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?

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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 snow is gone and the lakes need to melt so we can get out on the water and wakesurf.  The only problem…  I have a slight feeling that we will not wakesurf very much in 2011.

Wakesurfing in 2011

I hate to be negative, but at this point I just don’t see it.  For the past two years the number of times wakesurfing wasn’t a pain in the neck was zero.  For whatever reason it always seems to be an issue.  It takes to long to set the boat up.  The boards take up to much room.  Wakeboarding is more fun.

To solve the problem… there are a couple things you can do to make sure you will wakesurf more in 2011.  You can buy a 2011 Centerion, Supreme, Nautique, or Mastercraft.  Buy an old inboard boat (probably my best option and what Dave would suggest) and load it with water.  Or you can just get out there and spread the word of wakesurfing to everyone you know.

For many in the Midwest, I don’t think the stoke has hit us quite yet.  The sport is making its way here, and I hope more people start to realize what wakesurfing is all about.

I will do my best to spread the word.  I will bring my fat sacs, my boards, and a rope if it is needed.  I love the sport and hate to think that it could die out.  Yeah sometimes it is a pain, but surfing an endless wave is worth every painful second.

LOOK what our friends at Wake9.com are doing to push the sport. On May 20th the Supreme West Coast Wakesurf Open is starting and is sure to be a weekend of good times.  From what I have seen them do in past years, you might want get to this event if you can.

I am positive that good things are going to happen this summer, and I hope that being on a wakesurf board more is one of them.  We will see what happens, and I will keep you posted.  If you don’t wakesurf, what other ways do you find to Board the Midwest All Day, Everyday?

It is imperative that everyone in the Midwest knows about another way they can Board the Midwest All day, Everyday.  So guess what I have for you today?!?!  Flow Rider baby.  A company named WaveLoch started in 1991 and has came up with a legit way to surf without the ocean by way of a contraption called the Flow Rider.  Their company has grown into a full blown wave producing machine that produces waves of different varieties for every skill level. 

Flow Rider type waves are going to improve your board skills 100%.  No doubt about it.  This is also planned into the Ultimate Training Facility I believe the Midwest could use more than ever.  If you haven’t heard of WaveLoch yet, be on the lookout because I beleive this is going to be everywhere!  For more on Flow Rider and WaveLoch be sure to click on the picture above.  Their site explains everything I am so excited about.  If your state or town doesn’t have this yet, start spreading the word on how you want to Board the Midwest All Day, Everyday, and I am sure they will come running your way!     

Ladies and Gentalmen, Wakeboarders and Wakesurfers, this is your time to shine!  In the wakeboard and wakesurf industries I hear people asking how to weigh their boat for the perfect wake/wave all of the time.  Because of this I have put together a survey about this exact question.  With your participation, I would like to start a page on JonathanTollefson.com that highlights your set-up.  Together we can end this question!

Click on the screen shot above, or Click Here to take the survey.  Also email me a picture of your boat at jonathantollefson@gmail.com, and I will add it to your set up page!!  THANK YOU for your time!

Wakesurfing is a sport that is growing like a Halloween snake.  The sport has been around for awhile and a flame has recently been lit that is taking wakesurfing to the next level.  Boats are getting bigger, ballast systems are producing monster waves, and wakesurf board manufactures are coming out of the wood work.  Even with the growth of the sport I still see many looks of confusion as I talk about wakesurfing.

For those of you who are still wondering what wakesurfing is, here is a short and simple explanation.  Wakesurfing is surfing behind a boat that is weighed properly and creates a wave big enough to surf on.  The rider usually starts with a rope and once the boat gets up to speed, about 10-14 mph, the rider can throw the rope into the boat and surf for days.  Wakesurf boards are shorter than ocean boards, aerial tricks are preformed, there are different styles of wakesurfing, and wakesurf competitions are happening all over the world.

If you are still confused, check out the video below of James Walker from Flyboy Wakesurfing putting on a show of what can really be done behind a boat.  Learning these tricks is never easy, but if you learn to wakesurf you will be one step closer to Boarding the Midwest All Day, Everyday!

Hell yeah folks!  Last weekend I drove 1500+ miles (round trip) to chill with friends and family, and to watch the best Wakesurfers in the world compete at the 2010 World Wakesurfing Championship in Minneapolis, MN!  With a purse of $35k worth of giveaways and cash prizes, this event was off the hook, and you should have been there.

Todd Gaughan from Towanza Wakesurfing is the man behind this three day World Wakesurf Championship, and we need to give him props for putting an event like this together.  He was also backed by sponsors such as Centurion Boats, The Walker Project, Wake Shredder, Phase Five, Grind Water, and Flyboy Wakesurf boards to name a few.  I missed out on a bunch of the action, and was only able to make the event on Saturday due to BS vacation days and a desk J-O-B.  No worries though, I made the best out of it and I am super pumped I made the trip!  

Grabbing a quick pic next to the voice of the World Wakesurf Championship, Stanley Wheelhouse.  This guy talked his face off for over 12 hrs on Saturday!  Killer job man.

I had the chance to chill with James Walker owner of Flyboy Wakesurf Boards before his winning run on Saturday.  The kid threw down, and his boards couldn’t be more legit!  Congrats to him for winning the Surf Division.  Keep on pushing us all man!

To my right is Chase Hazen eating some potatoes after his 2nd place podium run.  He rides for Shred Stixx, Slaysh Tank, and many others.  Cool kid, and he flies on a board.  To my left is Sean Cummings throwing his signature Wake Shredder hand signals.  He rides for Inland Surfer and is the rightful owner of Wake Shredder.  It was great to meet both of you, and be sure to watch for these two as they continue to revolutionize wakesurfing.

This is Brian Baker ladies and gentlemen.  Brian represents Darin Shapiro’s company, Grindwater Sports. He is one of the only riders from Minneapolis, MN to compete in the finals, and Brian stepped up third on the podium in the armature surf division.  Congrats, thanks for representing the Midwest, and I hope to see more of you in the near future.

Shown here are all of the boards that were up for grabs in the $35k purse.  The Walker Project is there, along with Phase five, Triple X, and Inland Surfer.  Is this enough to get you to the next event?  I hope so!  Who knows, a boat could be on the line next.

I also have to throw my hands up to the 9 different countries that were represented at the Championship.  I wish I was able to meet all of you.  Another time, another day.  For those of you who are wondering if there were ladies at this event?  You better believe it.  Women such as Bri Chmel and Rebecca Ort threw down and both took home first place checks!  Next time I see you I will introduce myself and look forward to talking with you!

Wakesurfing, it’s where the action is at.  Are you in?  Because this is just another way to make sure that you are boarding the Midwest all day, everyday!

For the final results, CLICK HERE!

With a sport like wakesurfing that is blowing up as we speak, there are many different people trying to capitalize on this industry.  Why wouldn’t they?  Take a sport that allows people to surf on inland waters with an endless wave, and one that doesn’t beat you up unless the board comes back and hits you in the head when you fall.  Now only a small fraction of people ever experience the board hitting them in the head, however a large fraction of  people are starting to pay attention to up and coming communities such as the slayshTank.

From the time I was first introduced to the slayshTank, they have always been about the riders and the people that surround the surf, wake, skate, and music industries.  This community is growing fast and has a big impact on these sports.  You can be a part of this group if you want to.  Go to slayshTank.com, sign in with your facebook account information, and start interacting!  The slayshTank is always updating their site with new videos, music, and industry specific news.  It might also be safe to say that they have the best riders from around the world backing them.  I don’t think I have to mention names Chase Hazen, Rebecca Ort, Dominic Lagace, and Bri Chmel.  Go there check it out, and then get yourself out on a boat!

One hot summer day out on the water wakeboarding and wakesurfing I decided I needed to apply sunscreen to my skin.  While applying a nice layer of sunscreen, one of my buddies made a BS comment about me using it. 

Here is my response: 

“The more I use sunscreen, the longer I can prevent skin cancer.  Which extends my life on a boat.”

Enough Said!  What can you do to prolong your life and time on a boat?

The wind is blowing at 20 knots, X-Stars are pulling three tubes in circles, and your skin about to fall off from being in the sun for hours.  Time to get off the water right?  Nope, it is time to break out the surfers and get some wakesurfing done.

Many people think wakesurfing is a sport you do after you get done wakeboarding, if the water is choppy, and the last thing you do before you go home.  Well I am here to say that wakesurfing deserves more time and credit than that.  It is way better to surf when the water is glass and all day long.  Surfing is more fun the more time you spend doing it, and I say forget saving all of the glassy water for wakeboarding.  Switch up the game.  It will help you in every other activity that you do.  With a different sense of balance and a different board to stand on, you can’t go wrong.  Wakesurfing will give your legs a break from wakeboarding and teach them another level of muscle memory that you will not get from other board sports.

Trying something new is also stress reliever and a way to get your mind off that trick that you have been trying to land for days.  On one last note, wakesurfing is easier on your body which will allow you to be on a board and out on the water longer into your life.  Can we say it is a life saver??  Sure!  Get out, give wakesurfing a chance, save your body, and try something different.  Wakesurf for a day!