqua Killer technology, which makes it the perfect vest to use on nice summer days when it is too warm for a wetsuit but you are still in need for some extra warmth. This vest drains all the water and will be dry in the blink of an eye. Another important feature is its Nuclear Flex technology.

No one likes a vest that limits your freedom of movement! The Heat Dry Comp Vest doesn’t limit you in any way, offering ultimate performance. Perfect for mastering that new trick! Available for both men and women.

//// MYSTIC \\\\ NICK DAVIES

//// HYPERLITE \\\\ WEBB COMP VEST Shred like Webb next time you ride by first pulling on the Hyperlite Webb Comp Wakeboard Vest. This vest will make the slams hurt less and provide you with enough float to rest while the boat is circling around to pick you up.

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The 3 times World Champion deserves his own range within the Mystic collection.

Working close with the development team, ‘Sick Nick’ now has his own signature longarm shorty and matching impact vest. Riding in ND style is now accessible for everyone.

Please note: this is not a life jacket Special enforced stitching Impact foam / Zipper lock / PK front-zip.

by Sebastian Kitzing/ photos : Sebastian Kitzing & Phil Sirech

Last October the IWWF World Championships t o o k p l a c e a t t h e M a ya n Wa t e r s p o r t s Complex in Cancun, Mex ico. The top r i d e r s f ro m a l l a ro u n d t h e wo r l d c a m e to enjoy the endless summer at this paradise combined with the mos t exotic r iding.

The World Championship is the first contest to take place at this enormous venue composed of two cable parks, one boat lake, and a motocross track. Even though the place is still under construction that didn’t stop the event from happening. The first day of qualifications many riders were surprised to see almost 10 Shoveling machines still working on shaping the lake even some of them were working in the amazing crystal blue color of the water. At first, many were having trouble landing their tricks but after a few runs people got use to the unique color. The spectators from the site described it as something they’ve never seen before.

The opening ceremony took place at the host hotel, the Iberostar Paraiso Beach. Athletes from different countries got to weare their uniforms and wave their flag in front of all the IWWF organizers and the representative of the Mexican federation who gave a welcome speech at the end of the ceremony.

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The next day all the riders showed up again to show their abilities to the judges behind the beautiful black and blue Mastercraft X-Star. When the perfect conditions meet the perfect wake not much can go wrong. As the contest days passed by, we all had the opportunity to enjoy the magic of Cancun at the Mayan Watersports Complex where the temperature was around 95ºF .

Many of the riders took some time off after riding to visit all the amazing places and activities Mexico has to offer. Among them Xplore and Xcaret, some of the top resorts to visit in Cancun.

Meanwhile riders stayed hydrated, photographers struggled the first two days of the event to keep their cameras dry from the heavy rain. The contest was even suspended for a couple hours due to heavy storms in the area.

The unique water color and the shining sun made a great environment for the judges who had to decide between the incredible performance of the six athletes trying to climb to the top step of the podium.

Massi piffarett, World champion 2015

Under 14, Gabriel Benetton, was a big candidate, becoming the youngest rider ever to land a Mobe 5 only weeks before the event. But Australia’s Sam Brown came in stronger for a 1st place leaving Benetton in 3rd.

In the women’s professional division Meagan Ethell shocked the crowds with her stunning pass followed by her other U.S. team members who took over the finals in that category.

On the other hand, legendary Harley Clifford who we saw earlier in 2015 get a perfect score at the Nautique Masters wasn’t as lucky as we were hoping. The window of opportunity was left wide open for the other five riders in the Open Men Finals.

Cory’s Crow 5, toe 900 and Whirly 5 managed to put him in third place as Phil’s Whirlydick, double grab backside 540 and Mobydick 540 weren’t enough to beat Massi’s toe 900, nose 720 and a Blind Pete that crowned him as World Champion.

If that wasn’t enough for Italy they took the Team Overall first place and beat Team Australia and USA who were great candidates to take home that title.

The winners claimed their titles at the Closing Ceremony at the host Hotel where a great meal was served, national anthems from Italy, USA, Argentina, Australia, Netherlands, France and Korea were held for the world champions of each category.

Presidents of the IWWF and FEMEW, Mr. Kuno Ritschard and Jose Antonio Perez Priego, gave their last words of the tournament to congratulate all teams and athletes for their performances.

To close out a great week of intense riding a Halloween party gave the riders and their friends the opportunity to show their creativity off the water. Pirates showed up along with Wonder Woman, Zombies, Big Green Balls, El Jefe and many others! It wasn’t a bad way to close a World Championship at all!

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CARRO DJUPSjo Interview : Phil Sirech / Photo : Jb Oneill

Hi CA RRO ! In eve r y i s s u e o f U n l e a s h e d Wa ke M a g we g ive a voice to r ide r s like yo u w h o h a ve s e e n a l ot of ch a ng es in t h e spor t .

For you what event has radically changed the sport?

Rising High no doubt. It’s the gnarliest event in wakeboarding and I’m thrilled that it is back this year.

In your opinion which rider clearly marketed the sport during the last 10 years?

I was going to answer Shaun Murray here but writing about Rising High had me thinking about Brad Smeele and I can’t think of any bigger inspiration. Even though that event had devastating consequences for him, he’s still pushing for it to continue as it’s the direction he wants the sport to go. I’m also so impressed with his determination and positive attitude. Brad definitely deserves all the recognition he can get.

In your opinion which brands and new shapes have cornered the market in the last 10 years?

There are a lot of great brands on the market but lately I feel like Slingshot has got the idea of where wakeboarding is going and creating boards that work both on the cable and behind the boat is the way forward. These days with wakes getting bigger and rail-setups getting crazier I feel it’s important to create durable boards that won’t break as most people don’t want to spend a thousand Euro each year on a new setup.

It seems that cable wakeboarding has become more practiced than riding behind the boat. Is this the case in your area?

I still ride both cable and boat but I definitely ride more cable now than I did a couple of years ago.

Tell us what your dream wakeboard event would be like.

I’m actually working on it, hopefully you will see soon ;) Did your last victory change your life ?

Winning trick of the year for my double flip in 2015 was really unexpected for me and one of my proudest achievements. Did it change my life? No not really but it made me unbelievably happy!

Has wakeboarding changed around the world since you started?

YES for the better I would say! When I started the only way you could make a name for yourself was by going to Orlando and meeting the right people. Today, with social media, it’s possible to get recognized wherever you are from. I think it’s going to make us see some great new names on the market!

Have you had any injuries throughout the past years that have changed the way you ride?

No, crashing is part of our sport and to progress I’d say its a necessity. Sometimes you’re unlucky and get hurt but you could also be unlucky and get hit by a car walking down the street. I think if you just keep focusing on what you want and take care of your body most of the times you can avoid injuries and sometimes shit happens, but you get on with it.

Do you prefer competition or free riding and photo shoots ?

Freeriding and shoots any day! I find contests inspiring as they make me push my riding but I love getting more than 2 minutes on the water. I think video and photo-shoots are

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N OW I’M M O R E IN L OV E W IT H R AIL R IDIN G T H AN EV ER AS P R ES S IN G I S S O F U N O N M Y N EW R EF L EX AND I H AV E A L O T O F IDEAS F O R N EW T H IN G S T O T RY, B O T H B EH IN D T HE B OAT AN D O N T H E C AB L E.

the future and it’s also what I choose to focus on in my career.

Can you tell us your main change for this year ?

I recently signed with Slingshot which has changed my riding a ton! Now I’m more in love with rail riding than ever as pressing is so fun on my new Reflex and I have a lot of ideas for new things to try, both behind the boat and on the cable. It’s given me some extra confidence to know that I’m representing such an innovative brand that believes in the female side of wakeboarding.

If you want to add last words, those lines are for you ?

Thanks Unleashed for the interview and all that you do for Women’s Wakeboarding!

Also thanks for the continued support from my sponsors Lifeproof, Slingshot, Betsafe, O’Neill, Xtravel and finally, thanks to JB O’Neill for capturing this photo on my Gopro!

Thanks a lot Carro and see you on the water !

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crazy

YAN T IB O F U N N O S E P R ES S TAIL G R AB O N “ L A P O IN T E WAKEPAR K” Photo : Yan Lecompte

CHAD LOW E LAKE ELSINORE, C A Photo : Steven Hahm

Q UI N N S I LVE R N A LE H OW TO R I D E A BOX !

Photo : Tim Spanagel

M AN U R U P P SIDE PRESS OCP ROOF BARCELONA Photo : Hector Urzais Calpe

CHANDLER POW E LL HAND PLANT VA L D OS TA WAKE COMPOUN D GE ORGI A Photo : Phil Sirech

WE S LE Y MA R K J AC O BS E N TA I L LI PS LI D E O N TH E P O O L G AP VA L D OS TA WA K E C O MPO U N D G EO RG IA Photo : Tim Spanagel

julia rick

by Phil Sirech / photos : Wilfried Rick

Julia Rick is a winning machine and she is on her way to becoming the fir s t woman wakeboarder to achieve some of the hardes t skills known in cable wakeboarding. Neither women OR men could imagine that a gir l could land so many insane tr icks like front mobe 5, back 5, a 315 as well as a toeside backside 900! Julia Rick...aka KILL BILL, is uns toppable and the pro woman to follow dur ing 2016.

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Hi Julia. Your year was rich in Victory. You won all the cable event contests. How are you feeling after quite a year?

Hi Phil, that’s true. Last season was the best one I’ve had so far! I won all of my competitions (12 of 12) and learned several new tricks! Ending the season defending my World Champion title was the best feeling. I’m really happy and stoked about this! Looking forward to an even better 2016 :) Tell us your wakeboard story. When and where did you start? How did you decide to do wake boarding instead of ballet? Explain to us in a few words your first laps on the water?

I first stepped on a wakeboard in 2009 because I heard about a cable park close to my home - Wasserski Bleibtreusee in Brühl - and so I decided to try it out and I completely fell in love! As most people already know I’ve played soccer on a professional level. In the beginning I didn’t have time to be on the water as often as I would have liked until I stopped playing soccer. In 2013 I started competing professionally in wakeboarding.

Tell us about a typical day for you?

At home I can train at my local cable from April to October.

I practice on the water nearly every day. Normally I do two training sets a day. I’ll do one in the morning and one in the evening. In addition to training on the water I also go to the gym for some fitness training off the water. Besides wakeboarding I also study business administration at the University.

During the off-season I try to travel as much as I can to be on the water. At home I can only ride from April to October so I have to travel when it gets too cold. I like to travel to Asia (e.g. Thailand, Philippines) during the winter because of the hot weather and the good cables to ride. They are perfect places to prepare myself for the season!

Do you have a special training routine?

Before I go on the water I think about which tricks I want to practice during each particular session and get my mind prepared. Next I do some warm-up exercises and then I’m ready to hit the water!

Where is your favorite place to ride?

At home my favorite place to ride is Wasserski Bleibtreusee“ close to Cologne. I love the familiar atmosphere and it’s not far from where I live. There are so many good cable parks. I really like to ride at IWP in Thailand and Hip-Notics in Turkey.

What do you do to stay in shape?

I train at the cable pretty much every day, in addition I go to the gym around three times a week and do some cardio training during the season. During the off-season I spend more time in the gym to stay in shape.

Any special meals or foods that you eat daily?

I eat healthy food and try to keep my body balanced. I think a nutritious diet is very important for an athlete.

Any specials sunny destinations during the winter season in Europe?

If you don’t want to travel too far I think Hip-Notics in Turkey is a very good idea!! In Asia there are a lot of great cables like IWP or Anthem in Thailand or CWC in the Philippines.

In the USA Florida is the place to be for wakeboarding!

Any special videos that inspire you?

There are many good videos so I can’t name any particular ones. But I watch a lot of wakeboarding videos to get

What do you do during the off season? Maybe you don’t have an off season!

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JULIA’S 10 BEST MOVES 1. FRONTMOBE 540 2.RALEY 540 (315) 3. BACKMOBE 540 4. KGB WITH TAIL GRAB 5. 9 0210 (TOESIDE RALEY FS 360 ) 6. TS BS 9 00 (KICKER) 7. HS FS 9 00 (KICKER) 8. HS BS 720 WITH NOSE GRAB (KICKER) 9. ZEROSPIN STALEFISH GRAB (KICKER) 10. TS BS 720 NOSE GRAB

inspired for new obstacle hits or air tricks. It definitely helps to watch videos to learn new tricks and to get new ideas to improve your riding style.

Where did you find your inspiration?

As I said I watch a lot of wakeboarding videos to get inspired for new obstacle hits and air tricks. But I also watch videos from other action sports like snowboarding, skateboarding and surfing.

Furthermore I follow many athletes of different kinds of action sports on their social media channels.

Who teaches you? Do you have a coach?

I don’t have a personal coach or trainer. Basically all tricks I can do at the moment I taught myself. Sometimes you get some tips from other riders when practicing a new trick but most of the time I first watch videos and then just try it out on the water.

You land almost all the tricks than 70% of the guys can’t. Do you have any new ones on the way for 2016?

For sure, there are several new tricks which I want to land or just want to get consistent! There are a lot of new air tricks on my list but also some kicker tricks I want to be the first girl to land.

Any personal video projects for 2016?

I haven’t planned a big video Project yet. But for sure there will be many short video edits as usual.

How long do you think you will do wake boarding?

I don’t know yet. I Hope I can do this sport as long as I can and as long as my body lets me to do. The main thing is to stay healthy and fit and it helps to be lucky and not get injured. So I try my best to stay fit and in shape to prevent injuries!

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I WATCH A LOT OF WAKEBOARDING VIDEOS TO GET INSPIRED FOR NEW O B S TAC L E H I T S A N D A I R T R I C K S .

B U T I A L S O WAT C H V I D E O S F RO M O T H E R AC T I O N S P O RT S L I K E S N OW B OA R D I N G , S K AT E B OA R D I N G AND SURFING.

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Do you have a backup plan for life after wakeboarding?

I study at the University of Cologne and I’m just finishing my bachelor thesis in business administration. Afterwards I’m planning to get my master’s degree. If I end my Wakeboarding career I will do something in the business sector.

Any big falls or injuries during your career?

I had several concussions from crashing hard while practicing air tricks. In addition I was a bit unlucky last season. A week before the World Cup I snapped my eardrum at a competition in Belgium. During the training at the World Cup in Shanghai I broke the metacarpal bone on my right hand. During the training for the World Championships in Abu Dhabi I bent the medial ligament in my right knee. But fortunately I still managed to win those competitions despite my injuries.

Are you scared of anything?

When riding I’m only scared of serious injuries which would keep me away from being on the water. But I’m not scared of crashing.

Just a personal question, any guys in your life ?

No, at the moment not. It takes so much time to do wakeboarding on a professional level as well as trying to finish my university degree.

Is it easy for you to manage both sports and your personal life?

Sometimes it’s not so easy and I really have to plan my schedule well. Going to University and wakeboarding on a professional level requires good time management. But I really love to travel the world half of the year and to meet everyone from different places!

Any Projects for 2016 ?

2016 will be a busy season for me! There will be two World Championships, the European Championship, the German Nationals and numerous other big events this year. Among other competitions I’m going to compete at the Speed Pilots Festival and at Plastic Playground in London. Besides all the competitions I also want to focus on getting media coverage and shooting video clips.

Thanks for this interview Julia. Do you have any shout outs?

Thank you Phil! I would like to thank all the people who have supported me and who support me at the moment! Thanks to my fans, sponsors (Panasonic, Ronix Wake, Fox Wake, Bundeswehr, ION, Barmenia Versicherungen and Wasserski Bleibtreusee) and my parents!!

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The AO Championships

by Carlo A. De la Torre / Photos : Susan Larsson

The ver y fir st Asian and Oceania Cable Wakeboard and Wakeskate Championships WERE held at Lotus Wake Park in the beautiful south of Taiwan in a town called Kaoshiung.

The weather, the r iding and the whole vibe of the event was spot on, despite it being the fir st of its kind. There have been several AO Championships in the past but never has it embraced the disciplines of wakeboard and wakeskate together. This made for an epic battle on the water between more than 50 athletes representing 10 countries.

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The first day of competition focused on the Asian region first, and the huge crowds around Lotus lake were treated to a kick ass show.

Asia’s best came out to wow the spectators in both the wakeboard and wakeskate categories, especially the Open divisions.

gazelle #bangbang. That’s how the cookie crumbled and Obi was crowned Asian Cable Open Men’s Wakeskate Champion, with Boom not too far behind in 2nd.

As for the wakeboard division, in the Open Women’s it was a powerful onslaught of consistent air tricks by the Japanese women namely Megumi Tomabechi and Rie Koike. These skills catapulted them into the top two positions respectively, while local talent from Taiwan, Shannon Teng, took a well deserved 3rd place even when she was swamped with a lot of work running the AO event.

For the wakeskate competition it was an epic battle between Filipino and Thai wakeskaters for the silver and gold. In the Women’s Open pure consistency allowed Tulip Tadtiam of Thailand to edge out the favorite Susan Larsson of the Philippines. Tulip had a smooth, consistent run for both her passes with clean blinds to body varial 180 combos. These technical runs ousted Susan who just couldn’t manage to land her big 360 shove on the water. However, Susan did land her 270 shove off the table top, but it proved not to be enough in the eyes of the judges. They were looking for a completely smooth run rather than just one banging trick.

The wakeboard Open Men’s for the Asians was a bit of a lopsided affair. It was a good battle for 2nd and 3rd between Guy Tanaka of Singapore and UAE’s Saif Khaled but the golden position could only go to one rider and that was South Korea’s cable phenom, Im San, or as I like to call him “Imsanity”. Im San’s entire run was epic but the definite highlight was his signature style toeside backside 720, which he transitioned up with a huge Benihana in the very next kicker. It was beauty, style and power personified.

As for the Open Men’s wakeskate it was a back and forth battle between the premier wakeskaters of the Philippines and Thailand. Burit Detwilaisri, aka “Boom”, of Thailand was the heavy favorite coming into the tournament, since he was able to beat Obi Cembrano of the Philippines in their last encounter in the Asian Beach Games last year in Phuket. So this Asian championship gave the Filipino Obi an opportunity at revenge and it was indeed sweet. It was however not easy.

Both skaters battled it out hard nearly making it impossible for the judges to call a winner after the first runs. During the 2nd run Obi brought the heat, and stomped a run which included 270 shove out of the table top, a frontside big spin, a backside big spin, a 360 shove, a big shove off the kicker and a frontside

So the first day of competition was indeed great, the Australian contingent in the event had the benefit of watching what their competitors in the Asian region had to offer. They definitely got to take advantage of this further by coming into the Asian Oceania championship part of the event still to follow.

It was pretty much an all Australian affair after that, with the gold positions for Boy’s Division, Junior Women’s, Junior 78

Men’s and Open Men wakeskate and wakeboard all going to the Aussies. Brother and Sister Declan and Gabby Wheeler out of Mackay Australia, showed supreme style and technique to earn them the gold. Declan notably landed a heelside frontside 900 in his run, earning him the official “man-child” award. The Junior Men’s division gold went to Blake Muller of Australia, and he rode very strong with probably the biggest back mobe of the entire event.

heavy favorite Shannon Teng, who ended up getting 3rd. The gold position remained with Japan’s Megumi Tomabechi who had a better run over all getting good hits off the water and the obstacles.

The AO Open wakeskate event, was an intense battle with skaters throwing hammer after hammer, escalating their scores one over another. In the Women’s division Susan Larsson was able to get her revenge over her Asian loss to Tulip, by stomping her backside big in the competition. As for the Open Men, it was a very good battle, but at the end of the day, the Aussie onslaught proved too much and Cody Murphy came home with the gold. He was very happy considering the fact that he almost didn’t make it to the event over a nearly expired passport. Obi Cembrano got 2nd followed by Boom at 3rd.

The AO Master’s category was won by the MC of the event, namely me, and yes the rumors are correct I commentated my own run, so go ask your mother and #bangbang - hahahaha.

The most anticipated part of the entire event was the AO Open Men’s wakeboard finals. Thailand’s Ken Tackman managed to secure bronze for the “Land of Smiles” despite having barely made it through the LCQ with a busted finger. He still managed an impressive S-mobe during his run and good 720s off the kickers. The real battle however came down to South Korea’s Im San, and relatively new comer but old school ripper Scotty Wilkings of Australia. It was a classic battle of style. Im San with the fun and smooth style versus Scotty’s aggressive, balls to the wall, wake technique. After the first run Scotty was edging out Im San by the smallest of margins.

Scotty’s primo trick was probably his Orgasmo and gravity defying Indy KGB into the stratosphere. Im San tried to catch up in the 2nd run to overtake Scotty but proved unsuccessful.

Good ol “Imsanity” still had a huge smile on his face as he congratulated Scotty back at the dock for his victory lap. It was a sick victory lap, because Scotty still tried to go all out, nearly landing his Indy KGB 5 in competition.

Overall, the people, the competition, the vibe and the camaraderie of the event was very successful and we look forward to more AO Cable Championships in the near future.

In the AO Open Women’s wakeboard, there was a bit of a shake up in the results when Libby Ho managed to snatch 2nd away from 79

NEXT LEVEL RIDE Just another reason to make Texas

your wake boarding destination

by Vicki Dill / Photo : Michael Pempsell

A s i f Au s t i n , Te xa s wa s n ’ t a l rea dy one of t h e cool es t cit ies in t h e U nit ed St a t e s , w i t h o n e o f t h e m o s t ch il l vib es , now t h is h ip l oca l e is h ome t o a sec o n d f u l l s i ze wa ke p a r k , Next Level R ide. Two pa r k s in one cit y - t h a t ’s eve r y wa t e r j u n k i e ’s d re a m! A dd in t h e b es t ma r ga r it a s in t h e s t a t e, a r t sy e c c e n t r i c s o n S o u t h Co n g ress a nd a na t ure l over’s h a ven a nd you h a ve c o m p l e t e u t o p i a i n t h e c a p it a l of Texa s .

Next Level Ride is the creation of two kinesiology majors who had a vision for a rider’s destination that would push people to be their very best. Curt and Niki Sotkovski are the owners and their influence spans beyond just riding. They want their cable park to fulfill their clientele in the areas of health, spirituality and nature.

NLR just opened in the fall of 2015 and unfortunately the floods of central Texas took a toll on their development, but with a little creativity and determination they made the best of their situation.

They look forward to their first full summer open and can’t wait to make their mark on the wake boarding world. Niki filled us in on all the details about Next Level Ride.

CHECK OUT NEXT LEVEL RIDE:

Instagram: @nextlevelride Facebook: Next Level Ride Austin Website: nextlevelrideaustin.com Phone: 512.915.9056

Where did the name come from?

From the day we got married we have been telling each other to take life to the next level. Whether it was in our spiritual relationship with God always going to the next level, teaching our kids differently than the world teaches, training athletes to be smarter in how they function and not just in lifting weights....it was always the next level. So when God put this adventure in our laps, we thought let’s take wake boarding to the next level.

Are you offering any camps, clinics, private lessons, birthday parties?

We are currently doing private lessons before the park opens. Our little bro is down until May so our lessons are limited to the big system before riders start showing up. Next year we plan on having camps and birthday parties and people can rent out the lil bro for events. When the building is up, I plan on holding nutrition, strength training and yoga seminars on a monthly basis.

Are there any future additions or plans for the park? What’s the vision of the park for the future?

We have tons of plans! Our next step is a building equipped with a gym/yoga studio, nutrition bar and retail shop.

We would like to see mountain bike trails, BMX/skate park, rock climbing, disc golf and maybe some motocross thrown in. We love outdoors and extreme sports so we want to be able to have it all. The future vision for the park is simply to allow people to come chill in a Godly environment and have fun doing what they love.

What kind of amenities do you offer?

Eating & chilling out areas are on the property. Other amenities include rentals, bathrooms & showers. We plan on keeping the Austin vibe with food trailers. We are trying to leave the least amount of footprint we can on our land. When the building is built, we will have bathrooms and showers and a place for people to watch both cables in the pleasure of air conditioning.

Obstacles - Tell us about the obstacles you guys have & if anything new is in the works?

We currently have three kickers, one on the inside and one on the outside and one on the back stretch. We also have a sixty foot 12“ wide flat bar, sixteen foot incline flat bar with wall rides, a forty foot hand rail, a twenty foot 12“ pvc incline pipe, an eight foot Unit A frame transfer with a knuckle and two floating barrels.

Any big events planned,competitions or special days at the park?

The University of Texas wake team is holding a competition April 22-24, Wax That tour is coming June 12, and we will be doing the features only portion of Points Chase Series on Thursdays. Alamo Draft House is doing their JAWS Series at our park this year starting June 17. It will be held Fridays-Sundays in the evenings every other weekend until mid August.

Exact dates and time are still being decided, but June 17 is what we have down for a start date.

What are the park hours & the season that the park is open?

Spring hours are Thursday-Sunday from noon to dark. Summer hours are Tuesday thru Sunday from 10 to dark.

We are open March thru November.

(Spring, Summer and Fall).

Tell us about the NLR staff: Currently there are four full time employees: Myself, Curt, Mike and Luke. Our close friends, Cody and Hana, help us out on the weekends.

Travis White will be our park pro once he gets back from being a lifty on the mountains - lol. We will be hiring a few more people to help rotate through as the months get busier. The four of us met in college, all graduating with our degrees in Kinesiology. Mike (Michael Pempsell) was a roommate of mine who had a boat and road moto.

I introduced him to Curt who we got hooked on moto. Luke, Curt’s brother, became another roommate and of course then came Curt - and now we’re married. We started the wake team at Tarleton State University where we went to school. After graduating, Curt and I lived in Dallas working for Chirosport. Curt specialized in injury rehabilitation, working more with the

chiropractors treating athletes from the Texas Rangers to the Dallas Stars and a multitude of collegiate, amateur and professional athletes. I worked for Synergy which was the training side of the chiropractor’s office. I worked specifically with swing analysis, helping golfers, baseball players and tennis players perfect their swing and keep them from getting injured. Curt and I made a great team, especially since he was always getting hurt riding moto.

Thank God for wake boarding! He hasn’t truly been broken or had to have surgery since we started Next Level Ride - hahahaha!

Can you camp there? Are there any hotels close by for guests coming from out of town?

Yes you can camp anywhere you’d like!

We’ve got 50 acres and only 15 of it is the cable. We also allow RV’s but we currently don’t have hook ups for them but they are welcome out here.

Hotels West of the park include: � Hilton Austin Airport � Quality Inn & Suites � La Quinta East of NLR: � Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa � Best Western Bastrop Pines � Holiday Inn � Hampton Inn Food near the park includes: � Iron Wood (burgers, sandwiches, fish, soups and salads) � Suzillas (stone brick pizza) � Hit The Spot Cafe (American diner) � Benny’s TX bar BBQ � Jaliscos Texas just keeps growing as one of the best states to hit up multiple wake parks. On your Texas road trip this summer make sure to stop by Next Level Ride, say hello to Niki and Curt, and take a few laps.

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by Phil Sirech / Photos : Marino Ivrea

Hi Marcy - Can you introduce yourself in a few words?

Hi to all the riders of Unleashed Wake Magazine!!! I’m Marcy Grassis, I’m nine years old and I’m crazy about Wakeboarding!!

Years wakeboarding?

I started wakeboarding two years ago near my home at Wakeboard Park Ivrea.

How did you start wakeboarding?

I started snowboarding when I was four years old and two years ago a friend asked me, “Why don’t you try wakeboarding?” I loved it immediately!!!

Do you do any other boardsports?

Yes snowboarding, skateboarding and surfing!

What do you like the most about wakeboarding?

I love riding and having fun with my friends, the water, the sun and always trying to do new tricks.

Name a trick you would like to do one day?

Double Husband l, Frontside 1200 and Double Tantrum to blind.

What tricks are you working on right now?

Now I’m working on: FS5 double grab, Tantrum to blind, Transfer 270 .

Air tricks: Frontflip, Husband,Backroll to revert.

Which do you prefer, rails or kickers?

I prefer kickers but I also like rails.

If you could have a session with anyone, who would it be?

With Dominik Hernler. He is a great wakeboard gangster !

Who is your favorite rider, and why?

My favorite rider is Daniel Grant. I met him last season at Wake to Paradise in Brescia and he was very kind to me.

He has an amazing style and he can do difficult tricks with extreme ease.

Tell us a bit about Your Home Spots?

I normally ride at Wakeboard Park Ivrea near Turin in northern Italy. It’s near my home.

There are some structures: a kicker, bank kicker, box, spine kicker, step down box,rooftop and a framed fun box.

Favorite Wake Video?

My favorite Wake Video is X Games Daniel Grant Real Wake 2015.

Do you always ride alone?

No, I always ride with some friends and with the young boys of the Italian Team.

What do you like to do outside of wakeboarding?

I like to play with my friends, my sister and my dog. I like swimming and I have a lot of fun at the gym where I do acrobatic gymnastics.

Shout outs?

A shout out to all my friends who support me in everything and a special shout out to: Ludovico Vanoli and Marcello Ollearis (my Coaches)!!

Zampa!! Italian Ski and Wakeboard Federation, PUNTO Distribution, RONIX Wakeboards, Wakeboard Park Ivrea and Mum and Dad!

What do you dislike?

I don’t like football. Many Italian people only talk about football.

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HEYDAY WT-1 Tested and Approved By UNLEASHED WAKE MAG Tested By Harold Theys / Text by Stephan Theys / photos Stijn Vanoverbeke

U n l e a s h e d was present for t h e fir s t t es t in Europe of W T- 1 ( H ey d a y Inb oa rds) .

H a ro l d T h ey s one of our Int er na t iona l t ea m r ider s , wa s t r y i n g o ut t h e b oa t in Lyon, Fra nce dur ing t h e we e ke n d . H e wa s t h r il l ed by t h e b oa t a nd t h e wa ke.

H e c o u l d n ’ t bel ieve h ow g ood t h e wa ke wa s , h ow s m o o t h t h e r amp wa s a nd t h a t it h a d such a g ood k i ck a t t h e t o p g iving h im l ot s of h eig h t on t r ick s .

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The center console concept makes it great for the driver to see both sides and gives a better balanced boat for wakeboarding and wakesurfing.

At first look you’ll see that this boat is not classic. The lines and proportions are totally atypical. The hull is designed so the boat does not need wake shaping devices. These often go wrong and cause time on the water to be reduced. Instead the hull design does all the work. This boat is designed for millennials that don’t want to put 100,000 Euros into a boat.

The young can afford this boat and it’s going to get people back on the water. The boat is designed for the riders who want to train every day, whether for competition or just family fun with friends.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Approximate dry weight 3150 lbs Overall length including platform 19.0 foot Beam 96” Capacity 9 persons Fuel capacity 35 gallons Ballast 1600 lbs

The WT-1 is the first boat in an involving line. It’s a small boat with a large boat pull, it gives you the same wake as you would get in your 20 foot boats for wakeboard and wakesurf.

The interior space has been maximized for optimum use.

The WT-1 has seating capacity for nine people and it has back rests that go in several different locations so you can sit facing forwards or lounge looking towards the rider and it’s really comfortable.

The engine is a 5.7 liter by PCM standard. Options include ballast, pull up cleats, 32” wetsound sound bar, a folding wakeboard tower, textured flooring, courtesy lights, speed control, lockable storage, ski tow eye, further upgrade options include dash upgrade which includes sony tablet, ram mount, and engine data puk, digital depth finder LED light package, swivel board racks, Zero Off speed control.

One of the cool options is an app that downloads to an android based tablet. With this app it gives you all your data readings from your engine so you can see what your speed is, your RPM, and your fuel. With this app it allows you to connect to your sound bar and play your music from your iphones, ipads, etc.

This boat is ideal for new boat owners, whether a 16 year old or a new family just trying to get on the water for the first time. When the boat was designed it was meant to be a great wakeboard/wakesurf boat. When the ballast is empty it handles so well in the turns and in rough water. It sits up high out of the water so it’s not constantly splashing you with over spray. The boat is also offered in a coastal edition for those friends and families that want to get away to the sunny coast. The vision of HeyDay is to bring a product to the people that want to be behind a great boat, at a realistic price. Get out there and try one soon.

STANDARD FEATURES : Crusader 5.7 hp engine Folding wakeboard tower 32” wetsounds sounds bar Textured flooring Speed control Ballast system Led courtesy light Lockable storage Pop up cleats Ski tow eye Transitional seating

More information: heydayinboards.com 85

Chandler Powell

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wwa abu dhabi

by Morgen Burchell / photos phil Sirech

Our spor t is growing. It grows ever y day in the legitimacy and prominence, and in the background brews this continuous buildup of excitement that you can practically see, taste, and touch. You can feel an atmospheric change when you walk through a group of riders- a tangible energy in the air around you. That energy is more electric than ever in the brewing anticipation right before a big eventespecially when that event is none other than the world championships.

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Just over 4 Months ago, beginning on November 4 th, the Wake Park World Championships launched once again at the Al Forsan International Sports Resort in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Riders from all around the world came together to compete for that prestigious title of “world champion” and prove to fellow competitors exactly what it takes to get there. The level of talent and skill is constantly reaching, and it has never been as evident as it was this year at Wake Park Worlds. Talent from all over the world- spanning six continents- joined together in Abu Dhabi to compete for the world title.

Twenty different divisions, some of them with almost thirty competitors in a single division alone, and three jam packed full days of riding, this single event couldn’t have been any more exciting and perfect.

The event kicked off with a wide range of amateur events- from boys ages 9 and under all the way through Master’s women ages 3039 and veteran men’s (40+). Regardless of the age division, the entertainment value was kept up to high expectations. Master’s division rider from Ukraine, Dmytro Massalov, came right out of the gate on the very first day with a perfect score of 100 points earned in his first run of the week. The local UAE riders, including Saeed Al Qubaisi, Abdulla Yousef, and Saif Salmeen, also showed not only an incredible turn out at the event, but an impressive amount of talent as well. One of the most talented riders coming from the boys 10-13 division, Brett Powell from the USA, showed to defend his well-earned WWA world champ title from last year. While he did indeed manage to keep his title with an incredibly impressive run and a well deserved high score from the judges, Luca Kidd from Great Britain was on his tail, coming in second place, only five points behind Brett.

On day two the competition continued to grow in intensity, pushing both professional and amateur level riders on wakeboards and wakeskates alike. During the semi finals for pro men, the full potential of this exquisite cable park became as crystal clear as the water- each rider used as many of the nine perfectly constructed features as possible, and still managed to pack in multiple tricks off the water wherever they could. They each showed us what wakeboarding truly is- both a

sport and an art; it’s physically demanding and yet still allows each athlete to ride with their own unique style and grace, as they appear to effortlessly dance across the water. With high quality runs being thrown that early in the event, everyone knew that the finals were going to be one for the books.

And that’s exactly what happened. The level of competition this year was tougher and more intense than it has been any year before, making the accomplishment of earning the world champion title even more valuable. The last few rounds of the features only competition- particularly the men’s professional division- had everyone up on their feet, yelling and cheering, jumping out of the way as riders sprinted back to the dock, trying to get that one last kicker hit. Everyone on the dock- announcers, timers, cable operators, and spectators alike- going completely crazy over the double flips, 720s and 900s, even a 1080 thrown off the kicker- counting down the seconds until the horn blew signaling the end of the heat. Aaron Gunn from Australia claimed the crown in that division, followed very closely

by Tom Fooshee (USA) in a close second and John Dreiling (USA) in third. The professional women’s put on just as exciting of a show both in their own features only division and traditional cable, throwing down tricks that gave the guys a run for their money. With Julia Rick coming in clutch with a gnarly heelside 720 off the kicker and backside 270s on the rails, closely tailed

by Courtney Angus and Maxine Sapulette, who were both on fire and absolutely killing it.

No one put on a show quite like the new world champion himself- Dominik Guhrs out of Germany. With every single trick he landed, the crowd went absolutely crazy cheering him on. Out of all of the final head-to-head rounds, he had only one fall in one of his runs- riding a stand up pass every other time.

A huge Thank You to the World Wakeboarding Association and the Al Forsan International Sports Resort for the success of this absolutely incredible event. Congratulations to all of the athletes and thank you to the spectators who came out to the event, supporting this sport that is continuing to grow every day, with endless potential of where it could go.

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Podium Pro Men

Dean Smith

Podium Pro Women

Oskar Gejler

The Swedish Crew

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Photo : Wojtek Kalka

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Before you s t ar t t o l e a r n b a ck ro l l t o rever t wit h indy g ra b , I recommend t h a t you l ea r n swit ch ta nt r um be c au s e t h e l a n d i n g a f t e r t h e rot a t ion woul d b e ont o your swit ch l eg ot h erwise.

Once you have learned to do switch tantrum, you can move on to backroll to revert. The cut for this trick is quite aggressive. You should start underneath of the cable. Try to cut into the right corner of the kicker, it is necessary for you to avoid hitting the rope. Let off the edge before the kicker to start your jump with a flat board. Once your board is on the kicker let go of your right hand – remember that it is necessary to do it in the end of the kicker to avoid rotation on the kicker and pre-spin. As soon as you see the edge of the kicker and the handle is already in your left hand push off and throw the head and shoulders back.

All this moves must be done at the same time. As soon as you push off the kicker and start rotating start to grab your board while leaning your body slightly forward. The knees should always be bent. After you have grabbed the board and continue to rotate, you need to concentrate on the landing. As soon as you see the water you need to let go of your board and be ready to land the trick. Remember that the handle might pull while landing. That’s my experience of doing backroll to revert with indy grab. I wish you easy learning and new tricks.

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THE WORLD’S BEST WAKEBOARDERS COMPETING FOR A 40K CASH PRIZE

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