Rockstar Energy Drink WWA Worlds

The summer has come to a close, yet the wakeboard community is still feeding our addiction. The best wake riders in the world will come together tomorrow to participate in one of the most exciting installments of the 2011 King of Wake series, the Rockstar Energy Drink WWA World Championships. Well, not really... but it is going to be aired on t.v. And as an individual who has not had the opportunity to witness the proceedings of the event yet, I am fairly excited. The actual event took place over a month ago from Thursday, August 18th to Sunday, August 21st at The Precedent in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Rockstar Energy Drink WWA World Championships is presented by Supra and is the seventh stop on the King of Wake series tour that consists of eight stops total: the Wake Games, the WWA National Championships, the WWA World Championships, and all five stops on the Pro Wakeboard Tour. You're not gonna want to miss these explosive riders showcase the greatest talent that the wakeboarding world has to offer, so be sure to mark your calendar and save a seat on your couch. Or save a seat wherever you have your t.v. I'm just assuming most of you would have a t.v. in front of your couch. But I digress. The event is set to air on the VERSUS network Thursday, September 29th at 5 p.m.  

You can check out the final results of the event at http://wakeboardingmag.com/files/2011/01/2011-worlds-results.pdf
You can also learn more about the King of Wake series at www.kingofwake.com and www.thewwa.com 

What's Your Favorite Trick?

Well hello there. I was surfing the Internet, and I just so happened to come across a video on www.wakeboardingmag.com. The video asked some of the top riders in the world an intriguing question: what is your favorite trick? Now, I interpreted this as "what is your favorite trick to perform", but as professional riders I assume that they would figure out how to do their favorite trick if they couldn't. Anyway the riders that were interviewed include Harley Clifford, Danny Hampson, Bob Soven, and Collin Harrington. Heres what they came up with:

Harley Clifford- HS Tailgrab Backroll to Backside 180
Danny Hampson- Melon to Mute Grab 180
Bob Soven- Backside 540 to Late Indy Grab
Collin Harrington- TS Off-Axis Melon 360

The video got me thinking of what my favorite trick is? However, I am not a professional, so I have two favorite tricks: my favorite trick and my favorite trick that I can actually do. I would have to say that my favorite trick (that I can't do mind you) is a an S-Bend or Vulcan. They might not be the most technical of moves, but they look cool as $#!% when done right! Especially when they are done by Darin Shapiro. Seriously, if you haven't seen Darin Shapiro do a vulcan check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg6OBVi5zsY. It is the BIGGEST THING I have ever scene! However, my favorite trick that I caaaan do is a huge, laid-out off-axis half-calb melon grab 180. They're just as fun, if not more fun, to do than air raileys, but I think they look a lot more stylish.

Let me know what your favorite tricks to watch and perform are.

http://wakeboardingmag.com/manufacturers/liquid-force/2011/09/14/video-whats-your-favorite-trick-part-3/  

Satisfaction of the Customer Persuasion

Good Morning.
I have called you all here today to talk about customer satisfaction. Not just any customer satisfaction, but sustainable customer satisfaction and the companies that are able to achieve it. And not just any companies, but companies that make inboard water sports boats.

First we shall recognize Tige Boats, Inc. for its excellence in customer satisfaction. For the seventh year in a row Tige Boats is been able to achieve recognition by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) CSI Award Program for its outstanding customer satisfaction. This makes Tige Boats the only inboard manufacturer to have been awarded such an honor for that many years in a row. The NMMA CSI Award Program recognizes participating manufacturers that continuously measure customer satisfaction and pursue never-ending improvement to better serve their customers

But hold the phone! Here comes Nautique screaming up the rear! Nautique has also been recognized by the NMMA CSI Award Program for its superb customer service. Here's the kicker. Nautique boasts the second best record with a six year streak of earning such an honor.

Heres how it works: customer satisfaction surveys are given to purchasers of new Tige boats at the point of purchase and sent to them after a few months of boat use. The results of both surveys are then independently measured buy the NMMA to determine satisfaction with the product and dealer. Boom-Bada-Bing-Bada-Bagoosh. Tige Boats and Nautique Boats come out on top. In 2011, over 30,000 boat buyers were surveyed.     

Monster Energy WWA Wake Park Triple Crown Stop #3

On top of the 2011 Midwest Collegiate Wakeboard Regionals, the third and final installment of the 2011 WWA Wake Park World Triple Crown took place this weekend. The event was held at Hydrous Wake Park in Allen, Texas after making the first two stops in Winnipeg and Tampa. The newly opened park comes fully loaded with a system 2.0 cable setup and 7 different obstacles.

Now I don't know about anybody else, but I for one am shocked that Tom Fooshee was awarded the top spot in the standings for the third stop on the Wake Park World Triple Crown. No wait... not at all. It was no surprise that Tom Fooshee dominated the third stop on the tour after taking the title at the first two stops. Tom taking all three individual titles also means that he was crowned the King of the overall standings. Other notable competitors are Angelica Schriber who took the top overal spot in the professional womens division and Daniel Grant who was named the champion of the professional wakeskate division.

To top of the excitement from the main event, all of the riders also threw down in a quarter pipe competition sponsored by Alliance and Monster. Winner take all. All=$1000. After a three way ride off between Cody Johnson, Brady Webb, and Brenton Priestley, a few air tricks, an invert onto the upper deck, and a corked 540, Brady Webb was finally named the quarter pipe champ.

The final results for the competition can be found at http://www.wakeworld.com/news/latestinwake/2011-wwa-wake-park-triple-crown-standings.html 

2011 Collegiate Midwest Wakeboard Regionals Results

The 2011 Collegiate Midwest Regionals were held this weekend, September 17th-18th,  at Traxler Park in Janesville, Wi. With the exception of the freezing water temperature and the rain it was actually a great weekend. 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 first day started with the preliminary rounds. The divisions were run in a somewhat unusual order, but it kept everybody on their toes. The tournament kicked off with Mens D Riders and preceded with Womens B Riders, Wakeskaters, Womens A Riders, Mens C Riders, Mens B Riders, and finally, Mens A Riders. Each division had two heats with four riders in heat 1 and five riders in heat 2. The top two riders from heat 1 and the top three riders from heat 2 were supposed to go on to the second round on Sunday, and the rest of the riders would go to a last chance qualifier. However, due to time constraints the last chance qualifier had to be cancelled, and the top three riders from each round went on to the finals on Sunday.   


The competition was fierce the first day and only picked up the second day. And while I didn't get first, I do think that I made the biggest impression out of any rider at the event. Traxler Park just so happens to be a show ski lake. What is important about that is the fact that there is a water ski jump ramp in the middle of the wakeboard course. Seems a little unsafe if you as me, but most riders appeared to be landing well inside the distance of the ramp. That was until yours truly came up to the dock. Long story short I did a scarecrow and landed staring at the backside of the ramp with no chance of stopping. "Smack!" I'll provide a link to the video below. Still finished my run on a cracked board and a busted foot, moved on to the next round, and took second in Mens A on Sunday. Winners don't eat $#!%, but champions eat $#!% and shake that $#!% off!


The team results are as follows:


1 UW-Madison-A 620
2 Ball State 455
3 Illinois State 410
4 UW-Madison B 365
5 U Illinois 345
6 UW- LaX A 305
7 UW- LaX B 250
8 UW- EC 215
9 Marquette 190
10 UW-Whitewater 30 


http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=2102856967843
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-1lxmLcfw 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi_sAoUdRWk&feature=related

The Liquid Edge

It's about freakin time! The Liquid Edge in Farmer City, Il has built the largest cable park in all of Illinois. To be fair, it did not have much competition; or any for that matter. That's right, The Liquid edge has become an Illinois Pioneer in building the first ever wakeboard cable park in the entire land of Lincoln. This monumental day on which the park was built took place Sunday, July 3, 2011. I am obviously stoked about this addition to the minimal number of cable parks in the midwest because this one just so happens to be a half hour away from Illinois Sate University!

The Liquid edge strives for excellence and boasts that they deliver an experience that is truly different. So of course, they spared no expense in making sure to deliver the best experience possible when constructing its brand new cable park. They have installed the latest in cable park technology, the Sesitec System 2.0. The System 2.0 utilizes a two cable set up that provides greater tension in the air and on the water, delivering the smoothest, most consistent pull possible. They have just recently equipped the park with a 50 ft slider and have plans to add more in the spring. Did I mention that it's the longest 2.0 cable park in the US? Because it is.

If you do not know how to wakeboard yet and would like to lean, the Liquid Edge also holds wakeboard and waterski lessons everyday. Don't have the gear you need to start learning? The Liquid Edge has a fully stocked pro shop on site to meet youre every waterski or wakeboard need.The Liquid Ege even gives you the opportunity of purchasing a brand new MasterCraft boat (Soon to be taking orders for the new 2012 MasterCraft X-Star).

So take a trip to The Liquid Edge in Farmer City, Il, and enjoy the truly different experience!

System 2.0

Well hello there. We are all gathered here today to discuss a unique innovation in the wakeboarding world that has had a huge, positive impact on cable park riding. The invention of the System 2.0 by Sesitec has made cable park riding safer, easier, and capable of allowing for bigger, better rail and air tricks. The System 2.0 also allows riders to construct a cable park almost anywhere they are, granted they have water real estate ranging from 80 to 700 feet in length and 50 to 120 feet in width. The system uses a two tower setup, but more notable the system's use of two tow ropes. Many cable parks only use a single cable which does not give the rider as much tension and as smooth of a pull as two cables do. Cable parks with the System 2.0 also allow the rider to ride continuously without having to let go of the handle at the end of the course. Instead, the rider is able to make a slow, wide turn as the carrier slows down and reverses directions. This simple turnaround method makes it possible for riders of all skill levels from beginner to expert to maneuver the course with no problem.

When I said that the System 2.0 could be used pretty much anywhere you are, I meant it. The system is meant to be completely portable, and can even fir into the bed of a truck; this allows from complete freedom to ride almost anywhere. The system was also built to give the user full control with ease. One of the most intriguing aspects of the System 2.0 is that it can be used with Sesitec's Lake Control System. This gives the user the ability to use only the part of the cable they want even while the whole 700 ft system is set up. Sesitec also installed ladders on the sides of each tower so riders can quickly change the number and lengths of ropes with ease.

Check out the System 2.0 for yourself, and start your own, personal cable park!