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SHAWN WATSON LAKE POWELL ISSUE
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ALL PHOTOS BY JOEY MEDDOCK (UNLESS SPECIFIED OTHERWISE)
息 2011 Wake Journal & Meddock Photography, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Published weekly to iPad速, iPhone速 and iPod touch速 via Wake Journal app every Monday, and online at WakeJournal.com
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ON THE COVER SHAWN WATSON LAKE POWELL SUMMER 2009 CAMERA: NIKON D3 LENS: NIKKOR 300MM ANGLE: HOUSEBOAT ROOF
According to Wikipedia, “Lake Powell is a reservoir on the Colorado River, straddling the border between Utah and Arizona. It is the second largest manmade reservoir in the
Journal, Lake Powell is a special
monumental. The Aaron Reed
United States behind Lake Mead.
place full of unforgettable memo-
stories are classics, the beer bongs
It is public land managed by the
ries. Every trip is an unpredictable
never ending, and the memories
National Park Service and avail-
adventure with tons of riding, twists,
(or lack of) go on and on. While this
able to the public for recreational
turns, accidents and parties that
entire issue is dedicated to Lake
purposes.” At 186 miles long and
nobody could have imagined. With
Powell, no photo will justify what it’s
averaging 132 feet deep, that’s a
its breathtaking views and back-
really like in person. Hopefully the
whole lot of water to go wakeboard-
drops, it’s home to the most iconic
rider stories that follow inspire you
ing, wakeskating, or house boating.
wakeboarding films and photog-
to gather some friends and go ride
According to the riders featured
raphy of all time. Every picture is
at this nostalgic lake soon.
in this extended edition of Wake
a postcard and any video clip is
“Lake Powell is like no other place on earth. As
to take someone on an ill-advised late night mis-
soon we leave the marina and start our 30-mile
sion back to the marina, where they were trying
trek through the canyons, I stare at my surround-
to catch a flight that night. On his way back to the
ings in amazement. Waking up at 4 am to ride is
houseboat, he beached the boat on a sandbar. He
brutal, but the early sunrises are crazy colorful!
was stranded there all night with nothing but his
The party stories are endless. You gotta love Aaron
board shorts on. We weren’t able to go rescue him
Reeds motto, “12 Before 12”. After finishing his
until sunrise the next morning. I feel like I’m on
12, he’d nap and start all over again before going to
another planet when I’m there!
sleep that night. Then there’s Balzer, who decided
—Shawn Watson GET THE APP
3
Driving In. GLEN CANYON, UT
“There are many different
all our gear and start our
ways to get into Lake
voyage into the lake. The
Powell. With Liquid Force,
record-setting numbers at
we would usually would fly
the grocery store will set the
into Page on a tiny little prop
tone, but each turn down
plane. We would literally fill
the road as you wind closer
all the seats making it feel
builds up the anticipation of
like our own private escort
what lies ahead.”
into the lake. On arrival,
— Joey Meddock
we’d load up the Supra with
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7
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Collin Harrington “Lake Powell is probably the get lost in the surreal abyss most historic lake in wake
of red rock canyons. That
history. Growing up, see-
places emits a vibe like
ing it in mags and videos,
nowhere I have ever rid-
it became a place that I
den. It’s not always the best
dreamed of going to one
riding conditions, but when
day. Being there for the first
you come around a corner
time is like meeting one of
and see miles of sheet-
your greatest idols for the
glass water, surrounded by
first time. It gives you that
massive rocks walls… it’s
strange, in-awe feeling. I
one of the most amazing
love being there with zero
feelings you can ever have
communication to the rest
wakeboarding. Lake Powell
of the world. You just get
will forever be, one of the
to enjoy the time with the
greatest places to ride in the
friends who are there. You
history of our sport.”
VIDEO
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9
Destination L
www.antelopep
Antelope Point Holdings LLC, is an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service Glen C
Lake Powell . . .
pointlakepowell.com
Photography provided by Antelope Point Marina and SGS Photography
Canyon National Recreation Area
Gregg Necrason BLACKLIST TRIP 2005
“Lake Powell is God’s illustration of dichotomy and balance. Tons of water in the middle of a desert. To me, Lake Powell is early mornings, late nights, dry skin, beer bongs, hangovers (depending on which side of the state line you’re on), over-crowded house boats, and a guaranteed, awe-inspiring setting for a great wake session. My timeline at Lake Powell includes filming for Mayday, to the last Powell Brostock. With all the destinations in my wake history, each memorable Lake Powell trip (about ten of them now) had their own unique vibes that I’ll never forget.”
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Erik Ruck Lake Powell is one of those places in wakeboard history VIDEO
that you need to see with your own two eyes. With its ever-changing landscape, you can go to a spot in the lake one year, then the next year it wouldn’t exist. It’s like a natural phenomenon that I feel lucky to have been able to experience in person!
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13
Mood Light Guide PASSING THROUGH HURRICANE, UT
14
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Ben Greenwood JULY 2009
“Lake Powell has its own personal vibe, more so than any other lake I’ve been to. The aura surrounding the lake jumps out at you the very first time you see it. The deeper into the lake you drive, the higher the rock walls get, the longer the fingers are, and the better the riding is. My favorite riding memory at Powell was up at mile marker 62 or so. We ducked back into a cove where Watson, Shane, Collin, Reed and myself just kept riding and riding, one after another. Every corner we turned was glass. It seemed like it would end at every “next turn,” but didn’t. It felt like we could have rode forever, but we had to exhibit a bit if discipline and force ourselves back toward home before running the boat out of gas.” 16
VIDEO
Shane Bonifay JUNE 2006
VIDEO
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Harley Clifford JULY 2009
Lake Powell means a really
little joy rides on the jet ski
good time! There are plenty
and find a lovely little water
of sleepless nights, terribly
rock to do our business.
dry boogers, and some
One memory I’d like to
really cool photos. The fact
forget is when I was driving
you have to wake up at like
around on the jet ski and
5AM every morning to shoot
saw a naked man way up on
makes riding a little diffi-
the rock wall. I was kind of
cult, but all the photos turn
freaked out because I had
out awesome. I’ve been
no idea if that person was
on three Lake Powell trips
with us, or on a separate
now and they are always
trip by themselves. Later, I
super over-crowded, but
found out it was just Balzer.
uncomfortably fun! The
He was apparently taking
toilets are usually constantly photos for his new coffee clogged, so sometimes we
table book, “Oh, Where My
would all have to go take
Ballz Have Been.”
VIDEO
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19
Parks Bonifay BLACKLIST TRIP 2005
One of my most favorite pitch black, 60 mph
light down in the water,
Lake Powell memories
sheet-glass whip on
I freaked out and Scott
is when we were on
the skate. Ahhh... also
says, “WHAT!” I yelled
the Blacklist trip with
probably not the best
out, “It’s about one foot
Microsoft. They were
idea. And pitch black
deep right here!” We
making the Scott Byerly at Powell, between the
were mind blown! I
video game. Under the
canyons, is somehow
was just eating com-
lights, at night, Byerly
darker than anywhere
plete $#!+ right there
and I went to do some
I’ve ever seen.
when we both though
high speed whips with
After the third “black-
it would be about 500 ft
the wakeskate. It was
out” whip I ended up
deep. We never found
like two in the morning
eating $#!+ and lost my the wakeskate or shoe
and Scott was driving
shoe and Scotts board.
either, but it was one of
me… probably not the
We later went back
the best nights ever at
smartest idea. So after
with a flash light to try
Powell. I love that place.
doing a couple “com-
and find his shoe. The
Note to kids, DO NOT
fortable” whips within
boats were parked in
do high speed whips
the light, I wanted him
this huge cove, so we
on a wakeskate in the
to go deeper out of
climbed to the top to
middle of the night at
the cove and around
get a better look down,
Lake Powell, it’s a day-
the corner, away from
where we thought I
time only activity!
the light. I wanted that
crashed. As I shine
22
VIDEO
Chad Sharpe VIDEO
BLACKLIST TRIP 2005 GET THE APP
23
Gunsight Butte LAKE POWELL, AZ
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The world’s first wakeboarding & wakeskating magazine on the App Store
Riding Along With Keith Lyman JUNE 2008
VIDEO
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27
Thomas Horrell BLACKLIST TRIP 2005
Houseboat jib off the back of the houseboat. Watson on the lights, Gregg with the smoke and mirrors.
VIDEO
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VIDEO
Phil Soven “Lake Powell, to me,
are always riding. I can’t
what’s going to happen
the wakeboard boat (we
is the mecca of wake-
wait to go back again.
out there. I’ll never for-
later got it working fine
boarding. It is, without a
I had my 16th birthday
get the one year Aaron
by the way). Of all seven
doubt, my favorite place
while I was there with
Reed tied up Danny
trips I’b been on, I’ve
in the world to shoot
Liquid Force one year.
Hampson on the tower
learned one thing. What
photos. It is relaxing but
Between firework bat-
of the boat, like he was
happens at Powell,
at the same time, really
tles and broken chairs,
a puppet. Or, the year
stays at Powell.”
productive because we
you never really know
we accidentally sunk GET THE APP
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Transitioning Through Alstrom Point LAKE POWELL, AZ
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On The Rocks With Kevin Henshaw JULY 2009
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VIDEO
Amber Wing “Lake Powell is an
it. Without the wind,
sinking of the wakeboard back of the houseboat
amazing place. The his-
you could ride for miles
boat too. We looked out
roofs, beer bongs and
tory of Rainbow Rock…
and miles on flat water,
the back of the house
bags of fun. Story-time
just the mystique of
weaving in and out of the boat to check on the
over the 2-way radios
the environment is so
massive canyons walls.
boat in tow, to see only
with Aaron Reed was al-
the wakeboard tower
ways hilarious and worth
interesting. At the Liquid It’s as if you’re the only Force trips, I would
one there. If it was windy sticking out of the water. staying awake the extra
always try and get on a
however, we would have The boat was completely hour. From Melissa and
houseboat with Melissa, to drive the house boats
under with nothing but
Watson pulling pranks
Keith and Ben. They
for hours on end looking a trail of oil and trash
on each other, to the
were the mellow crew.
for a protected cove to
and stuff floating down
fun hikes with Keith and
We were always up at
park and ride. But that’s
the course where we
Shelby… I have so many
the crack of dawn to go
also a really fun part of
just came from. That
good memories from
ride. Going out first was
being at the lake. I was
sucked. I’ll never forget
Lake Powell.”
cold, but definitely worth there for the accidental
the dance parties on the GET THE APP
33
FOUR.19
ONSET
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Win Matt’s ride, see website for details
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Photo: meddock.com
Matt Manzari
Get the free mobile app at
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36
Shane Bonifay JULY 2009
“My first set riding, on every trip to Powell, I’d always make sure I had a gulping mouth full of good ol’ Lake Powell. It may be the only water you drink the whole time if it’s a Liquid Force trip. Just kidding. One year, I remember a bunch of us hiking all the way up to the top of a canyon wall. It was just insane how we were in the middle of nowhere, wakeboarding with a bunch of friends. Lake Powell is magical. Things just happen out there that normally wouldn’t happen anywhere else. Riding, partying, sight seeing, whatever… Hands down, it’s my favorite lake in the world.”
VIDEO
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37
Scott Byerly BLACKLIST TRIP 2005
“Man… I remember going out there for the first time with Wake Tech to film for Wake
The Beast. The lake had the most amazing scenery I had ever seen! It had all sorts of rocks to jib and the calmest water for miles and miles. After my 20 years of traveling around the world, Lake Powell is still my favorite place.”
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VIDEO
Daniel Doud “Powell is the lake of polar
rise with the sun to ride an
opposites. Late nights and
endless mirror of glass. I’m
early mornings…. Hot
not sure if anything will ever
sun, cold water… Packed
match the absolute mad-
houseboat parties, soli-
ness from the few years I
tude deep water in some
was privileged to tag along.
unknown winding canyon.
The crew from Liquid Force
One night you are engaged
made those trips unforget-
in an all out firework battle
table. Beer bong anyone?”
with 100 others at BroStock and the next morning you
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39
The Walls of Glen Canyon, AZ
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41
Melissa Marquardt “Lake Powell is the most
Water balloons to the face, my
peaceful place in the world…
hair catching on fire, punch-
when we are not there. I love
ing Mikey Ennen, to a good
sleeping under the stars and
ol’ morning egg crack to the
waking up to the sunrise. I
head, I’ve been a part of it all.
remember riding next to cliff
Thank you Collin and Balzer
walls that were hundreds of
who caught a rattlesnake and
feet tall and probably the same
chopped it’s head off to “keep
in depth, beneath the waters
everyone safe.” But then Bal-
surface. It will give you the
zer decided to drink its blood
chills when you’re riding that
after he skinned it. He said
close to them. One minute
he wanted to dry out the skin
you’re riding, then the next
to save for some boots he’s
minute your enjoying a hike
making. Top it all off, he threw
among the breathtaking beauty
it on the BBQ and ate the meat.
of God’s earth. Then all of a
Being around all those boys for
sudden, there is a dance party
a week straight is disgusting.”
on the patio of the houseboat.
VIDEO
42
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43
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The world’s first wakeboarding & wakeskating magazine on the App Store
44
BroStock BroScene 2009 The Lake Powell premiere of VIDEO
Collin Harrington’s Box of Fun. GET THE APP
45
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Tom Fooshee I will never forget the mood that Lake Powell puts everyone in. Once you hop off of dry land, party-mode kicks in. You can’t help it. The place has such a magical and unique feel during the day and night. Looking out over the crystal clear water from the cliffs above, staring at a gigantic canyon filled with water… it feels like something that should be on another planet. The hilarious, hour-long X-rated stories from Reed (on channel 69 of course) would entertain us before finally passing out each night. He had two shows, mind you, one at 6pm and one at 9pm. Smooth water, the best sunsets, sunrises and parties you could ask for, Lake Powell has given it all to us. It could be best described in one word, epic! For better or for worse, when you finally go there, it is one place you will never forget.”
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The End? FREDONIA, AZ
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