Meet The Pros is our series of articles profiling professional wake athletes. This installment features pro wakeboarder Mike Dowdy, aka Dirty Mike Dowdy. MTP strives to bring you the hard facts about your favorite pro riders, so you can learn what boats and gear help them achieve greatness. We also make sure to include some personal insights: be sure to scroll all the way down to learn what these, “Fun Facts,” are for each rider.

Biography

• Name: Mike Dowdy
• Nickname: Dirty Mike Dowdy
• Country: USA
• Social Media: @DirtyMikeDowdy
• Age: 28
• Home Lake: Lake Jessamine, Florida
• Favorite Trick: Method

Top 3 Accomplishments

1. 2017 Malibu Vienna Pro Winner
2. 2016 Pro Wakeboard Tour Overall Champion
3. Bronze at MasterCraft Throwdown “World of X Games”

Gear

• Boat: HeyDay H22
• Board: Liquid Force Bullox
• Bindings: Liquid Force Classics
• Rope & Handle: Liquid Force Pulse Combo
• Life Jacket: Liquid Force Spector Comp Vest

Fun Facts

Tricks Pioneered: KGB 720, Wake to wake Toeside Frontside 1260, Wake to wake Heelside frontside 1080, Wake to wake Heelside backside 1080, Tailgrab mobydick 720, Underflip 720, Underflip 900, Underflip 1080, Wrapped blind Pete 540, Double roll to blind (early), Double roll to blind (late), and Ole toe back 540.

Something Quirky: Everyone thought my missing tooth was from a wakeboarding accident, but it was actually shot out by an airsoft gun.

Most Unexpected Wakeboarding Experience: When you’re competing a lot, you get to know other pro riders closely and get to see how much grit they really have on the water and at competitions.

Off-Water Activities: I spend all my free time with my family and entertaining my son.

Off-Water Training: Lots of knees over toes exercises!

Sponsors

Heyday Wake Boats and Liquid Force Wakeboards

Read Next: Meet the Pros: Jamie Lopina

The post Meet the Pros: Mike Dowdy appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Vienna, Austria (September 3, 2017) – Competitive strategy and true grit defined the final day of the Malibu Vienna Pro presented by Rockstar Energy. The world’s best wakeboarders and wakesurfers proved that the rising waters and current of the Danube river were no match for the experience and exceptional talent of riders on a mission for victory. The Malibu M235 was tested and proven today with world-class performance that kept the action cranking. With only one stop remaining on the WWA Wakeboard World Series and Malibu Evolution Pro Series, the intensity continued as overall titles come down to every trick.

In the Pro Women’s Wakesurf final, Stacia Bank (USA) brought everything she had with massive airs and powerful turns before getting technical with some 360’s for the win. In second, Tara Kriz (AUT) kept the judges on their toes with some solid combinations followed by Korina Smyrek (SUI) in third who showed some sick style to round out the podium.

“Thank you to Malibu Boats and the WWA for a great event in Vienna. Things got exciting as the Danube water level rose over 7ft in 2 days with the fastest current I’ve ever surfed, but the M235 plowed through creating a mighty wave. I was fortunate to land on top. Fun to see Wakesurf friends like Korina Smyrnek and meet many new ones,” said 2017 Malibu Vienna Pro Champion Stacia Bank.

The multi-talented Noah Flegel (USA) crushed the Pro Men’s Wakesurf final for the win, hitting a massive B/S bigspin that dropped jaws. Dom Lagace (CDN) placed second, keeping an incredible pace with a mixture of shove-its and spins followed by local hero Markus Lahmer (AUT) in third who threw down big airs in his run.

“After all that happened pre-event, I’m stoked to be able to finally make it to Vienna and do well. I’m stoked to win Wakesurf but my main goal was to get the double win; Wakesurf and Wakeboard. Either way, I’m super pumped to walk away with a double podium and to be in a country I’ve never visited. It’s been a blast!” said Malibu Vienna Pro Men’s Wakesurf Champion Noah Flegel.

It’s been said that there is something about the Malibu Evolution Pro events that work for Nicola Butler (USA) and today it once again proved to be true. After sweeping the series in 2016 and winning the Malibu Factory Pro this season, Nicola has added a 5th consecutive Evolution Pro event win here at the Malibu Vienna Pro. Battling some harsh water conditions, Nicola scored 88.00 points with a roll-to-blind and a big H/S 540. Meagan Ethell (USA) placed second with a tootsie roll and an indy tantrum for a score of 78.33. Chiara Virag (ITA) placed third with a roll-to-blind and scarecrows both ways for 71.00.

“Vienna has been awesome and I’m super stoked on taking the win! Everyone had to bring it today in some tough conditions and I’m just happy it all came together. I’ll see everyone in Japan!” said 2017 Malibu Vienna Pro Champion Nicola Butler.

The Pro Men’s final was truly unbelievable with the river and crowd reaching their peak, putting the pressure on the world’s best to perform. Mike Dowdy (USA) took his first Wakeboard World Series event win of the season in style. With various strategies at play, Dowdy threw down his first pass as if it were a sheet of glass on the Danube, landing a Moby Dick, 900, and a double backroll all in his first pass. Pass two saw 720’s and a KGB, earning him a score of 91.67. Harley Clifford (AUS) came in second with 86.00 after landing a T/S 900, tail KGB and a double tantrum. Noah Flegel (USA) is a machine, taking his second podium of the day with a third place Pro Wakeboard finish landing a Moby Dick 540, crow 540, and 900 to score 83.67.

“Stoked to take the win at the Vienna Pro. The conditions were less than favorable but everyone charged it and the crowd was awesome all weekend. Thanks to everyone who put the event on. I look forward to coming back!” said 2017 Malibu Vienna Pro Champion Mike Dowdy.

The post Mike Dowdy and Nicola Butler Win the 2017 Malibu Vienna Pro Presented by Rockstar Energy appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

In this video, Dowdy heads back up north near the Apostle Islands: a rarely ridden and mostly unknown wake gem in Wisconsin to ride amongst the sea caves and channels carved out between the beautiful islands on Lake Superior. With a winch and behind the boat, Dowdy takes some time off from his usual training to explore the beautiful location, bringing the highest levels of wakeboarding to the Great Lakes.

Video: Red Bull Media House

The post Mike Dowdy – Lake Superior appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

SEE BELOW FOR FULL VIDEOS OF TOP 3 FINAL RUNS

Who Do You Think Should Have Won?

SEE YOU ALL AT THE 2018 SUPRA BOATS PRO WAKEBOARD TOUR!
FOR ALL THINGS PRO WAKEBOARD TOUR >>

The post 2017 PWT Stop #4 – Finals Recap appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

SEE BELOW FOR MORE VIDEOS OF FINAL RUNS

SEE YOU ALL AT THE 2018 SUPRA BOATS PRO WAKEBOARD TOUR!
FOR ALL THINGS PRO WAKEBOARD TOUR >>

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The post 2017 PWT Stop #2 – Winning Run appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

The post PWT 2017: Contender – Mike Dowdy appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

What was your mindset going into the Supra Boats PWT for 2016? Was there anything different you did for 2016 as opposed to previous years?

My mindset going in was to get top two in both series. That was my goal, since I placed third in both series the year before. My approach to competing had a total revamp from 2015 to 2016 though. I started focusing on the mind a lot more. I do mental training drills for at least an hour a day. A lot of people look at me like a crazy person when I talk about mental drills, but there is a reason that I won both tours and the Masters all in one year. It’s because I conditioned my mind for it. What I did most of all though was create a foundation of trust within myself. I trust that my body can take a beating because of my training in the gym. I trust that my focus will be on the right things because of my mental drills. I trust that technique will be excellent because of my on-water training. I trust all of my training, and that compounds over time. Then I visualize what I want to achieve.

The 2016 PWT saw some of the consistently best riding ever. How do you use other riders’ performances to motivate you rather than intimidate you?

You have to embrace the fear that comes with competing. Every athlete feels it. No one is exempt from it. The guys who are great find a way to navigate through it, and using other people’s performances is a powerful tool to do so. And after they have a solid performance, I want to go out and show what I can do. I also want to see other riders succeed. A lot of people don’t want others to have success, but I’m not afraid of that. I will be all right either way. I embrace that. I want to see people succeed because that helps grow the sport, which is a win for me.

Which stop was the toughest for you and why?

I would say Edmonton was the toughest battle. It was a close race between Tony and me. I think he had the lead headed in, but I wasn’t particularly confident at that event. I wasn’t really feeling it that day until the finals. It was almost like I could feel myself breaking out of a funk and into a state of focus. That was my best performance of the year. Also, the course layout was a bit different, and a lot of guys were getting hung up on that. I saw that as an opportunity to be open to adversity while others were closing off. They kept talking about the course and this, that and the other. That was a sign for me to be patient, be open to adversity, and remember my training. It was a cool experience, looking back.

Describe the finals in Indy, knowing there was only a five-point difference between you and Tony going into the event. Did you feel like you’d won after the finals?

That was a crazy finals, especially since we both had fallen in round one. I remember after Tony stood up his second-round pass, all I told myself was, “You have done everything you need to do.” That brought some calmness to me. And so, I went out and did what I believed I could do. I wasn’t really going for the win of that event. I was going for the title. After my stand-up pass, I believed I did enough to edge out Tony, and that’s how it played out. It was a crazy event. Neither one of us was budging all year, and it came down to the last ride of the season for the decision. Props to Tony, he’s a totally new force.

What did it feel like when you did win, to be crowned the overall PWT champ?

To be honest, it felt comfortable. I had been imagining what it would feel like to stand up there holding that guitar for a long, long time. I imagined what my performance would feel like. I had been plotting it for almost a year, so I was ready for it. It felt like I was in a vision and was just playing a role. It was the most exciting thing that has happened for me in my career.

What’s it going to take to defend the title in 2017? Is that your top goal for the year?

I’m not really in the mentality that I have to defend anything. I’m in the mentality that I have to go back and earn it again. I’ll be in the gym, on the bike, training my mind, training my skills, and I will show up at each event just like last year. It will be a battle all over again, and we will see if my consistency over time pays off. As far as goals for 2017, where do you go when you’re at the top? I’ve proven that I am who I said I am, so now it’s time to set goals aimed at character qualities I want to have. Am I being a good leader? Am I courageous? Am I being organized? Am I being prepared? Am I being disciplined, optimistic, accepting, and capitalizing on my opportunities? These are all questions that I ask myself because this is the person I want to be.

What are you most looking forward to about the 2017 PWT?

I’m just looking forward to competing again. I’m such a competitor when it comes to this sport. I try to embrace all the aspects of competition, but I still have a long way to go to be where I think I can be. It’s all a process, and I’m enjoying the ride.

Are you tired of the nickname “Dirty” Mike Dowdy yet?

I’d say it’s run its course for sure. I don’t think it really fits anymore since I have become who I am. I can’t control what people say or don’t say though, so we’ll see if it sticks. I will have to change my social channels when I find something good though [laughs]. For now, people can call me whatever they want. I’m just focusing on making them remember me.

The post On Tour With Mike Dowdy appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Meagan Ethell, Mike Dowdy, and Harley Clifford go in-depth on the 2017 season and what it takes to stay at the top of the game for the first ever WWA World Series Rundown.

The post WWA World Series Rundown Ep. 1 appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.