Idaho Water Sports

Team Supra Achieves Worlds Domination

2013-09-04T10:00:00.002-06:00

Team Supra Boats @Supra_Boatselevated everyone's expectations in Pleasant Prairie, WI at the Rockstar WWA Wakeboard World Championships Presented by Supra. Of the 9 Supra Team members who competed, they took home two World Titles in Boys and Pro Wakeskate, two 3rd in the World finishes in Junior Pro Men and Pro Women as well as a top 5 in the World in the Pro Men. The entire team gave it their all behind the 2014 Supra Worlds Edition SA550 tow boat and represented themselves with the beyond better character and poise we have come to expect from Team Supra. We would like to congratulate the Supra Boats Factory Team on an amazing showing at Worlds!

The first World Title Team Supra earned at this year's Wakeboard World Championships was captured by Sam Brown in the Boys' 10-13 Division. At the ripe old age of 10, Sam showed the Worlds crowd that wakeboarding success is just as much about determination and hard work as it is experience. We've never met a more determined yet grounded young man who seems to have nothing but fun when he is riding behind the Supra SA550. After stomping a killer run in the Boys' Finals Sam came back in to a cheering crowd, gave a few fist pumps and then promptly asked him mom, Nadine, if he could finally do some flips off of the picnic tables with his buddies. He's a 10-year-old little boy and wakeboarding is a big part pf his life, but it's not the only thing. His parents make sure he is enjoying what he chooses to do no matter what it is. Congratulations on your second World Championship in 2 years Sam. Supra Boats could not be more proud of you!

Team Supra's next World Title came in the Pro Wakeskate division on the binding-less board of now 6-time World Champion, Reed Hansen. Wakeskate is just one of those sports that defies the imagination. And Reed was realizing this amazing-ness even in his practice runs landing a 540 his first time on the water. Reed kept pushing his performance with each round of competition finally going way beyond better in the Rockstar WWA Wakeboard World Championships Pro Wakeskate Final. Feeding off the crowd's chants, Reed elevated the expectations of wakeskating with a world class run that took him to the top tier of the Worlds podium for a 6th time in his career. When it comes to this mind-blowing water sport, it is safe to say that Reed is well on his way to becoming the greatest wakeskater of all time and his Supra Family is pulling for him all the way!

Another Supra Pro rider to podium, Taylor McCullough earned the 3rd top spot in the World in the Pro Women's division at the age of 15. Riding against some pros nearly twice her age, Taylor took her phenomenal talent and determination to the water with each run. Competing on a World stage against seasoned veterans is not for children and Taylor conducted herself as anything but. She stayed focused and determined to ride her best. With her entire family, including grandparents, cheering her on from the shore Taylor performed amazingly and earned a 3rd place finish. Considering her young age and the fact that she overcame a more than month-long illness earlier this year, Taylor is our very own Supra Hero! Even with the focus and sacrifice it took for her to get to this high world finish Taylor still found a way to make another person's dream come true. She coordinated a fund raiser to send little Katie Crouch and her family to Disney World. We're so proud of you Taylor; on and off the water!

Supra Team rider, Cory Teunissen, stepped on to his division's podium for the first time at Worlds. As a rookie Junior Pro Men's rider Cory finished 3rd in the World. In an extremely competitive division, Cory stood up his run showing the crowd what it looks like when passion meets precision and consistency. His moves were right on technically, his sliders were clean and progressive, while his overall impression was of a veteran pro, not a 15 year-old. This is Cory second podium appearance at Worlds in as many years. In 2012 he earned a World Title. We expect to see him back atop that pedestal next year. Way to go Cory!

Team Supra's success at Worlds was rounded out by Pro Wakeboarder Austin Hair taking home 5th in in the World for Pro Men. Austin came in to the Rockstar WWA Wakeboard World Championships Presented by Supra Boats ranked #2 in the overall standings and definitely showed off what he can do behind the SA550. Austin runs were adventurous clean and consistent each and every time he hit the water. He even went for a Double Cab Roll in the Big Air contest and nearly landed it. We're very proud of your performance Austin. Can't wait to see what you do next!

Empire Wakeboard's West Coart Regional Comp. Awards IWS Rider First Place

2012-10-29T10:50:00.001-06:00

Empire Wakeboard's West Coast Regional Competition was held right outside of Chico, California at a little lake called Villa Logos. College students from Arizona, Washington, California and Idaho all joined in for the fun. The Boise State Wakeboard team took 5 competitors down for the weekend. IWS Team Rider Julie Robinson took first in the women's division.

Congratulations Julie!

The Blob with IWS Team Riders

2012-10-26T09:27:00.001-06:00

21 VLX Featured in Viral Video from Contour

We love our team riders, partially because they are crazy! We recieved this video that features two of our team riders, Andrew Wallace and Colten Brockbank. The crew is seen launching themselves 50 feet in the air. With the hi-def video of the Coutour camera, you won't miss a thing. This is probably the coolest thing we've seen all year.

Idaho Water Sports Rail Jam 2012

2012-09-20T12:23:00.001-06:00

The 7th Annual Rail Jam will take place in the Idaho Water Sports parking lot. We'll be trucking in snow from Pomerelle to give local riders their first chance at the snow this season. All ages and skill levels are welcome.

$10 for the Open Session from 11am - 2pm

Entry fee includes a free t-shirt!

$10 for the Competition from 2:30pm - 4pm

Free to the public to come watch!

A Duel in the Desert

2012-09-18T10:26:00.001-06:00

A Duel in the Desert

Team Gubler Wakeboarding and Wake Utah held the Duel in the Desert wakeboard competition on September 15^th, at Last Chance Lakes, right outside of Vernon, Utah. Crowds gathered around to watch riders of all ages and skill levels take the water by storm.

Team IWS riders Ashlyn Beaman-Hernandez, Chance Bird and Julie Robinson made the drive down to Utah with fellow BSU wakeboard club member Matt DeGoede. Fans lined the shore and cheered on each competitor as they showed off their best tricks in hopes of snagging a podium spot.

Matt was victorious in the intermediate division and landed himself a first place trophy. Ashlyn’s huge backroll landed her third place in the women’s division. Julie ranked second place right under Hyperlite Utah’s rider Jenacee Jackson. Chance had a killer run landing two 540’s and a variety of inverted tricks; unfortunately the open division brought in a group of extremely talented riders and he fell just short of a podium spot.

Another team IWS rider, Shaun Henson, traveled to Red Bluff, California to compete in the INT Western Regionals. Shaun had a killer run and walked away with a first place trophy.

Sizzling Summer Sidewalk Sale

2012-07-25T13:23:00.001-06:00

The Burley Sidewalk Sale is this coming weekend. We hope you'll stop by IWS for some great deals on all of our inventory of items. We've got men's and women's life vests for just $44.95. 30-70% off all summer gear and apparel. Footwear on sale. 10% off all new arrivals including backpacks, clothing and much more!

Open 9am-6pm. This Thursday, Friday, and Saturday!

2012 Wake in the Snake Results

2012-07-16T16:06:00.004-06:00

Congratulations to all of our Wake in the Snake

Winners! Below are the final results:

Beginner

1^st Colton Schaeffer of Eagle, ID (left)

2^nd Luca Delis of Heyburn, ID (middle)

3^rd is Zale Delis of Heyburn, ID (right)

Intermediate

1^st Wyatt Hargraves of Saratoga Springs, UT (middle)

2^nd Scott Spainhower of Huntsville, UT (right)

3^rd Todd Gabbler of Mapleton, UT (left)

Women’s

1^st Julie Robinson of Tetonia, ID (right)

2^nd is Shauna Russell of Ogden, UT (middle)

3^rd is Kortney Kehl of Salt Lake City, UT (left)

Advanced

1^st Tyler Gubler of Sandy, UT (middle)

2^nd is Trent Longhurst of Ogden, UT (left)

3^rd Jake Casperson of Twin Falls, ID (right)

Outlaw

1^st Chase Shaw of Ogden, UT (middle)

2^nd is Chance Bird of Boise, ID (left)

3^rd is Kenneth Russell of Ogden, UT (right)

Local Wakeboarders Share Tips, Trends and How to Break Into the Sport

2012-07-05T09:54:00.003-06:00

Under direction from wakeboarding professional Gerry Nunn, not shown, Josh Summers catches air June 26 in Burley.

By Tetona Dunlap - tdunlap@magicvalley.com
Photo Credit: Drew Nash - Times-News

BURLEY • Blake Wasden of Nampa has been skimming the waters of Idaho since the tender age of 3.

He started out by first learning how to water ski and then made the progression to wakeboarding after learning on a skerf board, the predecessor to the wakeboard.

“It actually surprises a lot of people how much water is around here,” Wasden, 23, said. “The season isn’t as long but I put on my wet suit and still go out when it’s cold.”

Wakeboarding is the hybrid of water skiing and surfing and emerged on the water sports scene in the mid-’80s.

If you are interested in waking waves and breaking into the sport, here are some tips from boarders who have been waking for a while:

Start with a Boat

The first and most obvious thing you need to wakeboard is a boat.

There are specialized boats made exclusively for wakeboarding but they are pretty expensive at $30,000 and up.

Wasden said pretty much any boat that can pull you will work.

For Ben Orton of Burley, wakeboarding is a family activity that started with his dad.

“When my dad was a teenager he used to go down to the boat dock and bum rides from people and give them gas money. You can do that, too,” Orton said with a laugh. “If you have a friend with a boat it’s pretty easy to get into because all you have to do is buy a board and boots and you’re golden.”

If you don’t have friends or family with a boat, Wake Central Park in Caldwell is the perfect solution.

Riders are pulled by an overhead cable-ski system, so it is ideal for riders without a boat or limited access to one.

But whether you are pulled by a boat or a cable, Wasden said you have to let it do all the work.

“If you pull on the handle it shoves your body underneath the water,” he said.

Next, the Board

Orton said he learned how to wakeboard after watching his dad and brother try to stand up on the knee board, a board that is ridden in a kneeling stance. Eventually the family got a wakeboard and Orton started to experiment with the sport.

If you’re just getting into wakeboarding you don’t need a super expensive board, Orton said, because there are a lot of entry- level wakeboards that are cheaper.

In addition to a wakeboard you’ll need a helmet, life vest, handle and a wake surfer rope. This type of rope is made not to stretch so you can pop off the wake. Wasden estimates that a board, boots and bindings can cost $300 to $1,000 or more depending on how much you want to spend and the quality.

Learn Some Tricks

Have questions about tricks? Wasden said there are a lot of wakeboarding videos on YouTube made by professionals and amateurs that can give you guidance. There also are clinics that are held throughout the summer.

Wasden works for Idaho Water Sports at its store in Nampa and on June 26 was on-hand during a wakeboarding clinic taught by wakeboarding professional Gerry Nunn. Wasden said he has also taught people how to wakeboard during private clinics, which are $70 an hour if customers use their boat or $100 if they use boats owned by IWS.

“I’ll teach them whatever they want from beginner to advance,” Wasden said. “A lot of people who purchase boats want to wake board but they don’t know how.”

Wasden said wakeboarding is a good sport for the family because there is no age limit.

“With some of the younger kids I’ll get on the wakeboard with them so they don’t feel alone and if they ever fall I’ll be right there with them.”

A Popular Sport

Though wakeboarding is widely popular in states like Florida, Wasden said there is a big following in Idaho even though the community isn’t as connected.

“It’s just not that everyone knows everyone,” Wasden said.

Orton said he has noticed another sport starting to make waves in Idaho.

“You see a lot of people wake surfing, too; it’s like surfing but behind your boat that’s become real huge within the last five years,” Orton said.

The difference between wakeboarding and wakesurfing is distance and speed. With wakeboarding you are 70 to 80 feet behind the boat, flipping in the air and performing tricks. But with wakesurfing you are 10 feet behind the boat going slow, surfing the waves created by the boat.

“A lot of people like it. You can throw as many people as you want on the boat,” Orton said.

Hit the Waves

Looking for the perfect place to wake?

Wasden said he usually frequents Magic Reservoir, the Snake River and Red Fish Lake.

Jake Casperson, 17, of Twin Falls often wakeboards at Shoshone Falls because it’s close and well protected from wind. The perfect weather conditions for wakeboarding are when the waters are like a mirror.

Casperson has been wakeboarding for 10 years and learns more about the sport by looking up videos online or taking part in local clinics. He also has the WakeMD wakeboard instruction app by Shaun Murray downloaded. This app takes you step by step through more than 80 wakeboard tricks and tips.

Pinther, 29, a wakeboarder from Rupert took up the water sport in the late ‘90s.

“Everyone’s dream is glassy water, you want smooth water,” he said.

Because Idaho can get windy this often makes for rough conditions, so be wary of wakes that double up in size or completely disappear.

And all the wakeboarders agree that you only improve as long as your board is in the water.

“It’s like anything, if you spend enough time on a boat,” Pinther said.

Pinther also noted how wakeboarding technology and equipment has improved since the ‘90s, which makes for a better experience.

“For me wakeboarding ... it’s different than any other sport that involves aerial or tricks,” Orton said. “With wakeboarding all the tricks are engineered for the rope and you can learn tricks really fast if you know where to put the rope. There’s no other sport like that.”

Tags
Wakeboarding, Watersports, Burley

Gowen Field Safety Fair

2012-06-28T09:58:00.002-06:00

Justin, from our Nampa store, just got back from the Gowen Field Safety Fair that took place on June 27th. Bi-annually the airport hosts a safety fair for the troops to visit the booths of about 50 different vendors. The purpose of the Safety Fair is to teach the troops how to enjoy the Boise and surrounding areas in a safe way without hurting the environment. This is a free event put on for the troops. Justin said there were 400-500 troops present that were enjoying the event.

There will be a similar event taking place on August 25, 2012.

Ohio Wakeboard Ex-pro Sees Potential in Idaho Riders

2012-06-27T09:37:00.001-06:00

Ohio Wakeboard Ex-pro Sees Potential in Idaho Riders

7 hours ago • By Ryan Howe -- rhowe@magicvalley.com

(0) Comments

BURLEY — Choppy water and 20 mph wind made for less-than-ideal riding conditions Tuesday, but that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm for those who braved the weather to participate in a two-in-one event hosted by Idaho Water Sports on the Snake River.

Held outside Morey’s Steakhouse, the event included a wakeboard clinic by former pro rider Gerry Nunn, plus a free demo day with representatives from Hobie kayaks and Hyperlite wakeboards.

“I want it to be as big as possible, so you get a couple different things going and hopefully you draw more people,” said Carol Warr, IWS business manager.

Nunn, 42, has been holding clinics in Burley since 2002. His first exposure to the area was through his boat sponsor, Malibu, for which IWS is a dealer.

Warr said it is well worth it to fly Nunn in for two days every year. His sessions fill up fast, and Warr said they had enough interested riders that they could have added a third day.

“It’s really easy to sell his clinics because he’s so good with the kids. With his teaching ability, he can see what they’re doing, the little things. He’s a really good communicator and the customers are happy,” Warr said.

Nunn’s clinic concludes today at Morey’s Steakhouse, 219 E. 3rd St. in Burley. Clinic spots are full, but the public can watch a performance by Nunn at 12:30 p.m., followed by an autograph session.

Nunn, who had an 11-year pro career and competed up until 2008, says he sees familiar faces return each year, plus he’s excited to work with new riders — regardless of experience and ability.

“I like everybody to go away having a good time, leave in one piece and take something new with them,” said Nunn, who resides in Ohio.

Despite the short season to be out on the water, Nunn said Idaho has many talented wakeboarders.

“There’s a good riding scene here,” he said. “The majority of my clinics that I do, the level of riding is probably beginner to intermediate, maybe slightly advanced. Idaho, here on the Snake River, I get a good group of riders who are above advanced, pushing that outlaw limit. They are getting some technical tricks in there, riding smooth and getting quite a few inverts and spins under their belts.”

Meanwhile on the grassy river bank, Hyperlite and Hobie representatives had gear on hand for the pub-lic to demo.

“We give people an opportunity to try different stuff that they might not normally be able to try, without having to buy anything,” said Hyperlite rep Scott Sims.

Based out of the Hyperlite factory in Redmond, Wash., Sims travels between about 100 retailers throughout the Northwest and the Dakotas. Monday he held a demo in Idaho Falls, Tuesday in Burley, today in Boise and then he’s off to Seattle for a pro tour event this weekend.

When given the opportunity, he said people like to demo the pricey items.

“You would think it would be a lot of beginners, but we have everybody wanting to test the high-end stuff,” Sims said.

According to Sims, wake surfing has boomed in popularity. In wakeboarding, he said technology has altered the board’s shape and the new high-end boots and bindings now resemble that of snowboarding.

“You get way better edge control and a lot more performance than you would with a regular binding. It’s really taken off,” Sims said.

Quality has improved as prices have dropped, Sims added.

“Now you can buy something that is twice as good for less money than you spent 10 or 15 years ago,” he said.

IWS’s Hobie rep drove from Reno, Nev., with a trailer-load of kayaks, Warr said there’s a growing market for kayaks designed for fishing and duck hunting. In Tuesday’s wind, Hobie’s sailboat kayak seemed ideal.

“And paddleboards have really taken off this year,” Warr said.

http://magicvalley.com/sports/local/ohio-wakeboard-ex-pro-sees-potential-in-idaho-riders/article_0576c64a-c011-11e1-98f3-001a4bcf887a.html

The 14th Annual Wake in the Snake Wakeboard Competition - July 14, 2012

2012-04-25T16:07:00.000-06:00

14th Annual Wake in the Snake

Idaho's Grass root wakeboard competition. Lots of great prizes. All ages and abilities welcome. Pre-register by July 10th for only $35. Pre-registration will begin on June 25th. Registration after the 10th is $60. Registration fees include an IWS t-shirt. All riders must check in between 7 and 8am. Mandatory riders meeting at 8:30am. The action starts at 9am. Food will be sold on site. Bring your chairs and sunscreen to enjoy the action. For more information please call Carol at (208) 678-5869 or e-mail her at carol@idahowatersports.com.

Boat Wars

2012-03-15T10:14:00.000-06:00

Spring is near... and now's the time to get great deals on boats and gear! Join us at Boat Wars in Idaho Falls March 22-25 in the old Ernst Building. Hope to see you all there!

2012-02-03T16:27:00.001-07:00

Make sure you join us at the Treasure Valley Boat Show February 9-12, 2012. We will have lots of summer gear and some great deals on boats! See you there!

February Specials at Idaho Water Sports

2012-01-30T16:25:00.003-07:00

2011-11-01T15:58:00.000-06:00

Wakeboard Comp. in Chico, CA - Team IWS Rider, Julie Robinson

2011-11-01T11:37:00.003-06:00

Julie Robinson, one of our Team IWS riders, just returned from the Collegiate Wakeboard Series Competition in Chico, CA. This was the 4th stop in the Wake Series tour.

Chico State was the co-host of this regional event. This year, the division nearly doubled in size: there were 80 riders from 7 schools. The event was held at a private lake, and all the teams got a chance to meet each other and celebrate what Empire U is claiming to be the best division in the country for 2011.

Julie placed 2nd in the women's division behind Madison Luell from Oregon (pictured below)

Congratulations Julie and the Boise State Wakeboard Club.

Here were the overall results from the competition:

Open: 1. Justin Payton- Chico St 2. Rob Way - Chico St 3. Chad Payton - Chico St

Advanced: 1. Eddie Roberts - Central Washington 2.Travis Briscoe - Chico St 3. JP Bray - Arizona St

Intermediate: 1. Jordan Handel - Chico St 2. Jason Glaser - Chico St 3. Matt Tonne - Sac St

Womens: 1.Madison Luell - Oregon 2. Julie Robinson - Boise St 3. Mariana Tiff - Chico St

Beginner: 1. Patrick Mahonny - Central Washington 2. JT Higgins - Chico St 3. Justin Eckenroad - Oregon

2011 Reggae Rail Jam Winners

2011-10-31T19:55:00.005-06:00

The 2011 Reggae Rail Jam was held at Idaho Water Sports in Burley on Saturday, October 29th. There were 59 riders from all across Idaho and Utah that came for the event. New items at the event this year were the slack line, and the National Guard brought their climbing wall. The event was a great pre-winter party with freshly made snow trucked down from Pomerelle. For more information about the event contact Carol at 208-678-5869 or visit our photo albums to see pictures from Saturday. Here are the winners of this year's Rail Jam:

Men’s boarder

1st Tristin Heiner—Liberty, UT

2nd Jordan Ganoe—Paul, ID

3rd Tyson Bunn—Brigham City, UT

Men’s skier

1st place Ian Hamilton—SLC, UT

2nd place Jesse Edge—Ogden, UT

3rd place KJ Redder—Declo, ID

Best Crash

Tyler Smith—Eagle, Id

Girl’s skier

1st place Alexi Micinski—Meridian, ID

2nd Place Kylie Tingy—Rupert, ID

Girl’s boarder

1st place Jessika Jenson—Rigby Idaho

2nd place Brittany Grainger—Boise, ID

Young Gun

Cash Redder—Declo, ID

Extreme Slack-lining

2011-10-29T18:52:00.003-06:00

This is Christian Hansen, Gordy's son. He loves his slackline so much, he took it to Hawaii with him. And this is where he decided to set it up.

If you are interested in trying out a slackline for yourself, come into Idaho Water Sports a check them out!

Reggae Rail Jam 2011

2011-10-18T15:11:00.005-06:00

Idaho Water Sports will be hosting the sixth annual Rail Jam on Saturday, October 29th in the Idaho Water Sports parking lot in Burley, ID. We will be trucking in snow from Pomerelle to allow anyone to ride the powder before winter really sets in. This competition always gets everyone excited for the snow to start coming down.

Competitors from all over the area come to IWS to participate in this event. There will be an open session from 11 am to 2 pm, where anyone can ride the rails for just $10 - plus get a beanie. The competition begins at 2:30pm and runs until 4pm. It only costs $10 to compete. We will be giving away some great prizes including headphones from Skull Candy, ski poles, shirts, hats, and helmets from Burton, K2, Rossignol and more; and even ski passes to Pomerelle.

We are excited to introduce the addition of a slack line; new to the competition this year.

For safety, all riders under 18 must have parents sign a waiver. Also, all riders are required to wear a helmet.

We hope to have a great turnout at the Reggae Rail Jam this year. Come join us at Idaho Water Sports.

We be jammin' on the rails, man!

2011-10-07T12:27:00.003-06:00

IWS Team Rider, Julie Robinson,just got back from her first college wakeboarding competition in Chehalis, Washington. The USA Wakeboard Collegiate Wake Nationals 2012 Qualifier was help at Lake Silverado, is a scenic man made ski lake which is deep enough for big wakes and much longer than a traditional ski lake. Lake Silverado was host to the 2006 Barefoot World Championships.

Julie is a member of the BSU wakeboard club. She won her division, and four other members of the club from Boise State competed as well. Their next competition will be in Chico, California at Villa Lagos Lake in Gerber,CA on October 22nd. We wish her luck!

Supra Boats Voted Most Exiting by WSIA

2011-10-05T16:46:00.002-06:00

Skier’s Choice, maker of Supra (@SupraBoats) and Moomba Boats, was voted the 2011 Buzz Brand of the Year by Water Sports Industry Association (WSIA) members at Surf Expo.

Skier’s Choice was announced as the 2011 Water Sports Industry Buzz Brand of the Year by the Water Sports Industry Association (WSIA) September 8th at the TransWorld Wakeboarding Magazine Wake Awards at Surf Expo in Orlando, FL. Being dubbed the most talked about brands in the water sports industry is a big deal for this improvement-driven company, but it isn’t the only recognition they are receiving. This 2011 WSIA Leadership Award joins a 6th consecutive NMMA CSI Award for Customer Service Excellence in the Skier’s Choice trophy case already this season.

Water sports retailers, dealers and operators overwhelmingly cast their votes for Skier’s Choice, manufacturer of Supra and Moomba Boats, as a company who is on the move and the focus of conversation in the water sports industry.

When asked about this latest award, President of Skier’s Choice, Rick Tinker, had this to say. “I would like to thank the industry’s retailers for this honor! It’s a great feeling to be recognized as the buzz brand, especially by those who know water sports boats best.”

WSIA honored the water sports industry's best retailers and manufacturers with a variety of 2011 Leadership Awards for outstanding efforts in advertising, promotions, and branding. Skier’s Choice received the 2011 WSIA Buzz Brand of the Year Award during the Wake Awards on September 8, 2011 at Surf Expo in Orlando, FL.

Visit your local Supra Boats dealer (like Idaho Water Sports!) to experience the “Buzz” surrounding their 2012 model line-ups.

The WSF and the WSIA are two non-profit organizations headquartered in Orlando, Florida that promote water sports safety and the unencumbered access of public waterways for the pursuit of watersports activities. WSIA is a member of the National Boating Safety Advisory Council, (NBSAC), the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC), and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). For more information contact the WSIA at 407-251-9039 or visit www.wsia.net.

About Skiers Choice, Inc.: This customer-centric wakeboard and ski boat manufacturer is located in Maryville, Tennessee and is privately owned. Skier’s Choice manufactures two lines of boats: Supra, the leading luxury performance line of wakeboard and ski boats, and Moomba, which focuses on providing high performance water sports boats at amazing prices.

Malibu and Axis Make Big Impact At Surf Expo

2011-10-04T10:43:00.003-06:00

Surf Expo is undoubtedly the industry's biggest weekend of the year. In 2011, Malibu Boats dug deep with intentions to make a big impact. With the launch of two new models, the Wakesetter 22 MXZ and Response TXi, all eyes were on the boats and the team was psyched to show them off.

Wakesetter 22 MXZ

The trade show kicked off with a bang on Thursday morning, with our booth featuring a sparkling metallic, dark blue/white MXZ and a metallic Charcoal/Reuben Axis A22. Besides talk of the perfect wakes, plush amenities and the spacious bow on the MXZ, anticipation was creeping for the 8th Annual Wake Awards that evening. Malibu went big, securing an 80-person VIP list and coming on board as a title sponsor.

Excitement set in early, during the WSIA Industry awards, where Malibu won "Best Ad Campaign." Ad creative and photography was a big focus this year, and it was an honor to take home this coveted award. Special thanks to Larry Meddock of the WSIA and our incredible photographer, Tom King. Also, congrats to Chessie Marine for their hard work resulting in the "Break Out Dealer Of The Year" award as well as Tommy's Slalom shop for winning top honors as "Retailer Of The Year." "Best Promotion" went to Active Watersports, which made a clean sweep for all three retailer awards going to Malibu dealers!

Friday's action was shared between the trade show and Malibu's on-water demo day in Windermere, just minutes from Surf Expo. Team rider Brian Grubb brought his all-black 23 LSV, which is still one of the most appealing boats on the water today. Over 20 dealers showed up from places all over the world like Argentina and Poland to get a first glimpse of the new MXZ and TXi. Eddie Trogdon, an active INT League member was on hand and we also saw appearances from owners like David Henderson and his son Hunter, (8), who just took first place in the Junior Boys division at the WWA World Championships.

The Response TXi already made its mark at the Malibu Open in August, but here, the dealers got a chance to take it for a spin, including Mark Watts from Liquid Sports in Orlando as well as Tommy Phillips from Tommy's Slalom Shop in Denver, Colorado. Tommy was impressed with his continuing tests of the Response TXi. "The TXi handles like a dream, has no wake at 15 and 22 off and very little fluff," Tommy said. "All the skiers at our ski school think it's their favorite boat of all time and I would agree. The drivers seat feels secure and you have command of the boat. There is no glare off the dash like other boats and the simplicity of the operating system is a big plus."

With deep roots in wakeboarding, going back to literally day one, Tommy knows what his customers are looking for in boat design and he likes how the MXZ accommodates everyone. "The MXZ has great wakes for all levels," Tommy said. "Very rampy, clean and smooth! The bow space is maximized and we had four people comfortable up front and they could see all the action as Chad Sharpe put on a show. Deep storage allowed us to have ten people comfortably on board with lots of gear stowed. The auto pull up feature will turn new boat owners into pros at driving their family and friends."

The Auto Pull-Up feature Tommy speaks of is another unprecedented innovation from Malibu and Indmar, and implemented into the line by Danny Gasper, Malibu's Director of Product Design. It allows a rider or skier to record the rate of acceleration they prefer, and the driver just punches the throttle and you will get the same start every time.

The MXZ's Hi-Flow ballast pumps were also a hit. The hoses were enlarged to 1-1/8" with an 1100 GPH pump, which allows an increase in filling speed from 40-50 percent. The riders on hand were impressed with the wake without having to add any additional ballast. Phillip Soven actually got to take this gem home with him.

Dealers came into Saturday's trade show amping on the new boats, and it was a great plus to be able to have them share the on-water experience with others. Lani Farmer also attended the WSIA meeting on Sunday morning, where the board of directors discussed and voted on multiple issues affecting our waterways and industry.

Overall, the Malibu staff and dealers considered Surf Expo weekend a home run. The factory is busy churning out new orders and the sales team are getting geared up for boat show season. Look for new videos from demo day in a matter of days! For any questions, please email Kevin Michael atkevinmichael@maibuboats.com

2011 Idaho Boardstock Results

2011-08-15T14:18:00.016-06:00

Grom:
1st Jack Gubler
Saratoga Springs, UT

Novice:
1st - Shauna Russell (middle)
Ogden, UT

2nd- Jayce Miller (right)
Nampa, ID

3rd - Zac Whitney (left)
Chubbuck, I

Womens:
1st - Julie Robinson(middle)
Tetonia, ID

2nd- Sara Keeth(left)
Boise, ID

3rd- Ashley Whitney(right)
Chubbuck, ID

Intermediate:

1st - John MacFarlane (middle)
Fruit Heights, UT

2nd- Wyatt Hargraves (left)
Smithfields, UT

3rd- Morgan Winchester (right)
Meridian, ID

Advanced:

1st- Tylon Beach (middle)
Herriman, UT

2nd- Trent Longhurst (left)
Ogden, UT

3rd- Jason Rock (right)
Boise, ID

Outlaw:

1st- Braxton Tomlinson (middle)
Territon, ID

2nd- Chase Shaw (left)
Ogden, UT

3rd- Colton Brockbank (right)
Sandy, UT

Wake in the Snake Comp Results

2011-07-11T14:46:00.021-06:00

Grom
1st Faith Wray (middle)
2nd Kolbie Warr (left)
3rd Staccey Warr (right)

Beginner
1st Marc Nelson

Women's
1st Nikki Wilhoite (middle)
2nd Julie Robinson (left)
3rd Ashlyn Beaman-Hernandez (right)

Intermidate
1st John McFarlane (middle)
2nd Ryand Jellum (left)
3rd Randall Timpke (right)

Advanced
1st Chad Lloyd (middle)
2nd Trent Longhurst (left)
3rd Tyler Gubler (right)

Outlaw
1st Colton Brockbank (middle)
2nd Braxton Tomlinson (left)
3rd Kenneth Russell

Help Save Lake Lowell

2011-07-11T14:44:00.000-06:00

http://www.ktvb.com/news/Hundreds-turn-out-for-Lake-Lowell-protest-parade-125271444.html

Idaho Water Sports General Manager Justin Harrison is helping to organize the Save
Lake Lowell campaign.  For more information on helping out contact Justin at
208-467-7477.