The dates, athlete qualifying, tickets, and accommodations for Nautique’s 64th Nautique Masters Waterski and Wakeboard Tournament presented by GM Marine have been set. The world’s top wakeboarders and waterskiers will gather to Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia on May 24-26, 2024, to battle for the most coveted titles in the watersports industry!

Bookings for tickets and lodging may now be made at MastersWaterski.com. Tickets for the beach and pavilion will be available to view all of the action. Tickets for the event are available for one, two, or three days. Reserve your accommodations at the stunning Callaway Gardens to have a Memorial Day weekend of memories in 2024.

MastersWaterski.com currently has the complete list of qualification requirements for every athlete. The 2024 Nautique Masters Qualifying Series will again select the remaining invited athletes for the waterski divisions held at the 64th Nautique Masters, together with the winners of the 2023 Nautique Masters and the 2023 Nautique world waterski event champions. The 64th Nautique Masters wakeboarding division entry requirements will not change from prior years.

The world record-breaking Ski Nautique and the multiple-award winning G23 are the only teams allowed to pull in the Masters, the most prestigious competition in all of towed watersports. It is widely accepted that receiving an invitation to compete at the Masters signifies reaching the highest level of success in a particular watersports discipline. The World Wrestling Association and the IWWF/USAWS have approved the 64th Masters event. Please visit MastersWaterski.com for more details and to receive updates regarding the 64th Masters.

“Memorial Day Weekend at Callaway Gardens is always an incredible experience!” said Nautique President, Greg Meloon. “The Masters is the highlight of the season, with the world’s top athletes battling it out for the coveted titles. I’m pleased to release the event dates and ticket information for this one-of-a-kind event!”

About Nautique Boat Company: Nautique is celebrating its 98^th anniversary of delivering excellence in the marine industry. A subsidiary of Correct Craft, Nautique has been on the waters of the world with a passion for innovation since 1925. Delivering the very best waterski, wakeboard and wakesurf boats on the market, Nautique continues to drive progression with their award-winning technology and dedication to building the highest-quality boats imaginable. New technology, performance innovations and attention to detail are the cornerstones of what makes the Nautique brand the industry leader. Through the Nautique Cares initiative, employees and athletes dedicate themselves to not only making a difference on the water, but to extend their support to people in need around the world. The world’s best ski boat, world’s best wake boat, and a company that cares. To learn more visit Nautique.com.

About Correct Craft: Celebrating 98 years of excellence in the marine industry, Correct Craft is a Florida-based company with global operations. Focused on “Making Life Better,” the Correct Craft family includes Nautique, Centurion, Supreme, Bass Cat, Yar-Craft, SeaArk, Parker, and Ingenity boat companies, Pleasurecraft Engine Group, Indmar Marine Engines, Velvet Drive Transmissions, Mach Connections, Merritt Precision, Osmosis, Watershed Innovation, and Aktion Parks. For more information, please visit correctcraft.com.

The post Dates Set for 64th Nautique Masters Waterski and Wakeboard Tournament appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Progression is arguably the most important aspect of wakeboarding. Progression can take the form of landing a new trick all together or adding a unique touch on an existing trick. Either path can open the door to an offshoot of ideas and development that builds over time. Then there are the more rare, giant leaps in progression that make the wakeboarding history books, a moment in time burned into the minds of wakeboarding enthusiasts. In a contest format set to raise the bar on what can be done on a wakeboard, a new chapter of wakeboarding was created at the Red Bull Double or Nothing on a lake in downtown Orlando. 

In the early days of wakeboarding, the double up was utilized to give the rider more airtime to complete an extra 180 degree spin or to put a grab on a trick that was otherwise rushed off of the small boat wakes of the time. Inboard competition boats were essentially slalom ski boats that were designed to create the smallest wake possible for skiing at 30+ mph, but at slower speeds like 18 to 20 mph, wakeboarders and trick skiers could get some lift out of the wake. When the original wakeboard pioneers realized that timing a roller created while turning around at the end of a pass to hit when it combines with the boat wake, the sport saw a deluge of new tricks. 

The boats continued to get bigger and heavier, the engines, transmissions and propellers continued to push more weight that would displace more water and the wakes persistently grew to a point where the double up was no longer a necessity for progression. In fact, many riders started to shy away from hitting double ups on a regular basis since the wakes were big enough to learn new tricks without it and the looming fear of injury. It is a safe bet that the most injuries to occur at the pro level over the last 3 decades have been during a double up attempt. 

While the wake straight from the boat provides a very predictable and consistent pop, the double is highly unpredictable and relies heavily on the driver to create a solid set-roller, then approach at an optimal angle. Even more unique about the double up is that every rider prefers a little something different. Some riders like the angle “T-ed up” or closer to a 90 degree approach, while other prefer a more “open” or easier pocket to get into. Even in perfect conditions, the double up is a volatile beast that produces a stunt-like kick that is very difficult to control.

Considered the GOAT, Parks Bonifay leveraged the double up to launch him into legendary status through his illustrious career. It only makes sense that this event was the brainchild of Parks and Red Bull, giving riders the motivation to return focus to the double up and test the edge of progression in a winner take all format. The first inaugural event was in 2004 and it was an instant success. The event took a few years off and while it has maintained the exclusivity of only including riders that Parks deems worthy, he has added the chance for riders to earn a wildcard.  This year that was Rookie Jamie Huser and snowboard cross-over athlete Fynn Bullock.

Read Next: Women to Ride as Red Bull Double or Nothing 2023 Comes Back to Orlando

For the first time ever, the women had a chance to push the double up progression with Meagan Ethell and Jamie Lopina earning invites. “It is just really cool to be a part of the 10th anniversary. The women haven’t really made double ups a part of their regular riding so getting to use this stage to help inspire the younger girls is exciting.” Both Ethell and Lopina approach the sport in a similar fashion with attention to detail, learning tricks switch and regular and focusing on linking smooth stylish tricks. The contest approach is where they start to depart. Ethell being one of the most decorated, consistent athletes in the sport has taken down every major title numerous times. Lopina on the other hand has had top podium finishes but chooses to set up her passes in ways that feel good for her, but might cost her higher finishes. If you watch each of them ride you might guess that they train together. “We ride together sometimes but not all the time, I love the way she rides and she really pushes it for the girls.” said Ethell of her fellow competitor.

The virality of the triple flip barrier being broken down will ensure that the most eyeballs ever will be on this year’s Double or Nothing. Speculation on what kinds of tricks will be attempted next year.

The post The Thomas Herman Effect appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

It would be hard to find a passionate board rider who is not fully aware of the Surf Expo legacy and what the industry show means to the board sports community.  A healthy Surf Expo held in Orlando, FL can typically be a reflection of the state of manufacturers, key retailers and overall relevance to the masses. The exclusivity of the floor itself has always given the exhibitors, buyers, and media a sense of importance as the show has never been open to the general public. It is no secret that Surf Expo has faced extraordinary challenges over the last 10 years with all major conferences taking the COVID hiatus as well as unfortunate luck with early fall hurricanes that have impacted Florida. Regardless of volatility in market conditions, returning the show to its peak attendance has proven to be a steep hill to climb.

For towed water sports, sharing the stage with major surf brands and influential companies put us at the forefront of what was considered cool. Brands like Quiksilver, Billabong and O’Neill were actively building up their wake programs due to the growing attention on the sport. Wake athletes shared product needs like wetsuits and boardshorts as well as taste in apparel with existing surf teams, so it made a lot of sense for the companies to leverage wake athletes to get their products into the inland shops across Middle America. The movement gave the brands a reason to take meetings with wakeshops at the show to write orders for the upcoming seasons.

The team at Surf Expo has responded to the change in how shop buyers approach the process as well as spinning up new areas of focus to keep the show relevant to growing categories. While towed water sports has unfortunately moved away from full engagement and bringing large teams, a few brands came out to show their products and keep the heartbeat of wake sports beating. 

Radar/Ronix has long been known as an ultimate supporter of the wake community, continuing to invest in core events like Surf Expo and always looking to strengthen their dealer relationships. Legendary Ronix athletes Parks Bonifay and Erik Ruck along with team rider Jake Pelot were on hand to walk through the 2024 line.

The buzz amongst the world of park riding is all about Trent Stuckey right now. Winning most major categories at all of the big park events while also dropping some of the hardest hitting video edits on the web, Trent earning a pro-model from one of the top teams in the sport was a foregone conclusion. His new board, the Utopia Variable Flex allows for the easiest tip and tail flex in Ronix’s park board line-up due to the ultra thin profile, vertical wood construction, and relaxed continuous rocker. Stuckey’s deliberate intention in the way he rides is apparent in every clip and contest pass that he produces. It stands to reason that his same attention to detail and commitment to progression can be felt in his new signature board.

On display were two new wake surf shapes, the High Voltage Core Beaux Skimmer and the Flyweight Pro DNA Traditional.

The construction of the Flyweight Pro DNA utilizes USA S-Glass, a new fiberglass layup that boasts a poppier and lively feel with added carbon reinforcements for the fins when they are under the most demand. The evolution of the shape is where Ronix has gone through many prototype iterations, looking to strike the balance of what top pros look for in a competition worthy board while allowing intermediate and beginner riders a forgiving feel to look forward to their next ride. The test group during the prototyping process varied widely to cover all levels and after a few years, the Flyweight Pro DNA adds a fast, fun, usable surfstyle board to Ronix’s lineup

The new shape inspired by Beaux Wildman is on the other end of the spectrum. Intentionally high end and high performing (read: not for the first timer), the Ronix crew leveraged their local Seattle aerospace connections to develop a material with higher tensile strength while reducing weight and thickness. The cutting edge tech is compounded with a dual rockerline, lightning fast on the rails while remaining more mellow through the middle of the board. If you have ever seen Beaux ride a wakeboard, wakesurfer or foil it makes sense that his board would be as controlled and aggressive as he is.

Foiling cannot be ignored and the industry is responding with more and more manufacturers offering their take on an activity that has seen a massive influx of new participants over the last 5 years. While the Air Chair has been a part of towed water sports for 30+ years, the sit-down version of today’s trend paved the way for wing design and mast length/setup. Mike Murphy is credited with pushing the early days of the Air Chair and his dedication and influence on watermen all over the world has assuredly shaped where we are today. It was as though there was a 2 and a half decade long smoldering pilot light before the explosion of foiling as we know it today.

The foil option on display was the Flyweight Pro Mod 84, an homage to the year 1984 when Murphy and Herb O’Brien (founder of Ronix/Radar) originally started modifying foils to work for their Air Chair concept. This initiative builds off of their aptly named “727 Project”. 7/27 was the birth date of both Herb O’Brien and his father Ed, who was an aeronautical engineer who worked on iconic wartime aircraft like the B17, B47, and you guessed it, the 727. 

Within the foil setup, the board itself is a conduit to the end goal of relying on the lift and glide of the foil to produce the feeling of hovering or floating. The lighter and faster the board is when in contact with the water, the easier it will be to achieve a glide while at the same time reducing the amount of drag the rider feels if the board touches down. All of these thoughts were intentionally addressed in the R&D process, as are most product releases from Ronix. 

Yamaha Boats owned the floor for boat manufacturers. Wakeskating icon Danny Hampson manned the booth and shared his deep knowledge of the Yamaha line and just how versatile jet boats have become. The 222XD Wake Series looks like a fun and multi-faceted machine that has plenty of features. With a price tag with only 5 digits, there is a refreshing option for more families to spend time together and experience towed water sports. 

One of the attention-grabbing features is the DRiVE system which allows for easier maneuvering while docking. Eliminating the need to move the throttle forward and reverse, the 222XD can be nestled into position by utilizing conveniently placed paddles at the captain’s fingertips, located just behind the steering wheel. 

A pro-sized wake or wave won’t be in the cards but there are many advantages if a multi-faceted vessel is desired. Take for instance the 19″ draft of the 222XD vs the 30″ draft of top end wake boats, giving Yamaha owners more places to explore while finding the next spot to park up.

While this year’s show didn’t have the same wow-factor compared to the high water mark of years passed, Surf Expo continues to be a staple of the board sports. One thing to count on in the unpredictable future is that the Surf Expo brand will continue to evolve and adjust to the ever changing world. 

The post Surf Expo 2023 appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Check out this video from Send It Official on YouTube to see Herman’s amazing feat.

The four-minute mile. The 100-mph fastball. The first tow-in big wave surfer. Sports of all types are rife with milestones.

Now comes Thomas Herman. With his triple back roll performed at the 2023 Red Bull Double or Nothing in Orlando, Florida this past weekend, Herman makes history as the first wakeboarder to complete a triple flip behind a boat.

Herman wrote the following on Instagram (@thomasherman):

HUGE thank you to @parxxx + event sponsors for the opportunity to make this happen on such a big stage. The crowd was unreal and I think that’s what I needed! Thank you to my friends, family, and companies that stand beside me. Couldn’t have done it without you??

Herman went on to post:

This thing was a BATTLE?? Guesstimate roughly 250 double ups and the 30th attempt we got her done?? It has always been a dream of mine to invent a trick. For that to be the Triple Backroll sounds insane haha!

A day I will always remember

Read Next: Women to Ride as Red Bull Double or Nothing 2023 Comes Back to Orlando

We will remember it, too, Thomas. Congratulations, and thank you for elevating the sport.

The post Thomas Herman Completes First Ever Wakeboard Triple Flip by Boat appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Red Bull Double or Nothing powered by Mastercraft brings the top wakeboarders in the world to Orlando in a winner-take-all, best trick competition behind the legendary MasterCraft XStar S. The competition pushes the sport’s best athletes to redefine what’s possible on a wakeboard. 

Parks Bonifay is the creator of Red Bull Double or Nothing and a certified legend in the sport. He’s recruited the best of the best from around the world to compete on Saturday, September 16. Every year the world’s top wakeboarder’s attempt huge, never-done-before, history-making tricks at Red Bull Double or Nothing, and this year will be no exception.

The event gets its name from the “double-up”, which is the moment when two wakes combine into one, growing more than three times the size of a usual wake. This allows the pros to get massive air, allowing for huge tricks, and risking huge crashes. 

Parks, an Orlando resident, is stoked to bring the world’s best back to his hometown crowd to compete; “Red Bull Double or Nothing is the most progressive wakeboard contest to date. As a rider in the event, one of the things I’m super pumped about is having a packed shore line full of people cheering and pushing us to land a trick that’s possibly never been done before. With $10,000 on the line, who knows, we might see the first ever triple flip! Gonna be a wild day, come down to Lake Ivanhoe and join the vibe!”

For the first time in the event’s history, two of the best women in the sport will be participating in a double-up exhibition on Saturday afternoon. Meagan Ethell is a 7 time World Champion living in Orlando. Jamie Lopina is also a World Champion and former Rider of the Year. Each will showcase their world-class talent and get in on the action, going bigger than either ever have ever before and  attempting their own double-ups. 

Australia’s Sam Brown won last year’s event by nailing a Switch Double Moab (double backflip with a full 360), earning him the winner-take-all $10,000 prize. Sam will be returning this year and has plans to land that first ever triple flip.  Other stars of the sport that will be vying for that prize purse include Cory Teunissen, Steel Lafferty, Shota Tezuka and Luca Kidd. Judges include 2020 winner Guenther Oka and veteran pro Jimmy LaRiche. 

Last year the event introduced two wild card spots, saved for boarders in the general public who submit a video for a chance to be selected by Parks to compete. This proved to be a massive success, with twin Argentinian brothers Ulf and Kai Distch securing those spots, and then absolutely crushing it at the competition. They will both return as invited riders this year, with two new wildcard spots open. The submission phase is open as of August 18th and will close on September 1st. Tag @parxxx on Instagram with hashtag #doubleornothingwildcard before then send in your submission!

To see Parks and company send it on Lake Ivanhoe in person, head to Gaston Edwards Park on Saturday, Sept. 16^th from 9am-5pm. The day will be complete with food trucks, family-friendly games, and an open area for some of the best views of the lake to see a spectacle unlike any other in wakeboarding. 

For anyone that can’t attend, all the action will be streamed live. Tune in to Send It Official’s YouTube Page on the 16th! 

Red Bull Double or Nothing Athlete Roster 

• Parks Bonifay 
• Cory Teunissen 
• Shota Tezuka 
• Steel Lafferty
• Danny Harf 
• Sam Brown
• Luca Kidd 
• Tyler Higham 
• Rusty Malinoski 
• Thomas Herman 
• Kai Distch 
• Ulf Distch
• Wild Card 1 
• Wild Card 2 

Follow redbull.com/us-en/events/double-or-nothing to stay updated about this year’s event!

The post Women to Ride as Red Bull Double or Nothing 2023 Comes Back to Orlando appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Centurion, the pioneering brand in the world of aquatic sports, is ecstatic to commemorate nearly three decades of wake surfing excellence with its World Wake Surfing Championship. This championship will be held September 21-23, 2023, at the Pineview Reservoir in Huntsville, Utah, as a result of Centurion’s passion for innovation and commitment to nurturing a thriving community.

History of the Championship

Since its founding in 1976 by the visionary Rick Lee, Centurion has been synonymous with stretching the limits of innovation in boating. In the late 1970s, Lee’s pursuit for innovation began with boat racing, which led him to the niche worlds of water skiing and barefooting. However, the water sports industry was limited in scope, with a singular focus on creating the smallest wake feasible for traditional water skiing.

When Lee discovered that the deep V-hull, when slightly listed or weighted differently on one side, created a curl or lip in the wake, making it optimal for wake surfing, a turning point occurred. This discovery gave rise to the concept of endless waves, and Centurion led the wakesurfing revolution as a result.

Later, Centurion introduced an innovative boat known as “The Wave.” This boat featured a revolutionary hull design that incorporated elements of both runabout and ocean-going hulls. Its innovative design not only produced a smoother voyage by dissipating turbulent water, but also generated a larger wake with less ballast weight.

Centurion hosted the first World Wake Surfing Championship in San Diego in the late 1990s. Although these early events were relatively modest, they established the groundwork for what would become a thriving wake surfing community.

Significance of the Championship

The World Wake Surfing Championship holds immense significance in the wake surfing world, thanks to Centurion’s pioneering efforts. “Centurion made the decision long ago that the company was going to be about innovation in general, and that turned specifically into surfing,” adds Amy Mauzy, Director of Marketing for Centurion.

The Centurion World Series of Wakesurfing competitions brought together a diverse group of water sports enthusiasts, many of whom came from ocean surfing and other disciplines. Some were thrill-seeking weekend adventurers. Wake surfing’s minimal entry barrier made it accessible to all ages, from young children to senior citizens.

Wake surfing stood out as a sport that cultivated both competition and teamwork. In contrast to other competitive aquatic sports, wake surfing events radiated positivity and encouragement. The ambiance created by the competitors’ support for one another was unique and welcoming.

The championship’s inclusive nature enticed families to travel together and compete in different divisions, spanning multiple generations. The sense of community was palpable, transcending income levels, backgrounds, and ethnicity. Wake surfing became a shared passion that brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Participation and Accessibility

Accessibility is an exceptional aspect of the World Series of Wake surfing Championship. While only the best athletes are invited, anyone can compete. The Championship includes divisions for professionals, amateurs, adaptive athletes, minors, and masters. This approach assures that wake surfing remains an inclusive sport.

A Major Reveal

On Wednesday, September 20th, at the start of the Championship, Centurion will unveil a game-changing feature on its signature Ri230 boat that “will elevate wake surfing to new heights,” says Mauzy. The company will livestream this major announcement via its website and social media platforms.

The Centurion’s World Wake Surfing Championship is a testament to the power of innovation, community, and accessibility, and not just a sporting event. As the championship continues to flourish, it continues to serve as a shining example of what can be accomplished when devotion and innovation are combined. For more information about Centurion and the 2023 World Series of Wake surfing Championship, please visit Centurion’s website.

The post Centurion Celebrates Nearly Three Decades of Innovation and Community appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Red Bull Double or Nothing brings the best wakeboarders in the world to Orlando in a winner-take-all, best trick competition behind the legendary MasterCraft XStar, encouraging each athlete to go as big as they can and push the envelope of what’s possible on a wakeboard.  

Wakeboard legend Parks Bonifay is the creator of Red Bull Double or Nothing, and a godfather of the sport. He’s recruited the best of the best to compete this year on Saturday, September 17. The iconic event will return to downtown Orlando at Lake Ivanhoe, and will be open to spectators at Gaston Edwards Park, completely free of charge. 

MasterCraft has once again partnered with Red Bull to showcase the world’s top wakeboarders and their most innovative tricks yet. Competitors will be riding behind the award-winning XStar, the iconic wakeboat that revolutionized the industry. For this year, the competition XStar has been upgraded with the world’s most powerful towboat engine. The all-new Ilmor Supercharged 6.2L engine, with a massive 630 horsepower and 665 lb-ft of torque, will be delivering an unprecedented wake for the riders to showcase their best tricks.

Massi Piffaretti won last year’s event by nailing a KGB540 with a Japan grab, earning him the $10,000 prize. Massi will be returning this year to defend his crown, which he will have to do by going even bigger. Other stars of the sport that will be vying for that winner-take-all prize purse include 2020 winner Guenther Oka, Cory Teunissen, Mike Dowdy and Steel Lafferty. 

A new wrinkle in this year’s event is the introduction of two wild card spots, saved for boarders in the general public who can submit a video for a chance to be selected by Parks to compete. The submission phase is now open and will close on Sept 10th. Just tag @parxxx on Instagram with hashtag #doubleornothingwildcard before then to get your submission in.  

Additionally, three of the best women riders will be participating in an exhibition between the Semifinal and Finals. Meagan Ethell, Jamie Lopino and Mary Morgan will compete for the best trick while showcasing their world-class talent. 

Parks is pumped to run this event back in Orlando; “I’m super psyched about this year. If you’re in Central Florida and can check it out, it’s going to be a lot of fun. We’ll be going huge, serving up the biggest Double Ups to date, whether in this competition or anywhere else!” 

To see Parks and company go bigger than ever before, come to Gaston Edwards Park on Saturday, Sept. 17^th from 9am-5pm. The day will be complete with food trucks, family-friendly games, and an open area for some of the best views of the lake. Come one, come all, to the most fun and exciting wakeboarding event in Orlando! 

Red Bull Double or Nothing Athlete Roster 

• Guenther Oka  
• Cory Teunissen  
• Massi Piffaretti  
• Parks Bonifay  
• Shota Tezuka  
• Nic Rappa  
• Steel Lafferty  
• Danny Harf  
• Sam Brown  
• Lucca Kidd  
• Tyler Higham  
• Rusty Malinoski 
• Thomas Herman  
• Mike Dowdy  
• Wild Card 1 
• Wild Card 2 

Follow redbull.com/us-en/events/double-or-nothing to stay updated about this year’s event! 

The post Red Bull Double or Nothing Bringing Best Wakeboarders in the World Back to Lake Ivanhoe appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

The 2022 Pro Wakeboard Tour, presented by Supra Boats, is wrapped up for the season and it was nothing short of insane! The pro athletes worked so hard this season to try to have a place on the podium in each event. After a heated battle, Cory Teunissen came out on top, but Nic Rapa was hot on his heels in hopes of dethroning Cory. Not only did Cory win stop 4, he also won the tour overall. Let’s break down the competition and see how it all went down.

The event happened live, but was made for media so it was released online September  5 on FuelTV and YouTube. The event happened at Lake David in Groveland, Florida and showcased the best wakeboarders in the world. Alexa Score and Parks Bonifay hosted the event and interviewed the athletes lakeside.

As the event transpired the athletes and their families looked out upon the lake to watch the passes of other riders to see which tricks they’d need to pull out of their trick back when it was their turn to ride. Cory had an incredible finals run consisting of a heelside 9, backside 9, toeside 9, double heelside backroll, double toeside backroll, toeside 10, back mobe 5, crow mobe 5, and a double half cab roll off the double up! 

Nic Rapa made competition history at stop 4! He became the first wakeboarder to ever land a double tantrum to blind in a wakeboarding competition! If you don’t know what that means, no sweat, let’s break down the trick. Nic approached the wake on his heel side, launched off the wake, flipped two full rotations backwards, and then landed blind. Let me say, it was incredible to witness first hand!

The final pro heat featured six riders: Cory Teunissen, Nic Rapa, Guenther Oka, Tyler Higham, Fynn Bullock, and Maxime Roux. The pro athletes put it all on the line and had some incredible runs! The riders were on FIRE! It was such a blast to watch as I was fortunate enough to have a front row seat, as I filmed the riders from the boat. Speaking of video, stay on the lookout for our upcoming recap video of PWT stop 4.  In the end, Cory Teunissen took the final heat, winning the top spot on the PWT podium! If you haven’t already, click the video above to see the full event which includes wakeboarding and wakesurfing. I’d be a shame to miss out on such world class action sports. Go watch them throw down some insane tricks!

Stop 4 Finals Results

1. Cory Teunissen 96.00
2. Nic Rapa 93.33
3. Guenther Oka 86.33
4. Tyler Higham 77.00

Words With the Winner: Cory Teunissen

WBM: Hey Cory, you absolutely killed it throughout the whole Pro Wakeboard Tour! Congrats on all your insane runs, tricks, and successfully winning stop 4 and the Pro Wakeboard Tour as a whole! Describe your emotions going into the finals and especially when you found out you won it all!

CT: Yeah mate! I was just happy with my performance. I had an idea on what I wanted to do and happened to do it exactly as I wanted. I also kinda knew with the points lead that I had and what I did secured me the overall title. So more just proud of what I was able to lay down and joy knowing I just clinched the championship. It was a good day for sure!

Be sure to check out stop 1, 2, and 3 if you missed them to see how the riders did throughout the whole pro wakeboard tour season.

Follow @WakeboardingMag on Instagram and YouTube to keep up with all the latest in Wakeboarding! 

The Pro Wakeboard Tour is sponsored by Supra Boats in addition to: Indmar Marine Engines, PTM Watersports, FuelTV, Boatmate Trailers, Roswell Marine, JL Audio, Gatorstep,  Piedmont Plastics, Universal Products, Fat Sac Ballast Systems, Zero Off, Liquid Force, Acme Propellers, Wake Channel, Wakeland Manufacturing, and Apex Canvas!

The post Cory Teunissen Wins the 2022 Pro Wakeboard Tour appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

The 2022 Nautique WWA U.S. Wakeboard Nationals delivered nonstop talented riding and intense action by the best athletes in watersports. Master of ceremonies, Courage Criddle, and announcer, Mark Heger, unpacked the event on the mics as the action unfolded in front of a live audience. The event took place at different locations over the span of 4 days: August 4-7, 2022. Wakeboarding and Wakesurfing went down at Lake Silver in Winter Haven, Florida. The Cable Competition took place at Elite Cable Park in Auburndale, Florida.

Nationals consisted of three disciplines: Wakesurfing, Wakeboarding, and Cable Park. Each discipline had a wide variety of divisions from Surfing Moms and Dads to Veterans. Nationals are unique because the whole family can compete. In fact, the whole Ruegsegger family did just that! As a family of 5: Elise competed in Wakesurfing Moms, Joe in Veteran Mens, Joey in under 10 Boys, Maya in 10-13 year old Girls, and Avery in Jr. Pro Women. It was super cool to witness so much talent in a single family from Minnesota!

The athlete’s rode behind two Nautique Paragons! The interior and experience of the Paragon is supremely luxurious. The wake was massive and the pros were absolutely shredding out on the water!  After an intense battle behind the boat, Nic Rapa soared to the top and took 1st place in Pro Men’s. Followed by Tyler Higham in 2nd and Guenther Oka in 3rd place.

The vibe was chill and excitement high! Loads of onlookers brought their furry friends to soak up the action and many rode One Wheels to get around the site. Nautique Boats and their sponsored athletes signed T-shirts for the fans. It was blazing hot to say the least, but we all had so much fun in the sun! I had the amazing opportunity of a front row seat. I witnessed all the action from the boat while filming the action! It was such a thrill riding on the boat and seeing world class athletes up close as they showcased their best tricks. I feel fortunate to have such a blessing!

Be sure to lookout for our highlight video of the 2022 Nautique Nationals coming soon!

Words With the Winner: Nic Rapa

Wakeboarding: Hey Nic! Huge congratulations on taking 1st place at the 2022 Nautique Nationals! What went through your mind when you knew you won?

Nic: It was insane being in the finals out there! The course layout was tricky and adding in a double up, it was crazy! Stoked, I pulled off the run I wanted to take the win. When I found out I hugged  my wife and  was stoked! 3rd national title in 4 years. Super happy!

The Nautique Nationals is sponsored by: Nautique Boats, GM Marine, Roswell, Water Sports Industry Association, Visit Central Florida, Polk County Sports Marketing, Boatmate Trailers, EZ Drive Thrusters, Hyperlite Wake Co., Liquid Force, and JL Audio.

Competing Pro Athletes at the 2022 Nautique Nationals:

Wakeboarding

Men: Nic Rapa, Cory Teunissen, Tyler Higham, Fynn Bullock, Noah Flegel, Jake Pelot, Thomas Herman, Sam Brown, Guenther Oka, Haydon Bru, Parker Swope, Tony Iacconi, Noah Wildman, Pierce Anderson, Jaden Storm Reichi, Mizuki Takahashi, Tanner Higham, Luca Kidd, Harley Clifford, Ulf Ditsch, Dylan Sexton, and Kai Ditsch.

Women: Eugenia De Armas, Jaimie Lopina, Hollie Waldrop, Hollie Waldrop, Tarah Mikacich, Dallas Friday, Taylor McCullough, Erika Lang, Mackenzie McCarthy, Mary Morgan Howell, Bec Gange, Meagan Ethell, Hinata Yoshihara, and Elle Christensen.

Wakesurfing

Men: Noah Flegel, Sean Silveira, Nicholas Parros, Chad Carlson, Brock Moody, Drew Drennan, Markus Lahmer, Beaux Wildman, Jett Lambert, John Akerman, and Reed Cole-Tucker.

Women: Ashley Kidd, Ashley Inloes, Jodi Grassman, Whitley Stewart, and Bailey Dunn.

Wakeskating

Men: Reed Hansen and Brian Grubb

The post 2022 Nautique WWA U.S. Wakeboard Nationals appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

The Pro Wakeboard Tour is getting heated and by the looks of it the tables have turned! After Cory Teunissen won both stop 1 and 2, the other pro athletes were itching to steal the throne from him! Nic Rapa did just that and won stop 3 of the Pro Wakeboard Tour! Let’s get this party started!

Nic Rapa has been itching to win since the beginning of Stop 1. He’s known for going big and consistently riding impressive lines. Nic opened his final run with a 1080 and off to a Double Half Cab Roll, Double Indy Tantrum to Blind, Blind Pete Rose, Indy Moby Dick, and finished with a Mute Frontside 3. Nic threw the handle at the end of his run signifying with confidence the tricks he threw down would make the cut! To top it all off, after 6 solid tricks, Nic went on to stomp a massive Heelside Nosegrab 1080 for his double up! Yew! What an incredible run!

The online event was released on FuelTV and YouTube on August 8, 2022 and showcased some of the best riders in the world. Alexa Score and Parks Bonifay hosted the event and interviewed the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winning athletes. Tyler Higham took 3rd place and Cory Teunissen pulled 2nd place. Stop 3 switched it up from Stop 2! This time the riders submitted a video featuring a 6 best trick line and a double up. Simply put the runs had to be continuous in order to count. As part of the rules each athlete also must do a trick that’s less than 540°. 

Competing in the finals heat were Nic Rapa, Cory Teunissen, Tyler Higham, Jake Pelot, Massi Piffaretti, Thomas Herman, Guenther Oka, and Sam Brown.

All the athletes absolutely sent it out there and had some incredible runs! The stakes were high and the riders were on FIRE! In the end, Nic Rapa took the final heat, winning his spot at the top of the PWT podium! If you haven’t already, click the video above to see the full event which includes wakeboarding and wakesurfing. You don’t want to miss witnessing these world class athletes throw down insane tricks!

Words With the Winner: Nic Rapa

Wakeboarding Magazine: Hey Nic! Huge congratulations on taking 1st place at Stop 3 of the Pro Wakeboard Tour! What went through your mind when you knew you won?

Nic: I was stoked to find out I won Stop 3 of the PWT! The online events are tough, so to snatch the win and get my first guitar for the season has me stoked!

Be sure to tune in to the upcoming events to see how the riders do at Stop 4!

The Pro Wakeboard Tour is sponsored by Supra Boats in addition to: Indmar Marine Engines, PTM Watersports, FuelTV, Boatmate Trailers, Roswell Marine, JL Audio, Gatorstep,  Piedmont Plastics, Universal Products, Fat Sac Ballast Systems, Zero Off, Liquid Force, Acme Propellers, Wake Channel, Wakeland Manufacturing, and Apex Canvas!

The post Nic Rapa Wins Stop 3 of the 2022 Pro Wakeboard Tour appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.