Tuesday, December 13, 2011

17 Things I learned in Acc 255

1. How to make a Sneeze Page: create a blog that contains links to and descriptions of older blogs to drive traffic throughout the website.

2. What is a Pillar Article?: a pillar article is an article written on a specific topic that is meant to drive traffic from search engines and databases back to your website.

3. How to create and sell products online: products can be personally designed on sites such as Cafe Press. These products form your Cafe Press Online Store and can be linked with your personal website.

4. Online Relationship Management: online relationship management is a method of tracking consumer beliefs and attitudes towards a given brand or product. Posts and blurbs on the Internet about the company are tracked and assessed.

5. Crowdsourcing: crowdsourcing is a method by which companies can gather information from consumers on ways a product can be improved, new product possibilities and any other helpful tips.

6. Viral Marketing: viral marketing is a method of creating brand awareness or completed objectives that uses already established social networks. These campaigns can be either organic or controlled.

7. List Post: a list post is a blog post that is separated into structured lines that each make a different point. The post is meant to be more quickly and easily scanned by viewers.

8. How to advertise on websites: programs can be used to advertise on your personal websites. Some of these include Google AdSense, which allows you to put ads on your site, and Amazon Affiliates, which allows you to promote Amazon products on your site.

9. How to build Traffic to your personal website: traffic to your site can be increased in a number of ways. Some of these include submitting your website to search engines like Google, posting links to other sites on your site and putting personal articles in databases such as Ezine Articles.

10. How to create a link post: creating a link post consists of adding a number of separate links to different sites all in  one of your blog posts.

11. What is PPC advertising and how to use it: PPC refers to advertisements that are placed on your website to promote other websites or its products. Every time someone visits your site and clicks one of these ads, you get paid a specified amount of money.

12. I learned how to develop and design my own website using webs.com. I learned how to advertise on, post, and personalize my entire website to match my niche market.

13. I learned how to develop and design my own blog. I learned how to post on, advertise on and promote products on my blog site while creating valuable content for my viewers.

14. Mobile Marketing: I learned about the increasing number of smart phones and other mobile devices and , therefore, the increasing importance of mobile marketing. Such marketing is done through mobile devices such as smart phones.

15. Email Marketing: I learned about the benefits of email marketing. Email marketing is a great way to manage customer relationships and has one of the highest returns on investment of any emarketing activity.

16. I learned how to effectively choose a niche area to build interest and drive traffic to my website and blog. The choice of a niche area allowed me to pick a sufficient name and provide relevant and helpful content to all users of my site.

17. Finally, I learned the sequence involved in making money with an online website and blog. A blogger must first drive traffic to their websites by providing unique and interesting information, obtaining and optimizing positions on search engines, placing ppc advertisements on the website and blog, creating and promoting your own products, and promoting existing products from other websites and businesses.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Sneeze Page: Looking Back

I thought I would take some time to reflect back on some of the blog posts I have written over the course of the past couple of months. I have blogged about a lot of different events and competitions, so in case you have not seen many event results from this year, I'll recap most of them now:

The 2011 Collegiate Midwest Regionals were held this weekend, September 17th-18th,  at Traxler Park in Janesville, Wi. All in all ten schools from the midwest attended the event. The competing teams included University of Wisconsin-Madison A Team, Ball State University, Illinois State University, University of Wisconsin-Madison B Team, University of Illinois, University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse A Team, University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse B Team, University of Wisconsin-EC, Marquette University, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

The final results from the 2011 Centurion Boats World Wake Surfing Championships are in. The event that took place Friday, September 23 and Saturday, September 24 at the BlueWater Casino and Resort in Parker, Arizona was one for the record books. TSpectators bared witness as Jake McGuire land the first ever Superman in competition, Keenan Flegel threw the first ever shuv-it 540 in a competition, and Drew Danielo threw the first ever Frontside Gumby shuv in a competition.

The first annual Spine & Swine took place about two weeks ago at the Hansen's WWC compound in Groveland, Florida, and there was some really intense competition! The competition is so cleverly named based on the use of the Fox Spine Obstacle/Rail/Ramp that is used. The riders were pulled back and forth over the Spine by a System 2.0 cable. I'm not really sure about the "Swine" part. I would assume they have a pig roast or something to that effect; if not, they should look into it.


Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Danny Harf and Defy

Danny Harf is recognized as one of the most successful and talented wakeboarders in the sport today. He has been advancing the progression of the sport with his innovative maneuvers since becoming a pro. While Harf is an amazingly talented wakeboarder, but he also has a really big passion for wakeboard videos; full feature length wakeboard videos to be exact. His up-and-coming Defy video is one of the most anticipated wakeboard video in the past few years. Harf has proven his ability to create inthralling and explosive videos in the past, and I'm sure this one will not fall short(even though the expectations are high and its his first stint as a producer). Defy is filled packed with the best of the best footage from the over the course of the past three years. The video is set to premier on two separate occasions in the beginning of 2011 and set to release later on in the month. Check out the second trailer for Defy here


It is always exciting to see who will push the limits of spinning ability to the next level. No matter who lands the biggest wakeboard spin ever, another boarder (or the same boarder) is always going to come along and out-spin them. Shaun Murray landed the first ever 900, Parks Bonifay landed the first ever 1080, and now, Danny Harf has landed the first ever 1260. Yeah, that is three and a half rotations. Crazy right? Check out Danny Harf talking about his struggle and success with the trick, and watch him land it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?.  

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Hyperlite Technology

Hyperlite is beginning to get more involved in the technology scene. Most wakeboard companies these days already have an online presence, and Hyperlite is no difference. They have promoted and sold Hyperlite products on their site for years now, and the company has just made its 2012 line of products available on the site. I had to go and take a look at the new 2012 Hyperlite Marek Nova considering I just went through two of my Mareks on "fluke incidents." They finally changed the physical/technical design of the board from the original shape they kept from 2009 to 2011. The graphics are amazing also. I wish I had enough money to get it, but I would need to get a pair of bindings first. Speaking of bindings, I need a pair. I like Hyperlite, but their Murray bindings are terrible! They fell apart within the first month. Maybe it was just the 2009 Murrays, but I will never buy a pair again. Guess I'll just have to match the board. I actually think the new Forefront board looks sick, but I still probably wouldn't get one.

Hyperlite also just came out with a new app for smart phones. The app allows customers to view all of the newest Hyperlite products on the market from the palm of their hand. As far as I know, customers are not able to purchase products directly from the app. However, once they have located their desired products they will be redirected to the home site where purchases can be made.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Moomba Brings in the New Year

The new 2012 Moomba boats are hot off the press and look like they are going to stick to the quality and value that consumers have grown accustomed to. 


Mojo 2.5 Specifications
  • Overall Length w/o Platform: 22' 6"
  • Overall Length w/ Platform: 24' 6"
  • Overall Length w/ Trailer: 26' 2"
  • Width (Beam): 99"
  • Overall Width w/ Trailer: 102"
  • Draft: 27.5"
  • Weight - Boat only: 3,900 lbs
  • Weight - Boat and Trailer: 5,100 lbs
  • Capacity - Passenger: 16
  • Capacity - Weight: 2,500 lbs
  • Capacity - Fuel: 50 gals
  • Capacity - Ballast (Standard): 450 lbs
  • Capacity - Ballast (Optional): 1,250 lbs
  • Engine - Electronic Fuel Injection: 330 HP, V-8 MPI CAT


Mobius LSV Specifications
  • Overall Length w/o Platform: 21' 6"
  • Overall Length w/ Platform: 23' 6"
  • Overall Length w/ Trailer: 25' 3"
  • Width (Beam): 97"
  • Overall Width w/ Trailer: 102"
  • Draft: 24"
  • Weight - Boat only: 3,400 lbs
  • Weight - Boat and Trailer: 4,250 lbs
  • Capacity - Passenger: 13
  • Capacity - Weight: 1,800 lbs
  • Capacity - Fuel: 39 gals
  • Capacity - Ballast (Standard): 400 lbs
  • Capacity - Ballast (Optional): 1,200 lbs
  • Engine - Electronic Fuel Injection: 330 HP, V-8 CAT


Mobius XLV Specifications
  • Overall Length w/o Platform: 23'
  • Overall Length w/ Platform: 25'
  • Overall Length w/ Trailer: 26' 8"
  • Width (Beam): 98"
  • Overall Width w/ Trailer: 102"
  • Draft: 26"
  • Weight - Boat only: 3,700 lbs
  • Weight - Boat and Trailer: 4,800 lbs
  • Capacity - Passenger: 16
  • Capacity - Weight: 2,300 lbs
  • Capacity - Fuel: 50 gals
  • Capacity - Ballast (Standard): 650 lbs
  • Capacity - Ballast (Optional): 1,450 lbs
  • Engine - Electronic Fuel Injection: 330 HP, V-8 CAT


Outback Specifications
  • Overall Length w/o Platform: 20' 6"
  • Overall Length w/ Platform: 22' 6"
  • Overall Length w/ Trailer: 23' 10"
  • Width (Beam): 95"
  • Overall Width w/ Trailer: 102"
  • Draft: 22"
  • Weight - Boat only: 2,800 lbs
  • Weight - Boat and Trailer: 3,650 lbs
  • Capacity - Passenger: 10
  • Capacity - Weight: 1,400 lbs
  • Capacity - Fuel: 28 gals
  • Capacity - Ballast (Standard): NA
  • Capacity - Ballast (Optional): 275 lbs
  • Engine - Electronic Fuel Injection: 330 HP, V-8 CAT


Outback V Specifications
  • Overall Length w/o Platform: 20'
  • Overall Length w/ Platform: 22'
  • Overall Length w/ Trailer: 24' 2"
  • Width (Beam): 96"
  • Overall Width w/ Trailer: 102"
  • Draft: 24"
  • Weight - Boat only: 3,300 lbs
  • Weight - Boat and Trailer: 4,150 lbs
  • Capacity - Passenger: 12
  • Capacity - Weight: 1,700 lbs
  • Capacity - Fuel: 39 gals
  • Capacity - Ballast (Standard): NA
  • Capacity - Ballast (Optional): 1,200 lbs
  • Engine - Electronic Fuel Injection: 330 HP, V-8 CAT

Friday, November 25, 2011

Oakley Moves of the Year

If you did not know, every year an Oakley Move of the Year is given out to the wakeboarder with the best wakeboard trick that year and the wakeskater with the best wakeskate for that year. The award is typically given out at the TransWorld Wake Awards. If you have not heard, Erik Ruck won the award for Wakeboarding Move of the Year, and Stu Shinn won the award for Wakeskating Move of the Year. Erik Ruck won the award for his mute back mobe off of a kicker. Stu Shinn won the award for his wake-to-wake backside flip. While these tricks do go above and beyond any other tricks performed in 2011, the Ruck and Shinn did have some pretty steep competition. Here is a list of the other wakeboard and wakeskate nominees and the tricks that they were nominated for:



Wakeboard Nominees:
-Adam Errington: Melon Double Frontroll 180
-Harley Clifford: Wake-to-Wake Backside 1080
-Daniel Grant: Blind 515
-Danny Harf: Backside 540 and Double Indy Tantrum and Switch Heelside 720
-Dean Smith: Backside 720 and Heelside 1080
-Tom Fooshee: Tailgrab Dum Dum 540
-Jeff Langley: Mute Double Roll 180
-Randall Harris: Heelside 720
-Bob Sichel: Indy Double Tantrum
-Parks Bonifay- Double Half-Cab Roll
-Rusty Malinoski: Stalefish Double Back Roll


Wakeskate Nominees: 
-Ben Horan: Backside Bigspin and Varial Heel Flip
-Matt Manzari: Grape Flip
-George Daniels: Boardslide Body Variable Backlip 270 Shuv
-Brandon Thomas: Switch Boardslide Body Varial Backside Big Spin
-Austin Pastura: Pull Jam Shuv
-Matt Hooker: Huge Backlip
-Marcus Knox: Bigspin Heel Flip and Lazer Flip
-Kyle Walton: Back Foot Heel Flip and No Comply
-Nick Taylor: Hard Flip
-Aaron Reed: Front Board Hippie Jump 270 Shuv

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Off-Season Training

If you are like me and live in the midwest, you simply cannot wakeboard all year round. Sad? Yes. True? Also yes. Instead of solely getting smashed and pining for the next season to come, try getting yourself ready for the next season. Here are some tips to keep you in tip-top shape for next season.

First and foremost, you should snowboard. Not only is it a great time, but it'll keep your board mechanics down through the cold season. I guess this doesn't apply to everyone because not all wakeboarders can snowboard. However, you should be able to apply the same skills; so try it.

Working out is also very important in the off-season. Now, working out can mean a lot of different things. It is a good idea to do a lot of compound exercises because they build your strength, endurance and flexibility. The amount of strength, endurance and flexibility that it takes to pull off a lot of wakeboard tricks is often goes unrecognized.

Watching wakeboarding videos in the off-season is another great way to come back better the next season. Instructional videos are best if you have access to them. You can still learn a lot from just closely watching trick videos of pros and analyzing their movements.

If your'e in a climate that is too cold to snowboard but not too cold to use a trampoline outside, your'e golden. Using a trampoline and a rope tied to a tree is one of the best ways to get proficient with your rotations and handle passes. I was quite pissed to find out that my momma gave away my trampoline without asking me. It got me through a lot of tricks. Fare thee well trampoline... fare thee well.