Jonathan Tollefson

History has been made in the wakeboard industry.  7 year old Zahra Kell threw down her first invert and has taken the crown for the youngest girl to ever do a invert on a wakeboard.  Unreal.  Check out the video.

Wakeboard Inverts and Holding on Tight

So what I think is more unreal than the little girl landing the flip is how she landed it.

To All Wakeboarders, this is where you need to listen!

I believe there is one major reason that Zahra landed this trick.  Yeah she probably had some really good coaching, her parents probably own a boat, and she obviously has the guts to throw herself upside down.  Oh yeah, she is young and can take a beating also.  All these are not the reasons I think she landed that trick.

I think the major reason she landed this invert is because she had the guts to hang on.  She fought all the way through this trick.  If you watched the video above you will see that Zahra butt checks and fights to stand up after she throws the trick.  I believe this fighting point is where most people give up and let go.  Not Zahra though.  She didn’t get scared, she didn’t let go, and if she keeps this up there is a good chance you will see her at the top.

As for yourself, I think you need to take this little 7 year old’s courage and hang onto it for the rest of the summer.  If there is a trick that you have tried over and over, give it one more attempt and hang on until the brutal end.  You will be amazed at how many more tricks you will learn and at how many more you will actually land.

I have personally seen this situation over and over.  My friends do it all of the time, and I believe hanging on through the whole trick is one of the hardest things to do when you are first learning a trick.  But let me tell you, you have to do it.  It is rare that you will land a new trick clean.  I can’t think of any tricks that I didn’t fight through.  To be honest, I still end up fighting through tricks.  If I didn’t have to fight, I don’t think I would be improving.

So what are you going to do? Are you going to hang on like Zahra? Are you going to land that new trick you have always wanted to land?  Hang on tight and you will be a lot happier Boarding the Midwest All Day, Everyday.  There is no doubt.

Read a couple of books, listen to a few podcasts, take some action and BAM!!

My first Board shirt

Boarding the Midwest by JonT

Last year I wanted a boat, the year before that I wanted a boat, the year before that I wanted a boat, and….

Now I need a boat.

For the past few years the wakeboard seasons started off great.  We wakeboarded so much that it felt like it was taking over life (which is the ultimate goal).  This usually lasts for a couple of months.

After the couple of months drop off so does our time on the water.  This is when I need a boat.  I can’t stand this.  It happens for many different reasons.  I am very grateful for the people who invite me to come out and ride, and I hate when I can’t get out because I do not have a boat.

The dwindle period usually happens when I am in my prime and ready to stomp new, old, and tricks that you have never seen before.  My muscles feel good, I could ride for hours, and all of the sudden I don’t have a boat to ride behind.  How can a person improve?

Check the summary of my wakeboard life in 2010.

March – Put in Lift

April – Wakeboarded 7 times

May – Wakeboarded 11 times

June -  Wakeboarded 12 times

July – Wakeboarded 3 times

August thru. September – I probably wakeboarded a hand full of times

Do you know how it feels when you are in your prime (June)  and then can’t participate in your sport for weeks on end?  It Sucks!!

This is the reason I need a boat.  I don’t know what is possible if I can wakeboard consistently week in and week out for a whole year.  No I do not have to board everyday, but I can’t wakeboard for two months straight and then stop.  It just doesn’t work.

Overall… I feel like it is my responsibility and I know what I am going to do about it.  It might take delivering pizzas, baby sitting may be an option, and I know I will be at the cable park a lot more this year!

If you want it bad enough, you to can Board the Midwest All Day, Everyday. All it takes is the addition of a boat in your life.  How are you going to get yours??

Early summer in 2010, I had the chance drive to Grand Rapids and hang out with Nate and Josh at the Marhar Headquarters.  They gave us a tour around the shop and then we basically went to work.  It was great, and after months of not getting the interview footage together.  I finally got it done and am pumped to show you more of what Marhar Snowboard Company is about.

Long Overdue Interview

In a week, I am going to hook up with the Marhar crew at Test Fest to try out their boards and help them for a few days.  If you are at test fest, make sure to stop by, say hi, and take a look at some Marhar Snowboards.  It will be interesting to see what they have up their sleeve for next year!  Otherwise get yourself a Marhar and Board the Midwest All Day, Everyday.

Click Here if you Can’t see the Long Overdue Marhar Interview

When you buy good snowboard equipment, you hope that it will never break or fall apart.  Well let me be the first to tell you that this is not the case.  No matter what kind of equipment you have, you are going to have to maintenance it at some point.  I want to help you get through the day without any snowboard issues because I don’t want you to have to cruise all the way back to the car from the back country with a loose binding or a missing strap saying “I’m an idiot; I should have brought my snowboard tool.”

Believe me it will happen.  Bindings come loose and straps fall off for no reason at all.  Take a look at the picture above.  This is me struggling to fix a loose strap on my binding with a screw driver that is used to fix skis.  At the start of the day, I always try to check my equipment before I get out on the hill, but for some reason I will still end up with a screwy binding screw that will come loose half way through the day.  This usually happens right before I am about to drop into an trackless powder bowl.  For this reason I have learned that everyone should bring a snowboard tool.

Tools are easy to find at your local shop, and they are fairly inexpensive.  Find one that is small, has many tools in one, and one that will fit nicely in your pocket.  Take it with you even though you might not want to.  It can save you an hour or two if you bring it.  You may never need it, and if this is the case, I say that you are lucky.  Take my advice, and make sure to thank me when you get to shred through the powder with tight bindings.  Loose screws happen to everyone.  Bringing your tool with you will only solidify that you will be able to snowboard all day, everyday.