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.

At the ripe age of 40 (which is ancient in the young-gun sport of wakeboarding), hall-of-fame icon Parks Bonifay is as relevant as ever. While may be past his prime as a competitive rider, he’s as powerful as ever when it comes to continuing the promotion, progression and proliferation of the sport. Back in 2004 Parks created his signature “Double or Nothing” contest. The premise was to give the sport’s premier athletes a chance to showcase their unique skills while pushing wakeboarding to new heights, both literally and figuratively. The double-up-only contest instantly became one of the biggest and most prestigious events in the sport, despite not being open to the public. Past winners of Double or Nothing events include some of the biggest names in wakeboarding’s history.

After a multi-year hiatus, Parks, along with title sponsors Red Bull and MasterCraft, brought Double or Nothing back in 2020, but due to the pandemic it had to remain private. Last year, it came to the shores of iconic Lake Ivanhoe in downtown Orlando, home to many historic watersports events in years past. This not only gave the top pros the platform to showcase their skills, but it gave the public a chance to watch it firsthand.

For the 2022 edition, Parks invited 16 of the best to throw down their best tricks behind the massive double ups of the MasterCraft X-Star. The lineup included riders from around the world, including Australia, Argentina, Italy, the UK, Japan, and Canada. The first round of action would be the semifinal: Each competitor was given the opportunity to hit five double ups to land their best tricks. After all 16 riders had gone, four would be chosen for a final round. The best trick would carry over from the semi-final, but the final gave riders two more double ups each to try to top it.

With a viewing area, giant DJ truck and food and drink services at the ready, crowds lined the shore of Lake Ivanhoe’s Gaston Edwards Park to watch the action, and the international contingent did not disappoint. Huge air was hucked, some insane crashes were had (fortunately no injuries) and some unbelievable tricks were landed. Highlights included a giant heelside 900 by Japan’s Shota Tezuka, unique rewind tricks by Guenther Oka and Luca Kidd, a near double KGB (double back roll invert with a backside 360 rotation) by Tyler Higham, and a near triple back roll landed by rookie Thomas Herman. The biggest highlight for the crowd may have been the event’s originator, Bonifay himself, strapping in, giving it a go, and nearly landing a double half-cab back roll – a trick he made famous during his reign as the sport’s best rider.

Despite a heavy downpour delaying the event for over 30 minutes, the crowd re-assembled to watch the conclusion of the semifinals. In the end, the final came down to the four best tricks: Massi Piffaretti with a KGB 540 (the trick that won him last year’s Double or Nothing), Luca Kidd with a backside 900, Guenther Oka with a Zero (wrapped frontside 360 to rewind backside 360), and Sam Brown with a mute back mobe 720 (back roll invert with a frontside 720 rotation). It was Brown’s mobe 7 – a trick landed by only a couple other riders behind the boat  in the sport’s history – that was in the lead. Each of the four riders went full send with their final two double ups, but only Brown came close to besting his top score when he nearly pulled off the never-before-landed back mobe 900.

Read Next: More Double or Nothing Coverage

At the podium, Bonifay announced the winner – the aforementioned Brown. It was only fitting that the 40-year-old legend, with his signature enthusiasm and excitement for the sport he helped solidify, handed the check for $10,000 to Brown, who was barely a year old when Double or Nothing first came to be. So goes a sport like wakeboarding, where progression begets progression and the passion is passed from one generation to the next.

The post At the Red Bull Double or Nothing, Big Air Reigns Supreme 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.

I finally brought it upon myself to make it happen, and then explored the area further, wherein I found some other epic spots to ride. This little stretch of river was really a scenic gold mine for a cool, wakeboarding trip. And nobody had ridden some of these spots before. It was finally time to assemble a crew for a few days of sessioning the Philly scene and capturing it all for the magazine. Massi Piffaretti and Gordon Harrison were tapped for the trip along with the legend Parks Bonifay. The boys linked up with local grom Kira Lewis and sessioned the sickest spots the Philly area had to offer. These are the results of a long held dream finally coming to fruition.

FDR Skatepark

Funny enough, the last place we thought of was the first place we hit to shoot photos, the world renowned skate spot: FDR Park. Known for decades in the skate culture as one of the elite skateparks in the States, this spot is run and maintained by the local Philly skate community. It is in a continual state of growth and expansion with new features always being added to the layout. Respect is mandatory. If you arrive with it you can skate to your heart’s content. Fail to show it and the local skaters make sure your visit is a short and inhospitable one.

“What a great first stop, the legendary FDR skatepark right from the airport. I’d seen it in videos and magazines, but to see it in person, you understand why it is so well-respected. There’s a lot of history, it’s got some grit to it and people just shred there.”

Gordon Harrison

The Boat Graveyard

During our exploration of creative places to shoot we came across what can only be described as a post apocalyptic marina. All the docks, aged through time, are still in place. So too are the boats, some 60 in number, that are still tied into their slips. They share another unique description: every one sits below the waterline, sunken where they’ve been tied up for decades.

“It is one of the more bizarre things I have seen on the water. Every boat is there, every slip filled. And it looks like they’ve been there for 40 years, like it was put on quarantine or just left to rot away. Just rotted wood and jagged metal everywhere with no signs of life.”

Parks Bonifay

The Abandoned Cruise Ship

Once deemed the “Fastest Cruise Ship” of its time, the SS United States has sat mothballed in port for 20 years. Aged and decrepit, its usefulness has long gone past until Massi got the idea for a cool shot angle.

“It was crazy being next a ship that big, intimidating and scary. And it was all about the proper timing in that narrow canal. We only had one chance to get the shot before the water was ruined.”

Massi Piffaretti

The Secret Spot

Seclusion can be a wakeboarder’s best friend, and having a riding spot all your own is what we covet as riders. Kira and I have just that sort of spot tucked away on the Jersey side of the river, a meandering waterway with plenty of good riding (should you know where to look) and, equally as important, very little boat traffic. With few of these spots existing in our area, we are hesitant to share its location because of our own selfish riding interests.

“We’ll see another wakeboarding boat maybe two or three times a season, but that’s it,” noted Kira about this hidden gem. But sharing it with our guests was something we were happy to do, and some great moments came from it. “My favorite part of their visit was being at our riding spot, getting off under the bridge and being with Bear while he shot Gordon doing huge double ups under the bridge. “

Shredding the Schkuyll

Hiding in plain sight is the Schkuyll (pronounced skoo-kill) river, a meandering waterway that goes from the northernmost point of the city and runs 30 miles through downtown and eventually flows into the Delaware. Every seven miles are dams that partition the river into separate compartments. The section we sessioned over two days offered some amazing and dynamic backdrops starting with shredding through oil refineries and their elongated stacks belching steam nonstop. Moments later you’re in a quiet, treelined channel going underneath a train trestle long abandoned and emblazoned with graffiti. Before long you’re cruising straight through downtown Philly with skyscrapers and congested expressways flanking either side of the river.

“The changing of the scenery in such a short time was just amazing,” commented Gordon Harrison. “I was out there riding and there was something new around every corner. I was completely gassed from riding so long, but I just couldn’t stop. I knew we were getting epic shot after epic shot and everything looked different.”

This stretch of the river ended at a waterfall, where the highlight of the trip ultimately went down.

The Waterfall

“Man, this place looks like something out of ‘Game of Thrones’ for real,” said Parks as he soaked in the scenery surrounding the cove. The far side was marked by a rocky ledge leading to a treefilled hillside. The near shore was a slow rising hillside, historical buildings along the waters edge while in the background stands the massive Philadelphia Museum of Art, whose Roman-inspired beige stoneface structure dates back to 1876. Separating the shorelines stands a 10-foot tall waterfall we approximated to be a thousand feet long. The original concept was to use the cove for some double up’s, but the boys devised alternative ways to use the terrain.

We tied a few lines together giving us 160 feet to work with and Massi was the first to session the waterfall. “I wanted to jib a branch that was sticking out over the edge, but we had to figure out how to get into that tight of a spot,” said Massi. “We finally figured out the angle and I hit it a few times and was stoked. But definitely the highlight of the whole trip was Parks wall-riding the waterfall.”

Bonifay knew he was on to something special when he first laid eyes on it.

“When I saw it I thought this would be a cool place to do a big whip around and take a good shot at going up the waterfall. After taking a good look I thought you might be able to get to the top, if you got whipped in just right. We just worked on which boat angle would be best to approach it. The whole thing was just a weird setup but we knew if everything came together we could get something cool. So on my last attempt I came in and took an extra hard dig at it and was able to get all the way to the top. I did a bunch of carves up on the lip of the waterfall for 500 feet and then jibbed a log and dropped back down the waterfall just as the boat turned before hitting the rocks on shore. It was sketchy and epic!”

“I love having those experiences, getting to session something that was unexpected. Usually that’s when you get the best stuff, when you make something come together. We never anticipated doing that, but we just showed up, tied the ropes together and rolled with the punches. Those are the best things that happen on a trip, when you just show up and wing it.”

Cheesesteak King

Like coffee to Seattle or deep dish pizza to Chicago, Philadelphia is known for a local delicacy: the Philly cheesesteak. They start with shaved beef grilled and served on Italian bread, with cheese and fried onions as staple items. But from there they widely vary from place to place, and Parks set some lofty cheesesteak goals for his visit.

“Well, first of all I knew I was going to have a lot of them while I was there. I’ve had Philly cheesesteaks before, and I know they differ from cheesesteak place to cheesesteak place. So I wanted to hit up some of the more notable places to see how they differentiate their steaks. I wasn’t looking for the best one, I just wanted to see how many different types I could have. I had some with cheese whiz. I had some with provolone. Some with fried onions some without. All different ways. My goal was seven cheesesteaks in 4 days. I only got six, but I still chalk it up as a win. I feel I did good about my effort.”

The post Wakeboarding in the City of Brotherly Love appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Nestled atop a hill overlooking the Carnation Valley region of Washington state, Radar Lake was one of the first private, man-made ski lakes in the world. The land was ­originally bought and developed by Herb O’Brien in 1972, and since then, the legend (and envy) has only grown exponentially. Because Radar Lake is most often described as indescribable, we figured it would be best to hear about it from the lucky guys who have been able to visit it over the years. Oh, and if you’d like to ride there one day, you’re probably going to have to keep dreaming …

“There is this special feeling when you’re at Radar that’s unlike anywhere else I’ve been in the world. Once you go through those gates and you’re on the grounds, it’s like time stops and nothing else matters. Whatever you had going on in the real world doesn’t become a concern anymore; you’re just at this magical lake, taking advantage of everything it has to offer. Of course, you can’t say enough about everything that’s gone down there: the video sections, the photos, the progression. But for me, Radar is about that feeling.” — Parks Bonifay

“Radar Lake is a magical place with a lot of nostalgia. It has had a profound impact on all of towed watersports, not just wakeboarding. I consider myself really lucky to have been able to go there as much as I have over the years. My favorite memories are usually just the vibes that come with being there with the boys, but one that really stands out is when I won Trick of the Year in 2011 with the step-up gap we built. Herb was there watching all of us ride, and he was really in tune with what was going on. After any of us hit it, he would talk to us about how it felt and what we were thinking. That was really special to me.” — Erik Ruck

“When I first went to Radar Lake, it was nothing like I expected. Photos don’t even do it justice because of how unique it is. The trees, the views … it’s unreal. ­Radar Lake is really Herb’s dream lake that he created out of nothing. Its story is really almost unbelievable. Knowing the history of Radar and what it has done for watersports over the years, it’s really special for me to have been a small part of that. We’ve done a lot there to push wakeboarding — all the crazy rails, gaps, stunts and stuff — that is really cool to look back on.” — Danny Harf

The post The Dream: Radar Lake appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Camber naturally puts you in more of a neutrally balanced weight distribution – allowing you to drive off the wake with both legs in a more ergonomically balanced body position. Last year Ronix fully redesigned their only men’s camber series with greatly increased glide speed and less drag on the water, a new Air Core featuring I-Beam Construction, and a thinner tip/tail for less swing weight and our fastest rail to rail design. Thought you knew everything a wakeboard could do? Camber is the biggest development in riding since Herb O’Brien made the first fiberglass wakeboard.

The post 2018 Ronix Parks Wakeboard appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

In the North Carolina high country, MasterCraft lined up six of wakeboarding’s heaviest hitters for a private, closed-water session. Their mission? Ride the ultimate wake. Unlock the perfect line. Watch what kind of mayhem happens when you mix raw talent, perfect conditions and the boat that started it all—the MasterCraft XStar.

The post 2018 MasterCraft XStar | The Next First appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

For the full story on their trip, check out the feature story here >>

The post SHOREPOUND | A North Shore Adventure appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Wakeboarding is an escape for all of us, whether we’re just learning to carve or charging into double-ups. Part of that escape is also being captivated by what’s possible. What’s possible in terms of tricks? What’s possible in terms of locations?

Winching in Hawaiian barrels might be a pipe dream for most, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be dreamed about.

WBM: How did this trip come about? How long was it in the making?

Grubb: Parks and I have been going to Hawaii in the winter time for the last few years. Nick has a place in Maui so we’ve been meeting up with him to surf and do a bunch of fun stuff on the islands. We all talked about winching in the surf but could never line up a winch when the conditions were right. We all knew we wanted to get back out there this past winter and make it happen in some good swell.

In December we started working out all the details. Parks lined it up with Jamie O’Brien to use his winch, and we found a good place to stay.

We shopped the idea around but didn’t get much support at first, so we decided to just pay for it ourselves and make it happen. We would self produce it, and we knew it would pay off in the end. We got Bryan Soderlind and Austin Keen on board too, so our crew was dialed and made all the expenses cheaper too.

When word got out about the whole crew that was going and a great looking swell forecast, we got the support we needed!

WBM: What was the highlight of the trip?

Parks: I think the highlight of the trip was getting to watch the back door shoot out from Jamie O’Brien’s dad’s porch… It was some of the best pipe I have ever seen.

Grubb: The highlight for me was winching the shore break when it was big and just detonating on the beach. It takes so much effort to winch in those conditions. You only get 5 or 6 pulls an hour and the winch driver has to time it just right to get you in the perfect spot. I got a lot of waves but had two that stand out in my mind where everything came together almost perfectly.

WBM: Who caught the best barrel?

Grubb: That’s a close one between Parks’ cover shot and Nick’s backhand barrels. I love how Parks is dragging his hand on the roof and looking so casual but also loved watching Nick getting it on a wakeskate!

Parks: I think Nick Taylor did. He had some backside barrels that were insane. Grabbing his rail in big blue caverns… Bear got some great shots!

WBM: Favorite set… at Keiki Beach or Waimea Bay?

Parks: Keiki Beach for sure. I have never winched shorepound like that before! I have been to that beach many times, looked at it and said to myself, “How insane would it be to ride there?!” It was so scary and fun at the same time.

Grubb: Without a doubt it was the Keiki sessions. Everyday the waves were a different size and always changing, which we loved. We did Waimea mostly because we had time when the waves were too big and closing out at Keiki’s. It was a fun little rail at Waimea, but honestly, if the conditions would have been right at Keiki’s we would have been there all day everyday!

WBM: Who was the MVP of the trip?

Grubb: Everyone killed it on this trip. We had a great crew, but I’d probably have to give it to Bear. He obviously shot amazing photos the whole trip, but he’s got a great vibe and is high energy all day. He’d always encourage us to get one more if needed to make sure we nailed it. Those memories we made will last forever through his images and now in the pages of Wakeboarding Magazine.

Parks: I say Bear. He got some of the most amazing pictures I’ve ever seen. He even got a sequence of Koa Rothman’s wave of the year! He is the most talented photographer I have ever worked with. MVP… Or more like MVB.

The post A North Shore Adventure appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Parks’ travel tips:
• Always try to snag a pillow or blanket from first class on international flights when you walk by. It is frowned upon, so make sure to hide it if you get one.
• I always pat the plane on the way out for good luck. It works — I’ve never crashed!
• Be nice and help ladies and old people lift their bags on the plane. I’ve been ­consciously trying to do it at least once or twice every flight. It’s like Delta CrossFit.
• I always try to keep my clothing bag the same size as a large carry-on bag. That way if you miss the cutoff time to check your bags, you can still bring your clothing bag as a carry-on.

Worst person to travel with:
Rusty [Malinoski], the notorious line skipper. I can’t even deal.

Most memorable road trip:
My dad and I drove six hours in the wrong direction one time. Just so you know, Greenville, South Carolina, and Greenville, North Carolina, are two totally different cities, and are really far apart from each other!

Grubb’s travel tips:
• Don’t always go for the cheapest fare. Stick to one airline and build your SkyMiles status.
• Keep your pockets empty except for your phone. Makes security quick.
• Take off your hat when you step up to the window of any customs official.
• When sleeping on long flights, wear a hat and pull the blanket over your head. It blocks all the light and distractions, and the bill of your hat keeps the blanket away from your face so you don’t get hot.
• Put your shoes on the conveyor first, before your bags, so you can put them on quickly, then grab your bags and go.

Miles you’ve flown:
1.5 million

Airport floor you’ve slept on:
Portland

Bucket-list destination:
Maldives

Danny’s travel tips:
• If you can’t get the first-class upgrade, try to grab a seat in the last exit row over the wing — otherwise known as poor man’s first class. The first exit row won’t recline, but the last row rivals first class for legroom.
• Get TSA Pre-Checked. You go through a shorter line and you don’t take off your shoes or remove your laptop. The Pre-Check line is usually about five to 10 minutes instead of 30 to 45 minutes.

Memorable travel story:
I was running super late and needed to catch what was the last flight of the day out of Orlando. After deciding I wouldn’t have time to park, I left my truck on the ticketing curb with the keys in it and ran inside. I checked in and checked my bags just before the cutoff time. When I went outside to park the truck, it was hooked up to a tow truck. The driver told me it was $50 to get the truck back and I could pick it up at the tow yard. I picked it up three days later and discovered a new form of airport valet that was almost the same price as airport parking!

The post Travel Tips from the Pros appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.