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!

Skinny, fat, black, white, big headed, ugly, cute, stupid, blind, deaf, crazy, addict, frugal, rich, blue, pink, albino, F-student, metal worker, horse manure picker upper, head in the sand, I hope I didn’t leave you out!  What I want you to know is that YOU can get behind a boat and wakeboard and wakesurf.

One of the best reasons I hear from people who don’t want to give these sports a try is “I can’t do that, I’m too old.”  Do you want to know what I think about statements like this?  It’s Crap!  Why don’t you just say that you don’t want to do it?  This is really what you are saying, anyway.  Don’t use an excuse, just say that you are not interested.  This will allow me to move on and talk about something in your life that you are interested in.  I won’t hate you, you can still be my friend, and I am sure that there is something we can talk about.  Do you like apples?

On the bright side, if you can get out of a chair, you can get up on a wakeboard or wakesurf board.  I know kids 5 years old that wakeboard, and I know people 60 years old that wakesurf.  So if you have the itch and think that you would like to give these sports a try, you should because you can.

If you don’t have a boat to get out on, or you don’t know anyone who has a boat, there are still many ways that you can Still Get Into It.  I encourage everyone to get out on a boat if you even have the slightest feeling that you would like to give these sports a try.  There is only one way to tell if you will like them or not, and that is to give them a try!

Do you have any stories or good excuses that you have heard.  It is always fun to hear how people get out of stuff that they really don’t want to do.  Please Share!!

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!

The day I originally stepped onto a wakeboard, I knew wakeboarding was going to be a part my life forever.  My passion for water sports spawned from my childhood years growing up in Minnesota where I had the Mississippi River as a backyard playground.  My first memories are bright pictures of my dad pulling me kneeboarding for countless hours behind a 12ft fishing boat powered by a 10 horse Johnson.  As I grew older and moved on with my life, I was not always blessed with the luxury of having a boat and a dad that would pull me everyday.  Heck, I have been away from home for over five years now, and I still do not have a boat.  My goal is to have a boat in the near future; however, since I have never owned a boat, I had to find different techniques to get myself out on the water.  I am going to share my techniques with you; and if you are willing to put in the effort and give them a try, you will find your way to a boat and a life full of wakeboarding in no time.  I have been doing it for years, am still doing it today, and so can you.

Google

The first technique you need to use, is that you need to start feeling out your area.  Google is a good source for this.  Search your area for people wakeboarding, search for lakes around the area, and search for shops and organizations that people have started around you.  These sources will be the ground work for your journey.

Local Pro Shops

The second technique for you to try is to go to your local pro shops.  People who work in the local shops usually have a wealth of knowledge, and might even have a boat for you to come out on.  They are usually the first to know of any events, shows, or organizations that you can get involved in.  Who knows you could get lucky and you could be the person they need as a third.

Wakeworld

After you stop into your local shops and ask around, jump on Wakeworld and go into their forums.  In the forums you will see a topic that says Find a Third/Be a Third.  Look through the posts to see if anyone has posted anything about your area, and if they haven’t, feel free to start your own discussion.  I have met some great people in the Midwest through Wakeworld, and have been invited out many times.  This will also help you meet new people in your area who have boats.  It is very important to get involved.

Lessons or Camps

If you still have not found anyone to ride, try finding a camp or someone giving lessons in your area.  This is a good way to get yourself into the sport, and these people will also know many other people in the area with boats who love to ride.  Ask them questions, and I am sure you will be able to find someone who you can get in contact with.  If you are in the Midwest check out WakeBoard Clinic.  The owner Brian Snabes is a cool dude, and he is more than willing to help you get out on the water.

MeetUp and Boat Shows

Two more techniques I have used are MeetUp.com, and attending every boat show that I can.  With MeetUp.com you will find groups of people that love to wakeboard.  Join the groups and start talking to everyone that you can.  By going to boat shows you will be able to communicate with people who are very involved in the boating and wakeboarding industries.  Do not be afraid to talk with these people and ask them as many questions as you possibly can.  They are more than willing to talk with you, and I have had some of the best conversations about wakeboarding because I attended a boat show.

Most importantly get on the mighty internet, and look into the many different forums that are out there that deal with the wakeboarding industry.  It is going to take some work, you are going to have to be a good person, and you can get out on the water if you want it as bad as I do.  Like I said in the beginning, I have never owned a boat, but I am still able to get out on the water and wakeboard more than most people have time for.  You will be amazed at how many people actually need a third person just to get out, and you will meet some great people throughout your journey.  Take my advice and you will be one step closer to boarding everyday, all day!

One last thing, if you end up finding someone to go out and ride with; make sure to bring some gas money.  Boats are also a lot of work so help the people who invite you out in anyway possible so that you will be invited back on their boat again!

In the wakeboard, snowboard, and wakesurf industries you cross paths with many great people.  Ragboy and Ragboy Jr. from wake9.com fit this description like a glove.  I am pumped they took time out of their day to talk with me, and now I get to share this conversation with you.  Enjoy the video, and I hope you get the chance in your life to have as much fun as the people over at wake9.com have.

Interview With Wake9.com from Jonathan Tollefson on Vimeo.

Links

Wake9 Spring Festival – Going down May 14th – 16th, Demos, Cash Prizes, and More.  Check it!

The Wake9 Community -  The place to go if you have wakesurf questions or want to chill!

Tige’ Boats – The Spring Festival competition tow boat.