The 2024 Red Bull Double or Nothing has been a staple of the wake industry and a place that the fans have come to expect something that has never been done before. The event’s brainchild and spokesperson Parks Bonifay has made a career off of doing just that; Creativity and athleticism sprinkled in with a bit of adrenalin and fearlessness has been the recipe for victory at previous events and with the progression leap that wakeboarding took at last year’s event with the first and only triple flip behind a boat, the shore of Lake Ivanhoe in Orlando FL was packed with those looking to witness history, again.

In another lane of progression, the women were invited to compete alongside the men for the first time in the event’s history. During 2023 women participated in an exhibition to showcase women’s wakeboarding on the main stage, but this year the women have been throwing down hard enough to earn spots in the running order and take a swing at the belt. 

“My whole career has been advocating for the women to be on the main stage and seeing it happen here is so rewarding,” said Meagan Ethell, Red Bull athlete and one of the most dominant competitive forces the sport has ever seen.

 “Seeing the next generation represented with Guila Castelli is so exciting to see what is next for the women,” continued Ethelll who speaks like a seasoned veteran of the sport but who is only 27 herself. Proof of Castelli’s impact can be easily confirmed with a quick scroll through her Instagram page highlighting one NBD (never-been-done trick) after another. 

Landing an NBD (Never Been Done) in a venue like the Double or Nothing is such a thread in the fabric of the event that Red Bull allotted a $5k NBD bounty for a contest-first over the top of the $10k for the winner take all 1st prize. So with $15k on the line, Thomas Herman was 3rd off the dock and landed a nose-grabbed double back roll, backside 360 with as much height as one could hope for with a perfectly clean landing to take the maximum prize purse. 

“I didn’t want to show up and try the triple flip again, I wanted to mix it up,” said the first even back to back champion. He came with his A-game, matching his hair color to his custom flame graphic on his board. 

While Tyler Higham had landed this trick and released it in a legendary section in the movie Scumline, the trick had not been put down in the contest setting. Thomas got the luck of the draw going off the dock before Higham and put the pressure on with a very clean make.

Noteworthy, standout performances and efforts:

• Thomas Herman: Attempting an extra 180 on the trick that took the victory
• Tyler Higham: Perfectly grabbed and equally popped replica of the trick that Thomas landed, but landed hard and injured his ribs. 
• Meagan Ethell: Going for a KGB 5 that she had just landed as an NBD for the women weeks previously. She had a rough fall during training that almost took her out of the event, but she still threw down.
• Guilia Castelli: Wrapped BS 7 attempt with a fall, but landed a BS 5
• Parks Bonifay: Nearly landing a double half-cab roll as the oldest competitor in the field.
• Luca Kidd: First wrapped BS 1080 in a contest with a legit nose grab taking 2nd place
• Sam Brown: Nearly landed a double back mobe 540, which would have taken first.
• Nic Rapa: Double indy tantrum to blind landed clean for 3rd place.
• Kai Ditsch: Double backroll to blind attempt
• Trent Stuckey: A rider who dominates the cable scene who has improved recently on the boat, landing a BS 900 and going for BS 1080’s.

There is no better advocate for pushing the limits than Parks Bonifay and with the continued support of his sponsors, the sport is lucky to have the venue to put the best feet forward. How could the riders possibly improve upon the seemingly unreachable level that they are at now? If history is any indication, they will find a way and continue to blow minds. 

The post Thomas Herman Repeats at 2024 Red Bull Double or Nothing Powered by MasterCraft appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Read Next: Learn More About Thomas Herman’s Amazing Triple

More history will be made this year, as 7-time World Champion Meagan Ethell, who participated in exhibition runs last year, will officially compete. This will mark the first time a woman will be in the running for the $10,000, winner-take-all, grand prize. For Meagan, an Orlando local and major advocate for women’s equality in all sport, this means a great deal and she’s excited to get on the lake, and try to make history herself with some never-been-done tricks from behind a boat.

Parks Bonifay is the creator of Red Bull Double or Nothing and a certified legend. He’s recruited some of the best athletes in the sport to compete alongside Meagan on Saturday, September 7th. After last year’s showstopping Triple Flip, the athletes will be trying to go even bigger. 

Parks, an Orlando resident, has retired from competing for the most part, but makes the exception every year for this event. 

I came up with the concept for this event with Red Bull to push the sport of wakeboarding,” says Parks. “And the way last year went down with the first ever Triple Flip completed by Thoumas herman, riders are even more fired up. Anything can happen at Red Bull Double or Nothing and last year was proof.”

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. 

Thomas Herman’s previously mentioned Triple Flip won last year’s event, earning him the winner-take-all $10,000 prize. Thomas will be returning this year, as will other former winners like Guenther Oka and Sam Brown. Judges include wake stars Brian Grubb, Jimmy LaRiche and Jamie Lopina.

This year’s competition also includes a Wild Card submission. From August 2 to August 25th, riders that are interested in competing can submit their best trick in an attempt to be selected for a spot in the contest. 

To see Meagan, Parks and nearly 20 of the best wakeboarders in the world in person, head to Gaston Edwards Park on Saturday, Sept. 7^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 witness the greatest show in all of wakeboarding.

Confirmed Red Bull Double or Nothing Athlete Roster 

• Sam Brown
• Guenther Oka
• Tyler Higham 
• Luca Kidd
• Kai Distch
• Ulf Distch
• Cory Teunnissan
• Fynn Bullock
• Thomas Herman
• Massi Piffaretti 
• Parks Bonifay
• Meagan Ethell 
• Wild Card

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

The post Meagan Ethell to Compete at 2024 Red Bull Double or Nothing appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Where else can you find die-hard wakeboarding fans, with a boat tie-up en masse, mere feet from the world’s best boat riders vying for the largest prize purse available? The TNT Watersports Wakefest TN has become synonymous with the event that offers it all. What defines the event are standout performances with a lot on the line. 

After 19 years running, the crew at TNT Watersports with the support of Malibu Boats pulled hundreds of riders over two days in a setting that puts pure wakeboarding in front of thousands of spectators.

 “There is almost a cult-like following for this event,” shared Malibu Boats’ Rob Corum who is no stranger to wake events over the last 2 decades. “Without reliable cell service, everyone was present and engaged rather than getting clips for their social media,” said Corum. “It was just about being there in the moment.”

More about TNT Watersports Wakefest TN

The moment could not have been more profitable for Argentinian Ulf Ditsch. He has made a name for himself with charging ballsy technical maneuvers and taking them to the flats, upping the difficulty, amplitude and risk while making tricks look stylish and unique. Take a little bit of Shapiro, sprinkle in some Dean Smith, and you have something resembling the intensity that Ditsch rides with. Layer in the style focused La Familia influence of Massi Piffaretti, Sam Brown, Tyler Higham, Luca Kidd and his brother Kai Ditsch and you have a rider who is extremely difficult to take down in a format like the winner-take-all shootout. If Ditsch’s $25k win at last year’s shootout wasn’t motivation enough, this year’s $50k prize for first place was surely going to reveal his a-game. 

“If you ain’t first, you’re last” joked Corum as he pointed out how impressive Ditsch’s performance was in the losers-take-none Shootout on Friday. “His stalefish front to blind was unreal”, Corum said as Ditsch dropped the largest tricks of the weekend back-to-back-to-back-to-back. His signature Tootsie Roll, followed by a Backside 540, into a Cab 720, then finishing with the finale trick had Ditsch stating, “that feeling of landing that fourth trick in the line is unbeatable.” 

Interesting choice of words because when he is on, there are few that can beat him.

The rest of the competition included a more traditional two run format with riders being ranked in their division by placing and paid accordingly. Meagan Ethell added yet another 1st place finish to her illustrious collection and repeated her performance from last year, taking home $7,500. Former World Champ Bec Gange made a nice comeback to the podium with a 2nd place spot and up and comer Aussie rider Charli Russell scored her first podium finish, snagging 3rd.

On the Men’s side, Sam Brown took down the top spot, giving the crowd a view of his unique take on the sport. Guenther Oka continued his streak in his comeback year after a rough injury securing 2nd and Kai Ditsch rounded out the 3rd spot. 

Notable tricks of the weekend were the aforementioned Stale front to blind by the Ulf, Sam’s Crow 7, Guenther’s switch and regular Pete 5’s and Thomas Herman’s double back roll into the flats, as teased in his recent social media posts.

How would they top this next year for the 20th annual? Could there be an even larger purse? Word is that they are already getting plans together to up the ante. In Ditsch’s words, “It is by far the best event of the year, and not just because of the prize money!” Stay tuned.

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The Pro Wakeboard Tour first stop of 2024 at Indiana saw Supra Boats athlete Thomas Herman (@thomasherman ) take top podium. This marks Herman’s first PWT podium appearance.

The event was held at Lakefront at Keystone (@indyboatco) in Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 22 and 23, 2024.

Sharing the podium with Herman were Shota Tezuka (@shotatezuka) in 2^nd and Luca Kidd (@luca_kidd) in 3^rd.

In Jr. Pro Wakeboard, Shion Takaiwa (@shion.takaiwa) reigned supreme once again, blending crazy tech tricks with a fluid style.

Finally, Jett Lambert (@jettshreds) took home the Pro Wakesurf division win. Jett starts off his defense of his overall title with a bang!

Stop two of the Pro Wakeboard Tour takes place July 11 and 12 at Jordanelle State Park, in Park City, Utah. 

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A former competitive wakeboarder, Alexa Score is one of the busiest people you’ll ever meet. From her work as a producer and on-camera talent for three outdoor shows as well as working for the Minnesota Vikings and appearing in Zac Brown Band videos, she is living her best life—especially when you consider she has been battling chronic myeloid leukemia since the age of 16. We caught up with her about her life on the water and her efforts to help other childhood cancer victims through the Surf to Save Lives event benefitting St. Jude’s Children’s Research hospital.

You grew up on Green Lake in Minnesota. How did you get involved in watersports and wakeboarding?

My family wasn’t really involved in watersports, but I got involved in the Little Crow Ski Team when I was nine. I was a swivel skier and even stood on the top of a 42-person pyramid. I have the bumps and bruises to prove it.

I got started wakeboarding when my older sister came home from college and started doing it on the lake with her friends. I started realizing I could be competitive when I won the women’s amateur national title at the WWA Nationals in 2011 when I’d really only competed a couple of times.

You were first diagnosed with leukemia at age 16. How did that change your life in general and your passion for wakeboarding?

There was a period of nine months where I struggled to get out of bed or do basic things like just walk down the stairs. Then when I turned 17, when I started feeling better, I graduated early from high school and said, “I’m moving to Orlando and nobody can stop me.” I found healing and passion in competitive wakeboarding and being on the water. I didn’t know how long I had to live and with my prognosis. I was literally riding the wave.

Are you now in remission?

I’m not in remission. I still take an oral chemo medication every day and see an oncologist every three months. I’m very fortunate—there are a lot of people under the same circumstances who can’t work and struggle on a daily basis.

What is your involvement with Surf to Save Lives?

I’ve been partnered with MasterCraft for three years now and this our second year doing the Surf to Save Lives event. From May 22 to October 1, all you have to do to participate is download the MasterCraft Connect app—it doesn’t matter what kind of boat you have. When you’re on the water participating in any kind of towed watersport—tubing, kneeboarding, waterskiing, wakeboarding, surfing—for every minute you log on the app, MasterCraft will donate $1 to St. Jude’s [up to $75,000.] All you have to do is log in while doing something you love.

I attribute a lot of my success to the first pediatric doctor I had. The drug I’ve been taking since I was 17 to stay alive was new back then. Now, thanks to research, there are five drugs to help people like me. St. Jude’s is on the cutting edge of care and research to help kids who have cancer.

You no longer compete, but do you still get out on the water?

Watersports was my first passion and still is my number one passion. When I’m home in Minnesota during the season, I spend every free minute on the water (I just got my new MasterCraft XT24 yesterday) taking friends and family wakeboarding and wakesurfing. I also still swivel ski and foil. It’s all about having fun on the water and creating memories.

The post On Board With: Alexa Score appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

The Moomba Masters marks the official kickoff to the competitive season for world’s best boat riders. As the northern hemisphere looks forward to the warmer months on the water, invited athletes make the trek down under to the Yarra River in the city of Melbourne, Victoria. 2024 marked the 63rd year of the tournament that coincides with the Melbourne Moomba Festival where over 100,000 attendees enjoy parades, carnivals, concerts and of course, the top waterski and wakeboard athletes competing for the first large prize purse of the year.

Preseason favorites going into the Moomba Masters were predicated on a healthy and injury-free Nic Rapa, Cory Teuneissen and 2023’s Pro Wakeboard Tour overall winner Tyler Higham on the men’s side with Meagan Ethell and Zahra Kell on the women’s side. Knowing that the athletes put in the work in the gym and on the water over the course of the off-season, coming out of the gate with a strong showing helps to set the tone for the next few months of competition while making a statement to the other riders that you are a force to be reckoned with.

Unfortunately for Australian rider Cory Teuneissen, an injury kept him from putting down a run that typically vaults him into the finals. With five World Champion titles to his name, and a strong and focused work ethic, injuries from time to time are the only thing keeping him from the podium. 

Another Aussie known for his focus and dedication and making it difficult for other riders when he is in top form, Nic Rapa entered 2024 with somewhere in the range of 25 professional wins under his belt. When asked how he approached this season with his years of winning experience behind him, Rapa confidently stated “This year feels no different to other years. I feel if it’s not broken don’t fix it!” That over simplifies how much hard work he has put in over the years. Diving a little deeper he admits, “Obviously always honing my craft and sharpening my tools, but I think working hard and staying motivated is huge the older I get. Always trying to keep testing my resilience,  mental and physical, and more than anything just make sure I am loving what I am doing. Always.”

Nic’s finals run consisted of many of the tricks one comes to expect from him with solid double flips (including a double indy tantrum), grabbed mobe 5s and his signature backside 720 into the flats. Dropping a run like this in the first big contest of the year, with sometimes less-than-favorable riding conditions, in front of a packed shoreline, it is no fluke that he made it look effortless. 

One of the top storylines from the 2023 season was the reemerged powerhouse rider Zahra Kell in the pro women’s division. Kell had taken a few years off from competing only to return and dominate. This year, with the pressure on in the finals after Mary Morgan Howell started off with two standup passes, Kell impressed the judges enough to take the win. When one of those judges is one of women’s wakeboarding top athletes of all time, fellow Aussie and legend of the sport. Amber Wing, it certainly can’t make the nerves easier to manage. “The final was so close,” said Wing. “They all rode clean and strong. It was so great to see such strength in the women’s field. To see top placements go to Aussie heros Zahra and Nic was an absolute highlight of the Moomba Festival.”

The post Nic Rapa and Zahra Kell Take Podium at Moomba Masters appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

The Pro Wakeboard Tour dates for 2024 have been set. This year the four-city PWT will hit venues from the Rockies to the heartland and from the Smokies to Florida. Here are the four cities on tap for the 2024 PWT: 

• Indianapolis, Indiana – June 21-22
• Park City, Utah – July 11-12
• Groveland, Florida – August 7-8
• Knoxville, Tennessee – August 16-17

The Pro Wakeboard Tour, which  bills itself as the premier wake event in the sport, sees some of the best watersports athletes in the world compete.  Look for our coverage of the PWT to come.

This video includes action from last year’ s PWT Team Challenge. 

Learn more about the Pro Wakeboard Tour.

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Nautique Boat Company is proud to announce that GM Marine has dedicated their continued support of the most prestigious event in watersports, the Nautique Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament. The beautiful location of Robin Lake at Callaway Gardens will once again host this unforgettable Memorial Day weekend. The 64^th Masters will take place on May 24^th – 26^th and include towboats incorporating GM Marine technology to deliver world-class performance for the best watersports athletes in the world.

The world record-setting Ski Nautique and the award-winning Super Air Nautique G23 will be the official towboats of the 64^th Nautique Masters. The best waterski and wakeboard athletes from around the globe are ready to perform their best, with the team from GM Marine on site all weekend long at the GM Marine booth so customers can get a hands-on look at all the groundbreaking technology they have to offer.

Read Next: Nautique Masters 2023: Course Records Broken!

“I’m pleased to announce that the 64th Masters will take place with the support from our partners at GM Marine,” said Nautique President Greg Meloon. “As a special weekend for competitive water sports, I’m grateful for the support and involvement from the team at GM in making each Masters better than ever. With the best athletes and the highest-performing tow boats, it’s only fitting that GM be a part of this unforgettable event.”

The post GM Marine to Support Nautique Masters Waterski and Wakeboard Tournament appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Colloquially known as The Dusseldorf Boat show, boot Dusseldorf offers much more for the wake enthusiast than do most boat shows in North America. There is an entire exhibit hall dedicated to surf sports, which includes wakeboarding, wakesurfing and the various methods of foiling, And, there is a cable and indoor water where ongoing demos are given.

Located in Hall 17 of this massive boat show, the world’s largest, wake enthusiasts will find tons of gear on display. In addition, wakeboarding surfing and foiling demos are on going daily so you can see the latest gear put to use in the water by pro riders. In fact you can meet some the pros, get selfies or autographs with them, and sign up for hands-on activities and lessons.

Wakesports a boot Dusseldorf is managed by Wasserski Langenfeld.

All of this indoors in Germany, yes, in January. So, for those of you in Europe…or elsewhere…hit this show if you can.

The Dusseldorf Boat Show-boot Düsseldorf-is set for January 20 to January 28, 2024.

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The final Supra Boats Pro Wakeboard Tour event of the season went off in Lenoir City TN with a team oriented format. The Team Challenge has gone through many iterations through the years. At times the teams would be organized by shared sponsors, but this year it was a true “pick who you want on your team” format. 

The top 7 finishers in the Pro Wake division were named team captains with the top seed picking first, then on down the line until 7 full teams were chosen. Team building strategy was certainly in play as the captains could choose from any rider regardless of tour participation. The only stipulations were that the teams had to be made up of at least one female rider and one rider had to compete in each of the categories; Pro Men, Pro Women, Double-up. 

For the Pro Men and Pro Women formats, each rider was given 3 tricks up and 3 tricks back down the course and the Double-Up portion served up two double-ups for the rider in that category. Each category was scored against the others in the division and the rider earned points for their team. The camaraderie and excitement were palatable, “I’d have to say that this event had some of the best vibes for a PWT in years,” stated Chris Bischoff who wears the hats of the Chief Judge, Tournament Coordinator, and Event Operations and has been a key part of major wake events for over two decades and spent years on tour himself as a pro wakeboarder. “We really wanted the riders input and the two unique format events that we had on PWT this year seemed to provide for some of the best riding and engagement from the athletes.”

Team Challenge Payout

Team Ditsch deservedly took the victory as Kai Ditsch and Massi Piffaretti are part of the tight-knit, uber-supportive and exciting crew affectionately named La Familia. Meagan Ethell, who is no stranger to the top of the podium, earned a second place finish against the other women. Ethell posted: “The last 48 hours were way too fun with this group of people, ” on her Instagram, highlighting just how pumped the riders were on the weekend. Massi Piffaretti has been on the PWT for a long time and put down one of his best runs to give his team 2nd place points in his division. It all came down to the team captain and his double-up to secure the win. Placing third gave his team the overall win and the $5k payout for each team member. 

Both the 2nd and 3rd place teams were captained by fellow La Familia crew members Tyler Higham, who had just cinched his first PWT overall title, and 21 year old Sam Brown who continues to blow minds every time he hits the water whether he is in a contest, riding at home or filming a video part. The last time a stylish, progressive crew was this dominant on the PWT was the days of the Pointless Posse, led by legends Shane and Parks Bonifay, Chad Sharpe, Brian Grubb and others. Are the La Familia riders securing their spots as legends in the years to come? Their continued support from their fans and mind-blowing, never-been-done tricks would say so. 

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