After years of thinking, trying out different ideas, and figuring out who I am, I finally found a business that fits the bill.  It’s called PARX.  I started PARX in early July and am now working on this business full time. So pumped!

My New Website

Click on the logo and check out PARX.  PARX officially brings the means to Board the Midwest All Day, Everyday.  Summer, Winter, Spring and Fall, we can board through it all.

All the videos and blogs I do from this point on will be done through my new business.  Please check us out and follow us for updates.  We are going to be doing a lot of boarding, and you don’t want to miss out.

the WakeBoard Clinic.com

For the pasted month I got tangled up in putting together a winch park for the Clinic.  If you have not heard about the WakeBoard Clinic, Click Here and go to their site.  Better yet, if you live in Michigan or the Midwest, come hang out, take a few sets, and step up your wakeboard game instantly.

The Winch Park

Alright, here is what we are working with.

Two flat 12 foot rails and two 6 foot up Rails.  Since this picture was taken, we have added another 12 foot section and a 16 foot up that should be killer.

Because the rails are in sections, the options are endless.  We have tested a few already.  The rails are designed so they fit side by side to make a 24 inch box slider for young kids and beginners.

Hopefully this will make you want to come to southeast Michigan and put your skillz to the test.  The summer is here and wetsuit season is over.  It’s time to ride.

Maybe this short Video will help you understand what we are getting into, and what you could be getting into too.

If you and your friends want to come out for a winch session, hit up Brian at the WakeBoard Clinic, or shoot me a message on my Facebook Page.  Bring your parents, bring your dogs, and don’t forget your cameras because you know we will have fun Boarding the Midwest All Day, Everyday.

It was only a few years ago when I first moved to Michigan.  One of my biggest fears was that I would not find anywhere to wakeboard.  Maybe I should have known it, but MI has thousands of lakes, it is surrounded by the Great Lakes, Canada surrounds the Great Lakes, and in Canada is there is a new wakeboard cable park.

Boarder Pass Cable Park

It would be easy to give you the facts of Boarder Pass like every other bore; But instead, I figured it would be a lot more fun to make you jealous.

I have a one of a kind enhanced license that will allow me to cross the US/Canada boarder.

It just so happens that Boarder Pass is a 40 minute drive from my front door.

40 minutes away… A cable park.

Add in Sesitec 2.0 and  nothing more needs to be said.  I can’t wait to come back with footage for you all.

Click on the Boarder Pass logo to go to their site, and shoot me a message on Facebook if you have or would like to hit up Boarder Pass this summer.  It is always better to Board the Midwest All Day, Everyday with friends.

I talked about it last year and I am going to tell you about it again this year.   The Ice Breaker Wakefest is going down.  This is a Midwest wakeboard event you do not want to miss.

The Ice Breaker Wakefest

…is for the good of people, and good people are putting it on.

This is where I rode behind the Best Boat of 2010.  And where I hope to ride behind the best boat made in 2011.

It’s where wakeboarders from around the Midwest met and rode together for the first time.

It’s where people grouped together to fight cancer.

If you have never heard of the Ice Breaker Wakefest, that is fine because about a year ago I didn’t have the slightest clue of what it was either.  This will be my second year going, and after last year, I think you should come out and enjoy the day at Bixler Lake with us.

If you are not a wakeboarder, you can come for the Breast Cancer Walk, for the 5k Run, for the Bag-O tourney, or for the many other events.  If you like music, there will be different bands playing throughout the weekend.

If you think you are going to make it to the event, hit me up on my Facebook Page.  If you want to know more about the Ice Breaker Wakefest, make sure to check out the official Ice Breaker Wakefest website for more information.

The 2011 wakeboard season is officially on in the Midwest.  The weather has kept us indoors for way to long and we didn’t know when it was going to break.  Well, it’s broke, so enjoy a few pics from last week.  Goods times on a wakeboard, and better camera work to come!

Andrew throwing down a Switch Front Side 180 and a Heal Side 180 making mirror images (almost).

Do you really want to know what this post has helped me figure out? It has helped me figure out that I need to take a lot more pictures, that I need a better camera, and more camera angles.  The Kodak Zi8 is a killer camera, but not the best for shots from the boat.

Either way, the wakeboard season has started, and wakeboarding is one way we will be Boarding the Midwest All Day, Every Day.

Are you going to be behind a boat soon?  If so, PROVE IT, and post pictures up on my Facebook Fan Page!!

Have you ever torn a pair of wakeboard bindings just after the warranty was up?  Have you grown out of a pair of wakeboard bindings?  Have you purchased new wakeboard bindings because your boots are way to old?  Whatever your reason for getting new bindings is, what are you to do with your old bindings?

Check out what my dad and I did over the weekend.

Wakeboard Bindings turn into Bookends

Is this what you would do with your old wakeboard bindings?  I didn’t know what I wanted to do with mine until I came up with this idea.  These bindings were completely jacked and not usable anymore.  I couldn’t throw them away because I knew they had to be good for something.

I actually can’t believe that this worked as well as it did. Kelly and I went to see my family in Minnesota, and I always like to bring little projects home.  For the project in mind, my dad and I headed headed out to his wood shop once again.  We built bookends out of my broken Liquid Force bindings.

From the pictures you can see that the project was a success.  It took us most of the day on Sunday after church, but we got them done.

I actually think the bookends will be better as door stops.  Right now the length of the boot is around 12 inches which means I would have to have a 12 inch shelve.  That’s HUGE!!  I already put them in front of a couple doors, and I think they fit in well.  We will have to see what Kelly thinks when she gets home.

If you can’t Board the Midwest All Day Everyday because you have broken equipment, get a job so you can buy more, or do something with your broken stuff.  One man’s trash is another man’s treasure!

Within the month I hope we jump back into these drysuits and hit the water.  The wakeboard season is here and I can’t wait to see what comes in 2011.  I have some slider plans that I need to be put into action.  What are your wakeboard plans for 2011?

O’Neill Drysuit

If you are looking for a good drysuit be sure to check out O’Neill suits.  They have not let me down yet and they also help me Board the Midwest All day, Everyday!

What are you doing to get out on the water in early spring?

You have heard me talk about wakeboarding.  You’ve heard me talk about wakesurfing, and you might have even heard me talk about ocean surfing.  What you have never heard me talk about is Bungee Surfing.

Bungee Surfing

It’s a whole new animal.  Anywhere there is a river, or a body of water with a current to it, you can bungee surf.  It’s wild, and I am still trying to figure out exactly how it all works.

Even Surf company has mastered Bungee Surfing, and this is what I know so far.  You use a skim type surfboard like you would use for wakesurfing.  Along with your board you use a bungee that is around 20 feet in length.

From here you anchor the bungee to the side of the river and jump in.  As you float down the river, the bungee will stretch up to 200 feet.  At this point you attempt to get on the board and ride it at 30 miles an hour back to your starting point.

The board is specially designed so that the bungee attaches to the bottom of the board, and then at a certain point the bungee will release from the board as you cruise on by.  Sounds like fun doesn’t it?

;

I know I am going to give it a try. Once the water warms up a bit I will break out one of my Shred Stixx Boards, my Banshee Bungee, and take it to the river.  I can’t wait to give this a shot.  Why not??  After all it’s another way we can all Board the Midwest All Day, Everyday!

The Liquid Force “Free For All” is back for another year of wakeboard fun.  I believe the Free For All started last year and I am super pumped Liquid Force is bringing it back for summer 2011.  You have to check this out.

The Free For All

For the year of 2011 Liquid Force and their team will be traveling around the US to different cable parks.  If you follow them to their stops.  You will ride for free, test out 2011 gear, win some swag, and eat all kinds of free food.  Get fat!!

Last year I found out about the Free For All late and was not able to make it to an event.  I’m still not happy about it.  So this year I already have it marked in the calendar and I will be there to rock out for the day 100%.

If you are interested in going to an event. Make sure to call the participating cable park ahead of time to reserve a spot.  I know last year they filled up and there were not enough spots for everyone.

If you live in the Midwest, Liquid Force is coming to you, so make sure to check out their site for dates.  If you are going to be at the Free For All, hit me up, it would be great to meet up with you.

Liquid Force… thanks… your boards are killer, I love your boots, and thanks for giving us all a free day of Boarding the Midwest All Day, Everyday.

The Midwest winter is almost over which is so hard to think of.  But folks what gets me through it is the fact that the wakeboard season is right around the corner.

The Wakeboard Season

I know you have felt spring in the air, and I know a little part of you can’t wait for summer so you can get out and ride again.  So to help get you stoked for the season, I want to share this video of our 2010 Lake Cumberland trip with you.  There is a chance you have seen this video before, but I watched it again the other day and couldn’t wait to get back out on the water.  Enjoy!

Lake Cumberland 2011

Recently I sent this video in to be entered into Alliance Wake Video Battle.  If you have one that tops it, send it.  Summer is around the corner so help spread the stoke and make sure to polish up your boots and board so you can get out and Board the Midwest All Day, Everyday.