Wakeboard Photos – Wakeboarding Mag

Sessions: Photo Gallery by Jeff Mathis

Andrea Gaytan — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 20:11:04 +0000

Jefferson W. Mathis aka @jeffshotthat, has established his name as one of the elite photographers in the industry in a very short time! Always around contests and events with a great attitude, time after time Jeff gets “the shot”. We’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. Enjoy!

Alex Graydon – spray – Lake Martin, AL – 8/4/20
Sometimes less is more, as was the case with this shot. Alex Graydon and I grew up together riding on Lake Martin, so obviously we go way back when it comes to wakeboarding. So when he got his first pro model, the Native from Slingshot, I was beyond stoked for him. For this shoot, I was up at my lake house for a bit last summer visiting my folks, but I knew I wanted to carve out some time to shoot some photos of him on his new board. We figured out a time and got out there. He had mentioned that he wanted to get something that showed off the flex tips of his board before we started shooting. We knocked out the session with plenty of awesome wake shots but as the light was getting close to being a bit too high to keep shooting, I suggested he cut out and lay back on the tail to get a cool spray shot before calling it quits. Well, he did and before I knew it, a rainbow started appearing behind him from all the spray. I framed him up, snapped off a few shots, and came up with something we were both really stoked about. Jeff Mathis

Brandon Harris – carve – West Rock Wake Park, IL – 9/14/20
I’ve only been to West Rock once and it was right as things were slowing down up there for the end of the season. Luckily, I was with a crew that didn’t mind braving the cold a bit. We set out one morning to get a solid batch of shots on all the various hacks we had throughout the park but before we got going, I wanted to get some clean carving photos right down the center of the run because the water was so glassy. I wanted to shoot from an elevated spot so as I climbed up the motor tower, I told Brandon Harris just to do some S-turns right down the middle and the result was exactly what I had envisioned. I feel like it really conveys the pure stoke that is riding a board on water. Jeff Mathis

Fynn Bullock – tsbs 1 late melan – Lake Fairview, FL – 5/13/20
One of my favorite things to do while shooting wake is floating out in the middle of the lake while the boat does laps around me. It’s one of those situations where I’m completely calm yet totally worried the entire time. What if the rider sprays me on accident? Or runs over me? Anything can happen when you’re out there. Luckily, riders like Fynn Bullock know what’s up and when you combine his style with the right spot, magic can happen. I’ve always loved this shot because the water splashes in all the right places covers up almost the entire frame except the spot that Fynn is poking through. When things like that come together, you gotta love it. Jeff Mathis

Guenther Oka – blur – Clear Lake, FL – 4/23/20
Guenther Oka has always been one of my favorite riders to work with not only because he’s insanely talented, but also because he’s such a humble dude that I can easily bounce ideas off of. I got this shot one evening on Clear Lake while Guenther was working on a video project for Liquid Force. He had this insane rail set up and while he was going back and forth, I thought I’d play around with some slow shutter/pan style shots and ended up coming away with this one. I had never really messed around with that style of shooting before so I was stoked on the result. Jeff Mathis

Jake Ramsdell – bs big flip – Battle Falls, FL – 1/31/18
Battle Falls is one of those special places in the sport that has seen a lot of NBD’s go down so when I got the call from Reed Hansen that he and Jake Ramsdell were going to go out for a session, I couldn’t turn them down. We arrived with plenty of light and with it being January at the time, we didn’t expect to be riding past sunset. But when the energy is up and the riders are knocking off tricks left and right, you don’t worry about the cold and you just keep shooting. This shot was one of the last we got that day and I really like it not only because of the moodiness of it being a night shot, but I love the way the flash on the water coupled with the silhouette of Jake and his board just play off each other. Jeff Mathis

JB O’Neill – overturned switch melan 1 – Blue Lake, FL – 3/27/21
Blue Lake is another one of those legendary locations in wakeboarding that if you get the invitation to shoot there, you just have to make it happen. This was also my first time really hanging out with JB. Everyone knows him for his YouTube channel and for being a “go big” guy. Well, that’s definitely true if you’ve ever watched any of his videos but you would also know that he has a ton of style as well. We were just wrapping up this sunset shoot when I asked JB to do a couple more of his overturned switch melan 180’s. That’s a pretty simple trick for him so once we were up to speed, he stretched one out and it just happened to be framed perfectly with the construction equipment on the beach and with the insane sunset we had, it turned out to be an absolute banger of a shot! Jeff Mathis

John Dreiling – method – Lake Hiawassee, FL – 4/13/20
If there’s one thing everyone knows about John Dreiling, it’s that he LOVES wakeboarding. It doesn’t matter if it’s behind a boat, a ski, a winch, a cable, or anything else that could pull a rider, if it has to do with wakeboarding, John will be there. So when the pandemic hit and all the cables were shut down, John did what any rider would do and got out behind a jet ski and hit some good old fashioned rails and kickers with the help of the Stuckey family. This method came from one of those sessions on Lake Hiawassee. There’s just something about a method with a flash in the middle of the night. Ya love to see it! Jeff Mathis

Maxime Giry – noseslide – Orlando, FL – 3/17/21
Maxime Giry is one of the most stylish dudes on a wakeskate out there today. You can’t argue with me on that. He happened to be in town earlier this year for a bit and although I didn’t get to shoot with him as much as I would have liked, I was still able to get up with him and Jake Ramsdell for a fun little winch session. This ledge is not too far from Jake’s place on Lake Holden and is the perfect height to lock into some technical moves. Max messed around with some board slides while I was dialing in my strobes and by the time he was warmed up, I was ready to go. A few hits later, we had this proper noseslide in the bag. What I really dig about this photo is how you can really see the skate nubs digging into the concrete and how Max is fully on his nose. It doesn’t get more legit than that! Jeff Mathis

Quinn Silvernale – switch fb – Valdosta Wake Compound, GA – 8/6/20
The Valdosta Wake Compound has always been like a second home to me and Quinn Silvernale has always been one the best dudes I’ve met in wakeboarding. I’ve watched VWC go from a dream to reality and it’s been awesome to see it happen. The 2.0 at VWC is infamous for being one of the best set ups at any wake park and it shows through the many videos and photos that come out of that place. For this shoot, we really had no plans of shooting at all. I was on my way back to Orlando from Lake Martin and I decided to break up my drive by stopping by the Compound. I pull in and after I say hi to everyone, Quinn tells me they just put a new tank over on the 2.0 that he’d been wanting to get a shot on. I immediately start pulling my gear out and get set up. It was about 3 pm so the sun was still pretty high and harsh so I knew I would need to light him up. We get the 2.0 running, pull a driver out of one of the campers, and get to it. A few hits later, we came away with this shot that has VWC vibes written all over it. Jeff Mathis

Taylor McCullough – bs indy – Blue Lake, FL – 3/27/21
This is another shot from the Blue Lake trip that I just absolutely love. I’ve known Taylor McCullough for a while now and she rips. Period. She’s always had plenty of style which makes shooting with her enjoyable. This was such a dope shoot not only because we got an amazing sunset but because we had already been out on the boat all day riding, surfing, foiling, and just chilling with our crew. To top it off with an awesome sunset shoot was just the icing on the cake! It really doesn’t get much better than that in my opinion. Jeff Mathis

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Sessions: Photo Gallery by Bryan Soderlind

Chase Heavener, Captions by Bryan Soderlind — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 17:01:00 +0000

“Any attempt to rattle-off Bear’s accomplishments as a photographer would be hard to fit onto a single page, but, to me, listing his achievements wouldn’t be the best way to describe what separates Bear from the rest. It’s that photography feels like Bear’s art. It feels like the medium he has chosen to leave his mark on the world. Even now, after what are probably hundreds of thousands of photos taken, you still see his passion for his art form. Every time I see his images, I think, “How did he do that!?”. And while the short answer to that question is hard work, determination, and persistence, the real answer is that intangible Bear magic he brings to every shoot, and the wisdom that only comes from decades of working on his craft. So, when thinking about all the iconic images Bear has created over the years, what makes those images distinctly his, are the way he translates what can’t be put into words, into images that define a moment perfectly.” – Chase Heavener

Parks Bonifay / 9/3/2020 / Lake Minnehaha
Parks and I had this idea to shoot a long lens (400mm) from his front porch through the spanish moss about 4 years ago. Finally last September we finally rallied early one morning to get this one footer shot with Rusty Malinoski pulling him behind a Sea-Doo. I stayed on Park’s front porch and enjoyed my coffee, easiest shoot I’ve done in awhile! @thegoldenbear

Brandon and Josh Harris / 1/28/2021 / Lake Ronix
Brandon and Josh Harris sessioning my old pontoon boat for Ronix’s “Toon On, Too In, Toon Out” edit. The “Twins” as they are known around “The Lake” (Lake Ronix) are always creative and a little crazy with their riding. Their video edits are always a must see cause you know they are putting it on the line. @thegoldenbear

Massi Piffa / 1/28/2021 / Lake Ronix
Massi with another unique hit on the pontoon boat out at Lake Ronix. He is always proving himself as one of the most well rounded riders. These nose grab stalls took perfect timing from the cable driver and Massi, after a few tries the pizza boy nailed this shot and then quickly got yanked all the way back to the water. @thegoldenbear

Guenther Oka / 3/5/2021 / Bridge City, TX
On a recent trip searching for tanker waves with Sea-Doo we came across these perfect pillars. Guenther was ready to ride his foil since the plan was to catch a tanker wave going past the bridge but no ships showed up. Guenther strapped in his wakeboard and made the best of the situation by front-boarding one of the pillars of the tallest bridge in Texas! @thegoldenbear

Brian Grubb / 3/6/2021 / Galveston Bay, TX
Foiling is fun behind a boat but it is even better behind a ship! Brian Grubb foils down the line of a container ship wave swelling up on the shoals of Galveston Bay. Grubb may hold the record for some of the longest rides as this trip we chased him on the Sea-Doo for miles as he glided till his legs burned out. @thegoldenbear

Travis Doran / 3/8/21 / Lake City, FL
This winch spot is one of two natural waterfalls in Florida. I’ve been here a few times over the years and knew it could be too big to hit on a wakeskate for most. Travis is one of the heaviest wakeskaters and for him it’s a spot to bust out some tricks. Check out the new Space Mob Coalition Movie when it drops later this year to see what tricks Travis pulled at this spot! @thegoldenbear

Crosse Bearden / 3/8/2021 / Valdosta, GA
Valdosta Wake Compound is always one of my favorite places to shoot. Making ideas happen with the crew is always easy, Crosse and I got this photo relatively quick one morning. Quinn was using these cages for another shoot so Crosse I borrowed them real quick and I crawled inside. @thegoldenbear

Quinn Silvernale / 3/8/2021 / Valdosta, GA
Quinn Silvernale nose tapping his Space Mob board on a sign setup at VWC. I was pumped on the water coming off his board on this one! @thegoldenbear

Wesley Jacobsen / 3/8/2021 / Valdosta, GA
Wes nose tapping the mini brush guard on his van. It’s become a tradition to involve all kinds of vehicles when shooting at VWC so when Wes got his newly imported Toyota Van we had to park it under the cable. I’m always happy when we can work an alien and a dog into a wakeboard shot too! @thegoldenbear

Crosse Bearden / 3/8/2021 / Valdosta, GA
Crosse has all kinds of flow and style but he’ll also charge some big gnarley hits. This back nose-slide on the container at VWC has about a 12 foot drop after and if you miss the container you are in trouble. He pulled several of these off perfect like only “Craw” can! @thegoldenbear

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Pro Spotlight – Tyler Higham

Garrett Cortese — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 23:43:25 +0000

If 2018 wasn’t a breakout year for Tyler Higham, we’re not exactly sure what constitutes a breakout year anymore. After signing on with the Ronix team, Ty took to a blowtorch to the modern world of professional wakeboarding. Not only was he able to blow the minds of competitors and judges alike in competitions, but his freeriding went next level, as evidenced with his bronze medal performance in X-Games Real Wake. In Ty’s mind, if something can be done on a wakeboard, he can find a way to make it his own. That has helped set Ty apart in his rise through the pro ranks. We decided to sit down with the reigning Supra Boats Pro Wakeboard Tour Rookie of the Year and find out what exactly makes him the rider he is, plus what he’s got planned for his very bright future.

You’ve come a long way from the Oregon grom who spent a lot of time riding the Delta with Josh Twelker and Trever Maur. What’s it like to be living in Orlando full time now and doing the pro wake rider thing from there? Like everything, it’s got its pros and cons, but it’s good, I like it a lot! It’s really warm year round so that makes it way easier to ride in the winter. But Cali will forever be my favorite place to wakeboard.

Dawn patrol, Tyler style. Garrett Cortese

What’s your living situation like in Orlando, and who do you ride with most out there? So we got a pretty packed house with myself, Guenther (Oka), Max Van Helvoort, Luca Kidd and Sam Brown. I ride with all of them quite a bit, but I also ride with Jake (Pelot), Massi (Piffaretti) and Cory (Teunissen) a lot. It’s pretty fun to mix up who you ride with, it helps me with getting creative and thinking of new stuff.

It’s apparent that your time with riders like Josh and Trever really influenced how you ride now. In what ways specifically do you think they had an impact on you? What gets you the most stoked about wakeboarding? Yeah Josh and Trev have literally been there every step of the way, so they have influenced me the most, especially Josh. When that man wakeboards it’s unreal – so much style, flow and finesse – it still blows my mind every time. I would say there are a couple things they preached to me quite a bit that helped me a lot. Josh probably influenced me the most by how he was able to make every trick he did look good, even the hard tricks. That is definitely something that has stuck with me. Both Josh and Trev always talked about how being different was huge – making tricks your own – and they both do that really well and it’s something I strive for in my riding.

What gets me super stoked is watching riders like Massi, his bag of tricks is just so unique, his grabs are all different and it’s just really sick to watch.

Edging in toward what is undoubtedly a trick he makes all his own. Garrett Cortese

Wrapped KGB: signature Ty. Garrett Cortese

Last year was pretty impressive for you: X Games Real Wake bronze medal, PWT Rookie of the Year, a finalist for a bunch of Wake Awards – including Best Trick when you landed the first ever wake-to-wake switch mute double mobe. How did that all feel when the year ended? I was happy with how I did for sure. Getting the invite to X Games was insane. Definitely the coolest/most stressful time of my life, but so much fun and totally worth all the work put into it! I would have liked to make a couple more finals than I did, but that’s how it goes. Overall I was really stoked on how my rookie year went – definite motivation to keep the momentum going.

Tyler’s bronze medal Real Wake section.

With all that you’ve accomplished the last couple years, and how well you’ve been riding recently (most notably with that insane heel 10 off the wake), do you feel any pressure to keep pushing the envelope and living up to these new expectations? (laughing) No not really. I’ve never really thought in terms of people expecting me to do these tricks or do well in that comp, so I think that helps, for sure. I just wakeboard for me and try to push myself to be the best I can be. I remind myself to enjoy it because I am having so much fun on the board right now!

In case you were wondering how to stomp a grabbed heelside 1080 off the wake, here’s Ty showing you.

What’s it like being part of the Ronix team and getting to take part in all the craziness at Lake Ronix and Radar Lake? Being on Ronix is the coolest thing in the world. I absolutely love everything about Ronix; everyone is so cool and fun to hangout with. Being at Lake Ronix is crazy, the setup is insane and so much fun to ride. Some crazy stuff goes down there, both on and off the water (laughs).

You’re also one of the newest team members for Supra, and you’ve got the 2018 PWT boat in your backyard. How’s that been? It’s been awesome! Having the SA in my backyard is a dream come true, I’ve wanted a boat sponsor since I was like 12, so it’s crazy that it actually happened and I get to ride it everyday!

Ty and Jake Pelot enjoying the 2018 PWT edition Supra SA 550. Garrett Cortese

What’s up with you making “welcome to the team” social videos that go viral? You’ve done that for both Ronix and Supra the last few years. (laughing) I’m not sure, I just wakeboard, they film and edit. The credit is all theirs for making it look good.

Ty’s entrance to Team Supra was a good one.

How often do you hit up a cable park? In the winter I ride cable a lot, more than I ride boat, actually. But as soon as everyone starts riding a lot I kinda forget about the cable and only ride boat.

What are your goals for the rest of the season? I would like to stay in the top five of Pro Wakeboard Tour and the Wakeboard World Series. It would be awesome to get my first pro win this season, also to be in the running for a few different things at Wake Awards.

Style. Tyler has it. Garrett Cortese

Your heel 10 is definitely a contender for Trick of the Year at Wake Awards. Got anything else you’re working on? I may have a couple tricks I want to try before Wake Awards… Stay tuned.

As a rider who’s had to work hard for some tricks and save them for big video parts (i.e. Real Wake), but who also has to keep up with the daily demands of social media these days, how hard is it to keep the balance? Do you think riders put good stuff out too fast today, or put up too much “just ok” content? It’s really hard to balance (laughs). I think that saving a couple banger tricks for a web edit is so sick, but it’s hard to not just throw it on Instagram because, to be honest, it will probably get more views and traffic that way, which helps you and your sponsors more. I have been trying to put up quality content, but it’s hard to do that a couple times a week or even everyday. I mean it would be sick if everyone put up insanely good content every post, but with how much we are expected to post it’s not possible to do unless you had a full time photographer and videographer working for you.

Keeping good content rolling through social media isn’t easy. Fortunately for Ty and the Ronix crew, they’ve got Erik Ruck to help them stack clips.

What’s on your playlist these days? Lot’s of rap to get me hyped to ride, I used to be into the old school rap, but I have been getting into the new stuff lately and I’m liking it.

We’re not sure what rap song Ty listened to to get hyped, but it seems to have worked. Bradlee Rutledge

When you’re not riding in Orlando, what can we find you doing? Hanging out with the boys at the house, we have really been getting into 2K Basketball on the PS4. Spike Ball has been getting really intense lately too (laughs). Other than that you’ll probably find me sleeping. I really enjoy my sleep (laughs).

Stay tuned for more from Ty this summer, we have a feeling he’s going to be dropping more must-see wakeboarding. Garrett Cortese

Who would you like to thank? I have to thank my family, I wouldn’t be doing what I am without them. Josh Twelker and Trever Maur for the influence and mentoring, and the whole Twelker family for taking me in on the Delta all those summers. And thanks to my sponsors: Ronix, Supra, and Active Water Sports.

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Sessions – Summer Shredding

Garrett Cortese — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 22:25:48 +0000

Check out the latest Sessions gallery, featuring some of the best riders and photographers out there. Whether it’s out on the Dirty Delta with the incomparable Josh Twelker, or young Aussie Sam Brown connecting with longtime wake photographer Chris Garrison, we’ve got you covered with this latest gallery.

Backyard tweaking courtesy of Shota Tezuka. Chris Garrison

Making the simple look awesome: Tyler Higham’s tail grab. Garrett Cortese

Dad life for Derek Cook is different than most dads. Double ups are still served and blasted off of regularly. Bryan Soderlind

Shane Bonifay getting back to his roots – and his backyard’s roots – in the Clear Lake rail park. Bradlee Rutledge

Don’t tempt Tony Carroll with some glassy water and a GoPro in his grill, he’ll shred every time. Garrett Cortese

At just 16, Sam Brown is already comfortable in front of the spotlight. Chris Garrison

Jake Pelot is often called “Old Reliable.” We just wish we could rely on the ability to regularly tweak a stalefish grab like this. Garrett Cortese

Safety is always first with Jamie Lopina. That, and style. Seatbelt grab, done right. Bryan Soderlind

Another Delta daze with resident style guru Josh Twelker. Garrett Cortese

The post Sessions – Summer Shredding appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Feet on Fire Heats Up Downtown Orlando

Garrett Cortese — Sat, 25 May 2019 02:51:31 +0000

Barefoot action returned to the shores of Lake Jennie-Jewel at the latest Feet on Fire even in Orlando. Garrett Cortese

Feet on Fire began as a group of wakeboarders with show skiers thinking of something fun to do in their spare time, barefoot style. Over the years it has become one of the most popular contests for athletes and fans alike. This year it returned to The Waterfront bar and restaurant on Lake Jennie-Jewel in downtown Orlando and the action both on and off the water were all time. The event’s creator and host, Danny Amir (better known as DanO the Mano and the Noise of the North) outdid himself with another day full of fun, excitement, and camaraderie, not to mention the unique trophies he presented to each winner – a collection of antique skis he’s spent months tracking down and customizing.

The rules of Feet on Fire have always been about one thing: fun.

No pro barefooters.
32 competitors total, 5 rounds of action.
Head-to-head battles each round, barefooter that lasts the longest wins and advances.
No barefoot suits allowed, just boardshorts (or whatever variation of boardshorts you want… denim, Speedo, etc.)
Showboating is encouraged.

Feet on Fire kicked off with a special round between wakeboarder JD Webb and his former coach, legendary barefooter Ron Scarpa. Garrett Cortese

For the first time ever at a Feet on Fire, there was a special opening ceremony of sorts. The 2x reigning champ (and 3x past winner) JD Webb had a head-to-head battle with one of the most legendary barefooters of all time, Ron Scarpa. To make this barefoot kickoff extra special, Scarpa was once Webb’s coach back when Webb was young and training to be part of ski shows, so the two have shared a bond for decades. Just to prove that he still had it, Scarpa took the victory from his former pupil, but there was already talk of a rematch next year. For his win, Scarpa was awarded a special Cypress Gardens Aqua King ski as a trophy.

Look who’s still got it… Scarpa showing his former protege how it’s still done. Garrett Cortese

Scarpa and Webb share a laugh while Scarpa gets his Aqua King prize. Garrett Cortese

DanO the ManO with a solid step off in his first round battle. Garrett Cortese

Wakeboarding legends Shaun Murray and Parks Bonifay dressed for the occasion. Garrett Cortese

The shore along The Waterfront was packed to catch all the action and join in on the fun. Garrett Cortese

As has always been the case with Feet on Fire – and what has always made it such a special event, the athlete roster was a who’s-who of watersports legends, both past and present. From iconic wakeboarders like Parks and Shane Bonifay, Shaun Murray, and Zane Schwenk to younger wake athletes like Jake Pelot, Cole Kraiss, and Jake Ramsdell to a hall-of-famer like Tom Weber, the list of competitors itself was a sight to behold. Seeing all of them have fun with competing against each other is what makes Feet on Fire so special. That, and the crashes.

Wakeskater Reed Hansen goes down in the first round to the incomparable Zane Schwenk. Garrett Cortese

After a decade away from the action, Bob Soven returned to Feet on Fire and took out Erik Ruck in the first round. Garrett Cortese

Wakeboarder Guenther Oka on the mic while DanO competed. Garrett Cortese

Filmmaker Jake Snider took home his second “Best Step Off” Award by stomping two two-footed bomb outs in his heats. Garrett Cortese

Legendary Water Ski Hall-of-Famer Tom Weber showing the young bucks how it’s done. Garrett Cortese

Throughout the day there were both major upsets and predictable results. The biggest surprise was 2x defending champ JD Webb going down in the first round. That put every other competitor a little more at ease right away. Longtime Feet on Fire veterans like Zane Schwenk and Chip Fernandez made deep runs through the field. Ultimately it came down to Fernandez and wakeskater Jake Ramsdell for the title of 2019 Feet on Fire champion. Fernandez had been to multiple finals of Feet on Fire in the past, but has yet to win it. Ramsdell, a former amateur show skier from Ohio, was in just his second Feet on Fire contest looking for glory. When it was all said and done, Ramsdell lasted longer than Fernandez and came away victorious.

Old skis and a brand new Ski Nautique – the perfect pair at an event like Feet on Fire. Garrett Cortese

Fernandez and Ramsdell in the final match. Garrett Cortese

A celebratory hoisting for the wakeskater turned barefoot champ. Garrett Cortese

A variety of awards were giving out by DanO following the contest, including a special tribute to the late Pete Bonifay, father of wakeboarders Parks and Shane. Back when Feet on Fire was getting started on Clear Lake, Peter could often be seen in the mix to watch the action, tell his famous stories (like being the first person to barefoot ski using his hands), and co-announce with DanO. Much of the Bonifay family was in attendance and the toast was a sentimental touch that we all know Peter B. would have approved of.

Parks Bonifay and Erik Ruck were inducted into the Feet on Fire Hall of Fame (or Hall of Feet) after the event. Garrett Cortese

The Endurance Award went to Chip Fernandez and Zane Schwenk, whose semifinal battle lasted an incredible length – almost four full laps around the course. Garrett Cortese

2019 Feet on Fire Podium: 1st – Jake Ramsdell; 2nd – Chip Fernandez; 3rd – Zane Schwenk & Hunter Hanson Garrett Cortese

Cheers to Pete Bonifay; the man, the myth, the legend.

Peter B. taking a swim in Clear Lake at Foot on Fire 2009. Garrett Cortese

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Throwback Thursday: Devise & Conquer 2011

Garrett Cortese — Thu, 16 May 2019 21:00:00 +0000

Danny Hampson – Devise + Conquer nose pick through the inferno. Letchworth

Back in 2011, the Devise + Conquer contest was setup in the vein of some of other TransWorld entities like Skate & Create, the Team Shoot Out, and Imaginarium. The original concept was to give four wakeskate teams full access to The Projects for three days to create their own setups and then shoot photos and video on them. When it was all said and done, there would be one winner. The initial Devise + Conquer made waves in the industry, and the photos and videos each team came up with were some of the most creative ever. Here’s a look back at the first iteration of this epic series, with the story and photos from the magazine, and the original videos.

Experiment Gone Right
Team Obscura wins the first-ever Transworld Devise + Conquer present by Teva

The inaugural TransWorld Devise + Conquer was as much an experiment as it was an event. Wakeskate teams from Byerly, CWB, Obscura and Remote were given a blank canvas upon which they could portray wakeskating exactly as they wanted it to be seen. Every team received the same basic tools and had full creative control over the outcome of their talent and hard work. We didn’t know what to expect, but what the first Devise + Conquer produced could never have been anticipated anyway.

The concept is simple: Each team received three days of isolation at The Projects outside Orlando with a photographer, videographer, some random obstacles and a small budget. They had one day to bild and two days to film and shoot photos. At the end of each team’s allotted time, it produced a three-to five-minute video and submitted photos from its shoot.

The sheer diversity of the setups and riding made it interesting to watch as each team came through The Projects over the course of 12 days. Byerly, Obscura, Remote and CWB all came up with original setups and unique ideas for its repertoire. But to win, a team needed the entire package. It not only needed a solid them that allowed its photos and video to shed light on its talents on a wakeskate, but it also had to show diversity, innovation, and creativity. In the end, that team was Obscura.

Byerly Boards
Puttin’ Paint Where It Ain’t

Part of the paint crew, Scott Byerly backside 50-50 on a 16-foot extension ladder. Maloy

Riders: Scott Byerly, Brandon Thomas, George Daniels, Bret Little
Photographer: Matt Maloy
Filmers: Tad Matthews, Danny Vanzura, Steve Campbell
Build by the Numbers: 36 cans of spray paint, 15 ladders, 6 painter jump-suits, 1 Ski Nautique for $1
Highlights: Brett Little’s back-to-back-to-back first tries on the incline. George Daniels frontside flip off the boat. Brandon Thomas boardslide big spin 360 off the the boat. Scott Byerly shove lipslide to fakie.

Paint crew. Maloy

Shoots and ladders with Bret Little. Maloy

“The team and I wanted to come up with something completely different. We have done a lot over the years, and it’s pretty hard to come up with different and original stuff. We were throwing all sorts of ideas around we were kinda stressing about it. I couldn’t sleep at night! Matt (Maloy) and I finally came up with the ladder idea, looking around my house for things we could use. I sent BT and George some pictures, and they were into it. So when we go to The Projects, it was pretty easy to set everything up, and we couldn’t believe we never used ladders before! It was the most fun we have ever had.” – Scott Byerly

George Daniels’ version of climbing the ladder… Maloy

CWB / Connelly
The United States of Awesome

Matt Manzari throws a poked-out ollie for himself and his team but, more importantly, for America. Meddock

Riders: Matt Manzari, Stuart Shinn, Josh Zentmeyer, Tom Doran
Photographer: Joey Meddock
Filmers: Tad Matthews, Steve Bates, Aaron Pastura
Build by the Numbers: 26 4×4 posts, 5 gallons of red, white and blue paint, 2 badass American flags, 1 can of gas for $3.81.
Highlights: Matt Manzari backside flip. Stuart Shinn back-to-back kickflip and frontside flip. Matt Manzari 3 flip. Josh Zentmeyer switch front big into the pool, regular front big out.

Josh Zentmeyer getting down in style on the hand rail. Meddock

Because when you’re Stu Shinn, you kickflip through a wall of flames for the fun of it. Meddock

“We went into this thing knowing we all loved the U.S. of A. Matt had the grand idea of a 4th of July theme, including large flags, fireworks, and Neil Diamond. Both the fireworks and Neil were tough to come by, so we lit a fire and did flip tricks through it while being watched over by 12-foot American flags. It just so happened that our last night of filming was the same night bin Laden was paid a visit by our SEALs. It was a proud moment for us all. God bless the USA.” – Steve Bates

Tom Doran frontboarding in the name of freedom. Meddock

This picture of Matt Manzari looks way scarier than it really is… It’s like they say, timing is everything. Meddock

Obscura
The Hollow Men

Leave it to Danny Hampson and crew to use an apocalyptic poem about the end of the world for wakeskating inspiration… That being said, the Obscura team won the first Devise + Conquer for a reason. Letchworth

Riders: Aaron Reed, Danny Hampson, Grant Robers, Travis Doran
Photographer: Josh Letchworth
Filmers: Tad Mathews, Ian Reid
Build By the Numbers: 1,144 miles that Aaron Reed drove to the event, 18 sheets of plywood, 2 fog machines, 1 stolen road barricade
Highlights: Aaron Reed front board hippie jump 270-shuv. Travis Doran backslide flip over the standup PWC. Danny Hampson boardslide to nosegrind backside 180. Danny Hampson nose pick into the burning town.

Aaron Reed landed on the cover of the July 2011 issue with what at the time was the most innovative and creative hippie jump on a wakeskate to date: front board shuv. Letchworth

Travis Doran making sure the end of the world still looks pretty darn cool. Letchworth

“The inspiration for our theme and title came from the T.S. Eliot poem “The Hollow Men.” The poem deals with the end of the world and the Hollow Men who bring it on. In today’s turbulent climate and with 2012 looming, we thought it fitting to tie in the end of the world idea. In reality, we are the Hollow Men – a bunch of guys in wet shorts watching the world spin off into darkness and not caring as long as the rope is in our hands. I know it’s a little heavy, but it was just an idea we wanted to experiment with.” – Danny Hampson

Grant Roberts’ nighttime escape from the madness. Letchworth

Hampsons’ turn with some hippie jump fun through the road barricade that Reed brought all the way from Texas to Florida. Letchworth

Remote
Back in Black – and White

Ben Horan, keeping it clean – and black and white – with a frontside flip out of the Remote pool. Letchworth

Riders: Ben Horan, Silas Thurman, Matt Hooker, Yan Lecomte
Photographer: Josh Letchworth
Filmers: Tad Mathews, Ian Reid
Build by the Numbers: 223 2x4s, 25 sheets of sheetrock, 20 2x6s, 18 sheets of plywood.
Highlights: Ben Horan 3-flip and varial heel. Matt Hooker boardslide to backlip, 270 shuv. Yan Lecomte front board to backside 360 big spin.

Yan Lecomte locked in. Letchworth

Matt Hooker making some magic with the infamous Remote logo as a backdrop. Letchworth

“We wanted our theme to be simple. Black and white with all straight lines, and we were really trying to keep things square with this idea too. We decided for a lot of the riding to do the work as well. With the music we chose, I think it worked out to be exactly what we wanted.” – Ben Horan

The Remote team’s setup was simple, but allowed for a lot of variety. Here’s Matt Hooker sliding the edge of the pool. Letchworth

Yan Lecomte flipping out of the pool setup. Letchworth

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Pro Spotlight | The Most Interesting Man in Wakeboarding

Garrett Cortese — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 04:47:53 +0000

Park rat, skinny-stance-dancer, mustache-wearer, bangs-rocker, board-graphics-designer, style master, video creator, part time rapper, full time entertainer (if you’ve been to the last two Wake Awards then you know)… when it comes down to labeling the wakeboarder known most commonly as Wes Jacobsen, there really isn’t a label that works. That’s why he’s the Most Interesting Man in Wakeboarding. For the past few years as a co-leader of the Space Mob crew and the heavy-lifter of The Coalition videos, Wes has arguably had a larger impact on the world of park riding than any other wakeboarder in the game. His unique approach to his own riding – and how he displays riding in his videos – has helped usher in a new style of park riding. Just check out clips from parks around the globe for evidence – you’ll see kids buttering, snake-biting, hand-dragging, and jibbing like never before. After spending the last few years based out of the infamous Valdosta Wake Compound, Wes is going more global this year, having already completed a trip to Asia and with a three-month stint in Europe coming this summer. So look out, world, The Most Interesting Man in Wakeboarding is coming for you.

Wesley Mark Jacobsen – The Most Interesting Man in Wakeboarding. Bryan Soderlind

You started out as a park-rat kid at Trophy Lakes. How did you originally get into wakeboarding and how did you end up at Valdosta?
I started snowboarding when I was about 13 years old, but it was hard to get to the mountains enough to progress since I lived in Spartanburg, SC. Also, my family wasn’t loaded so we couldn’t afford many trips to the mountain each year. I always knew about wakeboarding and thought it was dope, but I never had the means to do it. In high school though, my family was able to get a Sea Ray that we slapped a tower on. This was my first introduction to wakeboarding. I rode behind that boat for a few years, but never really progressed that much and was kinda bored of just going back and forth across the wake trying to learn different aerials like the cool kids. After high school I chose to go to the College of Charleston where I heard they had a wakeboarding club. A couple years into it, my buddy and I began running the club, building new rails that we hit behind the ski boat, and gaining a lot of new members. In my final year of college, Trophy Lakes bought three straight line cables which really changed my perspective on wakeboarding. Through the club we hosted fundraisers to build features for the cables, a handful of which are still being shredded at Trophy Lakes today. During those years I became viciously addicted to rail riding. After managing Trophy Lakes Cable Park for a few years after college I moved to Jibtopia in Semora, NC. I lived there for one incredible season before I planned my first trip outside the country to CWC in the Philippines. That’s where I met Quinn Silvernale and Oli Breumlund. During that trip Quinn told me about his plans to build VWC and he said that I was welcome to come live and work at the new park. He assured me that it would be the best park in the world one day, and he was right. After CWC I moved to VWC and the rest in history!

Space Mob vibes at VWC. Bryan Soderlind

In a sentence or two, describe the Valdosta vibe and what makes the place so unique.
Valdosta is so unique because it is truly built by riders for riders. Once you visit Valdosta you immediately feel like a part of their family.

VWC in a nutshell: crazy features, including a Death Star, and crazy photo shoots with Bryan Soderlind. Bryan Soderlind

When’s the last time you rode a wakeboard behind the boat?
I rode behind my parents’ Sea Ray two years ago and it was terrible. I really just don’t get it. I just want to hit rails, forever.

From your experience, what’s the biggest misconception about park riding these days?
I think that people still associate park riding with traditional wakeboarding, when in my mind it is almost an entirely different sport. I see park riding as a big part of the future of the sport. You can have fun doing both, and fun is what it’s all about, but cable parks aren’t a bastard stepchild. Not only are they a totally different way to ride and have fun on your board, but it’s a whole different experience in terms of the social aspect, riding with your friends, and progressing.

This is not your typical wake park setup, but VWC is not your typical wake park and Wes is not your typical wake park rider. Bryan Soderlind

What’s your advice to riders who haven’t tried out a wake park yet?
Just get out there and do it! You won’t be disappointed! Most people that talk to me about wakeboarding describe them riding behind a buddy’s boat on a lake and having a terrible time struggling to get out of the water. My response is always, “You have to try a cable park, it’s completely different than boat riding and it’s so much fun! You can actually ride WITH your friends!”

A lot of your riding is really unique and technical, but also really approachable for the average Joe because it’s not double flips and 1080’s. What influences your riding? And how do you think of some of the lines you come up with?
Snowboarding and skateboarding definitely influence my riding, but just riding my wakeboard influences me the most. Just trying things that feel good and that are fun to do on the water is most important to me. I think a lot of people get too caught up in doing “hard tricks” and forget that we are shredding on top of water, which I think is the coolest part about our sport. I love trying to incorporate tricks that are more involved with the water than the actual rail, like snakebites, butters, shovels, reverts… Luckily, they seem to be catching on.

Progression in park riding doesn’t always mean going bigger or doing more spins. Like style, progression can be totally subjective. Wes’ unique riding requires a precision and a flow that can only come with two things: time on the water and creativity.

If it’s out there, it’s jibbable for Wes. Bryan Soderlind

The Coalition videos have helped bring back a pretty epic, raw, backyard-style of video. What’s been your goal with those? And what’s next?
Well, next we are working on our third movie “The Coalition – The Trilogy,” which will be ALL winching and hopefully releasing sometime in 2020! I also plan to bring back the Coalition video series starting right where we left off with Vol. 7. My goal with all of my content is to get people stoked on the new school of wakeboarding and trying to make it look like skateboarding and snowboarding video parts.

Wes, behind the camera, but still up in the action. Antoine Allaux

Who’s your favorite rider to watch right now?
Crosse Bearden is the future, past, and present of wakeboarding. If he’s not up next, I quit. JK, but fo real…

Wes and Crosse at VWC. Bryan Soderlind

You’ve been putting up some $pace Jacob$en songs on Spotify. How’d you get into making your own beats and raps? When’s the EP drop? And will you be the next rider to rap to your own riding section?
I’ve always been a music head and wanted to make music, but had no idea where to start. Since I’m not that musically inclined, I thought rapping would be my only chance at making music. I finally decided to give it a go, linked up with a producer in Spartanburg, SC, and during the few winter months off before going to Thailand I recorded my first five songs – some of which are now doing pretty well on Spotify. I do plan on making an album in 2019, but we’ll see how it goes since I’ll be very busy with wakeboarding. I don’t plan on using my own music for my section, but I do want to make music videos for some of my songs and I would like to incorporate some wakeboarding in those. However, I would like to encourage other people to use my songs in their edits if they feel so inclined to do so! It might be a good way to get a Space Mob repost!

You’ve done the art for the Coalition board (and others), you’ve got music on Spotify, you’re making award-winning wake videos, and you’ve been running around the planet shredding some international parks… what’s next for the most interesting man in wake?
I want to keep traveling, keep pushing my own riding, keep making videos and movies, keep making music, keep making art, and see how high we can climb. I’m going to Europe for three month this summer to travel around to different parks and spread the Space Mob love!

The 2019 Slingshot Coalition, graphics by Wes, co-designed with VWC founder and fellow shredder, Quinn Silvernale. Rumor has it the board’s core contains alien wood… Bryan Soderlind

Word association…

Space Mob: The future

Bangs: My forehead

Just a man, his bangs and his best friend. Bryan Soderlind

Biscuits: Where’s the butter?

Golden Bear: The Greatest

Wake Awards acceptance speeches: Drunk, fun and loud

Bright lights and loud mics can lead to shenanigans at Wake Awards. Bryan Soderlind

Waffle House: Texas Bacon Chicken Melt Plate, Scattered

Fanny packs: Used to be dope, still are!

Skateboarding: Hurts, but worth it

Instagram: Has too much power

Dos Equis: Two X

Wes, his trailer, and some Dos Equis… Bryan Soderlind

The post Pro Spotlight | The Most Interesting Man in Wakeboarding appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Sessions – Wakeskating the Iconic Battle Falls

Garrett Cortese — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 04:29:28 +0000

Back in 2012 wakeskater Reed Hansen created what has become one of the most iconic private riding spots in the sport: Battle Falls. The two-pool setup, with a unique waterfall ramp connecting the top to the bottom, has provided for some of the most iconic and progressive wakeskating in the world. Over the last couple years, Battle Falls doesn’t get used as much, but every so often Reed heads back with some friends for a little fun. This past weekend that included Josh Zentmeyer, and photographer Bryan Soderlind came out to capture it with his camera. With that, we present you with the latest Sessions gallery.

Palm trees and Reed boosting giant kickflips – two signature elements to Battle Falls photos. Bryan Soderlind

Birds-eye view. Bryan Soderlind

Josh Zentmeyer making his way up to the top pool. Bryan Soderlind

Takeoff. Bryan Soderlind

Josh Zentmeyer, kickflipping. Bryan Soderlind

Reed Hansen, backside 360 down the stairs. Bryan Soderlind

Zentmeyer knows how to boost at Battle Falls, too. Bryan Soderlind

Reed, sending it. Bryan Soderlind

These two have made this walk more than a few times over the years. Bryan Soderlind

Veteran move by the man who made the park. Bryan Soderlind

Shadow play… until next time. Bryan Soderlind

If you want a look into how Battle Falls came to be, along with highlights from the first Wakeskate Tour stop there in 2012, check out this video.

The post Sessions – Wakeskating the Iconic Battle Falls appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Sessions – Delta Daze with Rodrigo Donoso

Garrett Cortese — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 03:00:00 +0000

Josh Twelker has been styling out on the Delta for years, and we’re really glad Rodrigo Donoso has been there to capture it all. Rodrigo Donoso

Rodrigo Donoso has long been a favorite photographer for riders and media alike because 1) he always delivers the goods, and 2) he’s one of the most fun dudes to be around. Seriously, sit with him for a few minutes and you’ll feel like you’ve known him for years. Plus, his stories are second to none. While the industry is lucky to have him, the luckiest of all might be the riders who live with him on the California Delta. Trust us, it’s pretty sweet to have the glassy waters of the winding Delta sloughs to ride on, while also having the 4x Wake Awards Best Photographer there. Recently Rodrigo went out for a casual evening shoot with Josh Twelker and Mike Belligan. The results speak for themselves, so we figured we’d get some insight from the man behind the lens. Enjoy this edition of Sessions, and be on the lookout for more in the future.

Two riders, two styles. Both are good. Mike Bellinger and Josh Twelker make for a good combo when it comes to photographing wakeboarding. Rodrigo Donoso

“I was home for a couple days between trips, and Josh happened to be home as well. Bellz (Mike Belligan) was on his way home from work one afternoon, so we decided to all head out. We didn’t have any real reason to shoot other than that’s what we like to do when our schedules line up. It’s what we do, and we enjoy it. Honestly, whenever I get a chance to shoot with the crew, I’m doing it.”

Mike has been pushing one-footed tricks for a couple years, and they always look unique. Rodrigo Donoso

“Shooting with Josh and Bellz is always a good time. We’re out there to have fun, but we’re also trying to get sick photos. They want them as bad as I do. If I see something I think is rad I’ll stop them, show them what I’m thinking we can get, and then we go for it. That gives the rider a really good idea of what to do so they don’t feel like they’re spinning their wheels. Other times I just let them go for it and shoot until I see something that stands out.”

It’s hard to get a bad shot when you’re photographing these two. Combine that with the skills of Rodrigo, and you’ve got a solid match. Rodrigo Donoso

“I ended up with a bunch of cool shots this afternoon. One of my favorites has to be the wrapped, one-footed 3 from Bellz. Another that stood out to me was the one of Josh doing a stalefish front flip. It has some really moody lighting and it’s sick looking trick. It’s Josh, go figure…”

Another afternoon on the Delta, another successful photo shoot with this crew. Rodrigo Donoso

The post Sessions – Delta Daze with Rodrigo Donoso appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

2018 Wake Awards Winners!

Garrett Cortese — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 01:08:26 +0000

The 15th annual Wake Awards went off Thursday night, Sept. 6 at Surf Expo as the industry gathered to celebrate the biggest accomplishments of the year. With a packed house and the good-times flowing, the celebration was nonstop from start to finish, including a couple awesome guest appearances. We will have a full recap of the show soon, but in the meantime here is the list of winners for the 2018 Wake Awards!

Check Out Award presented by Rockford Fosgate

Luca Kidd Bill Doster

Best Web Video
Area 52 feat. Ben Leclair

Film/edit: Taylor Hanley
Riders: Ben Leclair, Dylan Miller, Kevin Henshaw, Mark Rugala, Keaton Roper Bill Doster

Watch Area 52 on Vimeo!

Best Video Short/Series
Valdosta Yardsale II

Edit: Aaron Rathy
Filmers: Cole Vanthof, Trever Maur, Steffen Vollert, Norbi Vasko, Trevor Bashir, Josh Belcher, Drew Martin Bill Doster

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Best Video
Formats

Film/edit: Taylor Hanley
Riders: Raph Derome, Dylan Miller, Guenther Oka, Nick Dorsey, Felix Georgii Bill Doster

#passthehandle

Matt Manzari Bill Doster

Best Photographer

Rodrigo Donoso Bill Doster

Industry Icon Award

Tony Finn Bill Doster

Legend Award

Randall Harris Randall won the award in 2017, but wasn’t available to accept it. He was presented his trophy at this year’s Wake Awards. He was also inducted into the Wakeboarding Hall of Fame 2018 class, along with Parks Bonifay and Ronn Seidenglanz. Bill Doster

Best Park & Rail Rider

Guenther Oka Bill Doster

Best Boat Rider

Cory Teunissen Bill Doster

Best Female Rider

Meagan Ethell Bill Doster

Full Scope Award

Guenther Oka Bill Doster

Indmar Women’s Trick of the Year

Julia Rick
Toeside backside 1080 Bill Doster

Indmar Wakeskate Trick of the Year

Travis Doran
Noseblunt nollieflip Bill Doster

Indmar Men’s Trick of the Year

Cody Hesse
Mute half-cab triple roll Bill Doster

Big thanks to all the sponsors that make Wake Awards possible!

2018 Wake Awards Sponsors WKB

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