Jonathan Tollefson

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.

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

My first Board shirt

Boarding the Midwest by JonT

In the good old Midwest the snow is gone, and you can bet we are still snowboarding.  It’s unreal, but it’s real.  Some might say it is fake, but you better believe  it.  I believe we will snowboard all summer long after a couple more test days like Day #2.  Check out our test scene.

Drop-in Test Day #2

Day two of testing actually happened a few weeks ago when we still had a couple piles of snow as you can see in the pic.  Either way this is what went down.

The sketchy ramp started 10ft in the air.  It was only 2 feet wide.  NOT wide enough, but it did get the job done.

With some Powderpak, some tire shine, and a couple of nerves the test was a success.

The goal was to be able to drop-in at 10 feet and hit a 12 foot flat rail.  I think I could have hit a 25-30 foot rail with the speed I was carrying.

All in all, we had a great night.  Andrew was the only one who fell off the ladder, so we will opt out of that design.  Have to thank him for being the crash test dummy on that one, and I am glad he is still alive so he can Board the Midwest All day Everyday.

Keep your eyes open for more test days to come, and if you would like to be a dummy like Andrew, let me know!!

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?

Every year boats shows pop up in cities around the USA, and the popping has started.  Do you think it is worth your time to go to the show.  Do you ever buy anything while you are at the show?  Do you even like going to the shows?  What is the purpose of a boat show?

Boat Shows

For the last four to five years I have been going to at least one boat show a year.  In my opinion, I think it is worth it for everyone to step foot inside one of these shows.  At boat shows you get to sit in some of the nicest boats on the planet, you can find some killer deals, and you might even get to meet a few pros along the way.

If you need gear for the upcoming season, a boat show is the place to be.  Shops from around the area represent their companies at the shows and they also try to get rid of a bunch of their last years gear.  This is a perfect time to pick yourself up the board of your dreams and other gear without killing your wallet.

If you want to meet Pros in the industry, get to a boat show.  At almost every show I have gone to, there have been a few different pro wakeboarders roaming the show.  This is a great time to get to know them and ask them some questions.  I haven’t met one yet that wasn’t a great person, and they usually have been there long enough that there isn’t a ton of other people waiting to talk with them.  Ask them about their pro model boards, ask them how to stomp the trick you have always wanted to try, or just get your picture with them and post it to facebook for all of your friends to see.

If you want to find your next boat, you have to go to the boat show.  Almost every boat that is on sale in your area is going to be represented somewhere at the show.  It is a great time to wheel and deal, and it an even better time to compare boats and see what you like and don’t like about certain boats.

Other than the boats, the pros, and the deals; I have found that boat shows are a great place to go and people watch, waste a few hours, or see what is going to go down in the industry next year.  Boats shows also have cool activities going on throughout the day to keep you occupied.  Last year I was part of a chicken wing eating contest that I did not win, but I did get a free 20 piece chicken dinner out of the deal.  I washed that down with a good tasting brew and moved on with my day.

I have seen Step Up Productions throw down a great wakeboard show, yachts that are bigger than my dream house, and I have seen live bass fishing shows take place right in front of me.  You can also pick up some free sw.  So is it worth it?  I believe if you love to get out on the water and want to Board the Midwest All Day, Everyday like I do, that you need to get yourself out to a boat show near you.  It’s worth every minute!