Hybrid Wake Magazine Issue 9 by Hybrid Wake Mag

ISSUE 09

WELCOME

CARNEWALL brad smeele|city winch|plastic playground|harbour reach|cash for tricks

PHOTOS = GARRISON

REMEDY WAKEBOARD W/ HARLEY BINDINGS

e m o c l e W

We are Hybrid: Andrew Eddy, Editor eddy@hybridwakemag.com Richie Hiney, Creative Director richie@hybridwakemag.com Russell Cahill-Smith, Marketing russell@hybridwakemag.com Jake Lewis, Web Content Manager jake@hybridwakemag.com Sam Newton, Social Media sam@hybridwakemag.com Michael Chinnery, Print & Digital Publishing michael@contractpublishinguk.co.uk Contract Publishing UK (CPUK) Ltd.

Malamar night sesions firing off in Spain, pic: Urzaiz

One Love

It’s hard to admit but Summer has gone. It’s

done one. It’s always a disappointment when a long stretch of great weather is finally over. Yet I look back at the past few weeks and months and there is so much that has happened, it seems like the calendar gets busier and busier each year, which is a great thing. If there’s not been a Grassroots competition on, some sort of AOD stop and cable competition somewhere else in the country it’s feels like a quiet weekend. This year seems to have stepped it up a notch and with the arrival of the monster that is Plastic Playground and it’s enormous $25,000 prize purse, a roster that looked like an international who’s who competition, things are looking up. Put that on the back of Harbour Reach and Cash for Tricks, and you’ll understand that the last few weeks have seen some good times and plenty of wakeboarding. Off the water and away from the competitions a very different part of the community has been highlighted recently, a part that I don’t think anyone has ever seen before on this scale. The part I’m talking about is the bond and loyalty to someone that is just like me and you, someone who loves wakeboarding (or wakeskating), and has devoted themselves to their sport like Brad Smeele and Matt Manzari who have both suffered life changing injuries this season. Brad’s horrific crash that as we all know has left him a quadriplegic, and Matt who suffered terrible electrocution burns to his whole upper body while trimming trees for his local church. The reaction from a community of people from all over the globe who have nothing more in common than liking the same sport, came together and were one in their support for the fallen. A fund raiser at Liquid Leisure raised over £14,000 for Brad and with other auctions to also help Matt, the total raised is still growing. 6

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contributors: There is no (other) reason for people to go to these lengths, (nothing more-take this out) than a passion to help their friends, fellow wakeboarders, fellow humans. This is precisely what makes our sport so incredible, despite being a large community events like this bring everyone together, we’ve got men down and we will support them. Brad’s brother Alex writes an exclusive article for us describing how Brad’s accident has impacted his life and the events that have lead us up to this point, it’s moving and heartfelt. It really brings home the how special his brother is to him, a feeling I’m sure we can all relate to in one way or another. What I’m getting here is this, that despite hardships, differences of opinions, arguments about shorts over wetsuits or air tricks, one thing that we all share is the love for riding our boards. Whether you choose to protect your wetsuit from the sun with a pair of boardies or you’re pretty keen on nailing your next 72,00 over the flat box, it doesn’t really matter, we all love the same sport. You might think you’re the next hot thing busting out edits every other hour with new tricks at every turn or you might be still be putting your wetsuit on backwards, we’re all doing this for the same reasons. Politics plague the world we live in, they are all around us in different forms, from the governments that rule nations, to squabbles in a playground. It’s a sad fact that people’s interactions become tainted from past experiences when their idea of truth might not be a reality, jilted by perception and a lack of information. Let’s take some lessons from the past and move forward, it shouldn’t always need a catastrophe to bring a community together. Who cares if the next guy is rocking pink shorts on his full length wetsuit, that’s his problem, not yours. He’s still stoked to ride and so should you. Let’s leave politics out of this sport and remember we’ve all started small but it’s about where we’re going and who we will become.

COVER: Sam Carne - Andrew Eddy

Brad Smeele - Bryan Soderlind, Chris Garrison, Ronix, Brad Smeele Foundation Carnewall - Andrew Eddy City Winching - Andrew Eddy, Jake Lewis Harbour Reach - Andrew Eddy, Red Bull Content Pool Plastic Playground - Jake Lewis Introducing - Leo Francis

Disclaimer: The activities and sports described and photographed in Hybrid Wake Magazine and all associated websites are performed by trained athletes. Attempting to recreate anything featured could result in serious injury or death. Hybrid Wake is not responsible for any injuries sustained by readers or equipment failures. Ensure you are safe and fit to ride before participating. Check local rules and laws before riding. Always wear a life jacket and a helmet! Hybrid Wake Magazine is published by Hybrid Wake Ltd. Company Registered in England and Wales Company Number: 8939051 Registered Office: 5 King Square, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 3YF Magazine ISSN 2052-076X

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s t n e t n o C

Features 24

Brad smeele Still one of the most inspirational riders On The Cover Sam Carne takes over the South West city winching Taking over the canals of London for three days Plastic playground The UK’s biggest ever wakeboard competition is born harbour reach 16 Pro riders return to the Albert Dock in Liverpool ground films An interview with one of Spain’s best production teams

Regulars 16

social media What’s hot and where to look to find what you want Board bag This month’s collection focuses on the home movie maker introducing This month we meet Josh Farley from Sheffield Cable stockists Find a stockist near you, plus all the info you’ll ever need fail Cain Hamilton invents a new trick

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Inthsis isisdue e

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sam carne goes west country from Page 34 hybridwakemag.com 11

Inthsis isisdue e

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itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all gone green in the city from Page 44 hybridwakemag.com 13

a i d e M l Socia r social media

Rider Appeal

hts from ou s to like and ig l h ig h u o g bringing y out for, thin k o o l o t s g feeds; thin ollow! people to f

@NitroCircus

Follow these guys for constant stream of madness in your feed. Whether it’s someone doing a double back flip on scooter or a truck, it’s here.

Matt and wife Bobbye before the accident

Matt Manzari

Matt suffered 3rd degree burns after being electrocuted while trimming trees. He is in the burn trauma unit and will remain hospitalized for an extended time for additional surgeries and skin grafting. Upon release, doctors anticipate the next year to be a difficult rehab process.

@Contour

These guys have really stepped up the game with the release of their Contour ROAM3, you’ll find a bunch of submitted clips along with clips from their team.

Matt and his wife Bobbye Jean are expecting their fist baby in January and finances will be slim. Neither Matt nor Bobbye Jean will be able to work during the rehab process. Please consider a gift to help this precious couple. If you would like to do a monthly gift, that would be so appreciated. You can also contribute at any Wells Fargo bank under the account name Bobbye Jean Manzari donation account. See more at: youcaring.com/help-a-neighbor/manzari-family/ 198931 Or scan this QR code:

@Junction23

This rider collective is based in the UK, check out their account for info, links and videos from their travels at home and abroad.

- Sesitec System 2.0 - Sesitec Full Size Cables - UNIT Wakeboard Features - Industry Wakeboard Features - Wake Park Consultation - Lake Design and Excavation - Event Creation & Management - Visual Media and Marketing -

a i d e M l Sociae in the next

nd featur ts a d e v l o v in in your pos e get k a w id r b g #hy issue by usin

Looking for a date? not that kind of date. a wake date. not that kind either, a wake event date? go to: hybridwakemag.com/events

Instagram

City Winch

An awesome edit from out trip around London, filmed and edited by Monster Energy’s number one man Ryan Scardigli. Follow Nico around the City’s canals and waterways searching for unusual hits and the elusive iconic shot.

The Bricks - Bricks Kids

Check out these two young German riders; Leon Illenseer and Yanneck Konda absolutely killing it at The Bricks. It’s clear to see where they take their inspiration, it’s hard not get habits from the pros if you ride with them all the time..

#FREDDIT Follow us on Instagram:

hybridwake

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Freddie Carter has been on fire this season and looking at this latest release, it’s set to continue. After taking the Harbour Project title at Glass Butter Beach, Freddie also reached the finals at Plastic Playground against some of the world’s best riders. Easy style and a pocket full of bangers are what you can expect.

CORDOBA

E S PA N A

g a B d r Boaan to be a filmer?

liquid force pro golf travel bag

so you w

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o'neill icebreaker team jacket

quit smoking paul mckenna

So you’ve been riding all season and got some new tricks down that you want to make into an edit? We thought so. Who wouldn’t want to have a cool clip to remember a season or a trip? Just because you’ve not done a degree in Media Studies doesn’t mean you can’t capture some decent footage for yourself and others to remember. With that in mind we bring you some of the things that you will need if you’re going to have a crack at making an edit this Autumn. As we all know, it’s pretty chilly standing around outside at this time of year but this Icebreaker from O’Neill will keep you warm even in the worst of the Winter, it’s a must have. Next up is the newly released Contour ROAM3 which is waterproof without a case and has a bunch of other features that will help you towards your edit, couple that withe a small tripod and you can capture a whole range of different shots and angles. For those looking to use a DSLR for filming, you might want to take a look at this Glide Gear Steadicam, it’s remarkable what it can do once it’s setup. Throw into the mix a universal charger that can charge all your batteries and cameras and you’re pretty much set - oh and don’t forget your hat. Now you’ve captured your footage you’ll need to edit it, these older MacBooks are ideal for the home movie maker and they’re great value for money for those on a tighter budget. Don’t get too stressed out while you’re making your edits, just keep trying, like those who smoke - it is Stoptober so let Paul McKenna hypnotise you into quitting for good!

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tripod for small cameras tronic universal charger

hats various brands

contour ROAM3

apple macbook

glide gear dslr steadicam

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g a B d r Boaeed to start filming

contour ROAM3 The Roam3 is Contour´s best camera yet. It was built to be the easiest-to-use action camera on the market, and comes with everything you need to start your adventures right out of the box. With a rugged aluminum body, and waterproof up to 10 metres without a case, the Roam3 is perfectly suited for year-round adventures.

all you n

glide gear dslr steadicam With a free floating 3-axis gimbal joint, offset foam handlegrip, aircraft aluminum construction, CNC machined parts, fine tune adjustments, and easy release, drop-on camera plate, you get an unparalleled camera stabilization system right out of the box.

contour.com

glidegear.net

o'neill icebreaker team jacket

wd cloud drive

This 2mm neoprene jacket is designed and built with one thing in mind - keeping you warm, real warm. With velcro adjustable sleeves and draw string hood. Nothing is going to stand in the way of you getting that shot you wanted, least of all the cold. That’s not going to be a problem when you’re wearing this bad boy.

Keep all your footage saved on this internet drive and you can access it from anywhere in the world, your very own cloud! wdc.com

oneill.com

apple macbook While it’s not going to set any records, these older generation MacBooks are more than capable of handling small video edits. New models mean you can an older bargain like this for a lot less than you think. Check out auctoin sites and local ads, they’re about! ebay.co.uk

liquid force pro golf travel bag Fits boards up to 147cm long, high capacity with space for 3 boards and a pair of bindings. Golf camouflage to avoid extra airline fees, heavy duty construction. Fully padded to protect your boards, also fully lined to keep your stuff dry. Heavy duty zippers, sturdy grab handles and drainage vents. liquidforce.com

hats various brands Don't be a mug, keep your head warm! Take your pick but wear one while you're filming.

tronic universal charger quit smoking paul mckenna Go on, you know you can quit! And if you can’t let Paul McKenna help you kick the habit! amazon.co.uk 22 hybridwakemag.com

One tiny little tool can save you some big problems or missed footage, this all in one charger can charge anything from pretty much anything with a power source. It’s awesome. tronic.com

RIDE THE ELEMENTS

at Lake Rydium

Cain Hamilton T // 0845 8520 789 W // WWW.RYDIUM.CO.UK E // SALES@RYDIUM.CO.UK

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two tower cable sytems

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soderlind

brad smeele

is still one of the most inspirational wakeboarders on the planet

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A very young Brad and his proud father Erik 26 hybridwakemag.com

Spirited and optimistic

Brad’s first post crash picture

After a tragic accident that brought the entire wakeboarding community together, Brad Smeele still shows what it takes to be a true champion. Determined and positive without comprimise. Brad’s brother Alex reveals exactly what it is that makes Brad so special and the compelling story behind wakeboarding’s hero. I will remember 6pm on the 6th of July 2014 for the rest of my life. A day that should’ve been like any other took a harrowing turn when I received a call that would change my life forever. The news that my brother, the strongest and most active person I know, was now a quadriplegic.

financially by chasing his dreams. She has spent almost every week by his side since the accident, and my step-dad Gordon has been an amazing rock of support for her through this incredibly tough ordeal.

I was at Love Supreme Festival just out of Brighton, a jazz festival that my work had helped organise, with a number of my workmates. I remember my phone was on about 20% battery when my workmate came running over saying that she needed a phone to borrow to record an interview she was doing. Thinking nothing of my soon-to-be dire need for this device, I lent it to her without hesitation. She soon returned complaining that the battery had quickly died; a godsend in disguise. Not 15 minutes later were we walking from one stage to another when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. It was almost as it knew that it had a more important purpose to serve that day, and thus it feigned death to save itself for its true cause. I saw a call come through from my mum back in New Zealand. I remember thinking it was a strange time for her to call, as it was approx. 5am back home, but thought little of it as I answered the phone. Just from the sound of my mother’s voice I instantly knew something was wrong; instilling a feeling of sheer despair as she cried those words to me, “It’s Brad, he’s been in an accident! I’m sorry Alex.” A spine-chilling sensation overwhelmed me as I collapsed to the ground in the middle of thousands of party-goers, my friends walking off ahead, blissfully oblivious to the tragedy that had just befallen my family. Once my friends came back and found me and I managed to pull myself together I knew I had to be by his side, so I ran. I ran and ran until I couldn’t run anymore; then I cried, swore, and kept running. I eventually got to the nearest train station, and then onto the next flight to Orlando.

While Brad is the sporty one and the middle child in our family, our elder sister Monique, 29, has always been somewhat of an all rounder. Reasonably athletic, creative, and smart, she found her true calling with the recent birth of her two girls; Maisey and Mila. Two of the most beautiful girls I have ever laid eyes on, let alone had the honour of being related to. She was always a second mother to Brad and myself, so it fills my heart with joy to see her building her own family with her amazing fiancée Jonny.

When I arrived in Orlando I was greeted by the familiar faces of Jeff Weatherall and Dean Smith, two people who have stuck by Brad through thick and thin. As a family we owe a world of thanks to these two, as well at Chad Sharpe. Dean and Chad were the first two in the water to rescue Brad on that fateful day out at Lake Ronix, and without them he may not be with us today. Jeff has been our champion in aiding with Brad’s recovery, as he spearheaded the establishment of the Brad Smeele Foundation and has taken an incredible amount of weight off our shoulders.

The Smeele Family

Growing up, Brad was always the athletic one of the Smeele kids. He clearly inherited the sporting talent from my mother Linda, as her days as a professional water skier incubated the passion in my brother that would see his determination to achieve greatness in his chosen sport. She was always worrying about Brad; proud, but worried. Not that he would injure himself, more that he would never be able to support himself

And me? In all honesty I’m still figuring that out. I drifted through various phases as a child; from a rebellious troublemaker at my Christian primary school, to a geek in the early years of high school, then back to somewhat of a balance between the two as I reached my mid to late teens. I have always been smart; some hybrid of book and street smart, a jack of all trades; but lacked direction and focus. It’s only as I write this and look back do I realise how much I owe to my brother for helping set me on my course. His determination to succeed in his passion for wakeboarding inspired me to find something similar within myself. His successful pursuit of some of the most beautiful women I have ever seen inspired me to pick up my balls and chase girls that I believed to be “out of my league”. The truth is, you’re only in the league you put yourself in. Brad taught me that, not through those direct words, but through the determination I saw in his eyes whenever he saw another challenge in his path. He didn’t see brick walls; he saw speed bumps, and I will keep reminding him that this is just another speed bump. He may not have full function of his body, but it’s easy to see that his mind is still there. hybridwakemag.com 27

soderlind Brad enjoying a moments rest between sets at Lake Ronix

But out of everyone in the family, I think it has been especially hard on my father Erik. My parents split back in 2002, and while my mother eventually remarried, my father has had less success. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1998, and we’ve all had to helplessly watch him struggle with the disease ever since, slowly deteriorating from the strong and active man he once was. Due to his medical condition, it is very difficult for him to fly, and thus has not been able to make the trip over to see Brad. Every father should strive to be an inspiration to his sons, and ours is no different. From an early age he taught us the skills necessary to get the job done, whatever that job may be. He was always a handyman, able to build or fix just about anything, and he was eager to pass those skills onto us. I’ve seen this reflected in Brad so many times, as he is quick to pick up the pencil and design a new rail or kicker, then trade the pencil for a hammer and make his design a reality. They have always been very inspirational to each other, and I have no doubt that they will continue to teach and learn from each other through their shared struggles of feeling like prisoners in their own bodies.

Adversity breeds Greatness

Brad’s dedication to the sport is awe inspiring. I remember so many long afternoons in the boat after school watching him tirelessly work on perfecting his latest trick. Unlike so many of the top riders, we were never raised on a lake with a boat at our 28 hybridwakemag.com

disposal 24/7. Sure, we had a small outboard boat for a while back in the late 90s, but that was sold to pay for more important things soon after Brad discovered the sport. Our father bought a Bayliner a couple years later, but that disappeared one night while parked on the street outside his apartment, never to be seen again. This never deterred Brad though; he had found his passion and he was determined to make his mark. At the age of 17 Brad dropped out of school and chased the summer to the USA for the first time; a trip he would repeat every year for the next ten years. Being a non-native to the USA it took him some time to really break into the scene, but he soon found his homeaway-from-home in the Mecca of wakeboarding that is Orlando. The struggle was very real, as a lack of any form of working visa meant he had to slum out and get by any way he could. Fast forward to recent years and this lifetime of hard work and determination was starting to pay off. In the past two years Brad has finally started to gain the recognition he deserves. He has built a reputation as a true professional of the sport, both on and off the water. He slowly climbed the international rankings and became a regular MC on the King of Wake Tour; picking up ‘International Announcer of the Year’ in 2013. I’ve always been impressed by my brother’s desire and determination to help progress the sport he loves. He constantly looks for different ways to push wakeboarding into uncharted territory; from being one of the first in the world to land a 1080 and completing the world’s first water to water step-up, to his recent work on mega ramps; he never fails to break conventional boundaries in order to help push wakeboarding into the spotlight. His ultimate goal has always been to take the sport to a truly professional level, aiming to force it in front of the public eye through the likes of the X Games and the Olympics. Doing so would bring more financial backing into the sport and allowing more passionate wakeboarders to make a living doing what they love. I have no doubt he will continue to be one of the most influential names in the sport.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;To see an entire community put everything aside and give their all to supporting one of their own is truly heart-warmingâ&#x20AC;?

As poked as it gets. Brad maximizes this tail grab with a huge nose bone 30 hybridwakemag.com

garrison hybridwakemag.com 31

One question we get asked a lot since his accident is why Brad didn’t have insurance. I’m sure I don’t have to explain this to the wakeboarders of you out there, but the amount of money required to insure an extreme sport athlete would be more than 90% of them earn at any given time. Not only that, but in the event of a claim the insurers would most likely seek to recoup their costs by going after any other third parties that may be deem as liable (i.e. sponsors, event organisers, or production companies). In Brad’s case this could’ve meant bankrupting the likes of Ronix, the fallout of which would be felt throughout the industry worldwide. Brad would never want this outcome. Hence we have had to call on the general public to help lighten the load. I want to stress that this is not a sob story about all the hardship our family has endured, because there is always someone who has been through worse. At the end of the day it is the hardships that we endure that make us the resolute characters we are today. While everyone who goes through such a devastating experience should take the time to grieve, there comes a time that you need to accept that this is now just another part of your life. Sitting around moping never solved any problems. You can’t start asking why, because you’ll never find an answer; just dig yourself into a bigger pit of despair. Sure take time to cry, scream, shout, and punch inanimate objects, but if you’re ever going to make a difference then you need to take that emotion and use it to fuel productive change. It may not be the outcome you dreamed of, but it’s a whole load better than where you’d be if you just did nothing. That’s the best lesson I can take away from this situation, and I hope it reaches you too.

Karma Isn’t Always a Bitch

Most of the time when I think about the concept of karma, I think about bad things happening to bad people. Rarely do I think about it in a positive sense. I truly believe that everything that has happened since the accident is a rare example of positive karma. Now I’m not attributing this to some external unseen force; quite the opposite really. I believe the overwhelming support we have received since the accident is simply a direct reflection of Brad’s warm nature and the incredible impact he has had on countless lives across the globe.

Don’t let yourself hide behind cowardice. Take the risk, but commit to the gamble. You can’t ever second guess yourself. If you can’t have confidence in yourself, then why should anyone else have confidence in you. Alex Smeele

On that note I would like to extend a deep and heart-felt thank you to everyone who has supported us thus far, no matter how big or small. The close friends and family that have provided an ear to talk to or a shoulder to cry on. The companies and individuals who have donated time, money, product, and services. The individuals who have shared inspirational stories of overcoming their own adversities and helped mentor Brad through this struggle. In particular I would like to thank Paul O’Brien and the Ronix team for their unwavering support since day one. Wakeboarding, just like any other sport, has it’s fair share of petty feuds and the like. It’s a competitive sport, and it is natural for people to get carried away with their competitive nature. So to see an entire community put everything aside and give their all to supporting one of their own is truly heart-warming. I firmly believe that there are only a handful of people who could unite the entire wakeboarding community to the extent that my brother has done so in the past three months, it is only a shame that it has taken such a traumatic event to do so. 32 hybridwakemag.com

Brothers in arms, Alex and Brad If you want to keep following Brad’s story or make a donation, you can do so at: www.bradsmeelefoundation.com You can also contact the family at: bradsmeelefoundation@gmail.com

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WELCOME

CARNEWALL We took Sam Carne on a trip around the West Country to ride the boat and a couple of System 2.0 parks along the way. Having achieved a lot so far, Sam still has more to give and is on the right path to deliver as he moves to Florida on a five year visa.

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WELCOME

CARNEWALL Hey there Sam, tell us little bit about the last couple of days down in North Devon and Cornwall... It was a little last minute and worked out perfectly, had a free week between plans. I hadn’t been down there for ages, so I was instantly game to go and see a couple of the UK’s new cables along with Camel Ski School which I’d never been to before. We had the weather on our side which was a big plus, it had to be one of the best trips I’ve been on this year for sure. We stopped off at North Devon on the first leg of the journey, how did you find that? I did know the family from a while back when they were down at The Quays. Absolutely lovely family, extremely welcoming with 2 system 2.0’s which are really nicely removed from the real world as you could imagine in Cornwall. When entering the cable you’re swamped by sheep, absolute perfect spot kitted out with some solid obstacles and perfect kickers. Definitely one of my favourite spots! Keen to head back, the cable is so nice and high making it a lot of fun, a great place to ride and welcoming atmosphere. Traditionally you are more of a boat rider, is that something you see yourself progressing further in? Or, do you find more time for the cable? I always think of myself as a boat rider but when WMSKI popped up it was a no brainer to get more time on the cable. I’ve always dabbled in it, the more I do, the more fun I have with it. It’s a totally different aspect that definitely compliments one another. And then we took on further down the road to Rock and Camel Ski School, taking it back to the boat. Tell us a little about the adventures we had there. We rolled up in the evening, the water was pretty calm and we had the whole area to ourselves which was a massive bonus. We headed out and had a snoop around, came back for tea and went out for the second time.

Sam effortlessly front blunts North Devon Wake Park’s ‘A’ frame 36 hybridwakemag.com

We found a relatively sheltered spot with a pretty epic backdrop. From there we proceeded to get stuck into the boat riding. I think we got a couple of nice snaps. Then we decided to get up super early (5:30am) from our half packed tents, which was great... we took a waddle down to see what the conditions were like. It was even calmer than before but it was extremely foggy. Charlie who was taking us out said it’d be to dangerous to ride, so we backtracked to our tent for a power nap to do it all again at 9:30am.

This time we had hazy cloud cover and the sun was sort of breaking through it was an awesome session! Ridiculous conditions and a lot of fun. Then we went down to Kernow Wake Park, didn’t we?

Yup, packing in a lot of wakeboarding! I had only seen one or two pictures of Kernow in Hybrid before and had no idea where it was.. It didn’t look as if it was even in the UK, pretty special with the granite quarry backdrop. We pulled up and saw this absolutely incredible spot with a UNIT pipe, kickers and a super peaceful setting. Didn’t last to long as I was pretty crippled by then. But definitely had a good play around in their very clean waters. We had a little break didn’t we, how did you find that?

Well, we went train spotting.. Which had to be one of the craziest events of the year in Penzance, so that was fun. I also ate a Cornish pasty the size of a baby; my girlfriend had her first cream tea, so a super eventful day or so! We spent Saturday chilling before heading off to St. Ives to check out the local surf and see if there was any winching to be done.

hybridwakemag.com 37

WELCOME

CARNEWALL

Method for days in sunny Devon

Ah yes, ‘the break.’ St. Ives was a blast; tell us about the escapades down there? We headed out there to surf and look for winch spots, the weather again was beautiful but no surf sadly. We just ended up paddling around – which was a shame. But it made the trip, it’s an unreal place. Definitely keen to go back for round two. All very civilized really! Give us a little bit of background on your wakeboarding career, how you got into it… Both myself and my brother Johnny have been on the water pretty much as far back as I can remember. My dad in his heyday was in the British waterskiing team and was actually European jump champion/record holder. Ive got many childhood memories of hanging around at Princes watching my dad jumping and stuff. It was kind of no choice in the matter really, I was on the water from a pretty young age, starting off recreationally just messing around and having fun.

One day someone brought down some sort of directional board with sandal bindings and a really cool dragon design. We had to have a go on it. My brother took to wakeboarding a lot more than me, as I was more into my skiing but after seeing Johnny really starting to charge on this thing I was like “That looks way more fun!”

Preparing to smash some glass at Camel Ski School 38 hybridwakemag.com

No sibling rivalry there then?! Not at all… haha. We were competitive as siblings, it just kept us riding and got us absolutely hooked. After the first season we got our first Hyperlite board and shared that for about three or four seasons. From riding for fun, how did you progress ans become a sponsored rider? We started at the weekends in the Cotswolds, we were trying to do jumps doing, basically our own thing.. We didn’t have any influence or anything like that, not really learning what you’re supposed to be doing. A friend took us along to The Quays one weekend for the European tour stop. Up until that point we hadn’t really seen anyone else riding. We got to watch a whole bunch of riders including Jack Wayne and Ben Hitch, super young in the Juniors doing things like tantrums and all sorts. After that we’d also go once a week to The Quays, not just behind a little ski boat. Actually getting behind a proper boat. Our first trip down there, they tried to figure us out, asking us if we’d done it before and all kinds of stuff. We were like “Sort of ” after having no lessons whatsoever, just doing our own thing. Totally building up terrible habits and learning to do the tricks in our own way.

Overturned melon half cab behind the Axis in Rock hybridwakemag.com 39

WELCOME

CARNEWALL From there you’ve come on to riding for the British Team, which you still do. How did that came about? One thing lead to another, from doing Grassroots events, such as the White Stuff tour, the Nationals and then it snowballed from there really. A few years later my Dad got an email about being on the UK team for the Europeans and Worlds back in 2001. Obviously I was immediately on board and couldn’t wait to go, entering an international event was going to be a real highlight. It had to be one of my favourite trips, we had Europeans and then Worlds, it was just chaos, too much fun! I stuck at school as much as I possibly could bare and as soon as that was over I was ready to go on with more adventures and trips abroad. I think the first time I went away for the winter was to South Africa. I made some good friends out there and now I continue to return. I’ve stuck out a few Winters here, which is bearable but once you’ve gone to these places it’s hard not to carry on the endless Summer. Of course, you also have an inherent connection to South Africa? Yeah, it’s a weird one because it was meant to be my gap year and whilst I was out there my Dad said he was coming out on the whim to do a conservation course, turns out he would fall in love with the country, spending more and more time out there. He eventually moved there and now I have family out there. Where else has wakeboarding taken you? We were fortunate when we were younger to be able to head out to Florida, which is the mecca of wakeboarding. So I like to go out there for a week to a month a year. It’s the place in which I think I make the most progress, I always look to the States for the next progression in wakeboarding. What is it in particular about that Florida that creates that? There’s not another place I’ve been to where you get those ideal conditions all year round. If you go at the height of summer, it’s incredible. There are so many lakes and it’s so accessible. The conditions you get, they’re second to none. With boat, if you wanted to make a name for yourself you have to get out there. With cables popping up everywhere it’s impressive to see riders pulling through into the spotlight from all over the world and not only from Florida. With the industry growing so much, it’s not like that as much anymore but it definitely helps for sure! You still travel a lot wakeboarding, do you ride the boat or find yourself on the cable more when you are away? I’m still firmly a boat rider, I continue to go out to Florida just because I can’t get enough of it and love it as much as I did when I first started riding directional boards. The cable has a different kind of feel, boat will always have a special place in my heart. Do you train anywhere particular in America, is there a place you go or a person you ride with? I’m always at Chain of Wakes; it’s where I’ve always gone. It’s nice to be a little bit removed from the Mickey Mouse side of Orlando, it’s a bit more authentic with loads of lakes to yourself. I’ve been going there for a long time now. Another stylish poke, this time a slob nose bone

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Melon off axis 180 at Kernow Wake Park 42 hybridwakemag.com

WELCOME

CARNEWALL Do you coach, or just ride there? I coach there, alongside Stewart Mackie - it seems he has a new X-Star for every day of the week! In fact I just got a five-year visa granted which is cool so I can stay there for five years, I plan to go out there a lot. Making the most of it whilst I’m still enjoying my riding. What are your goals in the next five years? What would you like to achieve? I guess, for myself I’ve been around for a while now, feeling good and strong on the water. Pushing my riding as far as I can, as I feel I still have a lot more to give. It’s pretty much not all I’ve known but it’s been a massive part of my life and will always enjoy all aspects of it. If I can carry on making a living from it, that’d be great. Build up and develop a school and enough to support me and do what I’m doing – that’d make me happy! Do you plan on going out there for the long term? Yeah, I’ve always enjoyed going back to the UK for the summer, catching up with everyone. If only we had that weather all year round, I wouldn’t move but it’s hard once you go over and get a taste of the flat water and the conditions you get over there. It’s hard not to go back. hybridwakemag.com 43

City Winching Taking over London's canals with Nico von Lerchenfeld

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City Winching

A simple brief, one rider and a city.

The City Winch takeover was straightforward, Nico von Lerchenfeld was in town for a few days and we wanted to find and ride the best spots we could. We were searching for an iconic shot, one that would reach out to people beyond wakeboarding, something that makes people pay attention to the sport. Whilst there may be a lot of water in iconic places in London, there aren’t many that you would actually be allowed to ride in, let alone something that would create something inspiring for those outside the sport. Not a massive problem by all accounts but something we had to bare in mind throughout our trip, weighing up risk vs. reward. Our trip started out with a visit to one of Wembley’s finest (and there are many) Indian restaurants, where we were treated to some of the spiciest curries outside of Mumbai. As we placed the toilet rolls in the minibars and checked our weather apps for a final time, we knew it was going to be a hell of a ride and it was already off to a bang. While our first day had been optioned as a scouting day we were all pretty keen to hit some spots given the great weather and light we had been dealt. Our first spot was just outside the Olympic Park Stadium at a place called Old Ford, the Old Ford Lock was our target and with a host of options on the approach to the lock drop.

We arrived at the lock to find a small group of people chilling outside a bike repair centre that catered to cyclists using the towpath. It was also the home to a fishing trust called the E20 Fishing Club who fish the canals in that area, members of both groups were already in attendance. Normally when you find fishermen at a spot, you tend to find trouble at the same time, this couldn’t have been further from the truth in this case. Both cyclists and fisherman couldn’t have been more helpful and encouraging as we explained what our winch was and what was about to happen. Tristan the owner of the repair centre also had the key to the electronic lock gates meaning we could raise or lower the level of the lock to how we wanted. Perfect. The area known as Fish Island, for some reason that day had an unreal covering of algae, completely filling the lock and surrounding area. That combined with a real industrial style backdrop of car parks and warehouses, rubbish barges - it couldn’t have felt more ghetto. After locking in a few tricks at the lock, including a backside 180 down the lock into the green abyss, a double rail hit on a rubbish barge and almost getting kidnapped by some canal pirates, we were done. Bidding our farewells to our helpers it was time to move on and find the next spot. It was just a few miles down the canal at Three Mills.

With limited parking available at Three Mills we took the most logical step and parked in a well known burger joint that allowed a few hours of free parking to patrons. One cheeseburger later and our dues were paid. The spot that we had come to see wasn’t looking as good as we’d first hoped with access issues and a difficult setup. Our backup spot at Three Mills turned out to be one of the coolest lines in the whole trip. A pedestrian bridge over the canal had long approach ramps to the top level, under which there were long, flat metal boxes to prevent barges from getting stuck under them. They were perfect, laid out in two set of two, there was enough room to get from one, to the other before running out of space as the canal disappeared under a bridge with a busy roundabout on top.

So we took up walking in the direction of the Limehouse Basin and the River Thames. We were aware of several spots that were linked to the canal system there and decided to spend the rest of the afternoon finding them and deciding which would be the most worthy for our remaining two days. After seeing so many potential spots in our afternoon walk to the Basin, we had a number of options but nothing that was going to be next level. The spots that looked like they were going to deliver were draped in trouble, be it large spikes or nosey neighbours. It wasn’t until we started to walk away from the Thames again that we began to discover some more spots. An eco park was our first find, with a low bridge and two tier pool, it had plenty to offer. We carried on, hopeful now as the spots were looking more promising, true to form we found another, this time in the form of a natural ‘rooftop’. A stone wall that runs along the tow path beside the canal raises up as it meets the street level, leaving a perfect incline ledge on both sides of the peak. The running surfaces might have been more at home on 300 year old broken gravestones, but they would work after a little waxing we hoped. As the day drew to a close we had scouted until our feet were sore and our mouths dry, it was time for a retreat to an American Diner to eat ribs and burgers.

Feeling replenished from an early night and a good feed, we knew we would have to be early on our first spot. The Eco Park, overlooked by flats and apartment blocks on three sides, it had to be an in and out job. Upon arrival the park was empty aside from the odd dog walker, the winch was unpacked and the ledges waxed. At this point we were joined by a trio of partiers going by the name of Bongo, Munch and Hassan, animated and lively they cheered us on as we setup and Nico took off with a layback under the bridge followed by an 180 into the higher pool and a 360 back out. Our quiet mission had turned into a spectacle with the trio whooping and yelling with every hit. Cue the arrival of the gardeners. Once again the air of unease rose as the two workers stepped out of their pickup, once again we were greeted with warmth and understanding. We were left to our own devices once more, sessioning the line for as long as we needed before dipping out as easily as we had arrived. After the early start it was time for a well earned coffee in a Victoria Park café, collecting our thoughts and deciding on which spot to hit next from our walking tour of London’s canals. The incline ledge was decided on as it was so different and it looked like it was going to be possible to hit in both directions, regular and switch. Having seen a large wedding at the spot the day before we had scoped out our parking which was pretty much on top of the area we wanted to be, unloading and getting prepared a few people started to gather. Not least a man walking his two ferrets; Jack and Jill, Jill was apparently very naughty and should’t be approached. Nobody didn’t approached Jill. After some considerable waxing things were looking good until we noticed a Police officer lurking at the next bridge. With some concern of causing an issue with the authorities we approached the onlooker and explained our intentions, again blessed with an understanding audience we were cleared to carry on as long as we didn’t impair any foot traffic - no problem.

City Winching 48 hybridwakemag.com

The online worked well with Nico taking a few warm up hits before riding way up the ledge and busting a huge frontside 360 off the top, landing right in the middle of the canal. With winch driver Liam Smith now being surrounded by a group of three local lads, one of which was in a shirt and bow tie, asking as many questions as they could, the mood was light and the winch was out of petrol. A short respite while the winch was refilled and the opposing ledge was waxed for the switch attempt. What was different on this end was that one of the capping stones was missing a large chunk off its lead edge, making the ollie twice as high as it should have been. A first hit made it seem doable, a second went without mention, the third left Nico flying down the face of the wall at high speed into water that was no more than ankle deep. Using some kind of voodoo or inherent ninja skills he managed to distance himself from the wall and the shallow water, landing safely without injury head first in the water. It was time to move on. For our third and final spot of the day we chose to return to our favourite hamburger ‘restaurant’, buy into our parking and hit the barge protector line we had seen the day before. It had a lot of promise but due to the layout of the spot, the setup took a lot of effort. The line had to be transferred between rider and line man multiple times, up stairs, across the bridge, down once more, swam out, passed back, it went on. It was worth every second after we saw the first hit, combining two hits or more in a line always makes for interesting viewing and very nature of these unique features was perfect. Rusty box sections that looked like they were put there in some ‘Tony Hawks build your own park’ type game were a gift and had a totally different feel to the other spots we had hit. The urban setting with cranes and the city behind the canal and very busy roundabout behind, it wasn’t your everyday winch spot. A pair of solid hits, one backside, the other frontside followed by a tidy blind 180 out left the spot conquered and us on wheeling our merry way back to the safety of the car park. Having got some great footage now locked in and a decent variety of spots it was time to try and find some real gold. Despite scouring the internet and image libraries, experience tells that there is nothing like actually seeing the places to determine if they are viable or not. Cue Borris Bikes, the handy bike rental service in the capital was an excellent tool to get around and cover a wide area in a short space of time. Cycling the banks of the Thames and feeling like we were on some kind of tourist trail, our search came to an unfruitful end in terms of spots. After searching more and more, it was becoming clear that our options were limited unless we had a Thames worthy vessel and lots of equipment. There was one spot that we knew of due to some other riders that had hit it a few years earlier, Camden Lock. As with any spot, there are always fresh lines and there was plenty still to utilise at this memorable London location. With a giant poster of a lion in front a Union flag, it doesn’t get any more iconic than that for London. The eclectic crowd was always going to provide an interesting natural back drop to the lock system. Another early start and we found ourselves rolling into Camden bright and early as the sun rose above

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Three backsides and a 180 on the River Lea 50 hybridwakemag.com

City Winching

the trees, it was going to be an incredible day of weather and light, a total blue bird. Our first expectations were to get in early and leave before the crowd built up too much and created any issues. This was not to be the case. Upon arrival we discovered we had been beaten to the mark by a man drinking from two fresh crates of beer, alone and unbothered by our appearance. It was a benchmark for the day. Setup was relatively easy and the lock gates were set as we needed them, a great start. A couple of early hits left us knowing what was possible on the inside lock ledge, we were only interrupted by the odd barge travelling down the canal. The odd barge turned into the odd three barges and as rush hour descended we had our own waterway version. For the next couple of hours we were left waiting for barges to pass, locks to fill and gates to close. It was a constant juggle of kind people letting us have a quick hit before another fleet arrived. We werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t alone however, as on any sunny day in Camden, the crowds had grown as hybridwakemag.com 51

City Winching the morning had turned into afternoon and it was bustling with all kinds of people. One final encounter with a Police officer and another positive outcome and luck being wished, we were set to finish off our final spot. Nico had hit the spot a number of times earlier in the day but after a long break it was go time. We had a few minutes before an entire Navy of barges arrived. Delivering not one but three in a row, he threw it down with a succession of switch back lips, each one more poked and more on the nose. A slightly delirious crowd cheered after each landing and a round of applause to follow, it couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have been a more friendly atmosphere for riding in a public location.

Clinical switch back lip as the Camden crowd look on 52 hybridwakemag.com

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PLASTIC PLAYGROUND 20 OF THE WORLD'S BEST RIDERS BATTLE IT OUT FOR THE BIGGEST CASH PRIZE IN EUROPE AT THE UK'S PREMIERE CABLE PARK

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Lior Sofer dials in the Henshaw during Friday practice

PLASTIC PLAYGROUND After so much hype leading up to the main competition, even the qualifying event saw over 50 entrants from all over the UK and some travelling from Europe for their chance to qualify. The main event had to bring something more to the table. Open practice sessions and especially the Friday night practice set the bar for the event, with every carrier towing a pro around the course as they locked in their tricks for Saturday’s show down. Chandler Powell had been on the water for a week leading up to the weekend and in the last few hours of Friday he spent more time on the wet stuff than on dry land. It was incredible to see the level of riding, with so many names in attendance and so much at stake, the air of tension was growing. The jam format of the competition meant that riders had the whole course to lay down their best, not just a couple of hits or selected features to utilise. Straight off the dock the competitors would be judged from their first kicker hit (the start) to the final kicker hit after the dock where the run would finish. As the heats developed it was becoming clear that nothing short of outstanding was going to cut it, with names like Matty Hasler, Lior Sofer, Marc Rossiter,

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Nick Davies, CK Koester and Cain Hamilton (winner of the qualification event) getting knocked out in the Last Chance Qualifiers. This left Ryan Peacock and Brenton Priestley to join the all star cast in the semi finals. Having seen some of the most impressive riding and technical lines you are going to see this side of the Pacific it was never going to be an easy job for the judges. However with a few unforeseen falls the line up for the final was taking shape, with Brenton Priestley taking an unfortunate fall on his double of the final kicker he was left watching from the sidelines when it came to the final. Along with Dominik Ghürs and Daniel Grant who despite smashing it in the heats, didn’t quite seem to make the right connections in the semis, another surprise absence from the final six. A short hiatus to watch some freestyle motocross in the car park of Liquid Leisure was an interesting highlight of the day, the single jump setup that transformed out of a truck was a focal point for the ever growing number of spectators. After a few hits the commentator was nowhere

Chandler Powell takes the hard road with this BS 270 on

Matty Hasler, a surprise victim in the LCQâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Windsor gets his buzz on

Event propaganda

A solid turn out for the event throughout the day

King of Vert finals, BP prepares to fly high

Brenton Priestley getting interviewed for the event recap video

Our hosts for the day, Clint Liddy and Nick Coates

Jack Battleday attacking the Henshaw

to be seen except at one point he said he needed a rest, confused as to why a commentator needed a rest, looking around trying to see one. Jamie Squibb, the lead rider was in fact commentating and riding at the same time. No easy feet when you’re busting back flips over a 30 metre gap with a buddy following you off the ramp!

The Squibb Freestyle team flip their way across the car park

PLASTIC PLAYGROUND

King of Vert was next on the agenda for the Plastic Playground crowd, being treated to some up close and personal action, the UNIT quarter pipe was always going to be a spectacle. First hit we saw of the day was from quarter master Brenton Priestley, boosting so high out the top of the pipe it was incredible. At least a few metres clear of the coping, it was a hell of an opener. A few hits in and we saw Oli Derome, Daniel Grant and Nico von Lerchenfeld all firing off massive tweaked grabs and spins to join Priestley in the final. After his massive start and some incredible 3’s and 5’s out the pipe, it was not to be BP’s day, slipping out on all of his three hits meant there was to be no cold hard cash from him. Oli Derome boosted a few sweet 3’s and a big melon out the top of the pipe but was overshadowed by the enormity of Daniel and Nico’s hits, both seemed to be on another planet’s gravity. A very close call for the head judge Dom Hernler and co., one which saw the mighty German stand on top of the podium after an incredible method, way above the plastic, landing him with a big cheque in his hand come prize giving.

Recently crowned World Champion Lior in the LCQ’s

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Graeme Burress, backside 360 transfer to tail press

Attention then turned to the finals and the six riders that would head out on the water readied themselves as the sun shone through onto the Datchet waters. The trade stands were deserted for the first time that day and all eyes rested on the water and small group of riders that were about to fight it out for shot at the $5,000 first prize. Antoine Allaux, one of two from the qualifiers for the event, took to the water and broke the tension on the dock. Despite not getting quite what he wanted from either of his finals runs, Antoine displayed some incredible creativity with the setup and surely earned his right to be in the last six. The other qualifier was Freddie Carter, playing the home advantage Fred was on point throughout the earlier rounds but

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PLASTIC PLAYGROUND

Daniel Grant charges high out the pipe during the King of Vert final with this huge melon 60 hybridwakemag.com

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Team Squibb Freestyle

Nico charges the hand rail in the finals

Yonel returns to the dock for a final run Freddie Carter, massive crow mobe

Antoine Allaux and Nick Carter

King of Vert podium Brenton Priestley, toeside indy double back roll

LWP enjoying the sun

Prize giving crowd

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Yonel Cohen holds his trophy and his head high as he bags a healthy reward

somehow didn’t come away cleanly on a few key hits. Ollieing into the pool gap was a standout move which wasn’t overlooked as he found his was into a well earned fifth place. Graeme Burress was one of the lesser known names before he arrived in London, yet he left known to all. Incredible style with a vision for the alternative, including a super clean back 3 up the Henshaw landing in a solid tail press down the far side, followed by an impossibly huge stale fish backside 180. Stand out riding for fourth place. Next out was James Windsor, with plenty of water time at Liquid and some amazing form, he was a favourite leading into the event. Solid hits and big gaps are always a feature with this guy and even after a clean run with a huge backside 9 on the last hit, it wouldn’t be enough to see him inline for the top spot but secured him a happy third place. Following Windsor was Nico von Lerchenfeld, the German charger had just come off the back of our winching trip and was less adjusted than some to the cable. His qualifying runs had been sufficient and calculated, saving the best to last. Gapping from the incline of the hand rail into a tail grab before landing back board and following with a front 270 out was a sign of things to come. A huge transfer onto the inside down

rail of the pool gap and a backside transfer onto the top of the Henshaw made for compelling viewing, signed off with a backside 7 for second place on the podium. The last man out, Jonel Cohen, who had broken more boards in practice than anyone else, was ready to take to the water. A fairly unassuming, mild mannered guy, who when he gets on his board, he turns into an animal. After attacking the pool gap at great speed and height throughout the week leading up to the event, it was going to be interesting to see what he was going to deliver in the last run of the day. Anyone who leaves the dock and drops a massive backside 9 off the bat knows what they are doing. Follow that up with an ollie to nose, 360 out on the hand rail, an epic transfer on the Henshaw (back 3 to tail gap) and you will have yourself a ticket to the top of the podium and a big pay day. It might be time to start calling the young American ‘Doctor’ after so much clinical riding in the event, it was a true highlight of where wakeboarding is going and the incredible level that the next generation is bringing to the table. It just goes to show that events like these allow the riders to shine in their own way rather than being tied to judging regulations or restrictions. Bring on Plastic Playground 2015, where the prize pot will be even bigger and the field will consist of 30 invited pros. See you then. hybridwakemag.com 63

HARBOUR REACH

The historical Albert Docks in Liverpool played host to one of the UK’s most anticipated dates in the calendar: Red Bull’s Harbour Reach. hybridwakemag.com 65

HARBOUR REACH

Kicking things off with a bang

One of the most anticipated dates of the year in the UK wake calendar, Red Bull’s Harbour Reach is always one to look out for. Aside from the international riders and the incredible setting, the course is without doubt the biggest talking point in the community ahead of the event. Each year it has stepped up from it’s unassuming beginnings in Lyme Regis where upturned canoes and massive kickers over the cob imprinted the event on the UK wake scene forever. Now in it’s fourth year both Red Bull and Industry Wake Parks have brought together another spectacle for the Liverpudlian spectators. Returning to the Albert Docks in the heart of Liverpool where there is so much local history is a feat in itself. Overlooked by the Liver Building (when complete it was the tallest building in Europe) and the high walls of the former warehouses that line the dock, the location is an incredible spot for wakeboarding. With the spectators lining every available space, as we have almost come to expect, the atmosphere was lively even if the weather wasn’t. Some clouds looked ominous throughout the day but with only a light dusting of liquid sunshine, it was a lot better than it could have been. The first thing to notice on this year’s course was the replacement of the Brocklebank (the boat used last year to gap over) with an old pirate ship call ‘The Glaciere’. With tall masts and rigging everywhere, it looked like it just returned from the high seas, albeit 200 years ago. The Glaciere’s construction meant that there were a lot more appendages and objects to jib or bonk as well as using the kicker to clear the ship entirely. On top of the intimidation of the pirate ship, Red Bull shipped Liquid Leisure’s UNIT pool gap up especially for the event. Not satisfied with just that, the team at Industry Wake Parks put together a barge stacked with oak barrels along with a crane and hanging barrel and an incline to flat bar to boot! Finally the course was finished at the far end by the quarter pipe and at the other with a pair of kickers and rooftop in the middle. Plenty to be getting on with. As you might expect with any limited entry invitational, the standard of riding is going to be high, couple that with as many internationals as domestic riders and you’re pretty much guaranteed a wake fest. It goes without saying that there were so many ridiculous tricks getting thrown down that it would be impossible to recall even the top 20. There are always a few moments that stick out as truly “Wow” moments, here are some the best moments from this year’s event:

< WOW 1: Brenton Priestley’s edge. If you ever need to reference how to edge like a madman at a huge wall of hard, unforgiving plastic - look no further. Aggressive style and no second thoughts, there is only one way you’ll be doing huge mute 5’s high out the coping, and that’s edging like this guy. Brenton Priestley flies out the quarter pipe 66 hybridwakemag.com

Jeremia Hoppe, pressing it all the way /\ WOW 2: Jeremia Hoppe’s presses. Locked in, pressed all the way out and so clean. Enough said.

\/ WOW 3: Daniel Grant thought he was a missile. With £1,000 going to the biggest crowd please of the day Daniel took it upon himself to charge as hard as he possibly could at the hanging barrel. Hitting it a full speed with his board flat, denting the barrel and sounding like he just exploded, the crowd were sold.

Daniel Grant remembering that he isn’t a missile, backside 270 on hybridwakemag.com 67

Felix boosts a melon in front of the Liver Building 68 hybridwakemag.com

HARBOUR REACH WOW 4: Felix Georgii’s a genius. Whether he’s boosting high out the quarter pipe like his life depended on it, or going small off a kicker so he can jib something that has caught his eye, expect the unexpected.

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JD Webb with a steezy back lip nose

Matt Crowhurst makes a return with this front 3

Scotty Broome, crail glide over the barrels Dominik Ghurs, indy tantrum to blind

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Oli Derome waits for a pull on the finals dock

HARBOUR REACH

Graeme Burress locks into a back lip on the UNIT pool gap CK Koester, mute 180 over The Glaciere

Jeremia Hoppe congratulates Windsor on a solid run

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Perfomring under pressure, James Windsor boosts this nose grab crow mobe to victory 72 hybridwakemag.com

HARBOUR REACH WOW 5: James Windsor pulling it out the bag. Having made it to the finals with some fairly solid runs, Windsor finds himself in the finals, six man, head to head, two runs each. He watches all the others ride before heading out himself for his first run. With two falls in his first run, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not looking good. He was probably seeded sixth before his last run. He killed it, nose crow mobe over The Glaciere, nose jib over the barrels, backside 360 into the pool gap, nose press to front 360 out and a massive heel 7 to finish off with.. oh, and the title for the second year running.

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16 pros do battle in bavaria at cash for tricks

2 obstacles 5000€ in cash with the crowd deciding

who gets paid THERE’S NO EVENT LIKE IT 74 hybridwakemag.com

â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I got the chance to make up an event the way I would like to see events run, I came up with the Cash for Tricks format really quickly. Why not look for a format that allows everybody to show their best without that much pressure, and then have the audience and the vibe that your tricks create decide how much money you get for a trick? Much rather then just a placement that you ended up with after a long day of repetitive competition runs.â&#x20AC;? Nico von Lerchenfeld

Manu Rupp grabs indy as casual zeppelin passes by hybridwakemag.com 75

Miles Toller laying down with this back lip nose

The lovely money ladies getting the crowd amped

He’s got a good point. Organiser and commentator, Nico von Lerchenfeld sums up the ethos behind Cash for Tricks pretty well. The event runs alongside the Interboot Boat Show at the Friedrichshafen (pronounced ‘Freed-rick-shar-fen’ - not ‘Fried-Chicken’ as a certain American suggested), during the first weekend of the two week exposition. A small sailing pool outside the main halls is home to a System 2.0 for the weekend, with a couple of stands and plenty of grassy areas for people to congregate, it was a short but cool setting for a ride. Due to the length of the pool there was only two obstacles, one UNIT hand rail with a small spine kicker in the centre used for transfers and a full size spine kicker. It might not sound a lot but when you give two good tools to 16 good workers, they can do the work of a hundred with bad tools. 76 hybridwakemag.com

Yanneck Konda, method to fakie

A full range of styles, ages and nationalities littered the dock, from Australia to America, Israel to Sweden, all the big guns were out. Miles Töller, Nico Kauzner, Mattias Hoppe, Mitch Langfield, Kevin Henshaw, Lior Sofer, Nick Davies, Manu Rupp, Freddie van Osten and more were ready to take home some money as the well organised practice sessions continued throughout Friday, the crowd were going to be in for a treat. The ‘no pressure’ approach to this competition was incredible for the atmosphere and the riders themselves. It leads to them being more experimental and not holding back in case of a fall, if they fall, they’ve got another session or two to land something. Hits are carried forward so one good hit on the hand rail say can be logged in and the kicker worked on, without the fear that it wasn’t landed in a line or consecutively.

Nick Davies’s signature is huge tantrum blind

Clint Liddy is the international commentator

Felix Georgii was intended to ride at the event but due to a last minute complication, he was forced to pull out of the competition. This left first reserve Janneck Konda to step up and take his place. The 14 year old ripper who can normally be found shredding The Bricks was not to disappoint. Ollieing clean onto the hip-high hand rail with ease and style, huge hits on the kickers - he is one to watch for the future without a doubt. Sun beamed down on the South German crowd as MCs Nico and all star Clint Liddy introduced them to the format and what they could expect to see over the coming afternoon. 16 riders would be whittled down to 8 with one ‘lucky loser’ being granted a wild card into the final by the judges, whoever they thought deserved to be there but didn’t quite make the cut. Some of the more local contingent such as; Nico Kauzner, Tobias Dammith

Kevin Henshaw making short work of the hand rail

and Tim auf dem Graben showed the rest of the field that they were worthy entrants for the crowd battle. With some incredible style displayed from the new breed, it’s great to see so many fresh faces coming through and giving the big names a run for their money. As you would expect, the finals kicked off in style, not one single rider could have given more. Freddie van Osten came out the gates strong with a huge tweaked out nose grab frontside 360, setting a bar in terms of amplitude for the others to follow. Henshaw replied with massive ollie onto nose press on the flat bar, back 180 out, Davies replies with an enormous tail glide to revert, nothing was left unanswered. Mattias Hoppe was charging his unique style with a double S-bend to blind off the kicker while Lior was blasting out nuclear scarecrows and a chunky 270 onto the rail. hybridwakemag.com 77

Tim auf dem Graaben, with the grab! Melon off axis 180 78 hybridwakemag.com

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Or course, it is about the fun down there in Friedrichshafen. It was amazing this year, we got to go to a cable park close by and ride there with just the crew followed by some great Oktoberfest time in Munich!â&#x20AC;? Nico von Lerchenfeld

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Lior Sofer, nuclear crow mobe

Finalists wave their money about By this point the crowd were firmly behind the the guys on the water, the DJs and the commentators, cheering and encouraging the riders with every trick or fall, it was buzzing. After some stiff competition throughout the cash prize finals, there was one who stood above the others. A massive backside 7 and his signature move ‘the straight jacket’, combined with a back 180 to switch nose on the hand rail rocketed Mitch Langfield to the biggest pay cheque of the day bagging himself a coincidental 720€! With the day’s riding done, there was live rap gig by two of Germany’s rising hip-hop stars, it was just a shame that the English speakers were unable to decipher any of his lyrics but we were confident he was pretty good. That night there was an organised after-party at a local venue, that happened to be at the top of an apartment block, that people lived in.

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Out on top, Mitch Langfield We’ll let Nico sum the evening up: “Everybody who has been to Cash for Tricks before knows that the parties were not to be missed. This year delivered. Have you ever organised your own party, one that you and all the people you brought actually got kicked out from? Haha, that night was legendary.” A day to recover and there was still one date in everyone’s diary that remained ominous by its very nature. Oktoberfest. That’s right, over 300,000 attendees per day, consuming vast amounts of chilled beer (1.2 million litres last year) and all under beautifully decorated marquees, served by men in leather shorts and women in corsets. It’s not for the feint hearted and if you like beer, you should probably make sure you get there one day. It’s enough to say that we all had a really nice time.

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Mitch Langfield engaging the crowd with this huge toeside indy backflip 82 hybridwakemag.com

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Meet Eric (left) and Alex (right), the team that is Ground Films. Their passion and drive is second to none, along with creating some stunning edits, this Spanish duo are on their way up.

Hi guys, could you first start off by introducing us to the members of Ground Films, who you are and where you are from? Hello!! Ground Films was created between two friends from Barcelona; Alex Campaña and Eric Sabat. Alex was born in Reus, a town close to Barcelona, but during his life he has had the chance to live in other cities. He is 24 and feels a great passion towards snowboarding and the mountains, due to many years and seasons spent in the Andorra mountains. Eric was born in Tarragona, and lived there all his life, he is 22 and his passion has been for surfing since he was 9. Growing up surrounded by the sea and all its activities has helped him to achieve a good connection with the sea and a true love for board sports. What are your individual roles within the group? Alex’s roles are: Image editing, recording, marketing and the mechanics section inside the video production. Eric’s roles are: Working together with Alex in the filming process, then all the online publications process ,audio selection, and the editing of the productions.

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behind the

lens with

How did Ground Films form? It all started on a ‘refreshing’ night of summer, with a mutual friend called Randy, Alex and Eric where talking about an internet channel to upload our own videos of our trips and sports we practice. We started filming then, after that, step by step, we met David Laguna who asked us for some help for a web video. The result was more than positive and we were surprised by the general opinion that gave us the motivation to keep on filming and focus more on the wakeboard industry. From that point onwards we have been meeting people from all over the wakeboard industry, we keep learning and working. Can you tell us a little more about your perspective creatively? Being creative is a very important part of our jobs as filmers, we both try to find a different point of view than others. Keep it unique, keep it special, keep it real. We believe creativity is the path but not the only key. What other sports do you guys cover? We don’t have much time to cover other sports, bearing in mind every sport needs to be observed with a different eye, point of view, and another deep study to do the best

job possible. So for now we are investing our time in wakeboarding. But yes, we have worked in a few snowboard events that we enjoy and keep learning from. What is the hardest element of your individual roles? Alex: Long hours standing on my feet, with my eye constantly searching for the best visual line, study the sun hours and how can they help or not for an optimum result. Eric: Editing for hours and hours and more hours, that drives me crazy because it’s always taking care of tiny detail after tiny detail. Just working hard to end up with the best results as possible. Are you based in one spot or do you guys travel a lot? We try to travel as much as we can, as far as our wallets allows us to go! We would like to travel much more to develop productions, see new places, meet new people, that would allow us to search for the best spots and unique moments. What would you consider to be your style? Our style is based on the light quality, form there onwards we search for all the nature that surrounds the spot were we are

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going to work with. When we have a clear and high quality imagary, we start the search for good music rhythms that add value to the production. What do you think are the most important qualities in making a web edit? We have been practicing board sports such as wake and snowboard... so we have been visualising videos for a long period of time, that helps. Trying to learn from others is very important. Nowadays we keep on doing it to become better in our innovation, creativity, both for our image production and post-production.

Secondary angle and editor Eric Sabat 86 hybridwakemag.com

With so many photographers out there, how do you think it is possible to stand out from the crowd? Now we own a drone and we are addicted to capturing aerial images and scenes, lines that before we could never imagine we could achieve, a great element for creation.

Alex capturing some footage at OCP Barcelona 88 hybridwakemag.com

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What part of wake do you think is the most difficult to capture on film or in a photograph? Getting the foreground of a trick, fluently panning and stabilised. Achieving good framing with the drone while filming is tough. What has been your most interesting project so far? We are working very hard on our personal project called â&#x20AC;&#x153;5JOTASâ&#x20AC;? which makes reference to the high quality pig meat; our precious Jamon Serrano (Serrano Ham). This is the title of the project where we want to demonstrate the best Spanish wakeboarding talent in our country at the best spots. Do you have any desire to move on to any larger scale productions? For sure! Why not? How do you think the Spanish scene has developed in the last couple of years? Honestly, in the last few years there have been a spike in the Spanish wakeboard industry, each year more wakeboarding parks are opening their doors, which means more people, higher level riding and more interest. You guys were recently at the FISE in Montpellier, how was that for you guys, have you been before? It was amazing, we had never been before, its a trip that GF will remember for the rest of their lives! Our first international event filming with the best riders in the world, meeting them, and having the chance to party with them! All in all, a great event and a great experience.

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Eric and Alex relax after another shoot

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Which riders stood out for you while you were there? From our point of view, who stood out was the incredible Daniel Grant, but without forgetting great riders such as; Brenton Priestley, Ben Leclair and Bob Soven. We also want to support our three Spanish friends, Ignasi Cortes, Sepe I. and Yannik Paton. Are there riders that you have in mind to work with this coming season or in the future? Yes, for us style is the heart and the soul of action sports so we would look at riders such as; John Broer, Ben Leclair, Sawe Oualiti, Daniel Grant, Julian Cohen, it would be great to work with them in the near future. What tips would you give to any aspiring photographers, video editors or videographers out there? To review videos from all kinds of industries, to let themselves improve by accepting tips from others and listen to different opinions. The most important lessons come from what you do wrong. Never close doors, you can learn from everything. What has been your single biggest lesson along your journey as Ground Films? As we said before, learning from the errors is a VIP task, we are young and wild (haha) so we receive important lessons day after day. What doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t kill you makes you stronger, so we keep motivated, inspired, and finally, feeling proud of the time invested in wakeboarding.

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Introducing Josh Farley Photos: Leo Francis Words: Russell Cahill-Smith So what is your name and where do you come from? My name is Josh Farley I’m 24 and I’m from Warrington in Cheshire. How did you get into wakeboarding? I started wakeboarding purely because I saw my mate riding behind a boat, it made me want to try it so much, but since then I’ve always been riding cable. I started riding in 2010 but I broke my collar bone about a month later which sucked. I was out for the rest of that season. The following year, I broke my leg only a few short months into the season, so my first full season was 2012. I ride at Sheffield Cable where I now work too. So what did you do before? I used to be a car mechanic but I have taken some time out to work more seasonally. So I work at the cable in Summer and transfer driver in the Alps for the Winter. That’s sick! So is that your other love, snowboarding? I’ve only done the one winter season; last winter on the snow. I’m an average snowboarder, I’m not into it as much as I am wakeboarding. Sounds like a good life. What would you say to anyone looking to do the same? I think working a season is awesome, especially if you’ve been doing the same boring job for years. Its nice to have a change and you meet loads of awesome people while doing it, and of course you get to travel too. What do you do when the weather means you’re neither on the snow or shredding the cable park? If I’m not riding I’m usually working, trying to save some money for travelling. I’m going to Australia for a month this year. Wow, Australia have you been before ? what are your plans riding or backpacking? I’m going over for my cousin’s wedding but the plan is to get to all the cables while I’m over there. I lived in Bli Bli for the whole of last year. So I want to make sure I get back to there again for sure. That’s cool, how is Bli Bli? It looks like a sick cable! Yeah it is awesome! The weather helps a lot, being able to ride in warm weather all year makes a massive difference. I think in Australia there was a lot less water based inverts being thrown and more technical rail riding.

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Introducing Josh Farley

Do you think that is a sign of the times? Yeah I think this year at Sheffield I’m seeing a lot more people concentrating on rails but all the guys that work here make sure everyone still mans up and tries some inverts. There is a young lad at Sheffield called Josh Patching whose riding has progressed loads recently, a 12 year old landing heel 7’s is sick to see. That’s awesome, we will have to keep an eye out for him. What about you, your future in wakeboarding? I’d like to maybe get more into the cable industry, my boss Andy Granger knows so much about cables. I’d like to learn as much as I can about cable maintenance from him and get more into working on the systems. So maybe one day we will see you running your own cable! What about Boardwraps I see you have had your board done do you have any association? Boardwraps is a cool company, it’s pretty new but I think it will get a lot bigger in the future, I mean loads of people must like riding a particular board but not like the graphic on it! I get on really well with the owner and hopefully I can get his company’s name out a bit more. Thanks for your time Josh, see you at Sheffield soon! Cheers!

Josh, back lip at Sheffield Cable 94 hybridwakemag.com

hybrid stockists

Support your local!

If you’re looking for a great place to ride, you’ve got plenty to choose to from! Don’t worry, there’s plenty of water and copies of Hybrid Wake Mag for everyone at these parks and many more throughout Europe!

north devon wake park

One of the friendliest parks in the country, with two System 2.0s and great range of features, there’s something for everyone at NDWP.

Featured Stockists 1

Loch Lomond Wakeboard, Rowardennan Scotland’s leading boat centre. Call: 07545 561 360

Foxlake Adventures, Dunbar First System 2.0 park in Scotland. Web: foxlake.co.uk

The Edge Watersports, Coleraine One of Ireland’s wake fathers. Call: 028 2766 8999

PH Watersports, Port Haverigg Great boat lake in the north Call: 0774 6539636

Blackpool Wake Park, Weeton The first System 2.0 in the UK. Call: 01253 836543

Just Wake, Tattershall Two 2.0 parks and a quarter pipe. Web: justwake.co.uk

South Coast H20, Portsmouth Great spot on the South Coast. Web: southcoasth2o.co.uk

Offaxis, Abersoch Home to more than Wakestock. Call: 01758 713407

Liverpool Wake Park, Liverpool Industry Wake Park’s very own. Call: 0151 230 8247

Call: 07956 009047 Web: northdevonwakepark.co.uk

wakeup docklands

Call: 07789 395160 Web: wakeupdocklands.com 1 2 3 4

Glasfryn Wake Parc, Glasfryn 10 Great multi system setup. Call: 01766 810202 11

Box End Park, Box End Full size cable and boat lake. Call: 01234 846222

Hannam’s Wake Hub, Stretham Progression exemplified. Call: 01353 649683

WakeUp London is London’s only inner city wakepark, you can reach it by tube! Two System 2.0’s, great features for all abilities.

13 RIDE Leisure, Wyboston New spot at Wyboston Lakes. Call: 07427 251725

17 11

14 JB Ski, Chertsey A hub for cable and boat riders. Call: 01932 579750 15 Liquid Wake Park, Datchet One of the best parks in the UK. Call: 01753 542500

18 Kernow Wake Park, Penryn System 2.0 park full of features. Call: 07973 703173 19 New Forest Water Park, Ringwood The UK’s newest full cable. Call: 01425 656868 20 Quayside Wake & Ski, Mytchett Pro coaches and big wakes. Call: 01252 524375 21 Premier Skate, Wake and Ski School, Pentney Sheltered lake with dedicated boats. Call:07473 505060 22 North Devon Wake Park Two S2.0’s and lots of obstacles Call: 01278 685578

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21 12

15 14

16 Sheffield Cable, Sheffield Great cable and atmosphere. Call: 0114 2511717 17 Club Wake Park The first Wake Station park in the UK. Call: 07791 684919

22 18

20 19

GLASFRYN WAKE PARC

With three System 2.0’s and a great variety of obstacles, Glasfryn is one of the most established parks in the country.

Call: 01766 810202 Web: glasfryn.co.uk/wakepark.htm

If you would like to stock Hybrid Wake Magazine send an email to: Stock@HybridWakeMag.com or call: 01934 733155

sheffield cable

Situated in the picturesque setting of Rother Valley Country Park in Sheffield. We are open to all throughout the summer.

liverpool wake park

Our two cable systems have transformed the Queens Branch Dock into an 11 obstacles wake park suitable for all abilities.

Call: 0114 251 1717 Web: sheffieldcablewaterski.com

club wake park

A 240m Lake, Wake Station park with the advantage of 1 to 1 coaching, our first class obstacle park has something for everyone.

Call: 0151 230 8247 Web: liverpoolwakepark.co.uk/

offaxis

Call: 0779 1684919 Web: clubwakepark.co.uk

new forest water park

We’re a friendly, family run site offering Cable Wakeboarding, Camping, Fun Aquarides and much more.

Call: 01758 713 407 Web: offaxis.co.uk

just wake

Call: 01425 656868 Web: newforestwaterpark.co.uk

liquid wake park

The UK’s leading watersports facility, set on a beautiful sheltered lake, with two cables tows, a boat lake and the UK’s first UNIT Pool Gap.

Set in a stunning dormant quarry, Kernow Cable, open Spring 2014, is a new addition to Wakeboarding in Cornwall and the South West.

Call: 07973 703 173 Web: kernowwakepark.com

hannam’s wake hub

A perfect learning spot for all levels of riders, two System 2.0 on separate reservoirs, fully loaded with UNIT obstacles.

Call: 01353 649683 Web: hannamswakehub.com/‎

System 2.0 park in Tattershall, south of Lincoln. Two systems and nine quality obstacles including the UK’s only UNIT quarter pipe.

Call: 0781 2712255 Web: justwake.co.uk

quayside wake and ski

One of the finest Wakeboard Centres in Europe, our sheltered lake is home to the latest Mastercraft X2 and Pro Star.

Call: 01753 542 500 Web: llski.com

kernow wake park

Run by boarders for boarders we are a leading supplier of wakeboards and wetsuits, stocking the Industries Premium brands.

Call: 01252 524375 Web: quaysidewake.com

ride leisure

Ride behind the Super Air 210, a perfect wake to practice, perfect and lock down your tricks, beginner packages available.

Call: 0742 725 1725 Web: rideleisure.co.uk

the edge watersports

Here to provide a simple, one-stop shop for all your watersports equipment: wakeboard, wakeskate and more.

Call: 028 2766 8999 Web: edgewatersports.co.uk

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Fail

Issue 10

winter winching

Coming Soon

the hybrid boat

cain hamilton invents a new trick, the uber-legit nose 98 hybridwakemag.com

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