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.
I have never highlighted my wakeboard skills on this blog, and I think that it is time to put myself out there and let my readers to see what I can lay down. Here you go! I took this video part out of a longer video I put together from a trip to Lake Cumberland. I put my part at the end of the video, and I figure some of you did not see it. So here I am to give you a chance to critique what I can do on a wakeboard.
Best of Jon on a Wakeboard
Like it, hate it, think I am a poser, whatever you think doesn’t really matter if it is negative. I need to learn new tricks, I need to get more air, and progression is always on my mind. What matters the most to me is that I am out on a boat with friends chilling, boarding, learning, teaching, and talking about the good old days. Add a cold one to the picture, and there’s really nothing better than getting out on the water, taking a few sets, and figuring out how we can all Board the Midwest All Day, Everyday!
Over the past two years of my wakeboard life, cable parks have crept in and now I want to ride all of them. If you don’t know, cable parks are basically skate parks on the water that you can lap for days. They are filled with sliders, kickers and many different obstacles. I have a problem with the kickers. My problem with them is that the landing is brutal and flat. With bad knees you can see how this is an issue. To counter act the problem, I have an idea on how to make the landings soft. Watch the video below to see what I am talking about.
My Cable Park Idea
I have been thinking about this idea for awhile. If you can visualize big jets sitting on the bottom of the lake that blow a ton of air to the surface, you are on your way to understanding this idea. The details would have to be tested, and I am sure you can think of different issues that come along with an idea like this. Other than the issues, can you imagine flying through the air and landing on a big soft pillow or a nice cushion like wave. Heck, if you have big enough jets you can design this so the air flow creates a down sloped landing. Either way, I think if we can break up some of the surface tension of the flat glassy water, I believe the landing would benefit everyone who came to a cable park. If we could create a safe landing period, everyone would be a lot better off.
I can’t wait to hear what you think about this idea. Is it stupid? Am I stupid? Would it work? How can we make it work? Does anyone own some air pressured jets I could barrow? Maybe I just have to learn how to hit the kicker better? I really don’t know, but I love this idea and I can picture it.
Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.
As you grow your wakeboard trick list there is something you can do to make that list grow faster. All you have to learn is how to hold on to the rope no matter what.
Hang on to the Rope Wakeboarding
I see people not landing tricks because they get scared half way through their trick and let go of the rope. It happens all of the time. I know it can be scary, but hanging on is going to improve your game 100%. In the video below, you will see how I power through the landing on a switch backroll. It would have been super easy for me to let go of the rope in this situation, but I gave up that letting go stuff a long time ago. You should do the same!
Rain comes and goes, water freezes and thaws, Placid Wake Park meets Marhar Snowboards, and Boarding the Midwest All Day, Everyday slowly becomes a reality. We met up with Josh (owner of Marhar Snowboards) this past weekend at Placid Wake Park, which is located just outside of Grand Rapids, MI. Placid is set up with System 2.0 which is one of the newest cable systems on the market, and it is also the one thing that allowed all of us to wakeboard until our arms were about to fall off. Enjoy a few pics of our day! If you snowboard and want to learn how to wakeboard, find the nearest cable park and go there. You won’t regret it!
Placid Wake Park Pictures
From Left to Right: Andrew, Jon T, Josh, Dave
Andrew Shredding Placid Wake Park
Josh gearing up to dock start his second time ever wakeboarding!
Myself making the corner and ready to destroy the the next obstacle.
To see more photos of Andrew, Josh and I killing it at the Placid Wake Park CLICK HERE!!!
