Unleashed#72 Holidays Issue

Unleashed Wakeboard Magazine World Headquarter France 2 rue Dorbesson 31100 TOULOUSE Issue 72 –Nov/Dec Cover: Rider: Anna Zhakova (Zhaki) /Photo: Wojtek Kalka FOUNDER, CEO, EDITOR & DIRECTOR Philippe SIRECH PUBLISHER Philippe SIRECH +33(0)7 87 95 37 40 Europe +1(407)800-3567 USA/WORLD philippe@unleashedwakemag.com MARKETING MANAGER Philippe SIRECH info@unleashedwakemag.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Phil Good ads@unleashedwakemag.com P.R (PRESS RELEASE) Stephanie PROTET +33(0)6 11 11 25 32 - sephanie@unleashedwakemag.com CSO , MARKETING & STATS Sophie Sirech-combettes +1(407)800-3567 - sophie@unleashedwakemag.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Elise Fougere +33 (0)6 99 10 62 98 - elise@unleashedwakemag.com WORLD REPORTER AND PROOFREADING Vicki Hernandez Dill +1(832)338-8116 - vicki@unleashedwakemag.com SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER MANAGER Hector Urzaiz Calpe +34 69 725 2381 - Hector@unleashedwakemag.com UNLEASHED WAKE MAG WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Alizee Desperies +33(0)6 37 27 91 74 - Alizee@unleashedwakemag.com CONTRIBUTERS PHOTOGRAPHERS Roehm Hector Urzaiz Calpe, Tim Spanagel, Jon Shrimpton, Phil Sirech, Wojtek Kalka, Drew Austin, Germain Favre Félix …

CONTRIBUTERS WRITERS Vicki Dill, Tim Spanagel, Joseph Holub, Martin Martin, Mark Heger, Zack Block, Joseph Matthew, Edgar Petrenko ...

VIDEO CREW Eric Lespagnon, Remi Quillot, Zac Conrad TRANSLATION Vicki Dill, Dominique Granger COUNTRIES UNLEASHED FRANCE Jérôme Macquart +33(7) 60 89 76 43 - jerome@unleashedwakemag.com UNLEASHED SPAIN Hector Urzaiz Calpe +34 69 725 2381 - Hector@unleashedwakemag.com

UNLEASHED RUSSIA Katia Volkova +79 16 90 00 679 - kate@unleashedwakemag.com UNLEASHED CANADA Dominique Granger +1(514)267-1636 - dom@unleashedwakemag.com UNLEASHED USA Philippe Sirech +1(407)800-3567 - philippe@unleashedwakemag.com UNLEASHED SOUTH AMERICA Nathalia Vinee +33750325437 - nathalia@unleashedwakemag.com PRINT : EVOLUPRINT France and Sundance solutions Orlando USA DIGITAL : ISSUU.COM

Jack Battleday ©Drew Austin

UNLEASHED JAPAN Nagahisa Matsukawa +81 9 016 752 900 - Matsu@unleashedwakemag.com

Unleashed Wakeboard Magazine is published six-time- sannually by Unleash Communication located at 2 rue d’orbesson 31100 Toulouse, France. All right reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is strictly prohibited. Unleashed Wakeboard Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited submissions including, but not limited tomanuscripts, photographs and illustrations.

Disclamer: The activities described and photographed hereim are performed by trained athletes. Attempting anything contained within these pages could result in serious injury or death. Unleash Communication is not responsible for any injuries sustained by readers or the failure of any equipment shown herein. So wear an Helmet and a life vest !!!!

M-Flex 2.0 offers superior stretch and flex to maximize your freedom in movement.

The neoprene panels are sealed together with the stitch free Power Seam technology, which increases the strength and waterproofness to the seams.

Say goodbye to ‘wet’suits! With Quickdry lining your wetsuit dry’s much quicker and it will also keep you warm longer.

WE CREAT E PRODUCTS T H AT PUSH RI DERS FURTHER, A LLO W I NG THEM TO B REA K A LL THE EXISTING BOUNDARIE S AN D TA K E A CTI O N WA TERSP O RTS TO A W HO LE NEW LEV EL.

#IN CON T ROL

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MYS T I C B OA RDI N G . C OM

Clement de premonville © Germain Favre Félix

As 2016 comes to a close and the promise of 2017 lies ahead, this winter season is a time for reflection and renewal.

When we look back on a year punctuated by two large-scale events, the WWA Wake Park Worlds in the Philippines and the IWWF Cable Wakeboard Worlds in Mexico, there is one question that comes to mind: Why are there two world championships? Why should there be two wakeboard associations or federations in the world to manage the singular sport of Wake? Is one not enough? We must equally consider our unity in the face of these challenges, as well as the persevering spirit of the wakeboard culture. I have a dream, like Martin Luther King said, to see WAKEBOARDING as an event at the Olympics. Redefine the sport for the future generations of fearless kids, and we can be there because of our UNITY. Let’s work on it and MAKE WAKEBOARDING GREAT AGAIN! Winter comes with the end of a wakeboard season that was rich in events and contests. But this is a never ending story for all the wake travelers, with now more than 800 spots on earth it’s time to travel to the south like the birds. Migration is the correct term.

Enjoy this last edition of the year with recaps of all the major events and more inside.

Enjoy your Christmas holidays and see you next year for some new wake adventures on the planet Wake!

Philippe Sirech

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10 / N EW S P RO D UC T S 18 / N EW S I N N OVAT I O N 22 / ART Y / Bobby Hedges

22 /

24 / MUS I C / Mar tin Mar tin 26 / EV EN T / Br icks Open 28 / VI D EO / Magic Car pet 30 /CO N T ES T / Wake to paradise 30 /

32 /WH AT MAT T ERS / Blake Bishop 34 /E V EN T / King Winch

201 6 W WA WAKEPARK

WORLD

C H A M P I O N SH I P S photos : Phil Sirech

40 / H OW T O WAK E / Zack Novak Andrew PAsturA

42 /

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42 /CO N T ES T / WWC 54 / LO C AL H ERO / Ma t Sitnikov 56 /CO MI C S / shake the lake vol.1-par t2 68 / I N T ERV I EW / Olie Moore 74 / P RO FI LE / Anna Zhakova

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81 / S H O P P I N G GI RLS 82 / C O N T ES T / Wor ld m ex ico 88 / LO C AL H ERO / Bobby Grant 90 / N EW S P O T / T he Vineyards

88 / 10

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Deejo began as the inspiration of Luc Foin and Stéphane Lebeau to rekindle the pleasure and tradition of the pocket knife.

Deejo is a nomadic knife forged from a unique alloy: stellar quality and extreme lightness. A fine blade designed to cut through with delicate precision even the most robust dishes. Being just the size and weight of a pen, the Deejo is both easy to carry and use.

Deejo is unique and personal.

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//// HYPERLITE 2017 \\\\ JIMMY LARICHE SIGNATURE CABLE MODEL JAM - 140cm 145cm Jim’s Jam blends the ideal flex pattern with the industry’s most durable construction, our Fully Machine Crossover Flex Core. New for 2017, the Jam is wakeboard 2 years in the making, incorporating Jimmy’s favorite characteristics; Continuous Rocker, Soft Flex Pattern and a simple base design for solid contact on rails and soft landings. The Jam also includes Hyperlite’s first ever Urethane Sidewall and Curved Rail Channels. This sidewall allows for a more solid bond to the core and glass materials and the rails mimic the profile of the board assisting with edge control.

The Crossover Flex Core combines wood and foam for the perfect flax surrounded by a bomber construction for maximum durability. Join Jim and the party as we be Jamming!

CONSTRUCTION FEATURES • Fully Machined Crossover Flex Core • Continuous Rocker • Full Urethane Sidewall • Sintered Enduro Base • Curved Rail Channels flank Smooth Base Design • Minimum Swing Weight Profile • Tri-Ax Layered Glass • M6 Inserts FINLESS www.hyperlite.com

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//// BIXPY \\\\ BIXPY SWIM JET – High Capacity Edition Although it seems like it’s out of a science fiction movie, with a simple attachment of our Personal Battery Pack, you can turn your Bixpy Jet into the ultimate diver propulsion vehicle (DPV).

The Bixpy Swim Jet is unlike anything on the market. It is super portable (weighing only 5 lbs, including the battery), it’s packed with features and it will make snorkeling and scuba diving more fun and accessible than ever before.

The best part, it’s the same motor that can power your SUP or kayak and help you get to your favorite diving spot!

We offer two battery packs with the Bixpy Jet to make up your Bixpy Swim Jet, smaller Traveler Capacity Pack and a High Capacity Pack: • The Traveler Capacity Edition Handheld Battery pack is for those who want to travel with their Bixpy Swim Jet. By keeping the battery capacity just under 160 Wh, we have created a battery that meets both FAA and IATA regulations to allow you to carry up to 3 Bixpy Battery packs on your trips (one installed and two spare batteries). Although this battery pack does not feature the LED light, it does come with a super charger to make sure you can charge the battery in less than an hour.

• The High-Capacity Handheld Battery pack. If air travel is not your priority and you want more run time from your Swim Jet, this is the option. With 225Wh of power, you will get about 2 hours of typical dive or snorkel time from this battery pack. In addition, this battery pack features a bright LED light to light up your way.

• Lightweight and portable • Slight positive buoyancy when attached to battery pack • Rated for 100 ft (30 m) below water • Flashlight for under water exploration • Camera mount built on top for mounting action cameras • Detachable battery pack for quick switching • Intuitive speed control with one trigger switch on handle • Water-proof, dirt-proof and corrosion resistant housing and connectors • Marine grade stainless steel components for use in fresh or salt water www.bixpy.com

/// / H UMAN O I D X S AN D B OX \\\\ SANDBOX LEGEND LOW RIDER HELMET New! Sandbox x H Collaboration A collaborative skate inspired helmet design with low profile crown.

• Vented, low profile ABS shell with premium soft-core EVA liner.

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• Team tested: 18 different padded liner configurations for custom fit. www.humanoidwake.com

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Happy shredding bucket hat Camo stay outside bucket hat www.MYSTZ.com

With interchangeable fish eye, wide angle, and flat lenses you can get the perfect shot for every moment. They are easy to screw on and off and use high quality glass to ensure your pictures will be better than ever.

DEEP DIVE & TOUCH SCREEN LIDS Every ProShot comes with two interchangeable lids capable of handling extreme environments. Our Deep Dive lid is waterproof down to 100 feet and the Touch Screen is waterproof down to 6 feet.

SWITCH THROUGH CAMERA MODES 100FT UNDERWATER Proshotcase team built an app that allows you to switch between slowmotion, photo, and video modes using the buttons on ProShot.

The volume (-) button cycles between modes while the volume (+) takes pictures and videos. All your footage will download directly to the camera roll, so you can easily share with friends and family. www.proshotcase.com

/ / / / LK 1 \\\\ LKI MENS SNAPBACK Cotton Twill - Front Debossed Pleather Patch. $39.99 www.loosekid.com

/ / / / AH I S K AT EB OARD \\\\ A COLLABORATION BETWEEN BUREO + CARVER SKATEBOARDS. The Ahi features : A deck made from 100% recycled fishing nets that are gathered off the coast of Chile through Bureo’s Net+Positiva program.

The board is finished with a gripping scale pattern, stainless steel hardware, recycled Eco Cruiser wheels and Carver’s renowned CX truck, which allows the rider to pump and turn the board.

The Ahi is available now at www.bureo.co in addition to select skate and surf retailers across the US. MSRP $195 www.bureo.co 14

//// MALIBU BOATS \\\\ NEW 21-FOOT WAKESETTER COMES FULLY EQUIPPED WITH MALIBU’S FULL ISP, TRAILER AND MORE FOR AN MSRP OF $79,995.

Loudon, TN | August 9, 2016 – Malibu Boats, the global leader in watersports towboat sales, has announced its next market disruption with the new 2017 Wakesetter 21 VLX. The 21 VLX comes equipped with Malibu exclusive innovations, including the Surf Gate, for making world-class wakes and huge, customizable surf waves. With an MSRP of $79,995 this well-equipped model includes a long list of standard features, plus a Malibu trailer, bimini top and a cover, making it the best value in its class.

With seating for up to 13, the 21 VLX makes an ideal family-fun watersports boat that’s perfect for skiing, wakeboarding or surfing. In addition, its 21-foot length makes it easy to tow and easy to store.

“Less than nine months after introducing our ultra-premium M235, we are introducing the best performing 21-foot boat on the market at a price point no one else can match, when comparably equipped,” said Malibu CEO Jack Springer. “We believe the 21 VLX will appeal to the first-time towboat buyer looking to experience the thrills of our sport, or a Malibu owner who’s been wanting to upgrade from one of our older Sunsetter or RIDE series models, and didn’t know how affordable true Malibu style, performance and luxury could be.”

ABOUT MALIBU BOATS Based in Loudon, TN, Malibu Boats is the world’s largest manufacturer of watersports towboats, selling one out of every two worldwide through a global dealer network. Malibu also designs and manufactures as the Axis Wake Research brand.

With more than 500 employees and three manufacturing facilities, in California, Tennessee, and Australia, Malibu builds boats to help you live a #lifewithoutlimits on the water. www.malibuboats.com

/ / / / S L IN G SHOT \\\\ 2017 SOLO The Solo is a completely new crossover board designed by pro rider Dylan Miller and legendary Slingshot shaper Tony Logosz. Never before have we been able to incorporate so many unique performance features into one board. The Solo is the first of a whole new breed from Slingshot. It is a board that appeals to every riding environment. New tapered Flex Tip Technology creates an entirely new sensation for riding rails by allowing the rider to lock into presses without having to fight the rigidity of the board. Subtle channels located between the feet help to increase traction and stiffen the belly, giving the Solo more immediate pop off the wake, while the center V-Spine helps break up water tension for big landings, both behind the boat and in the park. The Solo also has a noticeably narrower outline shape, giving it more of a snow feel. www.slingshotsports.com

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Speaker Barricade XL Speaker is the largest, loudest, and most rugged wireless speaker in the Skullcandy lineup, but with a clean, classic style that looks good at home or on your next adventure. Go up to three feet underwater with the IPX7 waterproof and impactresistant construction. A ten hour rechargeable battery and integrated technology lets you connect multiple speakers, pair multiple users, and even recharge external devices. Retailing at $169.99.

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Take calls, manage your music and adjust volume even when not near your phone using the integrated remote buttons and microphone.

Read more at www.skullcandy.com 18

go p ro GoPro, Inc. is transfor ming the way people visually ca pture and share their lives . What began as an idea to help athletes self-document themselves engaged in their spor t, GoPro has become a s tandard for how people ca pture themselves engaged in their interes ts , w hatever they may be.

From extreme to mains tream, professional to consumer, GoPro enables the wor ld to ca pture and share its passion in the for m of immer sive and engaging content.

G o P ro, H E R O, K a r m a , a n d S e s s i o n , a n d t h e i r r e s p e c t i ve l o g o s a r e t r a d e m a r k s o r r e g i s t e r e d trademar ks of GoPro Inc. in the United Sta tes and other countr ies . All other trademar ks are the proper ty of their respective owner s .

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HERO5 Black is the mos t powerful, easy-touse GoPro, ever. Exciting features include: • 2-inch Touch Display + Simplified Controls • Video Resolutions up to 4K at 30 Frames per Second • Professional Quality 12MP Photos • Auto-Upload of Photos and Video to Cloud when Camera is Charging • Voice Control with Support for 7 Languages • Simple 1-Button Control • Waterproof Without a Housing to 33 Feet (10m) • Compatible with Existing GoPro Mounts, Including Karma • Stereo Audio Recording and Advanced Wind Noise Reduction • Professional-Grade Electronic Video Stabilization • Distortion-Free Wide Angle Video and Photos with New Linear-View Setting • RAW and WDR Photo Modes • GPS

• Video Resolutions up to 4K at 30 Frames per Second • Professional Quality 10MP Photos • Auto-Upload of Photos and Video to Cloud when Camera is Charging • Voice Control with Support for 7 Languages • Simple 1-Button Control • Waterproof Without a Housing to 33 Feet (10m) • Compatible with Existing GoPro, Mounts Including Karma • Professional-Grade Electronic Video Stabilization • Distortion-Free Wide Angle Video and Photos with new Linear-View Setting

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BOBBY HEDGES Photo and text By Robert «Bobby » Hedges

Born in Atlanta in 1977, Robert Hedges began drawing at an early age. This self-taught artist uses mixed ink mediums such as Copic, Prisma, and calligraphy inks in unique ways to create his whimsical, moody images of which often feature clever characters and pop-culture icons. This former radio disc jockey is also the author of the novel, Sweet Serene and has been featured in several art galleries in the Atlanta area for the past two years. His favorite overheard critique was, “I love it because it seems unfinished.“ In Hedges’ seemingly haphazard style lies his work’s charm. Surprisingly, this rushed or “unfinished“ style takes time and a fair

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amount of luck to perfect. Robert often goes through several versions of a piece until the random will of the inks suits his mood.

Rest assured, though. Each scrapped piece is immediately recycled. Until the perfect interpretation is achieved.

The artist will tell you he is inspired by music, literature, and his own twisted sense of humor. However, looking into each individual piece, there is clearly more going on. Subtle yet expected. It’s not uncommon to find seemingly hidden objects and texts in his pieces if you look hard enough.

In his spare time, Robert is an avid reader, a mediocre guitarist, an interpretive basket weaver and an experimental unicyclist.

Martin Martin, nicknamed M2X, from his real name Laurent Bolorinos, is a French artist from Toulouse.

He started his DJ career when he was very young and became passionate about electronic music.

As a winter sports lover, wakeboarding is a good substitute for snow, and mixing his two passions came easily to him.

M2X often mixes at wakeparks with musical and punchy sets in a sunny lounge atmosphere for the happiness of riders and families. This is a special place of human interaction where people share a great time while making memories, achieving new tricks all with M2X creating a soundtrack for life.

We wish him the best and hope he discovers new trendy spots, travels around the world, meets other musicians,and continues performing, progressing and making a living from his passion!

M2X can diversify his sound at his best. He considers the meaning of a mix, its atmosphere and its inner energy are key points for him. M2X’s music is not a simple series of sounds but a real and deep reflection: Mixing compositions, searching for new sounds, developing originality and matching with riders is his specialty.

HoodRich Pablo Juan 1, 2 (feat.

Souja Boy) (Original Mix) Hip-Hop

You can find his new sound selection in the next edition.

Follow him on Facebook : www.facebook.com/2xMartin Follow him on Soundcloud : www.soundcloud.com/martin2x

David Guetta, Fat Joe, Glowinthedark, Remy Ma All The Way Up (Remix) (feat.

French Montana & Infared) (Original Mix)

David Guetta Afrojack Nicki Minaj Hey Mama (DISTO Remix) Trap

Hip-Hop

Twenty One Pilots Heathens (DISTO Remix) Trap

Kungs, Jewelz & Scott Sparks This White Sun (Ben Lemonz Bootleg)

Mr Rogers I’ll Take You (Jenaux Remix)

Electro

Glitch Hop

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The Bricks Open An event like THE BRICKS OPEN in Duisburg Germany doesn´t need roaring publicity

by Lukas Suess

T he re i s n o h i g h e r, fa s t e r, o r b ig g er a t t h e Br ick s . Th ey jus t cut t h eir own p a t h o f p u s h i n g t h e s p or t in a different wa y. Th ink ing w h a t a re ally n i c e wa ke b o a rd c o n t e s t sh oul d l ook l ike, t h e Duisbur g fol k s put som e o l d s c h o o l s t re e t s t yl e s k a t eb oa rd feel ing int o it . A l rea dy t h e l a s t ye ar’s p re m i e re m a d e t h e wa ke scene sit up a nd wa t ch . No wonder t he li s t o f 4 0 p a r t i c i p a n t s h a d t o b e cl osed 20 minut es a ft er it s onl ine a ppe a r a n c e .

The already clean designed feature course at the Bricks got worked over just for the event. It began with a crossways pipe, followed by a flat-rail with a dragon tail on the left and an incline with a pipe-extension on the right. Next was a newly designed fence by UNIT Parktech and a combination of UNIT Skatecurb and UNIT Techseries rail. The following elbow-pipe was placed right in the cable corner, which made it a bit tricky and not many riders made it all the way to the end. After that there was the choice of a kicker-to-A-frame to the left or the step-down rail to the right. A flat zone and a right and left kicker marked the exit of the course. It was a well packed lap of just less than a minute and getting real close to the action anywhere around the lake was just perfect for hundreds of spectators.

In a pre-round the field of 40 melted down to 20, who then started in head to head mode in round 1. Winning two out of three runs advanced riders to round 2. The next head to head battle took the best five right into the Überfinal. The judges had already brought to the attention of the riders, that they would appreciate creativity, different lines and style. Red Bull Teamrider, Dominik Gührs, showed a packed and solid run, but surprisingly he fell on the exit KGB, which opened the chance for local hero, Niko Kasper, to climb the podium. Two well qualified speakers took the crowd through the thrilling Überfinal. At the end Alex Aulbach from Munich took the highly coveted “Überring”, a heavy seal ring carrying the “The Bricks Open” logo. Bene Tremmel took second and local Niko got third.

N.Schneier © C.Lehnert

Afterwards the riders were full of praise for the thrilling format and the creative setup. Dominik Gührs took it lightly when he missed the podium: “One whole day of playin´ in the feature garden for the practice session was worth the trip to Duisburg. Thanks to the crew at The Bricks for the fun sessions!”

© C.Lehnert

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A.Aulbach © L.Suess

M.Toeller © F.Suess

A R i d e on The Magic Carpet Ten questions for the man behind the lens

By Geoff Fagien / Photos: Ignacio Hernandez and Geoff Fagien

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Ge off Fagie n’s n ew m ov i e # T h e M a g i c Car pet M ovie is now availa ble a t w w w. re a c h fi l m s . c o m . H e t r a vel ed t o t h ree c ount r ie s and fi l m e d w i t h r i d e r s w h o a re not onl y a ma zing t o wa tc h, but are a l s o h i s g o o d f r i e n d s !

This film is spec i a l b e c a u s e i t a l l ow s t h e a udience t o c onne c t to t he r i d e r a s we l l a s t h e p e r s ona l it y b eh ind t h e r iding. We hop e yo u e n j oy t h i s fi l m a s much a s we did. It is powe re d by ou r t e a m h e re a t U n l e a s h ed.

Who is Geoff Fagien?

I would best describe myself as a film-maker and all around film buff. I’ve always had a huge amount of love and respect for the process in which a film is made and the connection it makes with an audience.

What is The Magic Carpet?

I really wanted to make a wakeboard film that was mainly focused on traditional cable riding while still including and highlighting other aspects of the sport. This wasn’t meant to be a movie bound by rules like“You can’t do that” or “There are too many air tricks” because I wanted to focus on having fun throughout the process and letting the riders focus on the tricks that they felt they wanted to showcase which I hope is felt by the viewers as well.

Which riders will be appearing in this film and why did you choose them?

As for full sections I’ve chosen Nick Davies, Noah Flegel, Diego Barragan, Guy Firer and Lior Sofer. There are also numerous riders making guest appearances in the friends section (Marc Shuster, Frederic Von Osten, Julia Rick, Liam Rundholtz and others) but I The Magic Carpet wanted to focus on this core group of riders because of the relationship we have built over the years. Again, this is a film where I am free to do what I want. I really wanted a family feel since we really all Nick Davies grew up together. I feel the Guy Firer Lior Sofer closeness makes it so much Noah Flegel Diego Barragan easier to bring out the best in Available now at www.reachfilms.com everyone both on and off the water.

What locations did you get to visit while filming and which area did you enjoy the most?

I was fortunate enough to visit numerous areas that I enjoyed just as much as the last although I would say the places that stick out for me the most are England at Liquid Leisure and New Forest Cables as well as Israel at Lake TLV and Florida at Ski Rixen USA.

A Geoff Fagien Film

When and where is A Ride on the Magic Carpet available and is there anyone you would like to thank ?

The Magic Carpet is now available at www.reachfilms.com.

It was a pleasure to make this film and get to see great parks around the globe! I would also like to thank all my sponsors (Ski Rixen USA, MWC, Elevated Clothing, Sticky sounds, and Unleashed) as well as all the parks for their hospitality as it made it a genuine pleasure to make this film.

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WA K E to p arad i s e

through Bene Tremmel's eyes by :Bene Tremmel / photo : Héctor Urzáiz Calpe

Wake to Paradise was definitely one of the coolest comps of the season. With warm weather, good vibes and a unique, but also challenging setup perfect conditions were set to have good times out there in Montichiari, Italy. It was really nice to have riders from all around the globe there, like John Dreiling and Dominik Hernler. Even the training sessions with all the boys before the comp were so much fun, as we were all pushing each other to try new stuff. My favorite feature was the simple tabletop transfer to a rail to rail box providing various lines. To be honest at first the setup was a little scary, as it’s all metal rails, but as soon as you became comfortable with it there were so many different tricks and lines possible. Especially surprising was how on point the System HD was, which was the basis for the insanely high riding level. So at this point shoutout to the Sesitec crew for providing the best goods in the game.

All in all I’d like to thank the Wake Paradise crew for setting up such a fun contest and I am definitely going to be back next year! Yeww!

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Blake Bishop Photos : Adam Skalleberg

What makes a WAKE PARK cool?

Good vibes, unique rails, and perfect kickers.

What makes a Wakeboard tricks look cool?

When someone adds their own style to a trick and makes it look completely different than how everyone else is doing it.

What makes a Wakeboard Boat cool?

Loud speakers.

What makes Winch session cool?

Getting what you wanted first go.

What makes a video edit cool?

When someone puts time into showing off something completely unique such as rails that no one has seen before or winch spots that no one has hit before and not just going to a Wakepark and leaving the camera on the tripod and taking some laps.

What makes a photo cool?

Something unique no one has seen before or seen much of.

What make a Music Cool ?

Funky beats.

What Makes a Rider Cool?

Keeping it real and being themselves and not copying other rider’s style.

What makes a board cool ?

Board with lots of flex and fast on rails.

What makes a Girlfriend Cool ?

Pulling me on my cable and going to contests with me.

What makes a Huge Fall Cool?

If you don’t break anything but get a sick clip.

What’s the most important thing in order to progress?

Having fun every time you go out and shred and trying something new.

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Name: Blake Mize Bishop Birthdate: 2/28/1998 Hometown: Atlanta, Ga Sponsors: Slingshot Wakeboards, LKI Brand, Valdosta Wake Compound, Trash Wax, Buywake.com, Ambush Board Co. Wake Park: Valdosta Wake Compound / Btown Compound Stance: Regular

YANNIK PATÓN CASTAÑO

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KING WINCH

F IR E WATER A N D P IP ES 1 6

by Kirill Dyakovski / photos : Vladimir

On September 17, The Kingwinch Wake Par k hos ted the larges t s c a l e a n d p e r h a p s m o s t s p e c t a c u l a r eve n t i n R u s s i a n wa ke b o a r d i n g - F I R E , WAT E R & P I P E S 1 6 ! T h e s e a r e n o t yo u r t y p i c a l descr iptions of an event. Jus t consider: Fir s t of all, wor ld famous wakeboarding s tar Daniel Grant (the fivefold world’s wakeboarding champion) was himself taking par t in the contest in St. Peter sburg. Secondly, Daniel designed a new sha pe especially for this event in cooperation with the Kingwinch Wake System (KWWS) & SkillPack. And, last but not least, a dozen of ver y well-known Pro-r ider s from all over the wor ld came to test the new sha pe!

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OPEN

Talking of sportsmen’ t-shirts and the whole brand style of FIRE, WATER & PIPES’16 contest, the concept of the event was that the contest should be in the gangster gamers’ style — GTA San-Andreas. The design was of the highest quality: the whole part territory, the stands, the start pier, the medals and, of course, the baggy t-shirts of the participants with the huge numbers on them (immediately adding style level +50 and confidence +50)!

But, one step at a time. More than 60 sportsmen from Russia, Finland, Belarus, Ukraine, the Netherlands, the USA and Spain came to participate in this contest. There were too many sportsmen to participate in a day, so the decision was made to divide the contest into two days. The first day was featured

by OPEN MEN (22 participants), OPEN LADIES (7 participants) and WAKESTATE (8 participants) contests. The contests began in the night time but it didn’t get in the way. The new system of artificial lightening set along the entire swimming pool’s perimeter made it possible to hold contests at any time of the day at the same time letting the participants make it to work and contests on time. Every participant was given two rides (back and forth) and only one chance to fall. The very first day saw the emotionally charged atmosphere. The huge shape, being so new, was in the spotlight and made it possible for each athlete to perform something really new and unusual. Almost every rider was thrilled and this was obvious. They had plenty of reasons to be thrilled because only 16 riders out of 37 made it to the semifinals and only 5 riders out of 16 had the opportunity to participate in the main part of the contest. This portion of the event, CASH FOR TRICKS, combined the chosen riders together with the most famous sportsmen from Europe and Russia in the PRO category.

The second day began with semifinals. 16 sportsmen who made it through the qualification contest were given their deserved gangster t-shirts of contest participants and began to conquer plastic shapes and demonstrate tricks they have been mastering during the whole summer season.

YOUNGSTERS

This category should be especially highlighted, because it is something to write about. The skills that the children are performing at the two level JIB-park Kingwinch are unbelievable. All these shapes are as big as the children are, and the new shape is even bigger, but this is no obstacle to them. We were fascinated by the fact that absolutely all of them, including boys and an eight year old girl, were performing all complex twists, high jumps and slides, given the fact that just two years ago there was no children’s category in this contest. Only two years have passed, and what a success! We commend the parents and coaches of these young athletes. They have put enormous effort into the young sportsmen and have helped to develop wake boarding into an interesting, vastly developing, trendy sport.

Finals are finals in every sport. The tension is on the highest possible level — each sportsman has his or her own fears: to fall, to forget the programme, to perform a trick incorrectly, to fail in front of everybody. Some riders are so thrilled that they fall even when performing the simplest tricks, and the others have such a great

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DANIEL GRANT

psychological and physical background that not even an intense atmosphere will be a challenge. They will spin 450’s out of any shape without missing a beat. There are also riders who are participating just for interest without any hope to make it to the final, but they are performing so clear, high and neat that they make it to guess what? Yes, to the final- and they are among the best pro-riders headed

by Daniel Grant.

Five finalists taking the leading places in OPEN category made it right to the PRO. They were Dmitry Nitishevsky, Anton Bakhursky, Elizaveta Pruzhanskaya, Peter Ershov and Nikolay Golubev! Nikolay Golubev should be most respected, because he, together with his team turned Daniel Grant’s project into the reality! And this is not the whole story, he didn’t just construct the shape, but he was the best rider on it. Nikolay made it to the highest place of the pedestal in OPEN MEN category! OPEN category finalists would receive cash prizes!

The regulations of this part were totally different from the OPEN category. Each participant was given two minutes to ride to music the rider had chosen. In addition the rider could fall multiple times. This was good news for the riders and the spectators. glad to relax and go big without being worried that they would be eliminated after the first fall.

THERE ARE ALSO RIDERS WHO ARE PARTICIPATING JUST FOR INTEREST WITHOUT ANY HOPE TO MAKE IT TO THE FINAL, BUT THEY ARE PERFORMING SO CLEAR, HIGH AND NEAT THAT THEY MAKE IT TO GUESS WHAT? YES, TO THE FINAL- AND THEY ARE AMONG THE BEST PRO-RIDERS HEADED BY DANIEL GRANT.

The spectators were happy to see a real competition comprised of riders whose motto was “Go Big or Go Home” instead of being worried about riding perfectly.. 20 participants were divided into 4 groups each of 5 people, each of the groups had 2 winners best of whom was given 100 $ for having made it to semifinal. The semifinal had 2 groups of 4 participants in each of them, each of the groups had as well 2 winners best of whom was given yet 200 $; the final was featured with 4 persons + Daniel Grant. They were competing each for his medal place out of five.

In the course of three years, Kingwinch has been searching for a format which would make the contest more spectacular and fascinating, develop all the advantages of the artificial two-level swimming pool, and give spectators the unforgettable emotions felt during a

The main and the most spectacular part of the contest CASH FOR TRICKS was scheduled at 3:00 pm. In the afternoon, there were already many spectators eager to watch the professional riding. The stands and the upper circles were full and at that moment the contest began.

20 of the strongest pro riders, five in each group, and only four of them would make it to compete with Daniel Grant.The first rides showed that the competition was going to be massive. All riders in this category performed great. Because of the high level of riding, the competitors needed to take risks. They needed to perform their difficult, signature tricks. A rider couldn’t win with just stable tricks.

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ONLY FIVE METERS AWAY FROM THE SPECTATORS, HE WAS JUST FLYING FROM SHAPE TO SHAPE P E R F O R M I N G J AW D RO P P I N G TWISTS AS IF IT WAS VERY SIMPLE!

DANIEL GRANT

competition. In addition Kingwinch has strived to make the contest simple to understand for those who don’t know much about wake boarding. Now, the Kingwinch team is proud to inform you that this format was found and will be confirmed as the only one for the contest.

Now, this format will be published as a structural scheme in two languages to give riders the opportunity to prepare in advance and estimate their chances to win. The only thing that could change is the rewards system, including those in the OPEN category — there may be more of them the next year!

DANIEL GRANT

Despite the fact that the weather conditions weren’t what Daniel was accustomed to, his riding was unparalleled.

The ice cold water, the cold autumn wind — everything was child’s play to him. Only five meters away from the spectators, he was just flying from shape to shape performing jaw dropping twists as if it was very simple!

His fearlessness, strength, power and experience were just striking. There were thunder applauses, hisses and yells, it was literally impossible to watch him riding without being amused.The spectators were confused - they couldn’t comprehend how he could do the tricks he was doing. The riders were taking mental notes of interesting combinations that he performed which will be the impetus for riders around the world for a long time to come.

He is a fivefold world’s wakeboarding champion not without reason. Daniel left such a comment for the First Channel TV: “It is definitely cold here. Perhaps, this place is the coldest one I have ever ridden in. But nevertheless, I brought my wetsuit here and I am ready to have a good

time. I want to tell you that I admire the Russian riders. It is absolutely maddening to me that they spend so much time riding here in freezing cold water. I wouldn’t be able to do that regularly. Their level is great and I like their passionate attitude towards wakeboarding”.

SECRET

We will spill the beans — we want to make a surprise for Grant and a good deed to promote our most beautiful city in the world abroad! (We estimate that videos with Grant’s participation will be ranked high :) The day before the contest, together with the Emercom, we organized the morning session for Daniel and Terry on a motor boat in the center of the city! And this was a true surprise because Grant has never ridden with a motor boat!!! It was lots of fun and the great material we filmed will be used in both the summary video of Kingwinch and in the feature length film by Grant. So, follow the news, soon you’ll see it!

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ELIZAVETTA PRUHANZKAYA

THANK YOU

The season of 2016 ended with a splash. According to the organizers’ viewpoint, the contest was a success. But this is just the organizers’ viewpoint. The Kingwinch team is waiting for your appraisals, remarks and comments, this is very important for us!!! We want to say thanks to all of people working for this project — you did a great job, because you created the event of the international standard! We also want to thank the sponsors for their help and participation in the project’s realization!

We are looking forward to receiving your appraisals and hope to see you at our next event in the winter swimming pool !

SPONSORS OF THE EVENT

ST. PETER LINE : international ferry operator in St. Petersburg RADIO MAXIMUM : unparalleled informational sponsor of The Kingwinch project ADRENALINE RUSH : the absolute energy of your success TRETIY PARK : the biggest passenger transportation operator in St. Petersburg THE KONSTANTIN FORT : historical cultural complex, international checkpoint, yacht club WAKE RU : the best information portal about wakeboarding in Russia; JOBE : international manufacturer of equipment for water sports and water leisure ZOLOTAYA DOLINA : ski resort TMG : one of the biggest ad agencies OZORNOY GULYAKA : interesting events for young ambitious audience PRIMO KARTING : new leisure standard for St. Petersburg QROLIK : service allowing you to make money when you buy something TSUNAMI Wake Surf : Motor boat — official tow of Wakesurfing world

contest CENTURION Enzo 230 CRAFT BREW CAFE : cafe for those who love riding and spending a pleasant pastime SHAKA : clothes and accessories for extreme sports and street; AKSIOMA SHOP : online shop of sport equipment RADICAL SPORT : equipment for wakeboarding, kitesurfing and windsurfing BETO + : manufacturing and supply of commercial concrete BANNETT & BARROW : boards and stuff made with love BUMP : sport trampoline complex’ chain CRAZY SILVER : design accessories made of silver HBF : designer’s brand of clothes for riders SYSTEAM : SYS. team Balance Boards — hand made balance boards; TAKE-OFF: surf-club LAPIN CARS : used cars LENTAC : outdoor advertising. 18 years on the market

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Hand Plant ZACK N OVA K Rider : Zach Novak / Photo : Tim Spanagel

Before attempting a hand plant, you should find yourself an obstacle that will be easy to learn this trick on. A kicker for instance is smooth, not going to hurt your hand and also has an incline that will make it more effortless.

Start underneath the cable and take a progressive edge to the obstacle you will be hitting. Before hitting the obstacle, let off your edge so your board flattens on the water but be sure to maintain your speed.

When you hit the obstacle, and get about half way up is when you’re going to initiate the hand plant. You need to pop your board up and forward while moving your weight back (almost as if your were slipping out). When moving your weight back you will drop your back hand to catch yourself. A good way to practice is to board slide up the kicker or rail and drag your back hand, while adding more pressure to it each time until you are comfortable to go for it.

Once you figure out the hand plant, you can then make it more interesting by doing it on more difficult obstacles and adding spins out of the trick; similar to the pole jam in the photo!

Best of Luck! Cheers!

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201 6 W WA WAKE PARK

WORLD CHAM P IONSHIP S photos : Phil Sirech

ANDREW PASTURA

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DAY1

hard training throughout the year is about to pay off. Not only are individual world titles on the line, but new for 2016 are country titles. Each nationality will have the chance to also earn a world title based on how high their nation’s riders place in each division. By Monday evening we will all know who the 2016 WWA Wake Park World Champions are.

Today began with the future of the sport in the younger aged divisions, legends of the sport in the mature aged divisions and lastly professionals. Wakeboarders, wakeskaters, males and females all partook on the most advanced and well built course there is in wake park riding. CWC has supplied riders with the most progressive features so that the riders can show the best display of park riding of all time this weekend. Amateur traditional cable and Professional Wakeskate and Wakeboard Plaza was on today’s agenda as it delivered the most action packed riding ever seen at a wake park event.

© S ti j n Van ove r b e ke

The world’s best wake park , Camsur Watersports Complex (CWC) hosting the world’s most prestigious wake park event is now underway in paradise. Over 200 riders have traveled across the globe to be a part of the 2016 World Wake Association’s Wake Park World Championships presented by Nautique Boats. Twenty plus countries and all six inhabitable continents have riders actively participating with hopes of becoming a world champion here at CWC throughout Halloween weekend.

CWC started off the event with an opening ceremony that will be one for the books. As all the rider’s representing their home countries hosted their nation’s flags in the air, an enormous fire was lit to display the start of everyone’s quest for a world title. Camarines Sur Governor Migz Villafuerte and WWA Executive Director, Corrie Wilson, wished all the athletes the best of luck as he ignited the Olympic type torch letting everyone know that the time has come and all their

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CWC HAS SUPPLIED RIDERS WITH THE MOST P RO G R E S S I V E F E AT U R E S S O T H AT T H E R I D E R S C A N S H OW T H E B E S T D I S P L AY O F PA R K R I D I N G O F A L L TIME THIS WEEKEND. AMATEUR TRADITIONAL CABLE A N D P RO F E S S I O N A L WA K E S K AT E A N D WA K E B OA R D P L A Z A WA S O N T O DAY ’ S AG E N DA A S I T D E L I V E R E D T H E M O S T AC T I O N PAC K E D R I D I N G E V E R S E E N AT A WAKE PARK EVENT.

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T H I S I S T H E M O S T F U N PA R K I H AV E E V E R R I D D E N A N D W H E N YO U H AV E A L L T H E O T H E R B OY S O U T T H E R E R I D I N G AT T H E H I G H E S T L E V E L , I T P U S H E S YOU TO RIDE YOUR VERY BEST”

Loic Deschaux

LOÏC DESCHAUX

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Highlights of the day were Loic Deschaux from France absolutely slaying the technical course in the Boys (10-13) division here at CWC. Deschaux surprised everyone with his mobe 5 off the flats and his very impressive rail hits along with a heelside 9 off the kicker. “This is the most fun park I have ever ridden and when you have all the other boys out there riding at the highest level, it pushes you to ride your very best” says Loic. Winning his semi final heat, Deschaux along with Thailand’s Luke Carrick will be the top seeds in the final for the boys division.

Ukraine showed their strengths in the masters (30-39) division today with an impressive ride from Dymtro Massalov with a high score of 97.5. Along with Massalov, Filipino Marvin Tucio showed his country some love by making it through the tough cut to make it to the finals in Masters men. The Junior Women (14-18) gave the world a preview to see what the next generation of women’s wake park riding will be in the near future. Eira Janasson from Sweden blew everyone’s minds with how effortless her run was which included many difficult tricks. As the sun went down and the moon was out, the lights came on behind the cable lake at the one of a kind “plaza” bilevel pool setup. The world’s best wakeboard rail

riders and wakeskaters hit the greatest setup ever made for the sport under the lights at night. Andrew Pastura from the USA took the top spot in the plaza Wakeskate category as he performed a flawless backside 3 down the stair set and also linked up some flats tricks and rail hits in the 2nd pool at the end of the plaza setup. Following Pastura’s win was William Klang from Sweden in Pro Men’s Plaza Wakeboard. William won first place by impressing the judges with his backside 270 onto the handrail, frontside 360 into the hip on the 2nd pool and lastly his wall ride to 50/50 backside 180 out on the creeper ledge. The wakeboard podium finished out with Victor Salmon from Belgium in 2nd and the young Filipino sensation Raph Trinidad in 3rd.

There couldn’t have been a better day to have for day one of the 2016 WWA Wake Park World Championships here at CWC in the Philippines. The entire CWC facility delivered the best riding we have ever seen and it’s only been one day. As the event continues on we will see the riding continue to blow minds. Expect tricks that have never been performed in an event to be seen this weekend as time continues on here at this prestigious event.

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DAY 2

Today’s action had the equivalent to the same feeling as it being a final as the riding was that mind-blowing. Pro Wakeskate saw Belgium’s Victor Salmon ride solid to advance to the final tomorrow along with Denmark’s Kasper Laugesen, USA’s Andrew Pastura and Germany’s Andy Kolb. Highlights from wakeskating included Pastura’s effortless frontside flip and technical rail hits while Andy Kolb destroyed the kickers. Professional Women hit the water in the traditional cable division and put on quite the show. The women showcased perfection in their ability to hit Pro Men caliber rails, different 720 variations and all sorts of mobes in the flats. To no surprise reigning World Champion Julia Rick from Germany scored a perfect score of 100 as she aced the entire course. “I was so stoked to land both my 313 off the flats along with my backside 720 which is so easy off of the perfect kicker they have here at CWC” says Rick. Julia was not the only one to feel that way about the facility and vibe here at CWC. The energy and positivity down on the dock from all the riders, parents and fans was all time. Having 200 plus riders staying

Perfect conditions and epic riding set the tone as professional men and women take to the water here in paradise. The second day of the world’s greatest wake park contest delivered nothing short of the best show we have ever seen in wakeboarding and wakeskating. Amateur Features Only riders took to the water for the first time today along with Professional Men and Women Wakeboarding and also Professional Wakeskating.

CWC took a trip down memory lane last night as they premiered “throwback” videos from their first events as the park is celebrating their 10 year anniversary in part with the 2016 WWA Wake Park World Championships presented

by Nautique Boats. Camsur Watersports Complex has been a staple in the progression to wake park riding since the park was built by Congressman LRay Villafuerte. For the past decade CWC has played host to some of the most monumental moments in wakeboarding and hence why the 2016 WWA Wake Park World Championships was destined to be hosted by CWC.

OSKAR GEJLER

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here on site, riding together, eating together and mingling in between brings all these nations of the world together in peace. Executive director of the WWA Corrie Wilson was extremely impressed with the camaraderie between all the riders. “The Wake Park World Championships are always such a fun event to be a part” says Wilson, “I love seeing new talented riders from all over the world show up to compete among the best.

The Professional Men closed out the event for the day and what a banger division to do so. The first ever toeside backside 1260 in an event went down in the Features Only division by Australia’s Sebastian “Busty” Dunn. Busty also won his Traditional Cable heat with another perfect posted score of 100. But Dunn wasn’t the only one showing perfection on the water, Guenther Oka from the USA also found himself a score

BUSTY DUNN

of 100 after he performed a flawless run of rail hits, big kicker tricks and mega flats moves. Oka also qualified through to the Features Only semi final tomorrow morning that will only guarantee to see the heat get turned up when it comes to wild tricks going down.

The 2016 WWA Wake Park World Championships comes to a close tomorrow evening as we will be crowning world champions from all over the globe here at CWC. Titles will be given out in over 20 different individual divisions along with country titles and lastly Professional Men’s WWA Wake Park World Series overall titles. The 2016 wakeboard and wakeskate year will be finished out tomorrow night with a World Championships celebration with a Halloween theme.

What an event this has been so far and its about to get even better!

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KIRIAN HOWEN

DAY 3

Guenther Oka came out on fire with a run in Professional Men’s Traditional that did not have one single bobble, thus earning him a world title. Oka ended his run with a perfectly stomped toe side backside nine that he grabbed his board melon for what seemed like days. “I was beyond pumped that my best run of the entire event was in the finals. This was by far the most heated competition I have ever ridden in and it came down to the quality of riding. Every rider stood up their runs and crushed it!” stated Oka. Oka wasn’t the only professional that was on point all week. Germany’s Julia Rick scored a perfect 100 in Traditional Wake Park with her heel backside 720 off the kicker and her 313 off the flats. Rick has now repeated as WWA Wake Park World Champion in Professional Women’s Wake Park three consecutive years in a row now, a feat never done in the event’s eight year history.

Professional Men’s rider Guenther Oka (USA) and Professional Women’s rider Julia Rick (GER) rose to new heights and won both their Features Only and Traditional Wake Park divisions at the 2016 WWA Wake Park World Championships presented

by Nautique Boats. Oka and Rick rode at the highest level ever at a wake park contest earning them each double world titles.

With well over 200 riders, the world now has over 20 new WWA Wake Park World Champion’s at what will go down as the best wake park event of all time. Camsur Watersports Complex delivered again with the greatest riding we have ever seen in wake park contest. All of the amateur and professional riders showcased how bright the future is in wakeboarding. Camsur providence Governor Migz Villafuerte provided all the athletes with the finest hospitality there could be. “I am so honored to have over 200 athletes representing 25 plus countries here in harmony in our beautiful providence of Camsur. This event has always been the most prestigious in wake park riding and we look forward to hosting it again next year even better.”

Says Migz.

NIXOLAS LEDUC

The Professional Features Only division was the main event that finished out the contest. The entire CWC complex was swept spotless by both Rick and Oka again in this division.

Oka wiped up the course with a win in the kickers section and

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the brand new creeper rail section with a creeper popper front board backside 450 out that had the crowd going nuts. Rick scored a perfect 100 by winning all sections of the course, but securing it being the only girl to switch transfer 270 to front board to the very top of the creeper rail. The features only division was absolutely insane to watch in all divisions as the amateurs also showed the world that they could blow minds too. There were even two kids in the boys division that landed toeside backside nines.

Governor Migz Villafuerte, congressman LRay Villafuerte, along with the entire CWC staff provided warmth and kindness to everyone that showed up to the event. “Together the WWA, CWC and the entire Camsur community work so great together naturally. I was beyond pleased with how wonderful the World Championships went this year and I cannot wait for it to make it’s return next year. I also would like to thank all the athletes that participated and congratulate all the riders that won world titles.” Says Congressman LRay Villafuerte.

I AM SO HONORED TO HAVE OVER 200 ATHLETES REPRESENTING 25 PLUS COUNTRIES H E R E I N H A R M O N Y I N O U R B E A U T I F U L P ROV I D E N C E O F C A M S U R . T H I S E V E N T H A S ALWAYS BEEN THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS IN WAKE PARK RIDING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOSTING IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR EVEN BETTER.

Governor Migz Villafuerte

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BLAKE BISGHOP

The 2016 WWA Wake Park World Championships also introduced a brand new aspect to the event, with overall country and park team scoring. With practically 30 countries and almost 60 parks represented, the competition was very close in both categories. In the end with over 2000 overall counted country points it was the United States of America that

took the title to become the overall country World Champion.

For the Parks Overall, it was reigning Point’s Chase National Champion Park, Orlando Watersports Complex (OWC) that claimed the first place points followed closely behind by JB SKI and Vasteras Cable Park.

PARK OVERALL CHAMPION USA

PODIUM PRO OBSTCALE ONLY

PODIUM PRO WAKESKATE TRADITIONNAL

PODIUM PRO WOMEN TRADITIONAL

And that is a wrap for the 2016 WWA Wake Park World Championships at Camsur Watersports Complex in Naga City, Philippines. History was made, world titles were added to resumes and memories were made. The awards presentation was hosted by none other Dano the Mano and there was

nothing but a sea of smiles from all the people there to close out the event.

Hope See you all again next year there for the 2017 WWA WAKE PARK World Championships !

PODIUM PRO TRADITIONNAL

PODIUM PRO TRADITIONNAL 2

PODIUM WAKESKATE PRO WINCH

THE GROOMS

2016 : • USA National Champion (Boat) • 3rd Place MALIBU Rider Experience (Boat) 2015 : • USA National Champion 3 rd Place (Boat) • Italian National Champion (Boat) 2014 : • 2nd Place World Championship (Cable) • Italian Cup Champion (Cable) 2013 • World Champion (Cable) 2012 • Russian National Champion (Cable)

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Max Sitnikov

by Phil Sirech / Photo : “Blackboard production”

M a x S it nikov is a 10 yea r ol d R ussia n r ider. H e’s t h e wi nner of t h e U S Na t iona l cont es t division super g rom in 2016 .

L ike a l l t h e r ider s of t h e U nl ea sh ed Tea m M a x ime excels i n t wo discipl ines , b ot h ca b l e a nd b oa t . We h a ve fo ll owed t h is Liq uid Force S uper Grom r ider for t h e l a s t three yea r s now a s a Tea m R ider .

How did you get started wakeboarding?

My whole family wakeboards. My mom, my brother, even my little sister all participate. We love spending time together and it’s great that we enjoy the same thing.

Do you do any other board sports?

I love snowboarding and we spend all winter in the mountains. I also surf.

We live near Santa Monica beach and try to surf as much as we can.

What do you like the most about wakeboarding? What do you dislike?

I love having fun with my friends and family. I love riding doubles with my little sister. And sometimes I like doing silly things on the obstacles. I don’t like when someone is pushing me to try new tricks. I hate falling and then having to come back to the dock to start again.

Name a trick you would like to do one day?

I think I can do double backflip soon so I am working on it now.

Which do you prefer, rails or kickers?

I like both! But rails are always different at different parks so it’s so much fun to try them all.

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If you could have a session with anyone, who would it be?

I love riding with my friends who are pro-riders like Angelika Schriber, Austin Hair, and Steffen Vollert.

I really like Dominik Guhrs and hope to ride with him one day.

Tell us a bit about your home spots?

My hope spot is Wake Island Watersports complex in Sacramento, California and Velocity Park which is located nearby. Wake Island is super friendly and I love all the guys that hang out there. The owner Noel is absolutely cool! The park has beautiful blue water and many fun obstacles. Velocity is more advanced and has some signature features like Kaesen’s rail.

Do you always ride alone?

I love riding doubles! It always pushes me to ride better and try new stuff.

Any shout outs ?

Come ride with me!!!!

shake the lake

part.2

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TO BE67 CONTINUED...

the pro

olie moore

by Edgar Petrenko / photo : Peter Vahlfridsson

How old are you and where are you from?

24, Peterborough, England.

How would you describe your home town to someone who has never been there?

Peterborough is okay…nothing special. I live nearby in the countryside. Peaceful to come home to but after a while it can get a little boring but thats like spending too much time anywhere.

What’s the gnarliest thing you’ve seen go down in U.K. Any crazy stories from the city?

Ummm nothing that crazy to be honest it’s pretty tame where I live.

When were you first introduced to wakeskating?

I was a wakeboarder and did the boat nationals in ‘09. I entered the wakeskate for fun and won it, so wakeskating became more interesting to me especially with it being so similar to skateboarding.

What was the first video that really got you psyched?

I’ve watched Fun Boots quite a few times. Forever a fav.

Do you still ride boat?

Rarely but it’s fun when I do and reminds me of the good old days growing up riding ski boat.

What was the first cable park you ever went to?

Probably Sheffield. My parents got me a membership there for a year, so that was where I first hit rails and got into cable riding.

So you used to Wakeskate there a lot?

Yea a bit but it’s like two hours from where I live so it was just for that one year.

Then you were turned into a local?

I was just some out of town kid but got to know the locals so we had a laugh.

Who was your first sponsor?

Liquid Force UK for about three years thanks to Crowhurst.

But I soon realized they’re just a big corporate company.

So how long you been riding for Southern?

I was on Southern for a year but the times were hard with getting boards then Aphid came about and that was something from birth I wanted to experience in my lifetime then that ended after a couple years. Wakeskating is hard to survive in if you’re trying to make some sort of career from it. Then Dan hit me up at the beginning of this year and now I’m back on Southern. Southern just feels right, we are all pretty similar, like to party and have a good time, don’t take wakeskating too serious. I feel like I fit in well.

When did you actually get to meet Daniel Robinson?

Daniel Robins.. Nick Robinson.. Haha so many people seem to get their names mixed up. I met Dan when I first got on the team thanks to Pierre. Dan invited me out to his place in South Florida to check out the last retention tour stop, which was my first time going to the states on my own and first experience of the wakeskating scene overseas. It was an awesome time meeting so many people at an event like that.

Dan also introduced me to Jameson Whiskey and a relaxed lifestyle that Florida offers, which is why I keep going back each year.

Who have you hung out with the most on the team?

Dan, and Nick a good bit. But Reed spent a good bit of time in England a few years back spending 2 or 3 summers in a row here which was awesome he’s a rad guy! We hung out a good bit, did a UK winch trip in 2010 and filmed for his A Cup A Tea video back then. I wanted to get out and see him and the rest of the team some more!

What’s next for you? Are you getting a pro model deck soon?

Based at home most of the winter and working pretty much.

I don’t know man, that’s up to Dan I guess - haha

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Are you single? Or are you in a serious relationship?

Single.

Where has wakeskating taken you, travel-wise?

Wakeskating has taken me to so many places I probably never would have been. Parts of Asia, around America, Canada once plus plenty of beautiful places in Europe which I am very thankful for.

I see that you travel a lot to the US, would you ever want to move there permanently?

I really enjoy the time I get to spend in the US and seeing all the friends I’ve made over there, so living stateside would be awesome but getting a visa for that, I hear is a struggle. As I’m getting older money is more of the issue so work is becoming a bit more important which means staying at home more often than traveling. I’m not complaining, I’ve done more traveling and seen so much already compared to a lot of people which I’m lucky to have done.

Is there somewhere you haven’t yet traveled to that you really want to visit?

There’s so many places in the world to visit. It would be nice to go back to the Philippines and Bali looks amazing. Plenty more in Europe to explore, it would be fun to do some more wakeskating in France and Spain etc with all those guys out there. I like going to the different cities and states in America where things are different to home and more diverse.

I noticed you been getting a lot of tattoos lately.

I thought your mom didn’t want you to get any.

Haha my mum is pretty chill about them but my dad… not a fan. Tattoos have become more of an interest to me lately as most of my friends at home have them.

Art is cool.

Are there any tricks you can’t do?

Too many.

What are you going to start working on next?

My consistency isn’t all that and I suck at flip tricks down drops.

What do you think about the Wakeskate Tour?

It’s cool, helps progression and grow the sport. Getting to see a lot of Wakeskaters hanging out and riding together is pretty rare so it’s always a good time.

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I JUST WANT TO KEEP ENJOYING IT. I REALLY WANTED TO JUST WAKESKATE AND NOT HAVE TO WORK BUT THAT DOESN’T SEEM TO BE POSSIBLE IF YOU DON’T ALREADY HAVE THE BIG TIME SPONSORS...

Who is the next kid coming up from U.K. that people should pay attention to?

James Harrington kills it. Big bag of tricks and flows around the cable with style. Also Will Bradley who never really wakeskates much as real life takes over but he’s got one of the best styles in wakeskating.

What do you want to accomplish in wakeskating?

What do you want your legacy to be?

I don’t know man, I just want to keep enjoying it. I really wanted to just wakeskate and not have to work but that doesn’t seem to be possible if you don’t already have the big time sponsors but even those companies don’t seem to be that interested in the sport. They seem to just be content with the skaters they already have and don’t care for new talent. Which isn’t helping when it comes to getting more people into wakeskating and the growth of the sport.

It seems that wake skating has been sitting in the same spot for a while now. I just want to see wakeskating go somewhere and become something big. Skateboarding has blasted the last few years and it’s awesome to see, people are seeing it as something gnarly and progressive rather than a kid’s sport. Wakeskating is going stale like forgotten about fish. If you’re getting paid to do a sport you should be pushing yourself to push the progression!

There’s kids like Clem going mental on a wakeskate. He’s landed so many new tricks and put out that many videos on Instagram this year. He’s Wakeskater of the year! Why aren’t the energy drink companies fighting over him..?

What do you want to tell the kids out there who dream of being a pro wakeskater some day?

Watch skateboard videos and be creative, use lock-ins.

What’s the plan for 2017?

Winch more and put out a full part. Film some more with Kid for the Istudiomo video.

Anybody you’d like to thank?

Mum & dad, Southern, O’Neill UK. Unleashed - Phil and Edgar for the interview/article. Cheers!

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anna za ki

by Vicki Dill / photos : Wojtek Kalka

When thinking about spor ts that are popular in St. Peter sburg, R u s s i a y o u ’d n e v e r e x p e c t t h a t wa ke b o a r d i n g wo u l d b e o n e o f t h e m . A n n a Z h a kova i s one of the mos t fashionable and stylish girl riders and she comes directly from that side o f t h e wo r l d . S h e g o t h e r s t a r t i n wa ke b o a r d i n g f r o m “ l i k i n g ” a Facebook pos t featur ing a guy doing air tr icks . The guy m e s s a g e d h e r a n d a s ke d i f s h e wa s i n t e r e s t e d i n l e a r n i n g t o w a ke b o a r d a n d o f c o u r s e s h e s a i d “ Y E S ” ! O ff s h e h e a d e d t o a n e a r by 2 : 0 a n d t h e r e s t i s his tor y!

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the elements, that make up the trick. When I’m preparing to do a new trick, I always have good support. That gives me strength and confidence. When people encourage me telling: “Anna, you can do it”, I calm down and start trying new trick. One of the reasons why I love wakeboarding is that you have to struggle with yourself and your fears.

Anna…what are your strengths in wakeboarding? What are you BEST at?

I love kickers! And as the recent contest on Philippines showed – my best tricks are on the kicker. It’s not a surprise for anyone that we are strong in what we like. My perseverance is the best asset in achieving the goal - no rest for me until I master a new trick.

If you weren’t a wakeboarder what would you be?

If I was not a wakeboarder... I would be a housewife and I would have many children. Just kidding;) I would be an athlete, practicing another extreme sport.

How do you feel about competing?

I started competing not so long ago but I like it a lot. There is nothing I enjoy better than taking part in competition. At the beginning I was involved in absolutely every event in my country and I gained a lot of experience. Now I’m interested in international competitions. I already took part in FISE and several WWA contests this year. FISE is something unbelievable - all summer extreme sports are in one place.

I certainly will go there one more time. But regardless of the competition, I always like taking part in it.

What are 3 words that describe you?

Diligent, brave and sexy!

What’s your go-to fashion while you ride?

Now I like to ride completely in black, but I think it’s kind of a general trend in wakeboarding today. I prefer short sexy pants, long sleeve shirt and Adidas socks.

Is Wakeboarding your main job?

Yes, I believe that wakeboarding is my main job, since I spend all my time on it. The slight problem is that such a job absolutely doesn’t bring income, but I’m ready to give everything for my favorite hobby. People are always asking me: “Where do I make my money?” I can answer that easily.

I’m a hat designer and before I knew about wakeboarding I worked hard and developed my own brand ZHAKI. Now all my savings I spend on wakeboarding. So I’m really grateful to all my clients - they give me the opportunity to do what I really love.

Where do you like to ride most?

All new places are interesting to me. I like to ride in warm countries. I would like to visit more places, so I can figure out which of them I like most.

What’s something that most people don’t know about you?

I have different colored eyes: one blue, the other brown.

Blue I got from my mother, brown from my father.

What are some of your favorite edits?

BREDDAS - We Love Wakeboarding Tank girls, Apashe

Who are your favorite riders?

I’ve never reflected on who my favorite riders are. I am very impressed by the Cohen brothers - a combination of powerful, stylish riding, madness and fun. These guys have really good sense of humor and they are very creative in wakeboarding. Among the girls I can mark Julia Rick. She’s a real athlete. The strict regime of training and discipline are not things that everyone can sustain. That is the case when the end justifies the means.

What is your favorite instagram account? @wakezeach Favorite Event: Red Bull (TWP) Regular toeside or switch heel?

Switch heel

Do you practice a specific health & exercise plan?

Wakeboarding allows me to stay healthy. I don’t eat special meals, I don’t go to the gym and I do what I like without any restrictions.

Favorite trick: HSFS 900 Favorite Airline to travel on: The airline, which allows me to transport my wakeboard for free.

What is your process for learning a new trick?

Any new trick should be well thought out. You need to do all

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/// / H YP ERLI T E 2017 \\\\ COURTNEY ANGUS PRO MODEL SCANDAL - MSRP $539.99 - 134cm & 138cm - SHAPED By: Aaron Yup, Courtney Angus introduces her first signature cable wakeboard, the Scandal.

It’s well deserved and she’s tailored this board for the ladies to get the most out of themselves and their riding at the cable. Starting with the popular Wishbone mold she has dialed in the flex specifically for women’s riding. Blasting off kickers, hitting your first feature or pressing the snot out of the tail, the Scandal makes it easy. The crossover flex core and our power press rocker combined with Hyperlite’s Satin Flex deliver a ride like no other. Durability, the Scandal has it – with ABS Sidewalls and a fully Sintered Enduro Base this board will stand up to any abuse you dish out.

Ride what Courtney rides, the Scandal!

CONSTRUCTION FEATURES • Fully Machined Crossover Flex Core • Power Press • Tip to Tail Dual Concaves • Sintered Enduro Base • M6 Inserts • Monocoque Construction • Sintered Enduro Base • Full ABS Sidewall • Flat Nose Profile • Layered Glass FINLESS www.hyperlite.com

//// BOMBAS \\\\ Bombas, the sock brand that donates a pair of socks for each pair purchased is on its way to hit a major milestone of donating it’s millionth pair! Not only is Bombas helping to fill the gap when it comes to the most requested items at homeless shelters but they are creating a movement. Customers of Bombas are not only fans because of the comfortable technology but also because they are helping a specific cause that is real and hitting close to home, here domestically.

/ / / / I O N \\\\

Founders David Heath and Randy Goldberg were friends and colleagues when they heard the statistic of socks being the #1 requested item at homeless shelters when they set out to create Bombas. Not only were they thoughtful in their product (consumer and donation) but they also created an environment for staff and customers that promotes happiness and overall, to BEE BETTER.

MUSE Temperatures are rising ladies and we’ve got a smoking hot surprise for you: the new ION ladies wetsuit line.

ION’s cute collection of shorties combine sophistication with a little bit of cheekiness.

Choose from four designs to complement your style, and check out the innovative zipless option.

The MUSE is a must-have for any water women striving to look good, feel good and have all the protection they need in all climates www.ion-products.com

Taken from the latin word for Bee, Bombas stands for the mission that we are ALL together in this world – a hive so to speak – but in order for us to continue on as humans and create a better world, it’s all about working together to help one another, even if it’s just by simply purchasing a pair of socks. www.bombas.com 80

Konex is proud to introduce the most robust and customizable linear cable system in the world. Developed around the needs of both the owner and the rider, it offers better performance, more options and less downtime.

CUSTOM BUILD YOUR CABLE SYSTEM konexwakeparks.com

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mexico L io r So f er and J uli a Ri ck t a k e th e ti tles a t 2 0 16 I W WF Cable Wakeboard W o r l d Ch am pi onsh i ps! text Gerti Rings (Ring PR) / photos: Air Motion Media

I n p e r f e c t c o n d i t i o n s , t h e n e w w o r l d w a ke b o a r d i n g a n d w a ke s k a t i n g c h a m p i o n s w e r e c r o w n e d a t t h e 9 t h C a b l e Wakeboard Wor ld Championships . Lior Sofer (ISR) took the win a t t h e O p e n M e n ’s wa ke b o a rd e r s w h i l e J u l i a R i ck ( G E R ) wo n the Open Women competition. Clément De Prémonville (FRA) a n d Z u z a n a V r a b l ova ( S V K ) a r e t h e n ew wo r l d wa ke s k a t i n g champions . 158 contes tants from 28 na tions took par t in the championships over the pas t week.

With an outstanding second run in the finals, Lior Sofer (ISR) managed to defend his title at Morelos Acuaski Action Park, Mexico. With massive jumps such as Heelside Frontside 900, Crow Mobe, 315, or KGB 540 Nosegrab, Sofer pushed Dominik Gührs (GER) to the second place. Third place went to Guy Firer (ISR) who went with his new signature trick, the “Firer Attack”, and who had won the junior world championship some days ago. At the prize-giving, a relieved Lior Sofer said: “This year has been really tough, as I’ve been battling with a few injuries which have held me back. So to come to Mexico as the underdog and finish like that is unreal, I just can’t describe it. I would like to thank Mexico for treating us so well.

Perfect food, riding, accommodation, you couldn’t ask for anything better.“

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LIOR SOFER 83

JULIA RICK

OPEN WOMEN: JULIA RICK CROWNS HER PERFECT YEAR

Reigning 2016 European champion and current IWWF world-cup ranking leader Julia Rick (GER) impressed the judges at Morelos Acuaski Action Park with superior tricks such as Toeside Backside 720 or Frontside 313 and took the world championship in the Open Women category. Aurelie Godet (FRA) got second ahead of Vanessa Weinhauer (GER) who had become junior world champion just a few days ago. “I am so happy to get my first ever IWWF Open Ladies Win”, Julia Rick stated. “I have been so impressed with Mexico, it’s beautiful and has a fabulous vibe about it. Acuaski is a really good cable, the course is challenging and quite exhausting. I was also really pleased to come to Mexico as the Athlete Of The Year, this has made 2016 very special for me. Becoming World Champion and European Champion rounds up a perfect season for me.”

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CLEMENT DE PREMONVILLE

WAKESKATING: ZUZANA VRABLOVA DEFENDS HER TITLE

The wakeskaters delivered a fantastic show today, with Clément De Prémonville (FRA) taking the win in a thrilling final. Performing tricks such as Frontside Flip, Kickflip, Gazelle, and Ollie Frontside 360, he won over Maurizio Marassi (ITA) who had already taken silver at the junior wakeskaters. David Lang (AUT) came in third. “It’s a great feeling, I’m so glad to have had a great run. I’m always pushing myself to the limits, and this just feels so good right now. I have loved being in Mexico, they have such good Tacos and the most friendly people I’ve ever met”, Clément De Prémonville said at the prize-giving.

At the Open women’s wakeskaters, 2012 and 2014 world champion Zuzana Vrablova (SVK) was able to defend her title again. Ori Boujo (ISR) got second, Elisa Costanzo (ITA) came in third. “I’m so happy right now! I started my competition off with a safe run and was hoping to go crazy for my second run, but after Ori stepped up her second run I had to change tactics”, Zuzana Vrablova stated.

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AURELIE GODET

SEATED: EMANUELE PAGNINI (ITA) TAKES THE WIN!

The seated category has been included in the World Championships for the first time, and it proved a very successful debut. It was Italian Emanuele Pagnini who stole the show with an amazing hit on the Incline Pipe rail – a huge run!

Bastien Perret (FRA) took second place ahead of Jorge Font (MEX). At the emotional prize giving ceremony, Emanuele Pagnini said: “It is so important for the seated competition to be a part of the Open competition. Normally disabled competitions are separate, but for us it is fantastic to be included.”

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PODIUM PRO WOMEN

RESULTS 2016 IWWF CABLE WAKEBOARD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AT MORELOS ACUASKI ACTION PARK, MEXICO:

WAKEBOARD OPEN MEN

1) Lior Sofer (ISR), 87.67 points 2) Dominik Gührs (GER), 83.67 points 3) Guy Firer (ISR), 83.33 points

WAKESKATE OPEN MEN

1) Clément De Prémonville (FRA), 79 points 2) Maurizio Marassi (ITA), 69 points 3) David Lang (AUT), 63.67 points 

WAKEBOARD OPEN WOMEN

1) Julia Rick (GER), 78.33 points 2) Aurelie Godet (FRA), 63 points 3) Vanessa Weinhauer (GER), 60 points

WAKESKATE OPEN LADIES

1) Zuzana Vrablova (SVK), 68.33 points 2) Ori Boujo (ISR), 63.67 points 3) Elisa Costanzo (ITA), 52.67 points

WAKEBOARD SEATED MEN

1) Emanuele Pagnini (ITA), 73 points 2) Bastien Perret (FRA), 62.33 points 3) Jorge Font (MEX), 40 points

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bobby grant by phil Sirech / Photo : Daniel Grant

Bob by Gra nt is a l eg end a t Th a i Wa ke Pa r k . You won’ t ma ke it pa s t t h e t h e s t a r t ing dock wit h out Bob by’s a pprova l , but l ucky for us h e’s a fa n of t h e S l ing sh ot S up er Grom! A t jus t 9 yea r s of a g e, t h e fut ure is b r ig h t for Bobby a nd t h e spor t of wa keb oa rding .

How did you get started wakeboarding?

My whole family wakeboards. My mom, my brother, even my little sister all participate. We love spending time together and it’s great that we enjoy the same thing.

Do you do any other board sports?

I love snowboarding and we spend all winter in the mountains. I also surf.

We live near Santa Monica beach and try to surf as much as we can.

What do you like the most about wakeboarding? What do you dislike?

I love having fun with my friends and family. I love riding doubles with my little sister. And sometimes I like doing silly things on the obstacles. I don’t like when someone is pushing me to try new tricks. I hate falling and then having to come back to the dock to start again.

Name a trick you would like to do one day?

I think I can do double backflip soon so I am working on it now.

Which do you prefer, rails or kickers?

I like both! But rails are always different at different parks so it’s so much fun to try them all.

If you could have a session with anyone, who would it be?

I love riding with my friends who are 89

pro-riders like Angelika Schriber, Austin Hair, and Steffen Vollert.

I really like Dominik Guhrs and hope to ride with him one day.

Tell us a bit about your home spots?

My hope spot is Wake Island Watersports complex in Sacramento, California and Velocity Park which is located nearby. Wake Island is super friendly and I love all the guys that hang out there. The owner Noel is absolutely cool! The park has beautiful blue water and many fun obstacles. Velocity is more advanced and has some signature features like Kaesen’s rail.

Do you always ride alone?

I love riding doubles! It always pushes me to ride better and try new stuff.

Any shout outs ?

Come ride with me!!!!

The Vineyards photo : Joseph Matthew

The Vineyards is located in Los Gatos, California just 25 miles from San Jose International Airport.

It is located just outside of Silicon Valley and only 20 miles away from Santa Cruz, California.

Situated on over 40+ acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains, The Vineyards has no shortage of breathtaking scenery. Everything from California Poppies to Petite Sirah grapes can be spotted growing around the pond. The Vineyards is home to some of the most vivid sunsets overlooking Santa Cruz & Pacific Ocean.

The Vineyards consist of 100% UNIT Parktech features which include Felix Georgii signature series rail, double kinked handrail, bi-level incline rail, (2) medium kickers & XL kicker. The park setup is constantly changing on a weekly basis, thanks to UNIT hacks the creative possibilities are endless for a rider with a vision. Built in 2015, The Vineyards is the second private Sesitec System 2.0 park in Northern California. Geared toward the advanced rider, The Vineyards is the ideal playground to film video parts. Keep an eye out for big things to come from this private park with riders like Guenther Oka & Dylan Miller making recent trips to ride the park..