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.

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!!

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.

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?

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??

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.

In the past couple of years wakeboards have taken a different shape.  The construction of the board and technology going into boards is insane, and now board companies have to start factoring in cable parks, sliders, and rails.  With the expansion of cable parks and slider type riding a new board had to be designed.  This is where flex boards came into play.

Flex Wakeboards

This is a fairly new topic and one that I don’t know everything about, but I wanted to touch base on flex boards and I wanted to let you know what I think.

I think that I am going to buy a flex board in 2011.  Actually I know that I am going to buy a flex board in 2011.  What am I going to buy?  I don’t know.  I know Liquid Force has a couple boards.  I know Ronix, Slingshot, and Company also have flex boards.  I even think Hyperlite has came to the market with a low cost flex board.

I will have to figure out which flex board is going to be the best for me in the near future.  I know it will depend on cost, and on word of mouth.  Until I study them further, all I know is that I am going to be hitting cable parks a lot and I am due for a flex board.

Why do I want/need a flex board… I want a flex board because I want to press the crap out of my board on a slider.  I also want a board that is specific for cable park riding.  I am not as excited to use my flex board behind a boat, but I can’t wait to see how it will preform compared to my Watson.

I think flex boards will help soften the landings behind a boat, and I hope they help pop off of the wake.  I have a good feeling that I will have to learn how to ride a flex board.  They are going to react a little bit different under my feet, and I hope that I can get bigger and more consistent air with a flex board.  We will see.

I have tested a couple of flex boards so far. From my experience the boards were not as flexible as I wanted them to be.  Maybe it wasn’t the best board for me.  I wanted the boards to press a lot more than the boards I tested.  The boards I tested still felt stiff.  I am hoping that 2011 will be different and I plan on testing a few different boards before I buy one.

I can’t wait to get on a few flex boards this year and I can’t wait to break a brand new one in.  I am super excited to pick out my new flex board, and if you know of one I should test out let me know!  I am looking for info on the best boards around.  I am also looking for another fun way to Board the Midwest All Day, Everyday, and I think flex boards are going to help me do this!

Please subscribe to my blog if you love Boarding the Midwest All Day, Everyday, and if you want to see what board I picked out this summer!

On March 12th and 13th, Ice Breaker Wakefest and A Better Wake of Life are hooking up in the sunny state of Florida.  Can you guess what they are doing?  Well, they are meeting at The Projects to put on a killer wakeboard event that can and will change peoples’ lives.  Check it out!

The Wakeboard Event

Take a look at their Mission:

Can an event get much better… Besides having prizes, pro riders, and tons of other fun stuff to do, I don’t think it can.  Helping people cure diseases, bringing others into the wakeboard industry, and pushing the sport to new levels doesn’t usually happen all at the same time.   If you are good enough there is a $1,000 purse up for grabs.  If not, it sounds like you should still go there, board, and have some fun in the sun.  Being on the water with a board on my feet and a little sun shinning down is all I need, and you can have it in March.

Whether you head to Florida for this event or not, please check Ice Breaker Wakefest and A Better Wake of Life.  They are both bettering the world, and they could use your support.  Anyone who wakeboards, supports something they believe in, and brings new people into the wakeboard scene deserves some attention if you ask me.  Please don’t just pass them up.  Hey after all, they are helping people Board the World All Day, Everyday.

At one point I had a few different paragraphs talking about Wakeboarding on Glass.  I talked about what glass is, why you should ride it and a few other things.  But then then I decided that nothing I say could put it into perspective more than a couple of pictures.  So here you go.  If you have never had the chance to wakeboard on glassy water, I highly suggest that you do.

Wakeboard on Glass

Do you have a good story about wakeboarding on glassy water?  If so email me your best pic and I will post it up for the world to see!  Do you have any good stories about shredding glass?  Let me hear them!