Jonathan Tollefson

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?

In the Midwest the wakeboard season seems to come and go like it never happened.  Some seasons we wakeboard for three months and other seasons we can fit in five or more months of riding.  Does it piss you off when the snowboarding season ends in early March and you can’t get out on the water until May or June because the water temperatures are still in the 40′s or low 50′s?  Well it does to me, and I have an answer for you!  That answer comes with a little bit of neoprene, a little bit of money, and a lot of heart to get in the freezing cold water.  What I am talking about is getting yourself a dry suit or a wet suit.

With a suit of this nature (wet or dry) you will be able to get out on the water at least a month earlier and stay out a month later than you could without one.  These suits will also help prevent you from getting hypothermia.  Actually, with the right dry suit you can pretty much wakeboard all season long unless the water has turned to ice.  I don’t suggest wakeboarding in December or January unless you are nuts, have booties, gloves, and a hood to go along with that suit.  These suits will also help keep your body temperature normal, and will prevent you from freezing critical parts of your body.  I will get into the difference between a dry suit and a wet suit in a later post, but for now you need to be looking into this option so you can close the gap between summer and winter and enjoy board sports for more months of the year.  Believe me, the girl in the picture above would not have been in the water for another month or two if it wasn’t for a dry suit.  If extending your season is something that appeals to you; get yourself a dry suit or wet suit, and I promise it will be worth your investment.