Unleashed #76 The Buyer's Guide 2018

san

By Phil Sirech / Photos : M. Hidalgo

San Im is one of the most talented young rider of the planet, h e i s t h e p e r fe c t m i x between style and kindness , if you meet him around a lake you can ask him to helping you in your new Tricks , and i can certified his answer by a big «yes for sure » Follow im through this interview …

24

25

24 /

16 / N EW S P RO D UC T S 22 / N EW S I N N OVAT I O N 24 / I N T ERV I EW P RO MEN / San Im 32 / GEAR / 2018

//// sLINGshOt - 2018 GUNN tERRaIN \\\\ Slingshot released the Aaron Gunn Pro Model Terrain in limited numbers last year in Australia, and it was an instant hit. For 2018, this cable-specific deck is available worldwide, with expanded sizes ranging from 140 to 152cm. For 2018, a carbon strip has been inlaid in the center to add a little extra stiffness while keeping the tips nice and flexy.

//// sLINGshOt - 2018 NOmaD \\\\ Jeff McKee isn’t the strapping young lad he once was. He’s still devilishly handsome, but there’s some grey his beard … he’s a dad now, end of story. But he still likes to shred, and after years leading the Slingshot Wake revolution, the Nomad is his board of choice. The Nomad has inspired a whole new category boards in the last couple years. In this case, it looks like bigger is indeed better.

By popular demand, for 2018 Slingshot added its Ballistic Base to the Nomad so it can be ridden in the park just as well as behind the boat.

“I’m super hyped about this board. It was the first longboard in wakeboarding and everybody is sizing up now. One cool thing about the Nomad is can ride it behind anything. If you have a ski boat, something you want to ride a little slower, maybe you have a little bit smaller wake- the more surface area you get the bigger pop and the more stability it’s going to give you.”

“When I first started riding Slingshot I was on a 144. It’s crazy but this year I’m on the 152 It’s insane how much better it feels to ride a bigger board. So much more surface area, it allows me to spin longer and go bigger. Before I got on a slingshot board I used to have to travel with four or five boards to each event. Now I travel with one board in my board bag. It’s so much better.”

//// bLaCK REVOLt - hatChEt sURF \\\\

//// bLaCK REVOLt - swORD sURF \\\\

The Black Revolt “HATCHET Surf” is a “Surf Style” board built for tricks, a weapon of mass destruction … The Hatchet has a Fatboy nose to concile lift and performance, the Round Tail withwings brings a lot of maneuverability on the back of the board and the single concave on the tail associated with a low rocker produce speeds and accelerationlike any other board on the market. All boards are build with the best resins, glass cloth and foam available on the market.All sizes available and you choose the color of you traction pads.

Made in France

The Black Revolt SWORD «Surf style» wakesurf board is an awesome weapon that will crush all your enemies. This BLACK REVOLT is the best wakesurf board handmade.

Every BLACK REVOLT boards are constructed with the highest quality premium epoxies, fabrics and blanks foam. The shapes are all designed with 3D/CAD software and cut with a CNC machine to assure that all boards are cut with precisions. The boards are all made with premium PU or EPS foam blank with stringers, laminated with multiple layers of polyester resin or epoxy resin, S-glass and E-glass.

Several options are available including the size of the board, numbers of fins and its color.

Made in France

44 / I N T ERV I EW / Swedish invades

//// sLINGshOt - 2018 CONtRast \\\\ Carro Djupsjö shreds behind the boat in the morning and in the park in the afternoon, and with her new pro model, she has the best board for both worlds. Based off the popular Solo platform, the Contrast features Slingshot’s tapered Flex Tip Technology that allow lighter female riders to lock deeper into presses and spring out afterward. The Contrast is just as at home behind the boat, where it delivers springy pop and cushy landings.

“This is definitely my favorite board I’ve ever been on.

The Flex Tips make it so nice to press on rails but it’s still stiff in the middle so landing off kickers and getting pop off the wake is no problem.

I like to ride boat in the morning and then go to the cable parks, it’s so sweet now to have just one board I can travel with and not have to worry about getting used to different shapes.”

38

//// sLINGshOt - GNaRwhaL \\\\ The Gnarwhal XR is an upgraded version of the Gnarwhal that features a high-tech carbon matrix overlay and stringer that yields added stiffness and strength and gives the board an unbelievable visual appeal. This is gorgeous board puts others to shame, plain and simple.

The Gnarwahl XR is a progressive surf shape with a short nose and fat tail. It packs a lot of surface area into a little package to fit comfortably into the pocket of the wave and cruise with ease. The fat tail is designed so you can worry less about staying with the wave and more about exploring the pop off the top of the lip. It’s the first board we caught air on and we’re confident the same will be the case for you. The Gnarwahl is equipped with FCSII fin boxes to make fin swaps a breeze without the endless hunt for a key, and are also compatible with all other FCS fin models.

//// sLINGshOt - bUttER baR \\\\ The butter bar is our #1 seller within the wakesurf line for one simple reason: It’s the king of surfing almost any wave, big or small, round or steep. The flat rocker line makes the board extremely fast and gives surfers the best chance of a slack line and the freedom of a 100% wave-propelled surf session. The butter bar’s full EVA deck pad allows surfers to stand anywhere on the board and the trifin setup leaves plenty of room to experiment with the traction, speed, and stability of the board. Also if you’ve got a tidbit of that skate blood running through your veins, the butter bar is a blast for your skate style tricks without that rough patch of concrete below

//// sLINGshOt - CObRa Cat \\\\ The Cobra Cat is our traditional surf style outline for those “Slater” types. Those diehards who “only surf in the ocean but the wind was out of the north today and things got blown out so I guess I’ll give it a try.” It’s OK to front because they’re cool and come from the coast, but after a rip on this stick, they’ll be blowing up your phone wondering when you’re taking the boat out next. This board rips like a true ocean surfer, but with rocker lines more suited for the boat. FCS II fins make it a breeze to customize your configuration and keep the vinyl clean when it comes time to bring it in for the day.

56 / RI D ER O F T H E MO N T H / Ga be Menende z 58 / I N T ERV I EW P RO GI RL / Malin overby

32 /

66 / W H AT MAT T ER / A ngelika schr iber swedish invades

68 / T RI P / Take a chance

VÄSTERÅS CABLE PARK ByPeter Valfridsson

“My name is Peter Valfridsson. I started Västerås Cable Park four years ago, I found this amazing spot in the centre of the city near the harbour. The per fect place for a cable park! After two years of struggling with the council, I had the first run. It was fantastic!”

24

74 / N EW S P O T / Mayan Wa ter

25

76 / T RI P / Out of the kitchen

44 /

86 / EV EN T / beach and boa t fes tival GABE MENENDEZ Photo : Marcel Mullet

DOB: July 7, 1999 Hometown: Miami, Florida #305baby First setup: A super old O’brien Current whip: 2016 Jeep Patriot Warm up: Steezy switch surface front 180s. Just kidding, mostly rail hits and the occasional switch pete rose and 3-to-1.

88 / LO C AL H ERO / Pedro Caldas

Pet peeve: Unoriginal trend followers, and when people squeeze my nose. I cant stand it.

Favorite Wakeboarder: Probably Aaron Gunn Favorite terrain: Anything sketchy, I guess. I enjoy a challenging setup to push my riding.

Guilty Pleasure: Zeaching Dream sponsor: Rockstar Energy Bucket list: Go skydiving, travel to as many countries as possible, spread the seed, build my own cable park Worst trend: Definitely dabbing Dad Cam or HD: Dad Cam Essentials: A guitar and some music. I think I’d probably go crazy without it.

90 / AGEN DA

Weakness: Lovely buns Stomping Grounds: Miami Watersports Complex Last Words: Learning how to handle stress when tough things come your way is vital. If there’s something you can do about it, do it. Just feeling sorry for yourself and not taking action is only going to make it worse. And if there’s nothing you can do about it, why drown yourself with that stress?

54

55

56 /

4

#INCONTROL ANTOINE ALLAUX

stone

THE STONE WETSUIT combines style and quality which are paramount in Wakeboarding. Featuring 100% of our finest M-Flex 2.0 neoprene, along with the all-new and fresh looking sublimation techniques, the Stone will make you look and feel more stylish than ever. You’ll get all the protection you need against temperatures and obstacles, durability to last the whole season, and endless freedom of movement so you can focus on the task at hand.

M

5

Y

S

T

I

C

B

O

A

R

D

I

N

G

.

C

O

M

Rider:Coddy Hesse /© himself

TRANSLATION Vicki Dill

Unleashed Wakeboard Magazine World Headquarters 2 rue Dorbesson 31100 TOULOUSE FRANCE

Graphic Designer Elise Fougere +33 (0) 6 99 10 62 98 elise@unleashedwakemag.com

Issue 76 –Jan/Feb/March/April Cover: Tanar Pigrenet /Photo Nicolas Leduc

World Reporter and Proofreading Vicki Hernandez Dill +1(832)338-8116 vicki@unleashedwakemag.com

COUNTRIES ……………….

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

Senior Photographer Manager Hector Urzaiz Calpe +34 69 725 2381 Hector@unleashedwakemag.com

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

Unleashed wake mag social manager Edgar Petrenko edgar@unleashedwakemag.com +1(954)665-7579

UNLEASHED JAPAN Nagahisa Matsukawa +81 9 016 752 900 Matsu@unleashedwakemag.com UNLEASHED RUSSIA Katia Volkova +79169000679 kate@unleashedwakemag.com

P.R (Press Release) Stephanie PROTET +33(0)6 11 11 25 32 sephanie@unleashedwakemag.com

Contributing Photographers: Nicolas Leduc, Coddy Hesse, Sanne Demer, M Hidalgo ,Nick Robinson, Kevin Autissier, Peter Vahlfridsson, Marcel Mullez, Karen Button, Ellen Roules, Maxime Pergola, Red bull media pool, Jon Shrimpton, Phil Sirech, Klavdija Zitnik, AirWolfe, Scott Raymond, Ryan Platt, Jefferson Mathis, Dave Adams, Darren Herbert, Martin Van Doren, Kerri Lohmeier, Kevin Autissier, Peter Vahlfridsson, Hector Urzaiz Calpe.

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

Contributing Writers: Philippe Sirech, Victor Salmon, Tonny Finn, Pierre Leduc, peter vahlfridsson, Karen Burton, Edgar Petrenko, Bruno Ullot, Angelika Schriber, Alan Katan

Print: EVOLUPRINT France and Sundance solutions Orlando USA Digital: ISSUU.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 Jon Shrimpton info@unleashedwakemag.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Corinne Lasmezas ads@unleashedwakemag.com

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

Unleashed Wakeboard Magazine is published six-times annually by Unleash Communication located at 2 rue d’orbesson 31100 Toulouse, France. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is strictly prohibited. Unleashed Wakeboard Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited submissions including, but not limited to manuscripts, photographs and illustrations.

Disclaimer: The activities described and photographed herein 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 a helmet and a life vest !!!!

EDGAR PETRENKO - FRONTSIDE LIPSLIDE | PHOTO - MAXX EVAN | VALDOSTA, GA - USA

Š Renaud Kuppens

#RIDE4TIMO Timo Kuppens, an 11 year old accomplished sportsman, who lived his passions at 200km per hour, left too early.

He practiced all the sports, a little trend of the new generations. With a Dad who was a racing driver and distributor of the Brand TigĂŠ Boat for Europe he had many opportunities to try many things.

Wakesurfing and wakeboarding came naturally for him because from a very young age he was able to learn these water sports .

But like all the kids of his age he also played other sports like tennis which he was very good at.

At 11 years old Timo was already an accomplished sportsman. He was just as comfortable behind a boat as he was his dirt bike.

He followed his father, the famous racing driver everywhere. He was his first fan and especially well present during his last title of World Champion at DUBAI in 2013.

With his father Renaud, who was a World Champion speed race driver, and his mother, Isabelle, in the top 10 of the world ranking of Karting drivers you can imagine that little Timo was also naturally a driver.

He asserted that natural ability when he stepped on his MotoCross for some rides in his garden.

We will miss you TIMO, you left us on the evening of December 17, 2017 suddenly, of a disease still unknown.

We hope with all our hearts that you are continuing to ride the clouds of Heaven with the Angels. Those of us here on Earth will ride everyday with a thought for you.

Philippe Sirech

8

WAXTHAT winch tour

By Victor Salmon / Photo : Sanne Demer

WAXTHAT Winch Tour, 2 nd adventure, is about winch and cable trashin’ together with an awesome crew featur ing our big boy Victor Salmon.

As we still adding our winch marks on the map around Belgium and the Netherlands, it was about time to continue our adventure!

During the tour GoPro got us covered with those unique shots!

Providing a carefree ride with our original wakeskate & wakeboard wax is one thing, this tour is also about capturing the love for wake and taking it to the next level!

For the full video go to unleashedwakemag.com or visit our Vimeo account: WAXTHAT. Photos are taken by: Mary Doumen & Dirk Esser.

Special thanks to: GoPro, Dirk van Esser, Terhills Cablepark & TrekTouw Winches. www.wax-that.com #waxthatwinchtour

10

11

SAM IN , LITTLE TA I L GR A B TR A N S FE R AT PUK E T WA K E PA R K Photo : M. Hidalgo

12

13

14

ED G AR P ET R EN KO , T R AN S F ER T O B AC K B I G / B AC KS ID E L IP S L ID E AT M WC , M IAM I Photo : Nick Robinson

15

//// MY S T I C \\\\ MK8 X

The ultimate in protection and style! The all new MK8 X series is the future in protection. Customizable padding creates the best fit for every head type. FIDLOCK®, our latest technology in closure, will make sure you start your session in a heartbeat. It closes automatically and can be opened with ease by sliding laterally using just two fingers.mysticwake.com

//// S L IN GSHOT \\\\ GUNN TERRAIN

The Gunn Terrain is the perfect board for riders looking to improve their rail riding skills in the park. The extra soft flex pattern allows for big presses and helps riders understand the feeling of locking on and holding a press. The Gunn Terrain has a wide profile and fast continuous rocker line, allowing riders like two-time Wake Park World Champion Aaron Gunn to cruise effortlessly through the park and focus on mastering each and every obstacle.

//// PI C T U R E \\\\ DONY IMPACT VEST

slingshotsports.com

•Picture limestone stretch technology 2 mm front zipper •zero petrol •specific ribs impact protection •heavy 2.5 protection foam •reinforced seams •boardshort connector •50% pvc, 30% neoprene, 10% recycled polyester, 6% polyester, 4% polyamide, 1% elastane picture-organic-clothing.com

//// ION \\\\

FUSE Be prepared for winter!

Built to conquer even the fiercest of sub zero tem-peratures, the Fuse and the Envee Dry Suits are the warmest Dry Suits on the market. After warmth, safety is our primary concern so we combine features such as the Storm_Whistle and Re_Flective prints so you can go fourth and ride confidently. The final touch is the rigorous testing of the water proof Diving Drysuit Seams each suit must surpass before leaving the factory. Come wind or waves you’re guaranteed to get your adrenaline fix no matter what. ion-products.com

16

/ / / / D I VAC O RE \\\\ ANTIPODS

True Wireless Stereo 3D Earphones

CUT THE CABLES. ADD 3D Turn them on, they are full compatible with all your devices.

Adjust, one press, they are connected. Speak, and your voice is perfectly clear.

Here are the AntiPods. A perfect match between technology and design, for an absolutely unique 3D sound experience.

FULL COMPATIBILITY One press, and your AntiPods are already set. They are activated and stay connected.

Their use is just as simple : touch them once and you are connected. They will pause automatically in the case.

ENHANCED CHIP Behind all the prowess of AntiPods is an Airoha chip enhanced by Divacore, offering full compatibility. It offers wireless connectivity that is perfectly effective to ensure a fast and reliable connection for

/ / / / R IP C URL \\\\ E BOMB 3/2 ZIP FREE

The Ultimate super stretch wetsuit.

The E Bomb zip free is inspired by high performance surfing with the least restriction possible. 100% E5 neoprene, glued and blindstitched seams, and stress point tape make this the lightest, most flexible suit we offer . Our new zip free pattern allows for easy entry and exit while taking away the fuss, hassle, and bulkiness of the traditional chest zip. ripcurl.com

/ / / / M E T H OD WA K EBOA RD \\\\ DARK PONCHO

Produced by SOORUZ and designed by our graphic designers, this signed METHOD’s Poncho is the essential accessory for any rider, perfect for dressing after a session.

high-quality 3D sound.

8 HOURS OF FREEDOM AntiPods offer 8 hours of listening on a single charge. A world record.

Thanks to a case that allows them to be recharged, they ensure more than 24 hours of autonomy and are ready to follow you wherever you go.

method-wakeboard.com

18

DUO MODE TO SHARE !

You can connect each of the Antipods to 2 different sources.

One for you. One for your partner. Share more.

divacore.com

Daniel Grant RIPCURL.COM

Wo r l d C h a m p i o n

MA DS E N Watch your passion

MADSEN is a small, focussed watch brand which arose from a personal passion for wakeboarding, snowboarding and high-quality watches. It conveys a special attitude to life – in short the fascination for both water and alpine sports.

Our concept is the focus on the second hand. Just like you it is always moving. Unstoppable. The sports motif that symbolises your personal sport it keeps going round and round. Packed inside a solid watchcase with screwed base and crown, watertight up to 200 meters and of course made from stainless steel is a “Swiss Parts” clock unit by the renowned make Ronda.

Although there are over 30 motifs and therefore countless versions you can choose from, all our watches are limited per model number. The serial number of each limited edition is engraved on each watch.

MADSEN is a small family-run business and we set a high value on quality. That means: Each watch is getting extensively tested after production.

That means: Individual support of the customer.

That means: constant efforts for a timeless, modern and individual design as well as the clear focus on water and alpine sports.

Live your dream – on the mountain or on the water! unleashedwakemag.com/product-category/watches

20

21

Wakesurf

Edge

Liquid F o rc e a n n o u n c e s t o d a y t h a t it h a s a cq uired t h e excl usive wor l dwide r ight s t o Wa ke s u r f E d g e , t h e Wor l ds Bes t Wa kesurf Wa ve.

Liquid Force Co-Founder Tony Finn says : “One of the things that I really like about my new position at Liquid Force is getting the opportunity to spend more time on the water, work on designing new products, and seeking out new ways for Liquid Force to stoke out our customers.

Wakesurf Edge is the first example of this. We’ve tested it on many different boats in various conditions and its performance is really incredible. The wave is super long, giving the Wakesurfer and Foiler a ton of space to maneuver around in. The wave is big and the shape is perfect with a well-defined curl to bash off”

in Mechanical Engineering from BYU and has been wakeboarding and surfing since he was a teenager. He first designed the Wakesurf Edge early 2016 and started selling them later that year.

He was very successful, but wanted to spend more time designing cool new products and less time running the business. So, when Tony Finn, the Founder of Liquid Force approached him with the idea to combine forces, Troy jumped at the opportunity.

Troy says, ‘’Liquid Force is a great brand, and I can’t think of a better company to work with. Together, we will maximize the potential of the current Wakesurf Edge and all the new products I am working on.”

Troy Tegeder, the inventor of the Wakesurf Edge, will be staying with the company and will be an integral part of its future. Troy has a bachelors and masters degree 22

SOME OF THE F E AT UR E S O F TH E PATE N T P EN DIN G L IQ U ID F O RC E WAKES U R F EDG E IN C L U DE:

� Huge Concave Water Displacement Face creates a large, long, beautiful wave with tons of push!

� Optimized angle to channel the deflected water back further behind the boat, making the longest possible wave

� Super Strong, Industrial Strength Stainless Steel Suction Cups for Maximum Hold on most hulls

� Manufactured with Ultra-Resilient, High Density Polyethylene makes it FLOAT HIGH IN THE WATER SO ITS EASY TO SPOT

� Durable Aluminum Handles make it easy to attach and remove in seconds

� The Wakesurf Edge is priced right at $299.99 so it’s easily affordable for every Wakesurfer and Foiler

� Made with Round Edges so the Wakesurf Edge wont scratch your boat

23

24

san

By Phil Sirech / Photos : M. Hidalgo

San Im is one of the most talented young rider of the planet, he is t he p er fec t mix between style and kindness , if you meet him around a lake you can ask him to helping you in your new Tricks , and i can certified his answer by a big “yes for sure” Follow im through this interview …

25

Hi Mr San Im, when did you start Wakeboarding and Why ?

I started wakeboarding behind the boat when I was 11. I went on a summer trip with my dad and got in to waterskiing and wakeboarding caught my attention of my days until now.

Do you have any plans to compete this year , what gonna be your events time schedule for this season ?

Well first of all I’m going to get a job so I can afford my traveling budget even just a little bit, then start filming with my local buddy. Before all of this, my mates and I am going to build a winch so that we can go on a trip around Korea for a film.

Tell us more about your home Spot ?

My home spot used to be ThaiWakePark from the beginning of my carrer. But now I’m riding at CCP(CheonAn Cable Park) since I moved back to Korea. It’s not a best park but I’m having fun making new rails day by day for my self and the homies.

For you is wakeboarding a lifestyle, a sport, or both?

Wakeboarding is my lifestyle. 100% lifestyle. Me without wakeboarding, is just an Asian guy.

Can you tell us more about your 2017 season, any plans for 2018 ?

First thing I want to do for 2017 till forever is traveling for shooting nice video parts. What I can do and want to do is riding a great rail or even street spots with winch around town and country sides.

Where is your favorite place to live ?

Bangkok Thailand! I want to go back so bad.

What is the best event you dream to take a part ?

Any event with the homies is my dream.

Do you prefer riding boat , cable or Both ?

I like riding cable because I like to hit obstacles even thought I’m not good at it, I enjoy my self the most on hitting rails.

What are your plans in Thailand ?

Film and have a good time like I always had with everyone.

Waste no time in Thailand!

26

27

28

What is your best memory as a Team Member ?

Defenatly the team shoots. We were in Thailand for DUP shooting, and every kind of a trip with the whole team and cameras is the best.

What is your felling about sponsorship in 2017 ? Not just for 2017, forever I want to be on the team that feels like a family.

Non of all that business things. Just a brand with the boys and girls is better than being somewhere feels like a company and a rider.

What is your funniest wakeboarding memory ? I can’t pick a funniest moment.. Every single time I went on a ride, some hilarious things happened.

29

What’s your technique in order to not stress in contests?

I never wanted to win. I don’t think the contests are just for win and make money for me. I wakeboard because I love being on the water. And I go to contest to do what I love with all of my friends. So I don’t even get stressed for a thing called “contest”. I just have fun.

me to stop wakeboarding.

Hahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahaha hell nah mommy.

Any huge falls injuries ?

I never had operation. But I had a lot of injuries that took a while to heal up. To pick one, I did a front to blind out of the corner and the rope snapped off the carrier so I flew to the side dock and got my back muscles cracked.

What is your scariest moment on a wakeboard?

My scariest moment in wakeboarding was atime my mom told

30

JB Oneill, Anna Nikstad, Ben Leclair, Lior Sofer, Jonathan Silvershatz, Cam Graham, Graeme Burress and all the others who pushed me last year and this year without you guys I wouldn’t be loving riding and had this improvement without you guys. Also like to thank Cong Lray Villafuerte and Gov Migz Villafuerte for giving me so many opportunities whilst being apart of the CWC family.Â

What are your global plans for this season, events, coaching, other ?

I want to travel for filming and some freeriding contests.

Besides that, I will ride on my bike.

Thanks for your time any shoots out ?

SHOUT TO ALL MY HOMIES THAT SUPPORTS ME ALL THE TIME!! And UNLEASHED mag. Love.thank you to all the guys who pushed me in riding last year : Chris Hopf, William Klang,

31

© Pierre Augier

32

buyer’s

g u i de W h e n yo u d o n o t want t o ch oose a mong t h e b es t b ra nds i n t h e m a r ke t , yo u a lwa ys h a ve t o a sk . Eit h er t o h is wife o r b oy f r i e n d o r a p ro r ider l ike Da niel Gra nt ! S o l et b e g u i d e d by D a n i e l a n d l is t en h ow h e t el l s you in t h is 2018 B u ye r ’s G u i d e .

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE A BOARD ?

To choose a wakeboard most people go with a size between the shoulder and the nose anything below or past this point, your wakeboard will be either to small and you will be sinking on the water or will be too big making it difficult to control. I ride my Liquid Force Eclipse 161 for riding all the features in the park and going big off the kickers.

With the board having bigger surface area, this helps for more control on features and creating a skimming effect off kickers rather than sinking when I land If I’m looking to spin that extra 180 on a transfer or load up some air tricks my weapon for choice is the Liquid Force TAO 145.

The smaller board helps rotating faster than bigger board but landings will be slightly heavier but loading the line this guy will give you pop.

D.Grant

33

//// LIQUID FORCE- N O O D L E \\\\ “A wakeboard has never felt as similar to a snowboard as the noodlepresses on rails and slashes on the water have never been that easy and fun.“ felix georgii Sizes: 142, 146

//// HOBL - FYCHTE \\\\

//// H Y P ER L IT E - H AS H TAG \\\\

//// H Y P ER L IT E - S C AN DA L \\\\

Developed for Relentless Riding . You can’t put a label on this board . Side Channels the special blended 3 stage rocker turn the Fychte into an allround Weapon for cables parks as well as for Boat riding .Channels in the tips stabilize the board and provide some extra reliability at high speed .Extra strong Sidewalls and the Sintered Park Base are Only some of the extra features wich make the Fychte “shreadReady” to clear all you wake park obstacles with Max Control . Sizes : 136, 145

Nick Davies Signature model. With a wider profile and blunt tip and tail shape, the Hashtag supports the biggest air tricks. Tip to tail base channels increase the Hashtag’s edging capability and the exit tunnel concave delivers a solid feel on pipes and rails. The revolutionary Airstick Core combined with High Density Flex Zones in the tip and tail offers up the perfect blend of flex with the lowest possible swing weight. Sizes: 142, 146

The official Courtney Angus Pro Model, pushing park riding for all the gals. Starting with the popular Wishbone mold she has dialed in the flex specifically for women’s riding. Blasting off kickers, hitting your first feature or pressing the snot out of the tail, the Scandal makes it easy. The crossover flex core and our power press rocker combined with Hyperlite’s Satin Flex deliver a ride like no other. Sizes:134, 138

//// MOFOUR - APIK \\\\

//// MOFOUR - BAD ADMIRAL \\\\

//// O’BRIEN - STILETTO \\\\

You want it all? Featuring our new DIAMOND head shape, 3C+ reinforcement, our BLT Base, and FLT Rocker the Apik enhances jibbing to rip in the park and offers on-water control that lets you take every slash and aerial maneuver to the next level. With a brand new graphic this board offers the uncompromising performance and aesthetic perfection that can even satisfy all the girls shredders out there who will settle for nothing less than the best.… Sizes : 141, 146, 151

With a fresh new shape, new technologies, and an extended size range, this new model takes our flagship Bad series to the next level.

Perfect in any conditions and for any kid of shredding, even for boat and kite riders, the Bad Admiral combines our DIAMOND head shape, FLT Rocker and our 3C+ Flex for precision performance on Jibs, and it features our tough new BLT Base to handle all the abuse.

Sizes: 141, 146, 151

For all of the women shredding the park, here is your new board! With its high performance freeride feel, the Stiletto will take your riding to new levels.

The smooth, transitional flex pattern of the Fusion Core makes the board firm enough between your feet for an explosive pop off kickers, yet soft and flexy at the tip and tail for effortless pressing and impact dampening. Its concave base keeps the board riding high on the water; reducing drag therefore minimizing fatigue. Sizes: 134, 138

34

//// METHOD - DARK \\\\

//// METHOD - JUMBLE \\\\

//// METHOD - OCTOPUS \\\\

Unanimously, this board is synonymous with versatility! semi-rigid, with a rocker hybrid 3 levels quite soft, Easy to access and really powerful in cable or boat. This classic of our Brand is also a bestseller. The DARK is the favorite toy of the young guns of the MW team who share time between their jib and blocking.

This board is the righ weapon in all programs: boat as cable. Particularly easy to access and stiffer than the other boards of the range, the JUMBLE is a real gun in cable . By boat, she attacks the wave and brings a lot of grip, a real effortlessly board .

This is the most typical board “park“. Specially designed for a committed who ride on the obstacles , it’s the ultimate shred Weapon .

Extremely flex in nose and tail, Without fins and designed with aggressive rocker 3 levels, you can prees over limits ! For the uninitiated, it’s the board to venture into new tricks; she is tolerant on landing .

In summary, if you want to win style on sliders, don’t hesitate, this one is for you!

//// METHOD - SICK \\\\

//// METHOD - TEMPLE \\\\

//// METHOD - WSK8 \\\\

The most awaited board arrives with a new shape..

Using it on cable and boat, ultra versatility is the key word for this Gun . Particularly robusted and reinforced, this board will give you the most committed modules riding and the most powerful kicker or air-tricks receptions without any damages. The new associated 3-level rocker, the double channels, and its measured flex make it a healthy board with big pop and intense edge shots.

The female model is designed on the basis of OCTOPUS. Board light, flexible, easy driving and “formidable” on the Obstacles . Slightly relaxed compared to the OCTOPUS, she gains an extra size this year.

This Waskeskate is one of the most popular boards for riders. Robust with its hybrid structure and 3-axis fiber reinforcements, the WSK8 is also equipped with a grind base and ABS edges. The 3-level rocker and the weight of this board have been specially designed to offer the best pop possible in flat or on the wave.

35

//// RECKLESS - R.A SERIES 2018 \\\\ The Reckless R.A. Series has been recognized for its cable quality for several years. Its medium flex and spatulas, more flexible, the easy to squeeze while absorbing well the receptions of kicker. With its channels you will have a very good grip in the cuts! Wood Core / Bi-Axial Fiberglass / Epoxy Resin / Indestructo RKLS / ABS Fields / Made in Hamburg. Sizes : 136 140,144,146

//// RONIX \\\\ KINETIK PROJECT, FLEXBOX 1

//// RONIX \\\\ TOP NOTCH, NUCORE 2

We realized that there are 2 styles of high-end park riders, which is why we created Flexbox 1 and Springbox 2, each with distinct pressure points both on features and leaving the water. Flexbox 1 is created for riders that like a softer mid-section allowing the center of the board to really bend into a press. Once in a press, the slightly stiffer tip/ tail allows the rider to really pivot off the feature.

Sizes : 138, 144, 150

A cable fun board featuring all-over flex, a super clean bottom design, and a spoonful of added rocker. For high-end cable riders, the Top Notch is a must in any quiver as an alternative board with its loose, skate-like free feeling on the water. The board is also the perfect choice for any level rider that just doesn’t want the locked in feel of a Kinetik or the added boost of a Highlife. Sizes : 133, 138, 143, 148

//// SLINGSHOT - SOLO \\\\

//// SLINGSHOT - PILL \\\\

//// SLINGSHOT -SHREDTOWN \\\\

The Solo is a completely unique crossover board designed by pro rider Dylan Miller and legendary Slingshot shaper Tony Logosz. Never before have we been able to incorporate so many unique performance features into one board. The result is a board that appeals to every riding environment.

Tapered Flex Tip Technology creates an entirely new sensation for riding rails by allowing the rider to lock into presses without having to fight the rigidity of the board. Sizes: 138,142,146

The Pill is a high-flying boat board built to be ridden with energy and speed. Perfect for advanced boat riders, the Pill features dual NACA tech channels and a firm flex pattern for big traction and instant pop off the wake. A three-stage rocker helps give the board more lift off the wake, and a center V-Spine profile helps to break up surface tension on the Pill’s massive landings. Sizes 138,142

The 2018 Shredtown brings back our tapered Flex Tips. When it comes to park and street style riding, the Shredtown Crew and their pro model board are blazing the trail into the future. A continuous rocker makes the Shredtown fast and efficient for short runups, while chined rails, Fusion Sidewalls and the Ballistic Base give the board the bomber durability the Shredtown crew demands.

Sizes : 135,139,143,147

36

//// SLINGSHOT - SUPER GROOM \\\\

//// SLINGSHOT - TERRAIN \\\\

//// SLINGSHOT - VALLEY \\\\

As the original flex board for kids, the Super Grom is the perfect shape to get youngsters to experience the magical feeling of flexing on a rail or popping big off a wake like their favorite pros.

For new riders, the Super Grom is a user-friendly and forgiving board that will provide progression they need for success, while its lively wood core and rugged Ballistic Base make it a board that will take advanced young riders to the next level.

Sizes :125,130

The Terrain is the perfect board for riders looking to improve their rail riding skills in the park. The extra soft flex pattern allows for big presses and helps riders understand the feeling of locking on and holding a press. The Terrain has a wide profile and fast continuous rocker line, allowing riders like two-time Wake Park World Champion Aaron Gunn to cruise effortlessly through the park and focus on mastering each and every obstacle. Sizes :136,140,144,148,152

This is the female-specific park board designed for riders looking to take their rail riding skills to the next level. The extra soft flex pattern allows for big presses and helps riders experience the true feeling of locking in and holding a press. The flex brings new excitement to the simple moves like carves and sprays. The wide profile and fast continuous rocker line allow the rider to cruise effortlessly through the park and put all their focus on mastering each and every obstacle. Sizes:136,140

//// SLINGSHOT - WHIP \\\\

//// SLINGSHOT - COALITION \\\\

//// SLINGSHOT - WINDSOR \\\\

One of the most difficult feats in wakeboard design is achieving an ideal balance between traction and speed; one is often sacrificed to achieve the other. The Whip, however, has both, thanks to Slingshot’s signature NACA Tech Channels. These precision laser-cut channels increase the board’s traction on edge without sacrificing glide speed. With the Whip, you can enjoy the best of both worlds: speed and freedom on rails. Sizes :139,143

The Coalition is an evolution of the reflex and former park favorite. It is the foundation for several of the other park boards in our line and is the perfect choice for rail riders who like to keep things simple. The Coalition features a classic outline and tip shape that allow for some of the smoothest slides in the park. Chined rails protect your edges while sliding less than perfect surfaces and are a great help in perfecting your MJ slides.

For years, James has been asking for a park board that is stiff in the center with a significantly softer tip and tail. The stiff center helps maintain pop off the water, as well as speed through big kicker landings. The soft tips allow the rider to lock into presses with very little resistance from the stiffness of the board. Once you press on a Slingshot Flex Tip board, you’ll never feel the same about your old setup. Sizes :137,141 ,145

37

//// SLINGSHOT - 2018 GUNN TERRAIN \\\\ Slingshot released the Aaron Gunn Pro Model Terrain in limited numbers last year in Australia, and it was an instant hit. For 2018, this cable-specific deck is available worldwide, with expanded sizes ranging from 140 to 152cm. For 2018, a carbon strip has been inlaid in the center to add a little extra stiffness while keeping the tips nice and flexy.

//// SLINGSHOT - 2018 NOMAD \\\\ Jeff McKee isn’t the strapping young lad he once was. He’s still devilishly handsome, but there’s some grey his beard … he’s a dad now, end of story. But he still likes to shred, and after years leading the Slingshot Wake revolution, the Nomad is his board of choice. The Nomad has inspired a whole new category boards in the last couple years. In this case, it looks like bigger is indeed better.

By popular demand, for 2018 Slingshot added its Ballistic Base to the Nomad so it can be ridden in the park just as well as behind the boat.

“I’m super hyped about this board. It was the first longboard in wakeboarding and everybody is sizing up now. One cool thing about the Nomad is can ride it behind anything. If you have a ski boat, something you want to ride a little slower, maybe you have a little bit smaller wake- the more surface area you get the bigger pop and the more stability it’s going to give you.”

“When I first started riding Slingshot I was on a 144. It’s crazy but this year I’m on the 152 It’s insane how much better it feels to ride a bigger board. So much more surface area, it allows me to spin longer and go bigger. Before I got on a slingshot board I used to have to travel with four or five boards to each event. Now I travel with one board in my board bag. It’s so much better.”

//// SLINGSHOT - 2018 CONTRAST \\\\ Carro Djupsjö shreds behind the boat in the morning and in the park in the afternoon, and with her new pro model, she has the best board for both worlds. Based off the popular Solo platform, the Contrast features Slingshot’s tapered Flex Tip Technology that allow lighter female riders to lock deeper into presses and spring out afterward. The Contrast is just as at home behind the boat, where it delivers springy pop and cushy landings.

“This is definitely my favorite board I’ve ever been on.

The Flex Tips make it so nice to press on rails but it’s still stiff in the middle so landing off kickers and getting pop off the wake is no problem.

I like to ride boat in the morning and then go to the cable parks, it’s so sweet now to have just one board I can travel with and not have to worry about getting used to different shapes.”

38

//// BLACK REVOLT - HATCHET SURF \\\\

//// BLACK REVOLT - SWORD SURF \\\\

The Black Revolt HATCHET Surf is a “Surf Style” board built for tricks, a weapon of mass destruction … The Hatchet has a Fatboy nose to concile lift and performance, the Round Tail withwings brings a lot of maneuverability on the back of the board and the single concave on the tail associated with a low rocker produce speeds and accelerationlike any other board on the market. All boards are build with the best resins, glass cloth and foam available on the market.All sizes available and you choose the color of you traction pads.

Made in France

The Black Revolt SWORD “Surf style” wakesurf board is an awesome weapon that will crush all your enemies. This BLACK REVOLT is the best wakesurf board handmade.

Every BLACK REVOLT boards are constructed with the highest quality premium epoxies, fabrics and blanks foam. The shapes are all designed with 3D/CAD software and cut with a CNC machine to assure that all boards are cut with precisions. The boards are all made with premium PU or EPS foam blank with stringers, laminated with multiple layers of polyester resin or epoxy resin, S-glass and E-glass.

Several options are available including the size of the board, numbers of fins and its color.

Made in France

//// SLINGSHOT - GNARWHAL \\\\ The Gnarwhal XR is an upgraded version of the Gnarwhal that features a high-tech carbon matrix overlay and stringer that yields added stiffness and strength and gives the board an unbelievable visual appeal. This is gorgeous board puts others to shame, plain and simple.

The Gnarwahl XR is a progressive surf shape with a short nose and fat tail. It packs a lot of surface area into a little package to fit comfortably into the pocket of the wave and cruise with ease. The fat tail is designed so you can worry less about staying with the wave and more about exploring the pop off the top of the lip. It’s the first board we caught air on and we’re confident the same will be the case for you. The Gnarwahl is equipped with FCSII fin boxes to make fin swaps a breeze without the endless hunt for a key, and are also compatible with all other FCS fin models.

//// SLINGSHOT - BUTTER BAR \\\\ The butter bar is our #1 seller within the wakesurf line for one simple reason: It’s the king of surfing almost any wave, big or small, round or steep. The flat rocker line makes the board extremely fast and gives surfers the best chance of a slack line and the freedom of a 100% wave-propelled surf session. The butter bar’s full EVA deck pad allows surfers to stand anywhere on the board and the trifin setup leaves plenty of room to experiment with the traction, speed, and stability of the board. Also if you’ve got a tidbit of that skate blood running through your veins, the butter bar is a blast for your skate style tricks without that rough patch of concrete below

//// SLINGSHOT - COBRA CAT \\\\ The Cobra Cat is our traditional surf style outline for those “Slater” types. Those diehards who “only surf in the ocean but the wind was out of the north today and things got blown out so I guess I’ll give it a try.” It’s OK to front because they’re cool and come from the coast, but after a rip on this stick, they’ll be blowing up your phone wondering when you’re taking the boat out next. This board rips like a true ocean surfer, but with rocker lines more suited for the boat. FCS II fins make it a breeze to customize your configuration and keep the vinyl clean when it comes time to bring it in for the day.

//// LIQUID FORCE - 4D HOOK \\\\ The 4D hook is one of the most versatile bindings out there… The adjustable length closure system allows you to customize your fit. Equally as effective at the cable or behind the boat, the 4D HOOK is designed to take whatever impact you give it. The HOOK 4D works great on and off the water as it comes equipped with our Reflex walk out liner!

Sizes :: 8-9 , 9-10, 10-11, 11-12, 12-13+

//// SLINGSHOT - OPTION \\\\ The Option provides a balance between convenience, versatility and performance.

The open-toed design allows riders of multiple sizes to use the same boot, making the Option a great choice for families, camps, rental fleets and casual riders. A three-strap gummy closure setup features a versatile fit that can be tightened or loosened with ease depending on the user.

If you’re looking for a performance boot that everyone can enjoy and won’t break the bank, this your only Option.

Sizes: S/M, M/L, L/XL

//// SLINGSHOT - KTV \\\\ The 2018 KTV features an upgraded interior for added ergonomics and cushion and a three-piece Gummy Strap closure system that will have you booted-up and ready to ride in no time. With a medium flex, the KTV is the ideal boot for riders who like a little more give in their setup, whether for causal cruising or tweaking-out grabs.

//// SLINGSHOT - JEWELL \\\\ This female-specific boot is designed with the same two-zone closure system as the RAD boot but is scaled-down for a lower-profile fit.

Featuring a two-zone closure system with a cinch-tight interior and one upper strap, the Jewel provides the perfect balance between high comfort and high performance.

//// SLINGSHOT - SHREDTOWN \\\\ Packed full of features, the Shredtown is a top-ofthe-line boot designed for hard-charging riders who want a boot they can use with confidence in all aspects of the sport. A removable, cinchtight liner slips in and out easily and features a fashionable print and a hard-sole bottom for walking around parks, parking lots, weeds, rocks and night clubs. The liner has been tweaked for 2018 for easier entry and exit with the boot and is loaded with super soft padding that gives an ergonomic fit and extra cushion for those hard landings.

//// SLINGSHOT - RAD \\\\ Featuring a two-zone closure system with a synch-tight interior and one upper strap, the RAD provides the perfect balance between high comfort and high performance. For 2018 we’ve upgraded the whole look of the boot.

Legacy features include our Gummy Strap closure system, improved interior padding and HHD (heel hold down) technology and our lighter K9 mounting hardware.

Sizes :: 8-9 , 9-10, 10-11, 11-12, 12-13+ 40

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE BINDINGS ?

With Bindings now they come in all different shapes and sizes. Closed-Toe, Open-Toe, Thick, Stiff, Soft and Velcro.

Closed-Toe binding and the most popular right now, the market buying open toe bindings is normally teens or kids with growing feet, so they don’t have to change their bindings every year.

The stiff and thicker bindings are based for a rider that is looking for good ankle support and having a lot of response from the binding to board. The thinner softer binding are suited for riders who are looking for a more loose free ride feel and being very flexible in the ankles lets you get low with control a lot easier.

I chose to ride with the TAO bindings the softest bindings in the liquid force range.

Since I wake skate too when I ride with locked in super tight bindings I feel like I’ve lost my freedom. These bindings are the softest thinnest and lightest.

D.Grant

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE A WETSUIT ?

Wetsuit are easy first off always Ripcurl If you live in Europe you need the full set Full Wetsuit, Shorty, Heater Top literally anything to keep you warmIf you live in America you may need a heater top and a short wetsuit if it gets bad. If you live in Asia No Wetsuit If you live in Australia have short wetsuit for winter If you live in Africa I don’t know ive never been but id bring one just because I have Thai blood.

//// PICTURE \\\\ DOME

//// SAINT JACQUES \\\\ STAN 4/3 LIGHT & STRETCH High quality 4/3 mm superstretch neoprene. Assembled glued / sewn (GBS). YKK chest zipper blocking and hermetic.

Pattern printing in deep sublimation. Waterproof collar in fine Glideskin. Knee reinforcement.

Lock wrists. Water drainage drains at the bottom of the calves. Tubular compression at the ankles.

Key pocket. Embroidered logo lined on the back.

30% Recycled Polyester, 60% NaturalPrene, 10% Synthetic Rubber. Picture NaturalPrene Technology 4.3 Without Neoprene / Solvent / Petrole. Dry Now Technology Chest zip Multi density comfort zone Silicone strips Sewn and glued inside Embossing knees and underarms Power grip forearm Knee reinforcement Holes for draining water Glideskin collar All waterproof seams

//// RIP CURL \\\\ FLASH BOMB From the Ultimate range of wetsuits. For the Surfer who wants the best wetsuit possible. No compromises.

Constructed with the most advanced neoprene and loaded with the latest ocean technology.

E5 Flash Lining: Rip Curl new and exclusive E5 Flash Lining. Two engineered layers that funnel water rapidly out of the suit making it the warmest and most comfortable lining available. E5 Flash Lining takes cold water surfing wetsuits to a new level of performance.

All New E5 Neoprene: 25% More Stretch, Faster drying time, Lighter, lower profile.

New Aquaban / E5 Tape: Slimline Liquid tape technology and E5 stress point taping for Ultimate sealed seams. Featuring a low bead to increase stretch performance, it acts as an external barrier to cold water by further increasing the integrity of the seam.

41

//// JET PILOT \\\\ NIGHTHWAWK 2 COMP NEO VEST

//// JET PILOT - RECON \\\\

NEW for 2018 Tony Iacconi Signature Vest 100% Flex-Lite Stretch Panels provides insane stretch and comfort Super lightweight design for comfort & fit - PVC foam core for supreme buoyancy NEW kidney belt feature for added lumbar support Neoprene Internal Licence holder All new stash pocket …

This ultra light vest utilises our flexlite neoprene panels and bevelled segmentations to generate maximum flexibility allowing the vest to conform to all body shapes. Features: - Flex-Lite neo panels provide insane comfort and stretch - Fully segmented panels conform to your body for the ulitmate fit Front zip design - PVC

//// JET PILOT - SCOPE \\\\

//// O’BRIEN - VEST WAKE NCGA \\\\

This versatile vest utilises our flex-Lite neo and fully segmented panels to conform to your body. FEATURES: Flex-Lite neo panels for comfort and stretch Fully segmented panels conform to your body for the ultimate fit Reversible vest design PVC Foam core for supreme buoyancy Hidden Webbing Sizes : S, M, L, XL

This top of the line, reversible, comp style vest features everything you need for maximum performance. Its streamlined fit, 4-way stretch neoprene and built-in flex points eliminate any sensation of constraint, allowing the vest to move freely with your body. For the ultimate convenience, the Wake NCGA features a full front zipper for easy entry/exit and nothing else to get in the way or your riding. So if you are looking for the highest level of comfort and performance, look no further. Not a U.S. Coast Guard Approved device Sizes : S, M, L, XL

//// RIPCURL \\\\ DAWN PATROL WAKEBOARD VEST Rip Curl Dawn Patrol Wake Impact Vest High performance - Durable - Great value Features: Ultimate flex - Segmented buoyancy for ultimate performance Ergonomic design - Engineered for the ultimate in comfort Drainage system Single buckle Seamless underarm Standard AS-4758 approved Sizes : S, M, L, XL

42

//// MYSTIC \\\\ NICK DAVIES IMPACT VEST

//// MYSTIC \\\\ BREAK BOUNDARIES IMPACT VEST

Nick Davies, three time world champion, has released his own line with Mystic and every part of Nick’s riding is conveyed into this. You can tell he is a guy who likes to have fun and push the boundaries of the sport as his mne’s Mystic impact vest is made from M-Flex neoprene which is super stretchy and comfortable means you can through whatever moves you want and not be restricted. Couple this with the NBR and Clash foam you’ve got yourself a durable, safe and hard wearing impact vest that will allow you to push your limits.

Break physical boundaries not bones with the Mystic Break Boundaries Impact Wake Vest.

Made up of a stretchy M-Flex neoprene and supported with both NBR and Clash foam to mitigate the blow of high speed crashes, the Break Boundaries Impact Wake Vest is the perfect choice for those looking to push it in the park.

//// LIQUIDE FORCE \\\\ Z-CARDIGAN WM COMP The Z-CARDIGAN COMP is still one of the lightest and most comfortable impact vests on the market. 4XS Stretch Foam is thin and flexible while our Power-Flex Neoprene fits really tight to your body like a second skin. A tapered waist and larger arm openings make this vest fit just like it anatomically should! It moves with you and is extremely user friendly!

Sizes : S, M, L, XL

//// BERN \\\ WATTS H2O

//// MYSTIC \\\\ MK8 X The ultimate in protection and style! The all new MK8 X series is the future in protection. Customizable padding creates the best fit for every head type. FIDLOCK®, our latest technology in closure, will make sure you start your session in a heartbeat. It closes automatically and can be opened with ease by sliding laterally using just two fingers.

The Watts H2O model is a certified EN 1385, visor styled water specific sports helmet. Featuring an ABS shell lined with soft and comfortable EPP foam that is fused to closed cell EVA faced with a soft terry cloth against your skin, offering the perfect match between comfort and technical protection. This helmet is designed for multiple lower impacts and great for wakeboarding at the cable park, kayaking, or kiting. Snap on rubber ear protection is available to keep your ear drums safe as well as deflecting lower side abrasion.

43

44

swedish invades VÄSTERÅS CABLE PARK ByPeter Valfridsson

“My name is Peter Valfridsson. I started Västerås Cable Park four years ago, I found this amazing spot in the centre of the city near the harbour. The per fect place for a cable park! After two years of struggling with the council, I had the first run. It was fantastic!”

45

William Klang

Albin Randow much since day one, it is so fun to see. Even more fun to see her win gold in the Junior Women’s division at the WakePark World Championship in Philippines 2017.

Why are Västerås Cable Park special from other places in Sweden?

Haha I dont know, but people seem to have a big passion for Wake boarding here.

In 2016, my friend and professional wakeboarder William Klang, the best rider in Sweden decides to move up here.

We were all so excited to have William around. His fantastic talent and skills inspired so many riders here. His amazing ability to coach really pushed all the riders and suddenly we just blew up the whole wakeboard scene in Sweden, 2016.

Taking 2/3 of all medals in the World Championships in both wake park and boat.

The first day we opened my old friend Tommy Randow showed up with his two kids, Albin and Hugo. They wanted to try to wakeboard and thats how our story began. I saw from the first day that these kids had something special.

Two years later, they won the Nationals Championship in Sweden. The following year, Albin became the Junior Mens wake park World Champion and his little brother Hugo scored 4th place in his age division.

Where in Sweden is Vasteras Cable Park located?

We are situated an hour west of Stockholm where there’s a full cable system and here in Västerås we have a system

Melanie Staff was the first girl who came down to the cable and was addicted from day one. She has progressed so 46

Hugo Randow

Melanie Staaf

2.0. And just half an hour north west of Västerås we have Fagersta Cable Park, who hosted the 2013 Europeans. We’re right in the middle which to me is the perfect place to live.

Whats you next step?

2018 we are planning to expand the cable with fifty meters and re-build all the obstacles. We want to provide a fun and progressive cable park to all of our riders and visitors.

We also host one of the biggest Wakeboard competition in Scandinavia called Lucas Only. I really hope we can see some good international riders this year. At the same time there’s a huge music festival in town so it’d be a great opportunity to visit! So save the date 29th of June for our competition, hope to see you all there!

Are there polar bears in the cable park during winter?

Haha no no, that’s just a myth of Sweden, you can find them way up north, but not here... The season is unfortunately short in Sweden, we only have 4 month with warm weather here. So we have to stretch the season and start wake boarding in April when the ice is gone and just ride to the ice starts to come back in November.

If you come here in the autumn you will see young local talents pouring hot water from thermos down their wetsuits in between runs to keep warm, that’s what I call passion and dedication for the sport.

We also hope to see our riders progress and get to the next level of riding. And of course we want to find more new young talents.

And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @vasterascablepark 47

48

william

klang

My name is William Klang, I’m 23 years old and come from Gothenburg, Sweden.

Tell us a bit about your home spot?

I now have my own place in Västerås which is about 1 hour drive outside of Stockholm. I’ve been living here now for just about over a year and really think this city is the place to be if you want to wakeboard and enjoy the summertime in Sweden. With the most fun 2.0 park ’Västerås Cablepark’ located right in the heart of the city and with a brand new concrete skatepark located right next to it, It’s fair to say the spot is pretty cool!

What do you think is special about Swedish riders?

The season in Sweden might not be the longest but honestly, I think the riders around here doesn’t take perfect conditions for granted like other places around the globe with tropical weather. I think this makes us push harder and be more motivated than other

49

riders around the globe and that’s why we see young riders here get so good, so quick!

As I said I’ve spent about a year here in Västerås and when I moved here I knew there was these 2 brothers Albin and Hugo Randow that were absolutely destroying the local cable park with their natural talents. I got to know both the brothers really well and together we have pushed each other a lot.

Sometimes it can be good to see a little gromit throwing tricks in front of you that you have never done before, it kind of puts you in a position where you have to do it as well haha. Not only do we have these two brothers but also have Melanie Staff. This girl has progressed so much since I first saw her ride and its been really fun to watch her push herself just as hard as the guys in the park. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone getting so amped over landing a new trick, she literally explodes of happiness every time.

ALBIN RANDOW Hi! My name is Albin Randow and I’m from Västerås, Sweden and I´m 17 years old.

I started ride wakeboard summer 2014 when Västerås Cable Park opened, so I have only been riding for 4 years. And during these 4 years I’ve only been able to ride during summer when the lakes aren’t frozen.

What is your biggest strength in wake boarding?

I would say my biggest strength in wake boarding is spins, for example I don’t have one direction that I find easier than the other one. Switch or regular, toe side or heel side, it doesn’t matter.

Which do you prefer, rails or kickers?

I can’t really choose between rails or kickers, because both of them are just so fun to ride. I mean it’s super fun to really boost to the moon on the kicker. But it’s also fun to get creative on the rails and find new lines and stuff.

Tell us a bit about your home spot?

My home spot, Västerås Cable Park is as I said a 2.0 system and it’s placed right in the middle of Västerås City. So there’s always a lot of tourists or locals who are there, either riding or just watching. The lake where the cable is, is the perfect spot for a 2.0 system. It’s always flat water, it doesn’t matter if there’s a freaking storm outside, you can always expect flat water.

The obstacles at VCP are three kickers, one small and two normal sized kickers. There’s also a few rails, one roof top-transfer box, one big flat pipe and one incline.

What other sports/exercises do you do to stay in shape & strong for wake boarding?

When I’m not on my wakeboard I’m often at the gym to stay in shape so that my body won’t break when I ride. And I also ride skis and snowboard,

mostly skis tho, trampoline is also one thing that I do to stay in shape, and to get more comfortable with doing flips and stuff.

If money & time weren’t an issue and you had six months to travel, all bills paid, where would you go & why?

If I could choose anywhere in the world to spend 6 moths I would definitely go to CWC in the Phillies. I went there last autumn for WWA worlds, and I managed to grab 1st place in the Open Men features only division, and 2nd in Junior Men traditional. I just freaking love that place, everything is just so perfect. But I would probably go visit some other place during these 6 months too, like Thai Wake Park, I’ve always wanted to go there, all their obstacles looks so sick.

Favourite male rider & why?

My favourite male rider got to be Daniel Grant, I love his style and how he boosts to the moon on every trick he does. And I also like his Eclipse board, big boards are the future for sure! Another male rider that I look up to is William Klang, ain’t no rider with such style and steez as him!

Favourite female rider & why?

Best female rider is no doubt Anna Nikstad, she got some real steez and throws the most insane tricks too.

And last, do you have any shoutout?

I would like to give the man Peter “Pewe” Vahlfridsson a huge shout out, he has always been there pushing me to do new tricks, and he is pretty much the reason why I started wake boarding. And also one big shout out to my awesome sponsors, Nocomply Pro Wakeshop Sweden, Rip Curl, Liquid Force and NOCCO!

50

51

52

hugo

RANDOW Hello my name is Hugo Randow, I’m a Swedish wakeboarder and I am 14 years old. I usually ride in Vasteras Cable Park with my brother and my friends. I ride regular and my sponsors are Rip curl and Nocomply.

When did you start wake boarding?

I started riding when Vasteras Cable Park opened in the summer of 2014.

What is your biggest strength in wake boarding?

My strength in wake boarding is that I usually don’t get super nervous before competitions.

Which do you prefer, rails or kickers?

I prefer rails over kickers because you can ride rails for like an hour without getting tired. If you’re riding kickers you get tired after like fifteen minutes.

Tell us a bit about your home spot?

My home park is really nice it’s always calm water and the kickers are perfect and the people that ride there are super nice.

What other sports/exercises do you do to stay in shape & strong for wake boarding?

I usually skate to keep my body in shape and as a warmup before I ride.

53

If money & time weren’t an issue and you had six months to travel, all bills paid, where would you go & why?

If I could travel anywhere for free I would first go to the Philippines and ride in republic and CWC. Then I’d go to Thailand and USA. Favourite male rider & why?

My favourite male rider is Daniel Grant because he is an awesome rider he always goes big and he is good at wake skating too.

Favourite female rider & why?

My favourite female rider is Anna Nikstad because she is always really nice and she is in my opinion the best female rider in the world.

And last, do you have any shoutout?

You should expect me to keep trying new tricks and trying to beat my brother Albin in competitions.

Big creds to Peter Vahlfridsson at the local cable park for building that place and everything else that he does for us! Of course my sponsors for keeping my gear fresh and my family for all their support.

Hello, I’m Melanie Staaf and I’m sixteen years of age from Västerås, Sweden.

I ride regular and my sponsors are NoComply - Liquid Force, Nocco, Sandbox, Stuntwood Roxy When did you start wake boarding?

The local cable park opened up in 2014, and I’ve been riding there ever since.

What is your biggest strength in wake boarding?

I’d would say jumping is my strength. I prefer to spin of the kickers and have gotten quite good at it too. My favourite is cab and regular fives.

What do you struggle with the most in wake boarding?

I’d say it’s myself. Wake boarding is a constant battle with yourself, if it’s learning a new trick thats out of your comfort zone, or competing against some of the top women in the world.

It’s all about the mental game.

Which do you prefer, rails or kickers?

I prefer to fly through the air, where my techniques has advanced more. But I’m getting much better on rails which makes it more and more fun.

Tell us a bit about your home spot?

The local cable is a system 2.0 which is situated in the harbour. It has two kickers, one transfer box connected to a rooftop, one flat pipe and one skinny incline pipe. Each year, for our local contest Lucas Only we build a new challenging obstacle so there’s always something new in the park.

If you could choose 6 obstacles for your ideal wakepark what would they be?

I had to create my own park with different obstacles, I would like to have two kickers, one shotgun rail, one wall ride, one transfer rail, a few handrails, and maybe an a-frame.

What other sports/exercises do you do to stay in shape & strong for wakeboarding?

In the wintertime here in Sweden we go snowboarding of course. But I also like to stay active at the gym or if the weather is alright then I’ll go outside for run.

If money & time weren’t an issue and you had six months to travel, all bills paid, where would you go & why?

I’d devide the time up and spend about half of it in Asia travelling around to all the awesome cable parks over there. And with the rest of the time go to the States and travel from east to west. I love travelling and meeting new people so that would be the best!

Favorite male rider & why?

Oh it’s so many good rider around the world but I think William Klang is one of my favourites.

He has a super casual style, he likes to go big, clean tricks and of course he’s from Sweden.

Favorite female rider & why?

My girl Anna Nikstad for sure, she rides on a level that’s is just amazing and she’s got the right attitude. Everything she does looks so easy.

And last, do you have any shoutout?

So many haha, first of all Peter at the local cable park, Jimmy for always helping me out and my sponsors; Nicolai and all the others.

Oh, and my mum because she lets me do crazy things and I love it.

54

55

56

GABE MENENDEZ Photo : Marcel Mullet

DOB: July 7, 1999 Hometown: Miami, Florida #305baby First setup: A super old O’brien Current whip: 2016 Jeep Patriot Warm up: Steezy switch surface front 180s. Just kidding, mostly rail hits and the occasional switch pete rose and 3-to-1.

Pet peeve: Unoriginal trend followers, and when people squeeze my nose. I cant stand it.

Favorite Wakeboarder: Probably Aaron Gunn Favorite terrain: Anything sketchy, I guess. I enjoy a challenging setup to push my riding.

Guilty Pleasure: Zeaching Dream sponsor: Rockstar Energy Bucket list: Go skydiving, travel to as many countries as possible, spread the seed, build my own cable park Worst trend: Definitely dabbing Dad Cam or HD: Dad Cam Essentials: A guitar and some music. I think I’d probably go crazy without it.

Weakness: Lovely buns Stomping Grounds: Miami Watersports Complex Last Words: Learning how to handle stress when tough things come your way is vital. If there’s something you can do about it, do it. Just feeling sorry for yourself and not taking action is only going to make it worse. And if there’s nothing you can do about it, why drown yourself with that stress?

57

58

malin

Overby text & photos by : Karen Button

Malin Overby is a real talented wakeboarder and wakeskater, she’s born in Sweden, but spend the most of is time shredding in Australia as her new Home base now .She’s also a world traveler ,visiting all the famous spots of the world during the year and share her passion in the mean time.

When you have more than 11,990 Fans on your Facebook athlete page , you definitely attract some attention not !

59

How did you get in to Wakeskating and Wakeboarding?

I grew up snowboarding in Sweden so when I moved to Australia I needed to find a substitute for that. Initially I started Wakeboarding. I enjoyed how I could translate tricks from my snowboarding onto the water.

I also have always loved to skateboard so this and Wakeboarding eventually lead me to Wakeskating.

Whats been happening for you in Australia in the past year ?

I got an old winch off of a friend and bought a new motor. Another friend helped me install this motor, I painted the frame pink, and started to Wakeskate. I have been hitting so many great winch spots around the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

Where do you normally ride in Australia when you don’t winch?

At my friend Cam Prest’s 2.0 pool gap setup in the Sunshine Coast. There are 4 of us who have been riding together pretty much every weekend and I have really started to appreciate the good vibes and fun times that Wakeskating has to offer. Its a very social sport because you always need at least 2 people every time you ride - one that is driving the 2.0 and one that is riding.

What do you think of contests? Do you get stoked?

I get pretty stoked on them. You get a little extra pumped up because you want to do good, and everyone’s there, and maybe there’s money. I get a little nervous, too sometimes but it’s always cool because it’s usually a new thing to ride, maybe a new feature .

How was last years Travel and competitions?

Last year was a big year for me I was traveling a lot and got a chance to ride many different parks which have helped me improve as a rider. I also got to know many awesome people. I was in Thailand to film with a friend for a month during the rain season and got a chance to wake skate in really uncrowded parks which helps since there always is a lot of swimming and walking included in the wake skate learning process. After that I went straight to Taiwan where I had my first wake skate competition and won. After that, in December last year, I went to Mexico for the World Championships. Wakeskating and Wakeboarding have definitely been taking me to some pretty cool places.

What have you been up to this summer?

I have been riding and filming in Valdosta Wake Compound and Blackwater Junction for the last 5 months. It has been an awesome experience and I met some really cool people along the way. Im also super stoked that I got a chance to ride Reed Hansen’s pool gap at the Battle Falls outside Orlando which is now my new favorite spot.

60

61

62

Do you feel like your riding has improved a lot?

Yes on the Wakeboard I have started to take my one foot tricks to the next level with more advanced variations. On the Wakeskate this year I have been focusing on riding pool gaps and getting my usual flat water tricks consistent down these big drops.

How was the Wakeskate Tour?

It was great! I ended up in second place at the Battle Falls and I must say that was the biggest moment in my Wakeskating career so far. It really got me super stoked to see wake skating on this level and meet all the awesome people involved in the industry.

63

What other competitions did you do this summer?

I was at the Valdosta Wake Compound for the Wakeup Fest, which was one of the funniest comps I have ever done. There were some weird live bands playing while there was a Wakeskate and Skateboard comp.

How did it go?

I won.

What other stuff do u enjoy outside of wakeboarding or wake skating?

I Skateboard and do Yoga a lot and also this year I managed to save up for a good camera so I am really starting to get into taking photos and film.

How is the girls Wakeskate scene ?

Its definitely been progressing and growing. All the girls have been landing new tricks and really pushing. It is so fun to be a part of the progression. Cant wait to see whats next year will have in store for the girls wake skate scene

What do you think is the best part about Wakeboarding and Wakeskating?

For me Its all about having fun and riding with my friends while Having the chance to be creative and expressive in the riding. I almost see it more as an art form in some ways haha..

I mean I have more fun mixing up the riding and coming up with alternative lines and features to hit rather than just trying to to go as big as I can and spin a hundred laps over perfect plastic features.

What is happening next year?

I have my own pro model Wakeskate coming out, so I’m working on the graphics right now. Super stoked that Aesthetic Wakeskates took me onboard their team this year.

My plans are to continue riding progressively, and also have some film projects hopefully some more winching.

64

/ / / / ION \\\\ PONCHO COMFORT MUSE

Features: •Mobile changing room and beach towel •Quick dry material NEW! •80% Polyester / 20% Cotton www.ion-products.com

/ / / / T H E BODY SHOP \\\\ AMAZONIAN SAVIOUR

Packed with powerful natural origin oils and waxes, Amazonian Saviour™ Multi-Purpose Balm helps to revive the appearance of tattoos, intensely nourishes severely dry skin and helps to improve the appearance of skin marks with a nourishing, 100% natural-origin formula. Inspired by the Amazonian communities that have relied on natural oils to care for their skin for centuries, Amazonian Saviour™ Multi-Purpose Balm is made with just nine natural-origin ingredients. £1.30 from the sale of every Amazonian Saviour Multi-Purpose Balm will be used by The Body Shop’s World Bio-Bridges Mission to support conservation and communities by funding Bio-Bridges. Our Programme funds ground-breaking organisations who build Bio-Bridges to connect land and create sustainable communities. The total raised from sales will be paid to non-profit organisations selected for their expertise in building Bio-Bridges around the world. www.thebodyshop.com

/ / / / T RI P LE8 \\\\ GOTHAM NEON TANGERINE A streamlined take on the classic skate shape that is certified for both skate and bike use. It’s a perfect combination of great style, fit and protection.

Ideal for : Skateboarding; Biking; In-Line Skating/ Rollerblading; Roller Derby triple8.com

//// MYST I C \\\\ DAZZLED IMPACT VEST FZIP The Mystic Dazzled Women’s Front Zip Impact Vest features smooth silk neoprene and good looks. Ladies this vest will be sure to keep you looking good this summer! Warning: This vest is for competition waterskiing and wakeboarding. It is not approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. mysticwake.com

65

ANGELIKA SCHRIBER Photo : Ellen Rowles

What makes a wake park session cool?

Good vibes around the wakepark, where everyone is having a good time.

What makes a wakeboard trick look cool?

Grabbing, going big and tweaking it in your own way/style.

What makes a wakeboard boat session cool?

Having the right crew to chill with while your out on the boat and of course having fun trying new tricks.

What makes winch session cool?

The locations you have to find, the adrenaline and the set up and calculation that goes into it.

What makes a video edit cool?

The song choice , the location you choose, the creativity and story line that is involved with creating the edit.

What makes a photo cool?

The angles and being different.

What make music cool?

The emotion it brings to your video to create the mood and feeling.

What makes a rider cool?

When they are being themselves and doing the thing they love no matter what people say.

What makes a board cool?

The way it feels.

What Makes friends cool ?

When they support you , help you out and will be there for you no matter what.

What makes a Boyfriend cool?

His support in everything you choose to do, laughing together and all the adventures you can share together.

What makes a Huge Fall Cool?

Laughing and picking yourself up after a huge crash What Makes a Huge new tricks landed cool?

When you have the footage on film and can become consistent with the trick.

What Makes a ride cool ?

Having flow on the water and having fun trying new things. When your in your own zone learning new tricks and being you on the water.

What’s the most important thing in order to progress?

Working on the things your bad at Any shout outs?

My family, my sponsors, the wake industry who support me, the magazines and to all my fans who follow my journey.

66

Name: Angelika Schriber Birthdate : 21 March Hometown: Originally born and raised in Johannesburg South Africa and now live on the Gold Coast of Australia Sponsors: Follow , Kicker Audio, Breathe Boardwear, Protec, Liquid Force, Rixen Stance: Goofie

67

TAKE A

CHANCE

by Bruno Ulott / photos : Maxime Pergola

This tr ip s tar ted six months ago w hen I traveled to the Sta tes to compete on Points Chase as the only r ider r e p r e s e n t i n g B r a z i l . I m e t t h e M e x i c a n c r ew h a v i n g breakfas t at the hotel, we hit it off r ight away and they invited me to be par t of their team. I ended up finding that they own a wor ld class cable par k in the Mex ican Car ibbean (two full sizes , one 2.0, and a boa t lake).

Without hesitating I flew back to Brazil, packed some stuff and went straight to Cancun to shred one month at Mayan Water Complex.

68

69

70

My connection with Mexico was very strong from the beginning: I fell in love with their culture, their food, the stunning nature and of course... the wakeboarding. But above all things, just like any memorable trip, the best part is making new friends. One of them is Argentinean Fede Barcia a.k.a @thewakephotographer, with whom we shoot these photo sessions that we hope you like.

The Mayan Riviera showed me much more than just a wakeboard spot. It also gave me the chance to visit unreal places with the coolest people (buena onda vatos!). From crystalline waters in Bacalar, Tulum’s amazing vibe, cenotes all over the place or snorkeling with whale sharks in the off season. Undoubtedly it is a place to be known by

everyone that wants to wakeboard and have a good time.

To finish this trip with a golden touch I was invited by a friend Lorena Vergara to wakeboard in “Pueblo Magico”of Bacalar. The crystal water of the lagoon of seven colors at the wake of the G21 make this the perfect context for the session . We stayed there 3 days riding a lot and having fun.

When I bought my ticket to the States I never expected all those upcoming events. I think life is magical and sometimes you have to take a chance on the unknown to experience new adventures. After two months in Brazil, I’m preparing my luggage to return to the Mayan Riviera, where I will spend all year training at Mayan Water Complex and living intensively off this paradise on a daily basis.

71

ID Name : Bruno Ulott Nickname : Justin Birth Country : Brazil Age: 22 Stance : Goofy Home Town : Jundiai Some Spot Sponsor : O’Neill Brazil, Slingshot Brazil, Mayan Water Complex , Manhattan , CutWave.

72

73

MAYAN WATER SPORT COMPLEX PLAYA DEL CARMEN / CANCUN MEXICO Mayan Water Complex is a top class facility that welcomes all water sports enthusiasts to the Caribbean Riviera Maya. With plenty of activities to choose from, all guests will find their sport of election and enjoy an amazing time in Mexico.

Perfectly located in the middle of the Mexicano riviera this place is open from 9 am to 6 pm everyday Cables : one intermediate full sized cable clockwise (2 kickers, 1 flat box, 1 ollie box, 1 uprail, 1 tube, 1 slider and 1 ledge) PLUS one advanced full sized cable counter-clockwise (2 kickers, 1 hand-rail, 1 transfer box, 1 A-frame, 1 rainbow, 1 ledge, 1 funbox) PLUS one beginner 2 tower cable (130m long) Boat lake: All wake sports, Water Skiing, Barefoot waterskiing Fun Lake: Inflatables park, Water Sliders Beach areas: Restaurant with 200 seats capacity, Flyboard, Stand Up Paddle, Polaris RZR circuit

74

75

©Lukas Riedl

76

by Angelika Schriber

“ W h e n I h e a rd a b o u t C o u r t n ey A n g u s ’s p ro j e c t I wa s s t r a i g h t o n b o a r d , b o o ke d my t i c ke t f ro m Au s t r a l i a t o m e e t t h e g i r l s i n M u n i c h f o r t h i s 1 0 d a y, a l l d a y eve r y d a y wa ke b o a r d g i r l s t r i p ”

The trip started off with me meeting the girls in Munich with a flight from Australia; 28hrs total to Munich. This involved a lot of coffee, a shower in Dubai, lots of movies and a bit of luck to have four seats on all my sectors to myself. This made up for the long flight time to Munich. Feeling fresh, I arrived to Munich to meet Madison (UK) and the other two girls Lisa and Anna (Russia) who were arriving in 2hrs after us. While waiting for the other two girls, Madison and I decided to sort out the rental car.

Hertz rental car were fantastic giving us a free upgrade to a bigger car. To begin with, the gentlemen who served us asked if we came from Australia. He was so intrigued, asking a lot of questions about Australia as he was going to take a trip to Oz end of the year. Madison and I were so stoked on the upgrade and shortly after went to the car to pack our board bags. After packing the car, we came to a realisation that the two other girls and their gear wouldn’t fit; we needed to change the rental car to a van. I looked around at the bay 359 where this ford van was parked, took a photo and went back down to Hertz and asked the same guy if we could rather drive this car, explaining that our wakeboard bags would not fit with four people.

Luckily enough, it was available and said yes for no extra charge! This started our trip off well with a good start.

77

Madison White, Turncable.

© Lukas Riedl

SPOT N°1 : WASSERSKIPARK ASCHHEIM (CÂBLE-PARK)

SPOT N°2: TURNCABLE

We arrived at Aschheim to reunite with the rest of the girls to start the trip, Out of The Kitchen. I remember riding at this park five years ago. Heaps new obstacles have been added since then. Being back riding here, seeing familiar faces was so welcoming. The owners and staff were excited for all us girls to be riding here. They were so pumped to see so many girls at once ride, which was super rad to hear.

Aschheim was such a great park to start at given their variety of mellow and technical obstacles. Our first day consisted of a few chilled laps, shaking off the jet lag and get into the swing of things.

Our plan was to stay here two nights with accommodation being provided by the park. Half of us were in the hotel and the other half were at the owner’s house. Accommodation was quite full and it managed to work itself out. That evening we got straight into filming. This definitely set the tone for the beginning of the trip. After, the park ordered us pizza & beers and we all got to hang out, have a good time, and have the opportunity to start getting to know everyone.

We took it easy that night to ensure we woke up feeling refreshed for the next cable. In the morning the first stop was the bakery for some fresh coffee and sandwiches. We woke up with amazing weather to a beautiful day. Everyone left Aschheim super happy setting the tone for the car ride to the next cable.

After spending the morning in Aschheim we packed the car and drove two hours to TurnCable. Many of us have never been here before which made it exciting as we all have heard good things from it.

Our first day here consisted of a morning private session stacking clips. After a solid day of filming, our afternoon was filled with a lot of German beer and music in the restaurantturned-clubhouse dancing with the crew that worked at TurnCable. A few of the girls that evening called it a night while a few stayed to have a bit of a party. We stayed onsite in their dorms, which made it easy to wake up for the early morning start. All the girls and I had so much fun riding at TurnCable.

The park staff helped us set up a Unit Hack just for us to film.

The girls were so motivated to ride! We were pushing each other so much and having fun, learning new tricks. We had a short amount of time to sesh the Unit Hack feature but the girls definitely killed it. A few epic crashes but more solid hits.

That same day we packed the car, said our goodbyes, got our epic shirts and left for the next wake park.

Location: Aschheim Eventpark 30, Aschheim Germany Time spent: 1 night, 2 days Park: Rixen Cable, Mix of Rixen & Unit Obstacles Accommodation: A Typical German hotel near cable

Location: Edelstetter Str.38, Thannhausen Germany Time spent: 1 night Park: Sesitec park with Unit Obstacles Accommodation: On site

78

Anne Freyer @annefreyer

Deanna Hatten @deannahatten

Maxine Sapulette @maxinesapulette

Marilyn Pruitt @marilynpruitt

Angelika Schriber @angelikaschriber

Deanna Hatten, Turncable.

Š Lukas Riedl

79

shoot. Earlier in the day, I took a little chunk out of my board and Mazza de-lammed her board so I made sure we got that sorted and organised some fresh Liquid Force boards for us.

Thanks to Waketoolz and LF for helping me sort this out super fast. The next day was the same thing, say our goodbyes, pack the car and head to the next spot.

SPOT N°3 : WAKELAKE

Location: Landshuter Str. 96, Germany Time spent: 1 night Park: Sesitec Cable with Unit Obstacles Accommodation: Friends After TurnCable, we hopped into the van and made our way to WakeLake. We made sure to stop at the grocery store to stock up and we had a feast for lunch, which consisted of two cooked chickens, wraps, coleslaw, salad, and fresh pretzel bread.

Once arriving we met up with Vozzy and Ralph who manage the shop Waketoolz. They made us feel super welcome being at their home spot. I know Vozzy and Ralph really well from years ago. It was super rad to see my poster still on the wall. The crew here really looked after us with accommodation and ensuring we got a lot of water time. Wakelake is Anne Freyer’s home spot. She definitely owned the Sesitec System 2.0 that evening showing us how it’s done. This motivated us all to try something new. The plan was to ride the bi-level that evening and ride full size in the morning. The park had a Unit Pipe Hack that was really fun to sesh on. It was rather cool as some of the girls rode the 2.0 and the others rode the full size, which gave a lot of time to film and ride as much as we wanted. That night we ended up staying quite late at the park hanging out and checking footage.

Some of us went to Subway for dinner but they were closed, so it was a Macca’s dinner that night. We were so lucky with the weather. It was warm, sunny and hot making it a perfect day to

SPOT N°4 : WILD WAKE SKI

Location: In der Oder1, steinbrenner Bayern Germany Time spent: 1 night Park: Sesitec Park with a mix of Unit obstacles and hand built rails.

Accommodation: Friends We left after lunch at WakeLake and made our way to Wild Wake n Ski, arriving around 4pm. After being introduced to the staff and the owners of the park, we went straight to the balcony and sat down to a small meal before our private ride session at 8-9pm. This cable is situated on such a beautiful lake with sailboats and a rainbow sky creating such an amazing backdrop.

They had the Felix feature, a rad kicker pole jam, and a homemade S-rail. That night we rode till dark to get familiar so we could film in the morning. After settling in, we still had no idea where we were going to sleep. This was super hilarious all us girls juggling where to sleep, however it all worked out in the end. Some girls had made other arrangements, but Courtney Angus @courtneyangus

© Erik Schumacher

80

Elke Venken - @elkievenkie

© Lukas Riedl

© Lukas Riedl AngelikaSchriber_Wakebeach257_by_LukasRiedl-149.jpg

Elizaveta Pruzhanskaya à Turncable

© Erik Schumacher

© Lukas Riedl

one operator was kind enough to let us stay in his unit that surprisingly accommodated the majority of us. That evening we stopped into town and grabbed some Mexican. We were so hungry and exhausted from riding and traveling. All we wanted was to eat and sleep to make sure we felt fresh the next morning to film. We played rock-paper-scissors to see who will have to sleep in the middle since we had three girls in one bed haha. I unfortunately lost and had to sleep in the middle but it actually was pretty comfortable for being sandwiched. We had an early private session to capture the morning sunshine. Some of the girls were eager to ride and others were still asleep on the dock soaking in the morning sun. The Felix and the pole jam were the favourite rails. The S-rail was super unusual and made for a fun session. Madison got absolutely worked on this feature leaving her with a big headache that day while Courtney snagged an epic shot. We ended the shoot with morning breakfast at the park. They hooked us up with lots of eggs, fruit, and a jar of Nutella! We filled our bellies, grabbed a photo with the owner and we were off on the road for the next stop.

SPOT N°5: THULBA

Location: Untere Au 5, Thulba Germany Time spent: 1 night Park: Rixen park with home built obstacles Accommodation: Cabins onsite Driving to Thulba was an experience. I had Madison, Lisa and Anna in the van. We were all singing and then spontaneously the girls stuck their heads out the car and we died of laughter.

This was the longest drive of the tour so we stopped off to get a drink and take a short break. Lisa was having herself a mini party in the backseat and it was super fun having her be DJ. We arrived to Thulba and some epic log cabins. There were three cabins with four bunk beds in each. We all split up into the cabins and had a really early night.

We were all so exhausted that we skipped dinner. The next morning Courtney, Lukas and I went to the local bakery to get some breakfast for the rest of the crew before they woke up. Croissants, fruit and coffee were the standard on this trip.

We didn’t complain; European bread is amazing! After this we

81

Maryh Rougier @maryhjeanne

Madison White @madisonwhitexx

Anna Zhakova @annazhaki

Elizaveta Pruzhanskaya @lisabaloo

Š Lukas Riedl

Monika Dudzinski @momski_1

shot our intro scene for this park and got ready to ride. We had a private morning ride from 9-12pm. It was nothing but a good time with a three-person pyramid and a kicker session. The kickers here were so good, all the girls were throwing down getting some solid hits in. After riding at Thulba, once again we packed our bags and got all out gear out of the cabins. Continuing with the old school vibes we took a sweet pyramid group shot, said our goodbyes and headed off for a sweet drive to the city.

SPOT N° 6 : LANGENFELD

Location: Baumberger Str.88 Langenfeld, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany Time spent: 1 night Park: Sesitec park with Unit Obstacles Accommodation: RV, friends, own accommodation We went to check out the city, Badkessinger, to chill out and get a local German

82

Anne Freyer, Wakebeach.

lunch. We ordered shnitzel, spatula and a few other local dishes. We all were so stoked to have a few hours of downtime to explore the city. We found a delicious ice cream shop and enjoyed the old style architecture and other local shops. Once again, we grabbed fresh coffee and refueled ourselves for the drive to Langenfeld.

We weren’t on any time frame driving to Langenfeld.

We arrived late in the afternoon, some rode and others relaxed. This is where we met up with Maxine and she joined us for the remainder of the trip. For the night, some stayed in Max’s RV, some at WakeBeach in the caravan and the rest went back to Köln to stay in a house. That evening Anna Zhakova lost her wallet, so I pulled everything out of the van to have a look. After unpacking and repacking the car, I found my spot in

Maxine’s RV, chilled out, had a beer, and listened to music. A few locals from the park chilled with us at the RV, which was good fun. The Slovakian operator, Anna chilled with us and was such a gem making us all pancakes in the evening to munch out on.

We woke up feeling fresh in Langenfeld, with morning coffee to start the day, like always. We had a private morning session from 8-10am after which we headed to the quarter pipe. It was a first for most hitting this set up. There were tons of laughs and impressive stunts and crashes. Following the entertaining session on the 2.0, we had the opportunity for another private session on the main cable. In short, we had a very busy morning and a full day of nonstop riding and stacking clips. It was so rad to be back in Langenfeld. The

83

owners looked after us with a complementary dinner. Our eyes were bigger than our stomach. We were all so satisfied and stuffed at the end of the meal. That evening we decided to drive to WakeBeach to camp out and relax, before we were to do it all again tomorrow.

This is Elke Venke home spot. We arrived in the morning and had the park to ourselves from 9-3pm. We really took it easy that morning. We had such a slow start, enjoying our Latte Macchiatos, which are delicious and a must have in Europe.

Elke really looked after us catering food for lunch and dinner.

We had some fun shooting our portraits with Erik and just hanging out at the cable. That day Deanna went on the vert ramp dropped in a little too hard on the skateboard and had an unlucky fall injuring her shoulder. This left us one person down as she had to go to the hospital to make sure everything was ok. Sadly she was unable to ride for the remainder of the trip but still kept her smile and laughs. We ended up staying the night at Terhills with the local operators and crew over here while Max and the rest of the crew drove to Holland in her RV. There was no way I was going to make the two hour drive that evening. It was a good thing I didn’t go because the weather was so nice that I decided to go for another ride. Lukas and I wanted to get a flash shot and this was the perfect moment to do it. So we decided to give it a go as we had roughly one hour left of daylight. It was super awesome as the girls were on the bank motivating me and supporting me to get the shot.

In the end I’m stoked I went out and got the night flash shot on the Unit Hack.

SPOT N°7 : WAKEBEACH257

Location: Am Straberger See 16, Dormagen Time spent: 1 night Park: Sesitec park with Unit Obstacles Accommodation: Camping We arrived to WakeBeach after having dinner at Langenfeld. We were all so exhausted and just wanted to chill out. We parked the RV, set up camp, had a few beers and had a good sleep so we could wake up for our morning private session. WakeBeach gave us four hours of flat water to film. We ended up riding the whole day after, absolutely in love with the set up. All the girls had such a great time, riding, playing volleyball and just hanging out playing card games.

SPOT N°8 : THE BRICKS

Location: Friedrich-Alfred Strase 10 Duisburg Time spent: 1 night Park: Sesitec park with Unit Obstacles Accommodation: None

SPOT N° 10 : LAKE ZWOLLE

We set up camp here at WakeBeach for a few days as it was in a prime spot close to The Bricks. We made the drive to The Bricks to ride in the morning and arrived a bit late but had the lake to ourselves. Of course we grabbed coffees to get some energy, and again for most of the girls it was their first time at this cable. We only had three hours to get a few clips among ten girls, maing this our tightest window yet. We split it up and utilised our time wisely and smashed the riding. We stayed for some lunch and cruised back into the town to film our opener.

We were dressed in our finest traditional German outfits in a sweet apartment in the centre of Koln. The kitchen scene was super funny with all us fitting the part. After we finished we enjoyed pizza on the roof top, reminiscing on the good times and how successful everything has been and just chilled out for the rest of the evening.

Our last spot lead us to Holland. This was Maxine’s home park and a great park to get some air trick footage. Maxine stayed for the morning session to ride but had to leave us to head to a contest shortly after. While she was out, we got told Maxine’s house burnt down! At first we thought it was a joke, but in the end it was legit. It was such a shame to hear this but this didn’t damper the mood at all as it was our last leg of the trip. Having nowhere to stay in Zwolle, we drove to Utrecht. We ended up going out that night to celebrate the end of the trip! The next morning was a fun drive back to Germany for my flight home, but it was definitely worth it.

Location: Zalneweg 110, Zwolle Holland Time spent: 1 night Park: Rixen Park with home built obstacles Accommodation: Maxine RV, friends

What a trip we had! We created so many lasting memories wakeboarding and hanging out with each other. This was definitely a trip of a lifetime and so glad that I could be apart of it. Keep your eyes out for the movie; you definitely do not want to miss this one. #OutofTheKitchenWAKE.

SPOT N°9 : TERHILLS

Location: Vilvertstraat 3650 Dilsen-Stokkem Belgium Time spent: 9-3 private session Park: Sesitec park with Unit Obstacles Accommodation: Friends

84

Angelika Schriber, Terhills.

© Lukas Riedl

85

Be ach a n d B o a r d

Festival powered by Ron Jon Surfshop

86

March 9th-11th was the Beach ‘N Boards Fest in Cocoa Beach, Fl, behind the legendary Ron Jons Surf Shop. Konex made the long 34 hour drive down from Canada, from snow and -30C conditions, to the beautiful weather of the Sunshine State, to set up their mobile cable system for a rail jam put on by Billabong and Step Up Productions. This was the festival’s 5th year running, but the first year a mobile cable system has been used as opposed to a winch. The addition of the two tower cable system was greatly appreciated by the riders as it allowed them to wow the crowd with tricks they would not have been able to try in previous years.

Billabong team riders, Brian Grubb, Cody Hesse, Mark Rossiter, Shawn Watson, Brandon and Josh Harris, along with Derek Huntoon and Nick Walker were pushing each other and themselves to keep stepping up their tricks. Brian Grubb landed a shove it, while the rest of the guys were showing off what they could do on the kicker. Brandon Harris went huge off the kicker, thanks to the stable pull of the Konex cable system.

with his drone, getting some up close shots of the riders. There were a lot of events going on over the weekend such as the surf competitions, skate boarding in the Instaramp half pipe, belly flop contest, Billabong riders autograph signing & free merchandise tosses. Also in attendance were some great brands such as Dakine, Resolve, Roxy, Hydro Flask, etc.

This is world’s first mobile cable system and it has many innovative features such as the hydraulic lift mechanism which raises the tower with ease in under a minute. Ballast tanks at the front of each trailer and retractable stabilizer legs allow this mobile system to span up to 350 meters and achieve up to 67kN of tension which is by far the highest in the industry.

This was the first of many events for the Konex mobile system.

It will bring the sport of wakeboarding to a whole new audience that may not have been exposed to it previously. If you’re looking to host an event of your own in North America or are considering purchasing a mobile cable system of your own, don’t hesitate to contact Konex Wake Parks. The ability to set up a cable system in few hours is one of the great benefits of owing a mobile system.

The wakeboarding demo drew in a big crowd, not only because of the riders but also thanks to Dano the Mano of The Golden Mic podcast. Board Meetings was there capturing all of the action 87

Ame : Pedro Machado Caldas Nickname: Doca Age: 18 Stance : Regular Home Town: Goiânia Home Spot : Naga Cable Park Sponsors : Red Bull, Ronix, Naga Cable Park

88

pedro caldas Photo : Redbull

How did you get started wakeboarding?

My first contact was in a trip to Orlando with my family, but I really started a few years later when my Dad made me the luckiest dude in the world and decided to open his own cable park, Naga.

Do you do any other board sports?

My roots come from surfing but nowadays I’ve been skating a bunch in the local skate park. Thiago Lemos is from the same city I live in.

What do you like the most about wakeboarding?

Riding on various countries, and meet new friends everywhere.

What do you dislike?

Nothing.

Name a trick you would like to do one day?

My dream is to create one of my own, have a some in mind, but need to put it in action.

Which do you prefer, rails or kickers?

Rails all the way.

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

Everybody has something to bring to the table, but Guenther’s riding never ceases to amaze me. He is a creative and well rounded rider.

Tell us a bit about Your Home Spots?

I daily ride Naga, it has a strong connection with nature since it is surrounded by trees and the water is

89

pura that comes from the grown.

Near by there’s an sick 2.0 called Mobe wake park, that has some cool features and good people in love with wakeboard.

And there’s also a new cable park here in Brasil called Sunset wake park, it has a full size and a sick bi-level. They hosted a pro competition last year that was aired in live in the biggest channel in the country (Daniel won, I got second). All thanks to the owner Matheus that is one of the most famous country singer out here.

Do you always ride alone?

There’s not many rider were I ride that are trying to push their riding to the next level, but there’s always good people around looking for a good time. Although there’s a new group of groomets coming from Sunset that are shredding their cable apart.

What Wakeboard or Snowboard LEGEND you’re fan ?

Shaun and Shaun i let you dare to find the Family names.

What your Goals for 2017 ?

I want to travel the world having a good time with friends and meeting new people while I do what I love, Wakeboarding. I plan to attend to competitions like Plastic Playground and keep pushing my riding.

Any shout out ?

It’s cliche, but to my parents, without them I wouldn’t be in this path. And my sponsors for sure !

R ENDEZ

VOUS

2018

9 -13 MAI

2-5 AOÛT

FISE WO RL D S E RI E S

NAT I O NA L C H A M PI O NS H I PS

Mon t pellier, France 2-Towe r

Cr ys tal Lake, IL The Quarry

1 9 MAI

16-19 AOÛT

WAKE TO PARAD I S E

EU R O PEA N C H A M PI O NS H I PS

Mon t ichiar i, Italie Wakeparadise

Milano, Italy Wakeparadise

2 2 -24 JUIN

NC

MASH BI G AI R

WA K E PA R K WO R LD S

Mun ich, AL System 2.0

Camar ines Sur, PH CWC

1 2 -14 JUILLET

25-27 OCTOBRE

PLAST I C P L AYGRO U N D # 2

PLA S T I C PLAY G R O U ND # 3 Bali, Indonesia Bali Wake Park

Lo n dres UK Liqu id Le isure

90

A NNA N IKSTAD LI P SLI DE DURI NG HER TRIP TO S WE E D E N Photo : Peter Vahlfridsson

91

SCARCROW ME TH O D GR A B

BY RUB BEN O FFE N GA , TIGE B OAT RID E R FOR M BE LGI UM Photo : Ciancarlo Cicu

92

93

94

95

FRANCE

Retrouvez l’ensemble de la collection 2018 sur method-watersports.com 96

M e t h o d Wakeboards

FABRIQUE EN