Let there be
light SUP Glow + light-er boards
Holiday Gift guide merry christmas
Mark payne’s of 2014 + best page 32
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December 2014
spot-light: candice appleby p. 53 | sean cummings p. 75
www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
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www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
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The exclusive power plant of Nautique.
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DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
The demand for a twenty-one foot boat that earns the G-Series badge has been delivered with the Super Air Nautique G21. Wakeboarders, wakeskaters, and wakesurfers around the globe have found the G21 versatility to be the answer for the perfect pull. Riders and surfers get the award winning G-Series wake and the ability to adjust the size and shape to maximize every set and have the perfect endless wave. With the most versatile and customizable wave on the market, the Nautique Surf System (NSS) with WaveplateTM creates a world-class surf wave that allows surfers the ability to keep the boat evenly weighted and switch the wave from side-to-side in seconds without the need to offload ballast and people. The G21 lives up to everything that you demanded it to be. For more information, log on to nautique.com or contact your local dealer.
Find us on:
Š2015 Nautique Boat Company, Inc. • 1-800-346-2092
“My Mendonesia ϐ dz Ǧ
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Photo: Mark Payne 2014 | www.boardersmag.com DECEMBER
www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
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~ Surf ~ 6
~ Flatwater ~
DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
WATERSEDGE SUP BOARD LINE UP
~ Fish & Race ~
All board are available in all available colors, including carbon clear pictured above
WatersEdgeSUP.com www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
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glidesoul.com
Anastasia photo pepper YanAshley dell 8
DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
@boardersmag December 2014
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Mark Payne’s Wake SurfingBest of 2014
LET THERE BE LIGHT
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Namaste SUP Challenge
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Let there be Light Featuring Nocqua and Torch Paddles plus SUP Glow Destinations
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Centurion BoatsDownfire Marine Audio System
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Wake Surfing- Best of 2014 Words/Photos by Mark Payne
On the Cover: Special thanks to David Swanson with Torch Paddles for several great pictures including this shot of athlete Katie Marsh in her hometown in Naples, Florida.
www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
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Featuring December 2014
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41
Holl Holiday H Gift Guide
62 US O PEN
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Light-er Boards: Into the Shaping Room Words: Tyler Marshall
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Holiday Gift Guide
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Candice Appleby Words: Alex Brost
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Oklahoma on Board with Eric Lair
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World Wake Surfing Championship Photos by Tim Walker and Danny Braught
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“Finding My Sweet Spot” By Sean Cummings
DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
obrien ad
Introducing Ultimate Ears BOOM – the 360-degree wireless speaker that drops bold, immersive sound in every direction. It’s water and stain resistant acoustic skin and 15-hour rechargeable battery make it the ultimate social music player. ULTIMATE EARS.COM
Publisher & Business Director Chris Wielinski
Advertising Director Danny Braught
Editorial Director Tyler Marshall Design
Photographers
Jase Bloor
William Gayle Suzanne Lair Cody Law Marina Lopez Tim Marek Josiah Ness Mark Payne David Swanson Chuck Tuna Tim Walker Pepper Yandell
Contributing Writers So we started Boarders Magazine, a testament to the real story of ¸Z\YMLYZ ¹ VY [OVZL ^OV SP]L ^P[OPU [OL present moment . . . on or near the water. We are boarders, or the 99 % of surfers and paddlers who are SHUKSVJRLK >OPSL [OLYL HYL ]LY` ML^ WLVWSL ^OV HYL H[OSL[PJ VY WYP]PSLNLK enough to be able to surf an ocean ^H]L [OLYL HYL TVYL WLVWSL ^OV HYL now able to get on board, on a lake >LSS 0 N\LZZ 0 KPK UV[ YLHSS` OH]L H VY YP]LY ULHYI` ^OLYL [OL WYLZLU[ funny story to tell at the time; my mind TVTLU[ PZ M\SÄSSLK I` [OL NSPKL focused on business, ethics, working [OL ÅVH[ [OL [OYHZO HU HPY VY H JHY]L hard to get the story and remaining ;OLU ^L KYP]L OVTL LH[ ZSLLW HUK focused on each piece of work within go back to our Monday morning job brief moments of “me time” when I and wait for the next weekend. could step away from my computer and back onto the lake. I was going Where are we now? Where does back to grad school basically, and it go? How big is it going to get? once again exploring deeper into my The exciting part is that we are thoughts . . . yet life was different. I still at the beginning. We are still was not studying the historical, the within the moments where we greet study of pathology or theology, but another boarder on the lake. We are reality, the social and the cultural. VYKLYPUN V\Y ÄYZ[ J\Z[VT IVHYKZ HUK ;VKH` 0 HT WYV\K [V IL SP]PUN PU H our nieces and nephews, sons and TV]LTLU[ [OH[ OHZ ILLU THRPUN daughters are excited to get on the ^H]LZ HUK THRPUN ZVTL VM [OLT water. It is not just the board sports, . from funny stories to a lifestyle that it is the lifestyle. Billabong is sold at [OL SVJHS V\[SL[ Z[VYL V\Y MH]VYP[L speaks and a soul that longs surf. YLZ[H\YHU[ V]LYSVVRZ [OL SHRL HUK ^L ^LHY ZHUKHSZ \W \U[PS [OL ÄYZ[ ZPNUZ of winter. 2014 we will remember you. 2015 we are ready for more. - Tyler Marshall My friend Buck Ashcraft texted me after the last issue and if you knew Buck then you knew a great boarder, pro kite to paddle, SUPATX [V 6»IYPLU VY `V\ TPNO[ ÄUK OPT Z\YÄUN ^P[O OPZ KVN :[L]L VU 3HRL Austin, Texas. “Why so serious?” asked Buck. “If I write, I would like to write something funny.” “Glad to see people are reading,” I responded.
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DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
Alex Brost Sean Cummings Justin Hammond Eric Lair Mark Payne Sean Reavis David Swanson
For advertising information: 214.683.8317 or danny@boardersmag.com Boarders Magazine is a publication distributed to a targeted list of consumers, board shops and dealers throughout the United States. Copies are also available upon request. Boarders Magazine is a trademark of Lokal Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved without prior written permission of publisher. Copyright ©2014 Subscriptions to Boarders Magazine may be purchased online at www.boardersmag.com/subscribe. Boarders Magazine Address 621 N Main Street, Suite 415, Grapevine, Texas 76051 Phone (214) 683-8317
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www.boardersmag.com ww w ww. w.bo bo oar arders ders de rsm ma ag. g.c co om | DECEMBER DECEM MBER 2014 201 014 14
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NAMASTE SUP 30 day CHALLENGE WINNERS
The Namaste SUP Challenge is a 30-day instability challenge where contestants can practice and post their yoga moves and a new move every day. Congrats to all of the challenge contestants and the final four winners including Natalie Morales, Jennifer Hill, Lindsey Bankston and Jessica Mahoney.
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DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
Natalia Morales was born and raised in Medellin Colombia; she is a fashion designer, a yoga instructor in training, and :\W 3V]LY HUK J\YYLU[S` OHZ H WYVQLJ[ [OH[ PU]VS]LZ HSS [OYLL (sup-yoga-design). @supcolombia ¸0 [OPUR P[»Z OHYK [V OH]L [OYLL WHZZPVUZ PU [OL ZHTL KYLHT I\[ ^P[O KL[LYTPUH[PVU HUK WLYZL]LYHUJL `V\ JHU KV L]LY`[OPUN 1\Z[ SV]L ^OH[ `V\ KV HUK HYL ¹ “I do my sup yoga practice in a little town called Guatape located in Antioquia Colombia; there is a dam and some SP[[SL PZSHUKZ ^OLYL `V\ JHU JOHUNL [OL ]PL^ PU HU` TVTLU[ the houses are colorful and decorated with traditional sockets.” “I realized about the challenge on facebook days before and I started thinking about the place and I chose the dam. The challenge strengthened me in ways I did not think spiritually, physically and mentally. Yoga becomes a discipline that Z[YLUN[OLUZ [OL SV]L MVY `V\YZLSM HUK JVTWHZZPVU MVY `V\Y body. This challenge brought me strength, confidence and SV]L MVY ^OH[ 0 KV ¹
1LUUPMLY /PSS ILSV^ PZ [OL V^ULY HUK VWLYH[VY VM 6OHUH Paddle Sports (www.ohanapaddlesports.org) in Surf City, NC. She has been in business for four years now and for the last three years she has offered Sup Yoga classes. She teaches in the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) behind Topsail Island in NC.
“I really enjoyed doing the Namaste Sup Challenge and it KPK JOHSSLUNL TL 0 [LHJO VM[LU I\[ UV[ L]LY`KH` ZV [OPZ ^HZ H NYLH[ ^H` [V YLTPUK HUK TV[P]H[L TL [V KV `VNH L]LY`KH` 4` SPML JHU NL[ OLJ[PJ 0 HT PU [OL ZOVW KH`Z H week during the season with my two toddlers by my side, so the challenge helped me to make sure I set aside that [PTL L]LY`KH` ;OLYL ^LYL HSZV H JV\WSL VM HZHUHZ MYVT [OL JOHSSLUNL [OH[ 0 ^HZ UV[ ]LY` NVVK H[ I\[ [OL JOHSSLUNL MVYJLK TL [V MVJ\Z VU [OLT HUK ^VYR VU [OLT 0 ^HZ ]LY` glad that I had just ordered the Indo Yoga Board because it YHPULK HUK [O\UKLY Z[VYTLK HSTVZ[ L]LY`KH` JVUZ[HU[S` MVY the first two weeks of August, but I was still able to do my asanas on my indo board. This challenge was also great because my three year old got really into doing yoga with TL ZV P[ ^HZ H NYLH[ ^H` MVY TL [V OH]L ZVTL VUL VU VUL [PTL ^P[O OLY HUK OH]L H ZWLJPHS HJ[P]P[` MVY Q\Z[ \Z :OL was always excited to do our asanas for the day and kept wanting me to show her more and more!�
3PUKZL` )HURZ[VU YPNO[ 'THLZ[YHSPUKZL` KVLZ :<7 @VNH PU 4PUULZV[H
“This challenge encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone and try new lakes and new poses on my paddleboard. Because of this challenge, I found the most restorative lake where hardly anyone else goes. It is now my favorite place to go to get some R&R in the summer sun.�
¸4` UHTL PZ 1LZZ 4HOVUL` SLM[ HUK 0T MYVT 6YSHUKV -3 0 WHKKSLIVHYK HUK WYHJ[PJL :<7 `VNH VU ]HYPV\Z SHRLZ HYV\UK [V^U I\[ WYPTHYPS` VU 3HRL 4PaLSS ^OPJO PZ H WHY[ VM [OL >PU[LY 7HYR *OHPU VM 3HRLZ 0 ^HZ PUZWPYLK [V participate in the Namaste Sup Challenge after attending `VNH YL[YLH[ PU >LZ[ 7HST )LHJO V]LY [OL Z\TTLY ^P[O (TLSPH ;YH]PZ HRH :[VRLK @VNP ^OLYL 0 MPYZ[ WYHJ[PJLK `VNH :<7 Z[`SL 5LLKSLZZ [V ZH` P[ ^HZ SV]L H[ MPYZ[ MSVH[ >OLU 0 ZH^ 3H\YLUZ JOHSSLUNL VMMLY 0 IVYYV^LK H MYPLUKZ paddleboard and just soaked up the SUP life all month! Yoga on a paddleboard unlocks so many new challenges; fundamental postures on land, like Trikonasana become a balancing act and true test of patience. Nothing compares to the bliss that comes from soaking up the sun while MSVH[PUN PU :OH]HUZHUH VU [OL VWLU ^H[LY 5HTHZ[L HUK Paddle On!�
www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
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Photo: William Gayle 16
DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
MOONLIGHT PADDLE Location: Newport Rhode Island “This past August, a friend and photographer >PSSPHT .H`SL [VZZLK V\[ HU PU]P[L MVY TL [V tag along on a moonlight paddle shoot. We SH\UJOLK VMM 6JLHU +YP]L PU 5L^WVY[ 9OVKL Island and paddled along the beautiful rocky coast, which was dripped in moonlight and smothered in calm seas. A truly beautiful experience.” - Casi Rynkowski
www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
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Halloween - paddleboard Orlando
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DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
Halloween was right around the corner and Paddle Board Orlando (PBO) came out with a group in costume full force. This shoot was from a sunrise SUP costume party for a local news channel that we got in on. PBO has just opened the first SUP specific store on the beautiful, spring fed and alligator free Lake Killarney in the heart of historic Winter Park right outside Orlando.
7OV[VZ! *VK` 3H^ www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
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Raya Walker has been traveling the country since she was 5 years old competing in water sports. Over the past decade she has traveled coast-to-coast and border-to-border. “All my travels have given me a lifestyle I love to share with others“. Raya hopes to share her experiences through her own line of shirts, hats, and jewelry, properly named Raya Sun & Surf Co. Raya is also working with her sponsors to carry their products as well. It is inspiring to see Raya using her creative mind at only 17 to start down the path of being an entrepreneur. Check everything out at her website www.RayaSunAndSurf.com
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DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
LET THERE BE LIGHT In April 2013, two time world champion and world record OVSKLY MVY RULLIVHYKPUN HUK O`KYVMVPSPUN )PSS` 9VZZPUP founded a new way to get on board after hours by launching [OL 5VJX\H (K]LU[\YL .LHY SPUL HUK P[Z MPYZ[ WYVK\J[ [OL 5VJX\H )PSS` KL]PZLK HUK WLYMLJ[LK [OL ^VYSKÂťZ VUS` HKQ\Z[HISL 3,+ ^H[LYWYVVM SPNO[ Z`Z[LT MVY IV[O Z[HUK\W WHKKSL IVHYKZ VY RH`HRZ HUK [VKH` V]LY 5VJX\H Z`Z[LTZ OH]L ILLU W\[ VU [OL ^H[LY ^VYSK^PKL 7HKKSPUN at night with the water glowing at your feet is a fresh approach to paddle sports because it is exciting, safe and H[[YHJ[P]L [V ^H[LY SPML 5V^ WHKKSPUN H[ UPNO[ PZ ZHMLY [VV because other boaters can see you better and you can
also see what’s going on underneath your board. One of the secrets to fishing at night is attracting fish with lights, [OPUR HIV\[ [OL HK]HU[HNL VM \ZPUN 5VJX\H OPNO WV^LYLK 3,+ SPNO[Z For the booming SUP industry this meant the birth of “SUP .SV^š [V\YZ ^VYSK^PKL HUK [VKH` [OLYL HYL V]LY [V\Y operators who are extending their rental hours into the L]LUPUN -PUHSS` H JOHUJL [V NL[ VU IVHYK HM[LY OV\YZ HUK more possibilities for paddle outfitters and customers from on board fireworks shows to eco and wildlife tours.
Photo Courtesy of Nocqua www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014 21
EXPLORE THE NIGHT
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DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
Ibis Bay Paddle Sports in Key West Florida takes a unique approach to paddling at night with their night eco and wildlife tours. Fifteen minutes after sunset is when the ocean ϐ rookeries while the powerful Nocqua LED’s light the way.
Fireworks blast off each Friday night over Lake Grapevine between Memorial Day and Labor Day. With their Nocqua lights ready to go, the DFW Surf crew in North Texas takes tours out (some nights up ͵Ͳ Ȍ ϐ ϐ Ǥ ͓
Photos: Tim Marek
www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
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DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
“I was paddling at night in a lake with a lit-up board and we could see below us, it was amazing,” recalls Creighton Baird. “But we had a hard time getting the light to shine where we wanted it, and I was like ‘why aren’t their lights on the paddle instead!’ And that’s where it started.”
;OL UL_[ `LHY ^HZ ZWLU[ KL]LSVWPUN JHYIVU ÄILY 3,+ lighted paddles and testing out prototypes with friends and Z[YHUNLYZ PU L]LY` WHY[ VM [OL JV\U[Y` ;OL YLZWVUZL OHZ ILLU V]LY^OLSTPUNS` WVZP[P]L HUK P[ OHZ NP]LU [OL [LHT ]HS\HISL YLHZZ\YHUJL [OH[ [OL` HYL VU [OL YPNO[ [YHJR :PUJL then the team has been selling their paddles as quickly as they can get them manufactured. “It is one of those good WYVISLTZ [V OH]L [OL WHKKSLZ HYL H IP[ TVYL JVTWSL_ [V H manufacturer than a normal paddle so naturally they take H SP[[SL SVUNLY [V WYVK\JL ¹ L_WSHPUZ +H]PK :^HUZVU ;VYJO Paddles co-founder and paddle designer. 7OV[VZ! +H]PK :^HUZVU www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014 25
Meanwhile the team has created a unique concept by JYLH[PUN H ;VYJO SPNO[LK HK]LU[\YL ^P[O [YLHZ\YL IV_LZ across the West Coast, in lakes and bays, with real US gold coins hidden inside. They hope it will get more people out paddling, exploring and gaining a new excitement for the sport. They will continue to place UL^ [YLHZ\YL IV_LZ HSS V]LY [OL JV\U[Y` ^P[O UV LUK PU ZPNO[ ¸7HKKSPUN OLSWZ `V\ ÄUK [OL [OPUN [OH[ `V\ [YLHZ\YL ^OL[OLY [OH[»Z WLYZVUHS Ä[ULZZ ZVJPHS IVUKPUN or bonding with nature. That’s the true message behind ;VYJO ;YLHZ\YL ¹ L_WSHPUZ +H]PK
Torch Paddles also plans on teaming up with their MYPLUK +L]PU:\WLY;YHTW [V THRL HU LWPJ UL^ ]PKLV MLH[\YPUN [OL 3,+ SPNO[LK WHKKSLZ ;OLPY RH`HR WHKKSL coming out next year, will be featured as well as their :<7 HUK JHUVL WHKKSLZ ^OPJO HYL H]HPSHISL UV^ VU their website. “Getting out on the water after work, when the sun is dipping and the atmosphere is perfect, it’s mesmerizing how the water appears when it’s lit up from below. Once you do it, you’re hooked.”
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DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
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THE FUTURE IS
BRIGHT
Now there is more time to play on the water and explore terrain in a new light with new board and boat technologies like Nocqua Adventure Gear, Torch Paddles, Wetsounds Speakers SUPGLO lighting systems. Light your path beneath your feet, immerse yourself underneath the stars, sit back on your boat and set the mood. The adventure has just begun.
TORCH PADDLE
WET SOUNDS REVOLUTION 10 SERIES TOWER SPEAKERS
‹‰Š– —’ –Š‡ Â?‹‰Š– ™‹–Š ƒ ‘”…Š ÂƒÂ†Â†ÂŽÂ‡ÇĄ –Š‡ ™‘”Ž†ǯ• Ď?‹”•– Í´Íś Š‘—” ’ƒ††Ž‡ ˆ‡ƒ–—”‹Â?‰ ƒ Â–Â”Â‹ÇŚÂˆÂ‡Â…Â–Âƒ Ž‹‰Š–• •›•–‡Â? „—‹Ž– ‹Â?–‘ –Š‡ „Žƒ†‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ ’ƒ††Ž‡ ƒÂ?† ƒÂ? ‘Â?Č€Â‘ÂˆÂˆ „—––‘Â? ‹Â?•‹†‡ –Š‡ ŠƒÂ?†Ž‡ –Šƒ– Ž‡–• ›‘— –—”Â? ›‘—” Ž‹‰Š–• ‘Â? ‘” ‘ˆˆ ƒ– ›‘—” …‘Â?˜‡Â?‹‡Â?…‡Ǥ Š‡ ’ƒ††Ž‡ ‹–•‡Žˆ is a strong and durable paddle that can be used anytime and a Ž‹‰Š–™‡‹‰Š– …ƒ”„‘Â? Ď?‹„‡” †‡•‹‰Â?Ǥ
Š‡ ‡˜‘Ž—–‹‘Â? ‡”‹‡• ‹• –Š‡ ’‹Â?Â?ƒ…Ž‡ ‘ˆ –‘™‡” •’‡ƒÂ?‡”• ˆ‘” any boat featuring REV TEC mid bass response technology ™‹–Š „‘‘•–‹Â?‰ ˜‘Ž—Â?‡ ƒÂ?† •‘—Â?† “—ƒŽ‹–› ƒ– ƒ Â?‹Â?‹Â?—Â? ‘ˆ ͺͲ feet. Comes in all stainless steel hardware and grilles and a reinforced composite enclosure with a LED lighting option.
˜ƒ‹Žƒ„Ž‡ ‹Â? ͚ʹdz ƒÂ?† ͚ͺdz Ď?‹š‡† Ž‡Â?‰–Š• Retail: $250
IMPEDANCE: 4 Ohms Č‹ ČŒÇŁ ;ͲͲȀ͸ͲͲ Č‹ Č€ ‡ƒÂ?ČŒ ÇŁ ͝ʹ † ƒ– Íł Č€ ‡–‡” Ǥ ÇŁ ʹͲ Š ÇŚ ʹͲ Šœ MSRP: $1149 for pair
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DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
SUPGLO STANDUP PADDLEBOARD LIGHTING SYSTEM The SUPGLO Standup Paddleboard Lighting System letโ s you ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย วก ย ย ย ย ย ย ย วก ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย วค ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย วก ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย suction cup mounting system and superbright LEDโ s, you will ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย วค ย ย ย ย ย ย ฯ ย ย ย ย วก ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย cup mounts can also be used for GoPro cameras, making ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย วก ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย market. See SUPGLO in action at surfstow.com. Retail: 2 Pack for $199
NOCQUA SPECTRUM - COLOR LED LIGHT SYSTEM ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย อน ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย อต ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย วฆย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย วก which allows you to choose your color, either red, blue, green, orange, aqua, purple, low white and bright white and modes include a 5 second color hold, party mode and SOS strobe. Retail: $399 plus shipping
7OV[V! +H]PK :^HUZVU www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
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ϐ ǡ Ƭ Ǧ Ǥ Dz dz Dz Ǧ dz ǡ ϐ Ǥ Dz dz speakers completely down while still blasting music to your rider, or turn the rear facing speakers off to be courteous to the neighbors or any combination in between. Also featuring Ǥ
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DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
Ǧ ϐ ͺdz paired with a 1” Horn Loaded Titanium Ǥ
www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
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www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
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AMPLIFIERS SINISTER SERIES SYN SERIES
ED RING KIT XS SERIES with LLED
SUBWOOFERS
TOWER SPEAKERS
ICON SERIES
HT SERIES
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RREVOLUTION SERIES
.
.
DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
.
Hydrous Wake Parks
www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
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best of
2014 Wake Surfing Article and Photos by: Mark Payne
7KH FRPSHWLWLYH ZDNH VXUðQJ VHDVRQ ZUDSSHG XS LQ /DV 9HJDV DW WKH :RUOG :DNH 6XUðQJ &KDPSLRQVKLSV in late September. It was the exclamation point on what ZDV D IDQWDVWLF \HDU RI ZDNH VXUðQJ EHKLQG YDULRXV EUDQGV of boats cranking out killer waves at venues all across the United States and abroad. As a hobbyist photographer I enjoyed shooting photos of the athletes, spectators and, at times, the landscape at the different ]LU\LZ (UK HS[OV\NO 0 ^V\SK OH]L SV]LK [V THRL P[ [V HSS [OL L]LU[Z T` ¸KH` QVIš OHK V[OLY WSHUZ MVY TL 5L]LY[OLSLZZ ^L attended a good number of competitions and thinking back through the year there were so many great memories and new MYPLUKZ MYVT [OL ^HRL Z\YÄUN JVTT\UP[` Perusing my collection of shots that numbers in the thousands, I came across many photos of athletic excellence, rider camaraderie, cool boats, sweet boards and family and friends OH]PUN H ISHZ[ PU V\Y NYLH[ ^VYSK VM Z\YÄUN PUSHUK ^H]LZ 7OV[VNYHWOZ VM IPN HPY HUK [LJOUPJHS [YPJRZ 0 OH]L WSLU[` VM -VY this wrap-up, I thought I would pull out a few photos that caught my attention for other reasons.
>OPSL [OL WOV[V HIV]L JLY[HPUS` ^VU[ ^PU HU` H^HYKZ P[ KPK 7HYRLY (A @V\K IL OHYK WYLZZLK [V ÄUK H WOV[VNYHWOLY [OH[ Q\TW V\[ H[ TL HZ H YLTPUKLY VM [OL KP]LYZL SVJH[PVUZ ^HRL doesn’t like to shoot out West. There’s nothing like the golden Z\YÄUN [HRLZ \Z K\YPUN [OL `LHY ;OPZ WPJ[\YL PZ MYVT LHYS` PU hours in the desert! [OL ZLHZVU H[ [OL :\WYLTL >HRL :\YM *OHTWPVUZOPW PU 36
DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
The photo to the left I chose, again, not for its technical merit, but more for the story it tells. This is Allison :VZ IVVZ[PUN H[ [OL >>: Shred Fest in Colorado – part of the ,UKSLZZ >H]L ;V\Y 0T ZOVV[PUN from the opposite side of the wake and you can see that she’s way HIV]L [OL SPW L]LU ^P[O H RULL IYHJL VU (SSPZVU IH[[SLK (*3 TLUPZJ\Z issues all year and just recently had surgery to repair it. She, along with ZL]LYHS V[OLYZ MV\NO[ [OYV\NO PUQ\YPLZ to compete throughout the season. It was great seeing the determination and commitment from all the riders [OL WYVNYLZZPVU [OPZ `LHY ^HZ ]LY` PTWYLZZP]L H[ HSS SL]LSZ
Here is another one from the WWS Shred Fest in Fort Collins, CO. And it’s Chase Hazen riding. It’s no secret that Chase is known for his huge air and traditional ocean surf style. I picked this picture because it doesn’t show Chase going big, but YH[OLY NVPUN SVUN 0U [OL 3VUN )VHYK JVTWL[P[PVU [OH[ PZ ;OL
lighting was soft and indirect in this shot because of a big line of [O\UKLYZ[VYTZ ZSPWWPUN V]LY [OL [VWZ VM [OL TV\U[HPUZ MYVT [OL West. We got lucky with the weather and only had some wind and showers. In addition to Chase “Walking the Plank� in this shot, we saw a lot of long board skills that weekend in Colorado. www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
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;OLYL PZ H SV[ TVYL [OHU Q\Z[ ^HRL Z\YÄUN NVPUN VU H[ H ^HRL Z\YM JVU[LZ[ (UK [OPZ WPJ[\YL PZ Q\Z[ VUL L_HTWSL 4PRL 3H 4HJJOPH WYV]LZ PU [OL WOV[V VU [OL SLM[ [OH[ OL PZU»[ Q\Z[ H NVVK ^HRL surfer, he has some mad Frisbee skills too! This competition ^HZ [OL 3HRL (UUH >HRL :\YM 6WLU PU =PYNPUPH
(IV]L PZ (UNPL =PSHUK ^P[O H RPSSLY KV\ISL NYHI H[ [OL 3HRL (UUH >HRL :\YM 6WLU ;OPZ ]LU\L OHK H NYLH[ KHYR IHJRKYVW THRPUN the colors pop and subjects stand out in contrast.
For this picture we’ll bounce back across the country to the “left” ZOV[ JH\NO[ T` L`L ILJH\ZL VM [OL WLYZWLJ[P]L VM ILPUN YPNO[ JVHZ[ ;OPZ PZ 9HSLPNO /HNLY NVPUN YLHSS` IPN K\YPUN H WYL JVTW ILOPUK OLY ,]LU MYVT [OL VWWVZP[L ZPKL VM [OL ^H]L P[»Z VI]PV\Z session for the NWWSA Wake Surf Open in Monroe, WA. This Q\Z[ OV^ OPNO 9HSLPNO NL[Z HIV]L [OL SPW 38
DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
Here is another shot from the NWWSA Open in Washington. And it’s Parker Payne doing something that he rarely does – ride a skim board. He’s midway through a drifter and I really liked this WPJ[\YL ILJH\ZL VM [OL ^H` [OL ^H]L SVVRZ -VY VUL P[ PZ SP[ \W like there are lights shining through it from the back side. And [^V 0 SV]L [OL ^H` [OL UVZL VM [OL IVHYK SP[LYHSS` J\[ [OL ^H]L 0[ SVVRZ SPRL OL»Z JHY]PUN P[ ^P[O H RUPML
;OPZ WPJ[\YL ^HZ [HRLU H[ 3HRL 3HZ =LNHZ K\YPUN [OL >VYSK >HRL :\YÄUN *OHTWPVUZOPWZ 0»T Z\YL L]LY`VUL ^V\SK HNYLL [OH[ [OPZ L]LU[ IYV\NO[ [VNL[OLY [OL ^VYSK»Z ILZ[ YPKLYZ HUK [OL` W\[ VU H ZOV^ [OH[ PUJS\KLK [OL ILZ[ YPKPUN [OL ZWVY[ OHZ L]LY ZLLU 0[ would be easy, and probably expected, to pull out a photo from >VYSKZ ZOV^PUN H )PN :WPU VY :O\] )\[ 0 SPRL [OPZ WPJ[\YL ILJH\ZL VM [OL \UPX\L HYJOLZ V]LY [OL SHRL HUK [OL NLU[SLTHU in the shot, Tim Walker. Here, Tim is perched on this walkway HIV]L [OL SHRL [V ZOVV[ WOV[VZ VM YPKLYZ HZ [OL` WHZZ \UKLY OPT /L NV[ ZVTL YLHSS` \UPX\L ZOV[Z MYVT [OPZ ]HU[HNL WVPU[ ;PT ]VS\U[LLYZ OPZ [PTL LX\PWTLU[ HUK ZRPSSZ [V NL[ NYLH[ ZOV[Z K\YPUN THU` VM [OL ^HRL Z\YM L]LU[Z [VV 0 OH]L H NYLH[ [PTL ZOVV[PUN ^P[O OPT HUK SV]L OPZ ^VYR ;OHURZ ;PT MVY NP]PUN ZV much of your time to the sport.
The picture left is Madi Horta going for the big double grab at the Nautique USA Wake Surf Nationals in Georgia. Two things caught my attention about this photo. One is the colorful and bright Soulcraft board against the white wash of the boat. The other reason I selected this picture is Madi’s story. It was just one year ago, at the 2013 World Wake :\YM *OHTWPVUZOPWZ [OH[ 4HKP HUK OLY MH[OLY =PJ H[[LUKLK Q\Z[ HZ ZWLJ[H[VYZ 4HKP SV]LK ^OH[ ZOL ZH^ KLJSHYLK [OH[ ZOL ^HU[LK [V [Y` ^HRL Z\YÄUN HUK [HSRLK OLY KHK PU[V I\`PUN H IVH[ 1\Z[ VUL year later, she competed herself at Worlds! Madi had an incredibly successful season- congrats! 0M `V\ KPKU»[ ZLL ZVTL VM T` MH]VYP[L ZOV[Z MYVT [OPZ MHU[HZ[PJ L]LU[ IL Z\YL [V YLHK [OL )VHYKLYZ Magazine article. Calloway Gardens is a great place to shoot pictures and I highlight a few of my MH]VYP[LZ PU [OH[ HY[PJSL
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DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
by Tyler Marshall
Into the Shaping Room
To go along with the lights theme in this issue I wanted to feature an article about a growing trend in the industry and amongst consumers, which is towards light-er boards. Shaper Brock Dumoit of Doomswell stands by his motto, “don’t surf a brickâ€? and consumers too are convinced that lighter boards are better. Meanwhile shapers like Joe Bark EHOLHYH LQ Ă°QGLQJ WKDW VZHHW VSRW RU WKH ULJKW EDODQFH between weight and performance. The characteristic of lightness is far from being the most important part of a board and good shapers would agree that design is the most vital. Stronger and lighter has been a goal for manufacturers and VKDSHUV DQG PDWHULDOV OLNH FDUERQ Ă°EHU NHYODU DQG EDPERR have emerged on the scene. So what are the advantages of lighter boards? Are they faster? Has durability been compromised? Stronger and lighter materials, does this mean more expensive boards? Why don’t we just hear for ourselves . . . www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
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Taylor Rambo: Riviera Paddlesurf ¸3PNO[LY )VHYKZ NP]L `V\ H IP[ VM HU LKNL PU WLYMVYTHUJL ^OL[OLY `V\ HYL YHJPUN VY :<7 :\YĂ„UN ;OL TVZ[ PTWVY[HU[ MHJ[VY PU H WLYMVYTHUJL :<7 OV^L]LY PZ ZOHWL 0M [OL KLZPNU PZUÂť[ [OLYL P[ isn’t going to matter how light your board is.â€? “In SUP racing you can accelerate up to that race pace, after a buoy turn, or at the start a split second quicker... Whether it’s Z[YVRLZ X\PJRLY P[ JV\SK TLHU IVHYK SLUN[O VY `HYKZ at the end of a race.â€? ¸;OL KPZHK]HU[HNLZ VM OH]PUN H SPNO[ IVHYK PZ [OL` JHU ILJVTL less durable the lighter they are. Finding that balance between WLYMVYTHUJL HUK K\YHIPSP[` PZ ^OH[ ^L Z[YP]L MVY ^P[O L]LY` IVHYK in our line. Some boards we lean towards durable, and some boards we lean towards performance.â€?
Nick Wiersema: chaos surf Company
“Wakesurfers have been trending thicker over the past 4-5 years as HLYPHS Z\YĂ„UN OHZ WYVNYLZZLKš
Why lighter? Is there a happy medium? Custom versus mass produced boards. Advantage of lighter boards? ¸3PNO[ULZZ ^OH[ PZ P[ HUK PZ [OPZ IVHYK SPNO[LY [OHU [OH[ IVHYK& Typically, people pick up a board off a rack and will comment ^V^ [OH[ PZ SPNO[ VY ^V^ [OH[ MLLSZ OLH]` /LYLÂťZ [OL [OPUN though, the human interpretation of ‘light’ is not necessarily a good estimation of actual weight or mass. How we interpret whether a board feels light is really about the size of the board HUK [OL KPZ[YPI\[PVU VM ]VS\TL THZZ ;^V IVHYKZ VM PKLU[PJHS weight might feel completely different in the hands of a rider K\L [V [OL IVHYKÂťZ V]LYHSS ZPaL HUK THZZ KPZ[YPI\[PVU ;`WPJHSS` ZWLHRPUN H SHYNLY IVHYK ^P[O TVYL ]VS\TL ^PSS MLLS SPNO[LY [OHU H ZTHSSLY IVHYK ^OLU [OL` HYL VM LX\HS ^LPNO[ -VY ^HRLZ\YĂ„UN [OPZ PZ TVZ[ L]PKLU[ PM `V\ WPJR \W H SI Z\YM Z[`SL IVHYK HUK H SI ZRPT Z[`SL IVHYK ;OL ZRPT Z[`SL IVHYK PZ NVPUN [V MLLS OLH]PLY ILLU [YLUKPUN [OPJRLY V]LY [OL WHZ[ `LHYZ HZ HLYPHS Z\YĂ„UN OHZ WYVNYLZZLK :THSS HKKP[PVUZ [V [OPJRULZZ HUK ^PK[O OH]L H in your hands. NYLH[LY LMMLJ[ VU ]VS\TL [OHU ZTHSS HKKP[PVUZ PU SLUN[O HSS [OPUNZ ;OL 7V\UK 9\SL @V\Y H]LYHNL OP WLYMVYTHUJL Z\YMIVHYK HUK JVUZPKLYLK LX\HS =VS\TL ^PSS IL [OL WYPTHY` SPTP[PUN MHJ[VY PU ^HRLZ\YMLY Ă…VH[ HYV\UK [OPZ 7V\UK 9\SL WS\Z VY TPU\Z H ML^ [OL Ă„UPZOLK ^LPNO[ VM H IVHYK HNHPU HSS [OPUNZ JVUZPKLYLK LX\HS ounces to a pound. More plus than minus. Why is that? There are a lot of potential reasons, but in general, it is an artifact of size and materials. In the case of your typical competition surfZ[`SL ^HRLZ\YMLY [OL IVHYK PZ NVPUN [V IL PU IL[^LLU Âť š HUK Âť š PU SLUN[O ^P[O H TH_PT\T ^PK[O IL[^LLU HUK š HUK TH_PT\T [OPJRULZZ VM [V š ;OPZ NP]LZ `V\ ]VS\TLZ from around 20 liters to all the way up towards 28 liters. Shorter boards are generally for shorter riders and these boards also tend to be wider and possibly thicker (shorter riders do not ULJLZZHYPS` ^LPNO SLZZ [OHU [HSSLY YPKLYZ >HRLZ\YMLYZ OH]L 42
DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
Are lighter boards better? Yes, no, maybe. A lightweight board ^PSS OH]L H [LUKLUJ` [V YLSLHZL IL[[LY HUK Z[H` \UKLY H Z\YMLYZ MLL[ ^OLU HIV]L [OL SPW VM [OL ^H]L 0U T` L_WLYPLUJL TVZ[ riders like a lighter board, but this is not necessarily due to ^LPNO[ I\[ WV[LU[PHS V[OLY MHJ[VYZ SPRL ÅL_ HUK MLLS ;OL MLLS VM H IVHYK PZ H JVTIPUH[PVU VM ÅL_ HUK [OL ]PIYH[PVUZ MLS[ [OYV\NO [OL IVHYK MYVT [OL ^H]L 4HU` JVUZ[Y\J[PVU [`WLZ KHTWLU [OLZL ]PIYH[PVUZ HUK Z[PMMLU IVHYKZ YLUKLYPUN [OLT UV[OPUN TVYL [OHU dead planes, plowing through the water.�
Mark Raaphorst Sandwich island composites “The few pounds one has to propel forward the less effort a paddler needs to put into their stroke. This results in fatigue kicking in later and better sprinting ability. Saying this, what is often forgotten in this equation is the paddler’s own weight. If a paddler weight is 180 lbs. and the board is 20 lbs., simplistically speaking, the board is about 10 % of the total weight to be propelled forward. Hypothetically speaking, if the board is 10 SIZ OLH]PLY H[ SIZ [V[HS ^LPNO[ [V IL WYVWLSSLK ILJVTLZ lbs. The difference between 200 and 210 lbs. is 5%.
“Light boards have less inertia. They get going LHZPLY I\[ HSZV ZSV^ KV^U MHZ[LY ¹
^P[O I\PSKLY»Z JOHSSLUNL VM \ZL VM [OLZL WYVK\J[Z KYP]L \W prices. The required margins of brand owners, distributor, wholesalers and retailers all escalate and so the board that is TVYL L_WLUZP]L [V I\PSK ^PSS VM[LU YLHJO [OL J\Z[VTLY at an increased price tag of $500. This is the nature of global manufacturing. >OH[ T` JYL^ Z[YP]LZ MVY PZ [PNO[ THU\MHJ[\YPUN VU HSS SL]LSZ HUK PU L]LY` Z[LW ,]LY` Z[LW PU IVHYK JVUZ[Y\J[PVU PUJYLHZLZ [OL ^LPNO[ HUK [OLYL HYL HIV\[ [^LU[` Z[LWZ [V P[ ZV ZH]PUN H ML^ V\UJLZ V\[ VM L]LY` Z[LW ^P[OV\[ ZJHYÄUN Z[YLUN[O PZ [OL RL`" H ZSVWW` ÄU IV_ YV\[L QVI [OPJR YLZPU ^OPSL SHTPUH[PUN [OPJR OV[ JVH[Z \UULJLZZHY` ]VS\TL KPZ[YPI\[PVU PU [OL shape, un-sophisticated hardware design are just some of the enemies.”
.VPUN SPNO[LY ^P[O SLZZ ]VS\TL PZ WVZZPISL ^P[O H SPNO[LY JVYL density, hollow construction or more high-end composites. The only downside is the cost of high-end composites like carbon, VY WSHZ[PJ JVTWVZP[LZ SPRL 0UULNYH 2L]SHY HUK :WLJ[YH JVTIPULK
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Dominic Lagace “My new pro model is even better, lighter, more responsive and I can go bigger”
7OV[V! 4HYPUH 3VWLa 44
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TODD JOHNSON CUSTOMS “THERE IS NO BETTER THERE IS ONLY DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS! 1\Z[ SPRL HSS JOHYHJ[LYPZ[PJZ VM H ^HRL Z\YM board, the boards weight depends on the surfers style and the JVUKP[PVUZ VM [OL ^PUK HUK ^H]L >OLU 0 ^LU[ [V T` Ă„YZ[ WYV contest I was amazed that the best wake surfers in the world only ride one model no matter the conditions. Competing for the last three years, and seeing the different conditions behind different IVH[Z 0 HT L]LU TVYL JVU]PUJLK [OH[ H ^HRL Z\YMLY ZOV\SK OH]L H X\P]LY VM IVHYKZ 7VS`\YL[OHUL PZ ^OH[ TVZ[ Z\YMIVHYKZ OH]L ILLU THKL MYVT MVY KLJHKLZ 7VS` PZ H SP[[SL OLH]PLY [OHU ,7: I\[ OHZ YLHSS` NVVK Ă…L_ NP]PUN [OL IVHYK SV[Z VM KYP]L WLYMLJ[ MVY IPN WV^LY [\YUZ 3L[Z ZH` 0ÂťT I\PSKPUN H Âť š MVY H `V\UN YPKLY ^OV PZ SPNO[ I\[ OHZ VY ^HU[Z [V OH]L H WV^LYM\S Z\YĂ„UN Z[`SL 0ÂťT UV[ ^VYYPLK HIV\[ ^LPNO[ VU Z\JO H ZTHSS IVHYK HUK ^V\SK JOVVZL WVS` MVY P[Z Ă…L_ HUK KYP]L as well as durability. Now let’s say a 250 pound man wants to throw 360s and airs and rip it up with his kids. I want to make OPT H IVHYK [OH[ÂťSS Ă…VH[ OPT HUK IL K\YHISL I\[ Z[PSS IL SPNO[ HUK YLZWVUZP]L 0U [OPZ ZP[\H[PVU ,7: PZ [OL IL[[LY TH[LYPHS ILJH\ZL 0 JHU THRL OPT H ZOVY[LY [OPUULY IVHYK [OH[ Z[PSS NP]L [OL Ă…V[H[PVU OL ULLKZ ^P[OV\[ ZHJYPĂ„JPUN ZWLLK HUK THUL\]LYHIPSP[` š
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IceMule Coolers The IceMule Cooler is the world’s most portable highperformance soft cooler. Only the IceMule’s patented PUZ\SH[LK KY` IHN KLZPNU NP]LZ `V\ [OL WVY[HIPSP[` VM H backpack with the performance of a hard cooler: ‹ ‹ • ‹
2LLWZ PJL PU[HJ[ \W [V OV\YZ 9VSSZ \W MVY LHZ` Z[VYHNL Waterproof: Welded seams and no zippers. 0[ L]LU MSVH[Z
GoPro HERO4 Silver / Surf *HW[\YL `V\Y ^VYSK PU HU HSS UL^ ^H` ^P[O /,96 :PS]LY [OL MPYZ[ L]LY .V7YV [V MLH[\YL H I\PS[ PU [V\JO KPZWSH` Controlling the camera, framing shots and playing back JVU[LU[ PZ UV^ \S[YH JVU]LUPLU[·Q\Z[ ]PL^ [HW HUK Z^PWL [OL ZJYLLU /,96 :PS]LY JHW[\YLZ W HUK W ]PKLV ^P[O SPMLSPRL JSHYP[` WS\Z 47 WOV[VZ H[ H Z[HNNLYPUN 30 frames per second. New experience-enhancing features PUJS\KL /P3PNO[ ;HN ^OPJO SL[Z `V\ THYR RL` TVTLU[Z MVY easy playback, editing and sharing, and QuikCapture, which allows you to power on the camera and start recording with [OL WYLZZ VM H ZPUNSL I\[[VU >H[LYWYVVM [V » T /,96 :PS]LY JVTIPULZ ]LYZH[PSP[` HUK WYV X\HSP[` JHW[\YL ^P[O [OL JVU]LUPLUJL VM H [V\JO KPZWSH` Retail: $399 See more at: GoPro.com 48
DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
SlingShot Crossbreed
SlingShot Switchblade
The 2015 Crossbreed is a true HIGH PERFORMANCE ALL AROUND BOARD and is as stable and forgiving as they come. This wide frame will give the wariest of paddler’s full confidence in any condition. The pulled in displacement style nose and a fuller, harder tucked rail is designed to deliver excellent touring performance and all around user friendliness. The Crossbreed also cuts through the chop, makes turns easily and handles knee to waist high surf due to the V spine bottom shape. The Crossbreed is the ultimate crossover of an all-around and performance touring board. Based on Slingshot’s Future Response Technology the Crossbreed is built with Wood Veneer Sandwich Construction (WVS). This proprietary construction controls the durability and flex of the board and the result is a proven lightweight, impact resistant board.
The perfect paddle that you can share with friends and family as it adjusts to almost any height, short or tall. DIMENSIONS Blade Length: 19.5” Blade Width: 8.3” Blade Area: 99.2 sq in Angle of Blade: 10 degrees Paddle Weight: 21.8 oz
SHAFT 100% Carbon / Adjustable Minimum Height 66” Maximum Height 97” BLADE Fiberglass
- MSRP $239
- MSRP: 11 foot = $1,399 / 12.6 foot = $1,699
UE Boom • Make Some Noise: UE BOOM is the 360-degree wireless speaker that drops bold, rich resonant sound in every direction with exceptional bass. • Up for Anything: UE BOOM has a versatile, go anywhere shape that is designed to be spontaneous • Life-Resistant: Colorful acoustic skin with plasma coating makes UE BOOM water and stain resistant • Live Wirelessly: Switch songs, adjust volume and take phone calls from up to 50 feet away. The rechargeable battery has 15 hours of playback • Double Up: Wirelessly connect two UE BOOMs together in stereo via the free UE BOOM app to spread the sound and pump up the volume Retail: $199 UEBOOM.com www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
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O Brien - Tokio SUP The Tokio was designed to be proportionally shorter and ^PKLY [OHU H [`WPJHS :<7 ^P[O H OPNO ]VS\TL 3P[LY KV\ISL JVUJH]L O\SS HUK H ยน ^PK[O -\SS + ZOHWLK YHPSZ help propel the board in a straight line, while defined edges on the bottom rails help reduce drag and increase glide. With this you get a ton of stability and speed in a shorter package - At only 10โ long, the Tokio is lighter, easier to THUL\]LY HUK [HRLZ \W H SV[ SLZZ YVVT PU [OL NHYHNL [OH[ most SUPs. MSRP $1200 3,5.;/ JT ยน >0+;/ JT ยน =63<4, 3P[LYZ www.Obrien.com
Jacket Rack-It ;OL 1HJRL[ 9HJR P[ PZ [OL LHZ` ^H` [V Z[VYL HUK KY` `V\Y wet life jackets! The rack attaches to your boat tower and allows your wet jackets to hang outside the boat where [OL` KYPW PU[V [OL ^H[LY PUZ[LHK VM `V\Y IVH[ (Z `V\ KYP]L air flows past the jackets and dries them quickly so the next time you put it on it will be dry! Fits all tubular towers. $349 ^^^ 1HJRL[YHJRP[ JVT
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THUGGIE The OG Thuggie 3H\UJOLK PU V\Y ZPNUH[\YL NHYTLU[ [OL ;O\NNPL PZ THKL VM Z\WLY ZVM[ J\Z[VT TPSSLK *V[[VU WVS`LZ[LY ISLUK MHIYPJ >L H]VPKLK [OL JOLHW TH[LYPHS [OH[ PZ YHTWHU[ in the lifestyle market and made a premium product. Thuggies offers unparalleled comfort when on the boat and the ability to change in and out of that wetsuit without showing your Q\UR [V L]LY`VUL 2LLW P[ VU MVY [OVZL JVSK KH`Z VU [OL ^H[LY VY ^PU[LY [YHPUPUN -VY HKKLK JVU]LUPLUJL ;O\NNPLZ PUJS\KLK OPKKLU ZPKL WVJRL[Z HUK PU ZVTL JHZLZ H M\SS MYVU[ aPWWLY ;OPZ PZ UV[ `V\Y H]LYHNL [HSS Z^LH[ZOPY[" [OL I\PSK X\HSP[` JVSVY^H`Z HUK Z[`SL PZ UL_[ [V UVUL 7YVIHIS` VUL VM [OL JVVSLZ[ [OPUNZ PZ [OH[ L]LY` ;O\NNPL JVSVY PZ H SPTP[LK LKP[PVU ILJH\ZL V\Y KLZPNULYZ UL]LY YL PZZ\L [OL ZHTL TVKLS -$85 Thuggie.com
SYCK TRIX BOARD The Syck Trix board is made from maple wood skate decks. >L OH]L KLZPNULK H J\Z[VT MVV[ WHK MVY [OL [VW VM [OL IVHYK ;OL J\Z[VT ISHKKLY QHJRL[ JVTIPUH[PVU NP]LZ [OL board the pop you need. The Syck Trix Board Bladders ^OLU WVZP[PVULK JVYYLJ[S` ^PSS UV[ VUS` PTWYV]L `V\Y [YPJRZ I\[ OLSW ^P[O JVYL [YHPUPUN (UV[OLY NYLH[ HK]HU[HNL VM using a Syck Trix Board is the rehab for ankle, foot, knee HUK OPW PUQ\YPLZ Z\Z[HPULK MYVT IVHYK ZWVY[ HJJPKLU[Z 3L[ the fun began, Stick your tricks with Syck trix. www.sycktrix.com $95.99
Xsories - Xshine Combo Illuminate your films easily and meet our iconic U-Shot. Two products we figured will really lift your content and show you why you bought a compact camera in the first place. Open up and extend your capture possibilities with this awesome starter combo. www.xsories.com $79.99 www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
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As a competitive sport emerges, it is usually not long before an über-talented athlete dramatically separates his or herself from the rest, a lead wolf. The rest of the pack knows that, if they want to lead, their only option is to merely follow and hope the lead wolf stumbles. These athletes tend to leave a legacy behind - a seemingly unbeatable list of accomplishments. Golf has Tiger Woods. Swimming has Michael Phelps. Snowboarding has Shaun White. Skateboarding has Tony Hawk. Ocean surfing has Kelly Slater. And SUP racing has Candice Appleby. Non-surfing pack leaders tend to loose their top status after one stumble, while their surfing counterparts tend to rebound and return better than ever. What is it about a surfer that allows them to rebound into greatness? We turn to Candice Appleby to find answers. *VTWL[P[P]L :<7 YHJPUN PZ PU P[Z PUMHUJ` ,]LU[Z HUK YHURPUN Z`Z[LTZ YLTHPU MYHNTLU[LK SLH]PUN ^VYSK YHURPUNZ \W [V H SV[ VM PU[LYWYL[H[PVU HUK KLIH[L /V^L]LY [OLYL PZ )H[[SL VM ;OL 7HKKSL [OL ^VYSK»Z SHYNLZ[ :<7 YHJL ZL]LU `LHYZ running. BOP has become an unofficial World Championship for SUP racing. It is the ultimate test for paddle boarders,
Candice Appleby by Alex Brost, Photos by Chuck Tuna
where all the biggest names in SUP compete on the most [LJOUPJHSS` KLTHUKPUN JV\YZL PU WHKKSL IVHYKPUN ,]LY` `LHY [OL L]LU[ W\[Z H[OSL[LZ [OYV\NO T\S[PWSL SHWZ VU H hell-on-water course that goes in and out of the surf zone of Dana Point, California. BOP is a Mecca for paddler boarders. Some make the pilgrimage to compete, many TVYL QV\YUL` [V )67 [V L_WLYPLUJL [OL ]PIL VM O\UKYLKZ VM :<7 IYHUKZ HUK H[OSL[LZ VU VUL ILHJO HUK L]LY`VUL stays to witness the carnage resulting from hundreds of paddle boarders trying to make it through the surf-zone on 12’6” race SUPs.
www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014 53 Photo: Onit Pro
Appleby, a San Clemente local, took multiple first place wins when BOP was hosted in both Hawaii and California, THRPUN OLY H JYV^K MH]VYP[L HUK HU \UVMMPJPHS MLTHSL champion in SUP racing. In 2011, Appleby suffered a ZL]LYL ZVM[ [PZZ\L PUQ\Y` PU OLY SLM[ PUKL_ MPUNLY ^OPJO THKL it difficult for her to grip her paddle and, despite cortisone shots and pain medications, caused excruciating pain any time the injured finger came in contact with anything. Although she was injured, Appleby kept competing through the pain. She was also going through some personal and relationship struggles at the time, and she admits thinking [OH[ ZOL JV\SK WYV]L OLY ZLSM ^VY[O [V OLYZLSM PU [OL JVU[LZ[ HYLUH (Z OLY YLZ\S[Z H[ THQVY L]LU[Z KLJSPULK PU P[ SLM[ OLY ZLHYJOPUN OLY ZV\S MVY NYLH[LY HUZ^LYZ /V^L]LY she continued to compete in physical and mental pain, not realizing she was only hurting herself more on both fronts. Appleby continued soul searching, and finally realized in 2013 that she needed time off to heal, both mentally and ([ [OL )67 L]LU[ VYNHUPaLYZ YHU 4LU»Z HUK >VTLU»Z physically. That year, she underwent two surgeries on ,SP[L NYV\WZ VU [OL ZHTL JV\YZL Z[HNNLYPUN [OL >VTLU»Z her finger, and decided to not compete at BOP. It was start 20 minutes behind the men. They were not expecting in this time of physical healing that she also had a mental the females to catch up to the men, but as Appleby was IYLHR[OYV\NO ¸0 SLHYULK OV^ [V SV]L T`ZLSM HUK [OH[ 0 HT SLHKPUN OLY YHJL ZOL V]LY [VVR ZL]LYHS VM [OL THSL H[OSL[LZ NVVK HUK ^VY[O` HUK [OH[ 0 KVU»[ OH]L [V ^PU H YHJL [V 6UL VM [OLT 4PJOHLS ;H]HYLZ ^HZ UV[ HISL [V ULNV[PH[L H find self worth.” Something had clicked in the mind of ZL[ ^H]L SVZ[ JVU[YVS VM OPZ IVHYK HUK HJJPKLU[HSS` ZOV[ the champion, “Winning races made me feel good about it into Appleby. The two became tangled in the surf-zone, myself, but finally, after sifting through the pain, the wins, and Annabel Anderson (AUS) capitalized on Appleby’s the losses, I realized that holding up a big check on top of a TPZMVY[\UL V]LY[HRPUN [OL JOHTWPVU HUK ZLJ\YPUN H ^PU WVKP\T KVLZU»[ KLMPUL TL ([ [OL LUK VM V\Y SP]LZ WLVWSL 54
DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
HYLU[ YLHSS` NVPUN [V YLTLTILY V\Y ^PU SVZZ YLJVYKZ¯ They’re going to remember how we made them feel, how ^L [V\JOLK [OLPY SP]LZ HUK NH]L WHY[ VM V\YZLS]LZ [V [OLT unselfishly.� Appleby found a greater meaning than winning :<7 L]LU[Z [OV\NO OLY KYP]L OHK UV[ KPTPUPZOLK :OL ^HZ OLHSLK TLU[HSS` HUK ZOL ^V\SK ZWLUK TLUKPUN OLY self physically to make her ascent back to the top. (WWSLI` ILNHU OLY ZLHZVU ^P[O H ZLJVUK WSHJL MPUPZOPUN H[ [OL ;\Y[SL )H` >VTLUZ 7YV :<7 Z\YM L]LU[ in Hawaii, a result that surprised her after a year off from competition. She backed that finish with two 5th place MPUPZOLZ PU )YHaPS HUK (I\ +OHIP /V^L]LY PUQ\Y` Z[Y\JR HNHPU ^OLU ZOL ZWYHPULK OLY HURSL PU [OL (I\ +OHIP ^H]L WVVS SLH]PUN OLY ^P[O [^V PUQ\YPLZ [V YLOHI ILMVYL )67 :OL :<7 [YHPULK ^P[O +H]L )VLOULZ JYL^ ;OL 0UMPUP[` :WLLK Freaks, coached by Brody Welte of Paddle Fit, and she ^V\SK WYVUL WHKKSL ^P[O (U[OVU` =LSH ;^V ^LLRZ ILMVYL )67 (WWSLI` JVTWL[LK PU OLY MPYZ[ >VYSK :LYPLZ L]LU[ VM [OL /\U[PUN[VU )LHJO 7YV .YHUK :SHT :OL ^VU JVU]PUJPUNS` IV[O [OL ZWYPU[ HUK KPZ[HUJL YHJLZ NP]PUN OLY confidence going into BOP. 6U 6J[VILY [O (WWSLI` YL[\YULK [V )67 ^P[O NYLH[ WVPZL ¸0 MLS[ YLHK` I\[ L]LU TVYL PTWVY[HU[S` 0 ^HZ H KPMMLYLU[ person than before. I was stronger mentally, and knew that at the end of the day, I would not be defined by a win or a loss... Ultimately, that was the game changer.� And indeed it was. Appleby and Annabel Anderson separated [OLTZLS]LZ MYVT [OL WHJR HSTVZ[ PTTLKPH[LS` PU [OL >VTLUZ ,SP[L YHJL ;OL [^V THPU[HPULK JSVZL WYV_PTP[` through the first laps of the final, but in the end, Appleby took the lead and won her 5th BOP title, putting her back VU [VW H[ [OL WYLZ[PNPV\Z L]LU[
The future looks bright for the champion. “I’m really looking MVY^HYK [V ÂŻ 0 MPUPZOLK PU YK WSHJL V]LYHSS MVY the World Tour [SUP] Surf rankings, but my goal for 2015 will be to win the title. It’s something that I know I’m fully JHWHISL VM >P[O H UL^ X\P]LY VU [OL ^H` OLHS[O` IVK` HUK TVYL KL[LYTPUH[PVU [OHU L]LY 0ÂťT L_JP[LK MVY ^OH[ÂťZ going to happen on the World Tour this next year. I’m also going to be competing on the World Series this year for the full season, so I’m excited to see what that brings. I’m really MVJ\ZLK [V PTWYV]L T` ZWLLK HUK Z[YLUN[O š (WWSLI` ^PSS also be focusing outwards to promote the future of the sport HSVUNZPKL (U[OVU` =LSH [OYV\NO [OL 7LYMVYTHUJL 7HKKSPUN Competition Team. They already scheduled the 3rd annual 7LYMVYTHUJL 7HKKSPUN 1\UPVY 7YV HUK @V\[O :<7 -PLZ[H MVY 4H` HUK (WWSLI` Z[H[LZ ¸>LÂť]L NV[ H ML^ UL^ [OPUNZ \W V\Y ZSLL]L MVY [OL `V\[O [OH[ ^LÂťSS IL HUUV\UJPUN PU [OL UL_[ months, and we’re really excited to see what happens for our sports hard working young paddlers.â€?
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From Tulsa to BOP with Eric Lair
OKLAHOMA ON BOARD
Photos by Suzanne Lair ;OL Ă„YZ[ WLYZVU [V WHY[PJPWH[L PU [OL )H[[SL VM 7HKKSL MYVT I\ZPULZZ ]LU[\YL ;OL JH[HS`Z[ ^HZ [OL MHJ[ [OH[ ^L OHK [V [YH]LS 6RSHOVTH PZ HSZV [OL WPVULLY VM 6RSHOVTH WHKKSLIVHYKPUN ]PH V\[ VM Z[H[L [V W\YJOHZL V\Y Ă„YZ[ WHKKSLIVHYK ([ [OH[ [PTL UV[ OPZ JVTWHU` :<7 6RSHOVTH PU ;\SZH -YVT Ă…H[^H[LY [V [OL VUS` JV\SK `V\ UV[ Ă„UK H :<7 MVY ZHSL PU ;\SZH 62 ^OLYL ^L SP]L LWPJLU[LY VM YHJLZ PU [OL WHKKSL ^VYSK H[ [OL )H[[SL P[ZLSM ,YPJ there were none for sale in the entire state. Since we were starting tells us his story:
[OL Ă„YZ[ Z[HUK \W WHKKSL ZOVW PU HSS VM 6RSHOVTH ^L HW[S` UHTLK our new company “SUP Oklahoma.â€? From that decision forward
“My wife, Suzanne, and I started SUP Oklahoma in the Fall of
^L OH]L THKL P[ V\Y TPZZPVU [V UV[ IL Q\Z[ [OL Ă„YZ[ :<7 ZOVW
;OPZ ^HZ MVSSV^PUN V\Y ÄYZ[ Z\TTLY VM WHKKSPUN H[ V\Y in Oklahoma, but to be experts. We wanted to offer Oklahoma MHTPS`Z SHRL OV\ZL VU .YHUK 3HRL H YLZVY[ SHRL PU 5, 6RSHOVTH the best the industry has to offer in terms of quality equipment, (S[OV\NO ^L IV[O OHK OH]L JHYLLYZ :\aHUULZ H W\ISPJ ZJOVVS instruction and knowledge of the sport, so we began to educate administrator and I’m an attorney), our passion for our new found
V\YZLS]LZ >L [YH]LSLK [OL JV\U[Y` HUK NV[ [V RUV^ [OL SLHKPUN
sport was strong enough for us to take a risk on starting a new
manufacturers as well as others on a similar path of starting a
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DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
UL^ M\SS ZLY]PJL :<7 ZOVW PU HU LTLYNPUN THYRL[ -PYZ[ ^L RUL^ Quickblade paddles. We proudly carry boards and paddles we needed to become better paddlers. Not only did we need to
from these well respected industry leading companies as well
learn the mechanics of proper stroke production, but we needed
HZ H M\SS SPUL VM -*: :<7 HJJLZZVYPLZ +\YPUN V\Y ÄYZ[ ZLHZVU
to be able to teach it to others. That led us to Brody Welte and
we taught hundreds of people how to stand up paddle on the
[OL 7HKKSL-P[ JVHJOPUN PUZ[Y\J[VY Z`Z[LT :\aHUUL HUK 0 HYL ILH\[PM\S SHRLZ HUK YP]LYZ [OH[ HYL WSLU[PM\S PU 5, 6RSHOVTH ;OL UV^ IV[O JLY[PÄLK 3L]LS JVHJOLZ >L H[[LUKLK V\Y ÄYZ[ [V [OLTL [OH[ LTLYNLK MYVT V\Y ÄYZ[ ZLHZVU JHTL MYVT H JVTTVU :\YM ,_WV PU 1HU\HY` HUK [OYV\NOV\[ [OL `LHY [YH]LSLK [V remark to those we taught - “I saw people do this while I was on SUP races across the country, including the 2013 Battle of The
]HJH[PVU I\[ UL]LY [OV\NO[ HIV\[ KVPUN P[ PU 6RSHOVTH ¹ >LSS
Paddle where we not only experienced the “Superbowl” of SUP,
now they do.
I\[ ILJHTL [OL ÄYZ[ 6RSHOVTHUZ [V JVTWL[L PU [OH[ WYLZ[PNPV\Z L]LU[ +\YPUN [OH[ ÄYZ[ `LHY ^L KL]LSVWLK NYLH[ YLSH[PVUZOPWZ -HZ[ MVY^HYK [V [VKH` ^L OH]L Q\Z[ JVTWSL[LK V\Y ZLJVUK M\SS ^P[O 9P]PLYH 7HKKSLZ\YM )VHYK^VYRZ :\WSV]L HZ ^LSS HZ ZLHZVU HUK KLJPKLK VUJL HNHPU [V NV V\[ HUK IH[[SL 3HZ[ www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
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to make the trip to attend the SUP Industry Association (“SUPIA�) meetings that are held just prior to the race (SUP Oklahoma is a Charter Member of SUP-IA). While I was in town Mike Baker 9P]PLYH 7HKKSLZ\YM WYV]PKLK TL H YHJL IVHYK [V WHKKSL PU T` down time. During the week leading up to the race, I paddled mostly out of Dana Point Harbor with friends, from around the JV\U[Y` [OH[ 0 OH]L TL[ [OYV\NO :<7 0 HSZV WHKKSLK PU 3H 1VSSH shores with Tyler Callaway (FCS) and Brody Welte (PaddleFit) as well as Kim Beaumont (Downunder Kayak), Brent Ackland 5VY[OLYU :<7 HUK 4VYNHU 3\RLY :<9-ZPKL 6JLHU (JHKLT` 1\Z[ [OPUR HIV\[ [OL NLVNYHWOPJHS KP]LYZP[` VM [OH[ NYV\W WHKKSPUN PU [OL ILH\[PM\S ZL[[PUN VM 3H 1VSSH YLWYLZLU[PUN 3H 1VSSH CA, Cardiff, CA, Westport, CT, Barrie, ON, Turks & Caicos AND Oklahoma. Yes, Oklahoma! `LHY H[ +VOLU` 0 ^HZ ]LY` PU[PTPKH[LK" UV[ VUS` ^HZ P[ T` YK :<7 YHJL 0 OHK UL]LY OHUKSLK H YHJL IVHYK PU Z\YM JVUKP[PVUZ 0 (M[LY [OL :<7 0( TLL[PUNZ ^LYL V]LY 0 KLJPKLK [V NV HOLHK “participated� and had a blast as one of only two Oklahomans to and register for the race. I came to Dana Point to rub elbows, OH]L JVTWL[LK PU HUK JVTWSL[LK [OPZ YHJL 4` ^PML :\aHUUL share ideas and experiences about SUP with industry leaders also competed in the BOP 2013. The fact that there are now and to mix it up with the best in all facets of the emerging sport, racers from Oklahoma competing in the BOP - regarded as
including competition. Then race organizers released information [OL :\WLY )V^S VM :<7 PZ PU HUK VM P[ZLSM L]PKLUJL VM OV^ HIV\[ [OL V]LYOLHK Z^LSS ZPaL JVUKP[PVUZ HU[PJPWH[LK MVY YHJL MHY :<7 OHZ JVTL HUK P[Z L_WSVZP]L NYV^[O [V PUSHUK THYRL[Z day. New rules were announced - PFDs and leashes were now When I talked with other competitors and people in general, it
THUKH[VY` L]LU MVY [OL ,SP[L KP]PZPVUZ HUK THYPUL OLSTL[Z
literally blew them away when I told them where I was from.
were recommended. Doubt and a healthy dose of fear had me
Most simply couldn’t comprehend the idea that someone from
VUJL HNHPU ZLJVUK N\LZZPUN ^OL[OLY 0 ZOV\SK YHJL [OL L]LU[
Oklahoma could possible compete in the race, but a few got it
:V VU ;O\YZKH` 0 OLHKLK KV^U [V :HS[ *YLLR [V NL[ H Ă„YZ[ OHUK
ÂŻ H UH[\YHS WYVNYLZZPVU VM H ZWVY[ [OH[ PZ ZV PUJS\ZP]L
SVVR ;OL ZL[Z YVSSLK [OYV\NO IPN ÂŻ ZVTL[PTLZ YLHSS` IPN 0 ^H[JOLK [OL ^H]LZ MVY V]LY HU OV\Y (Z 0 ^H[JOLK 0 ILNHU [V
This year I wanted to do more than “participate,� I wanted to
YLHSPaL [OH[ [OLYL ZLLTLK [V IL LUV\NO [PTL IL[^LLU ^H]LZ
approach it as a “race.� I did not see myself as a contender
that would allow a paddler to clear the impact zone before the PU T` JSHZZ :[VJR ^OPJO PZ WLYOHWZ VUL VM [OL TVZ[ UL_[ ^H]L IYVRL *SLHYS` [PTPUN HUK H SP[[SL S\JR ^V\SK TLHU JVTWL[P[P]L KP]PZPVUZ PU [OL 6WLU (NL NYV\W JSHZZ I\[ 0 ^HU[LK L]LY`[OPUN to compete against myself and see how well I could do against [OL *HSPMVYUPH >LZ[ JVHZ[ N\`Z [OH[ NL[ [V WHKKSL HUK [YHPU PU 9HJL KH` HYYP]LK 0 ^VRL LHYS` (4 HUK SVVRLK H[ [OL Z\YM YHJL JVUKP[PVUZ ^L KVUÂť[ NL[ T\JO Z\YM PU 6RSHOVTH /V^L]LY report - still big and expected to build throughout the day. My ^OLU 0 OLHYK HIV\[ [OL TV]L MYVT +VOLU` [V :HS[ *YLLR 0 ^HZ YHJL ^HZ ZJOLK\SLK MVY ! 74 0 HYYP]LK H[ [OL L]LU[ ZP[L again, intimidated. All of the social media chatter about the HUK I\YULK ZVTL ULY]V\Z LULYN` ^HSRPUN HYV\UK HUK ]PZP[PUN potential size of the swell and technical nature of the Salt Creek
^P[O MYPLUKZ 0 I\TWLK PU [V 1VL *LYKHZ .HS]LZ[VU HUK ^L ^H]L OHK TL ZLJVUK N\LZZPUN KVPUN [OL YHJL 4VZ[ VM T` Z\YM ]PZP[LK MVY H ^OPSL /L ^HZ [Y`PUN [V NL[ WYLWHYLK VU ]LY` SP[[SL L_WLYPLUJL OHZ ILLU PU .HS]LZ[VUZ ZTHSS T\ZO` ^H]LZ >P[O [PTL HZ OPZ >LKULZKH` ÅPNO[ JVUULJ[PVU ^HZ JHUJLSSLK SH[L HUK [OL HUUV\UJLK TV]L [OL YHJL KYVWWLK VMM T` YHKHY HUK 0 KPK OL OHK [V ZWLUK H YLZ[SLZZ UPNO[ PU [OL HPYWVY[ ILMVYL HYYP]PUN not really think about it again until late summer. I was exhausted late Thursday - not ideal for a racer of his caliber trying hard to MYVT H OLH]` ZJOLK\SL VM [LHJOPUN :<7 SLZZVUZ HUK SLHKPUN JVTWL[L H[ [OL OPNOLZ[ SL]LS VU [OL ZWVY[Z IPNNLZ[ Z[HNL >L [V\YZ HSS HM[LY OV\YZ HUK VU ^LLRLUKZ ZPUJL 0 OH]L H M\SS [PTL QVI ^PZOLK LHJO V[OLY ^LSS HUK 0 WSHU[LK T`ZLSM H[ [OL THPU L]LU[ - I’m a lawyer). Although I hadn’t trained for the BOP, I decided 58
DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
stage and listened to the Hawaiian music being played on what
^HZ WLYOHWZ [OL TVZ[ PU[PTPKH[PUN YHJL 0 OH]L L]LY JVTWL[LK
was a beautiful Southern California morning. Other racers were
PU 0 Ă„UPZOLK [O V\[ VM PU H ]LY` JVTWL[P[P]L KP]PZPVU ;OL
HYYP]PUN HUK WYVJLLKLK [OYV\NO [OL ¸YHJLY JOLJRPUš [V YLJLP]L competitor in me now had full control of my thoughts as I told YHJL IPIZ HUK IVK` THYRPUNZ -VY ZVTL YLHZVU 0 ÄUK T`ZLSM T`ZLSM ¸0 JV\SK OH]L NVUL H SV[ OHYKLY K\YPUN [OL YLSH[P]LS` ZOVY[ UV SVUNLY MLHYM\S VY PU[PTPKH[LK 0 HT ULY]V\Z OLHS[O` I\[ UV[ YHJL ¯ 0 ZOV\SK OH]L [YHPULK MVY [OL L]LU[ ¯ 0 OHK UV[OPUN [V MLHYM\S UV[ OLHS[O` 0 ^H[JO HUK [HRL WOV[VZ VM [OL 4LUZ ,SP[L be intimidated about,� etc. Then I watched the start of the heats. Some are hammered in the surf and get tousled around
>VTLUÂťZ ,SP[L Ă„UHSZ >V^ [OL Z[HY[ ^HZ 56; [PTLK K\YPUN H
Z[Y\NNSPUN [OYV\NO [OL PTWHJ[ aVUL 0 L]LU ZLL +HUU` *OPUNÂťZ S\SS I\[ HZ H ZLYPLZ VM ZL[ ^H]LZ IYVRL THRPUN P[ H Z[Y\NNSL MVY board snap in two as he paddled out for his second lap in Heat
many - no, most - of the competitors. There were equipment
# 1. This all actually has the effect of further calming me - the
failures, damaged boards, PFDs unintentionally deployed by the
L_HJ[ VWWVZP[L VM ^OH[ `V\ TPNO[ L_WLJ[ 0 YLHSPaL [OH[ L]LU [OL THZZP]L Z\YM HUK Z\YLS` ZVTL MY\Z[YH[PVU HTVUNZ[ [OL H[OSL[LZ ILZ[ WHKKSLYZ PU [OL ^VYSK HYL Z[Y\NNSPUN PU [OL IPN ^H]LZ HUK HUK \UMVY[\UH[LS` L]LU H ML^ ^P[OKYH^HSZ MYVT JVTWL[P[VYZ [OH[ that makes me more determined to compete in and complete
simply could not paddle out through the turbulent whitewater.
the race. I once again tell myself it is all about timing. (M[LY H ML^ KH`Z [V YLĂ…LJ[ VU [OL L_WLYPLUJL HZ ^LSS HZ HSS VM The gun sounded for my race and I hesitate only long enough to
[OL WOV[VZ ]PKLVZ HUK ^YP[[LU HJJV\U[Z ZOHYLK VU ZVJPHS TLKPH
RUV^ [OLYL PZ H S\SS ZV 0 NV 0 THRL P[ [OV\NO VUL IYLHRPUN ^H]L ZP[LZ 0 HT Z[VRLK [V UV[ VUS` OH]L ILLU H[ [OPZ `LHYZ )67 and get knocked off when a competitor’s board hits me on my
:HS[ *YLLR I\[ [V OH]L JVTWSL[LK H YHJL [OH[ KYH^Z [OL ILZ[
left shoulder. I get back on my board just in time to barely make
from around the world. It is an epic race and was held in epic
P[ V]LY [OL UL_[ ^H]L ILMVYL P[ IYLHRZ ¯ [OL H[OSL[LZ Q\Z[ ILOPUK JVUKP[PVUZ *LY[HPUS` [OLYL ^PSS IL ]HY`PUN VWPUPVUZ VU ^OL[OLY TL ^LYL UV[ ZV MVY[\UH[L ;OPY[` LPNO[ TPU\[LZ HUK [OPY[` Ä]L P[ PZ [OL YPNO[ ]LU\L MVY [OL YHJL HUK 0 ^PSS UV[ ^LPNO PU VU [OH[ ZLJVUKZ SH[LY 0 JYVZZ [OL ÄUPZO SPUL +PK 0 NL[ [VZZLK HYV\UK KLIH[L I\[ [OL L]LU[ PZ ÄYZ[ JSHZZ -VY [OH[ 0 ZH` [OHUR `V\ H IP[& @LZ )\[ 0 ^HZ OHWW` [V OH]L JVTWSL[LK ^OH[ MVY TL 9HPUIV^ :HUKHSZ )H[[SL VM [OL 7HKKSL š ,YPJ 3HPY www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
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US O PEN
10/25/2014
7OV[V I` *VK` 3H^
1VOU 4VTTLY
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Danny Braught
Orlando, Florida
1VOU 4VTTLY
1VOU 4VTTLY
1VOU 4VTTLY
1VOU 4VTTLY
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The Nautique US Open of Water Skiing on October 25 was a
The Ski Competition was just that. It went all the way down to
…—Ž�‹�ƒ–‹‘� ‘ˆ ‹�–‡”�ƒ–‹‘�ƒŽ ƒ–ŠŽ‡–‡• …‘�’‡–‹�‰ ‹� –Š”‡‡ ‡˜‡�–•
–Š‡ ™‹”‡ ™‹–Š ƒ •Š‘™†‘™Â? Ď?‹Â?‹•Š „‡–™‡‡Â? ƒ …‘—’Ž‡ ‘ˆ —Â?†‡”nj
–‘ †‡–‡”Â?‹Â?‡ –Š‡ ŠƒÂ?’‹‘Â? ‘ˆ Â?‹Ǥ Š‹• ‡˜‡Â?– ‘Â? ƒÂ?‡ ˜ƒÂ?ÇŚ
†‘‰•Ǥ ƒ…Š Šƒ† „Ž‘™� Š‹• ��‡‡ ‘—– ‘˜‡” –™‘ ›‡ƒ”• ƒ‰‘ ™Š‡�
Š‘‡ ™ƒ• ‡•’‡…‹ƒŽŽ› ‹�’‘”–ƒ�– –‘ …‘�’‡–‹–‘” ƒ…Š ‘”†‡�
Š‡ ‘˜‡”•Š‘– ƒ •�‘™„‘ƒ”† �‹…�‡” ƒ�† Š‹• Žƒ•– ’”‘ˆ‡••‹‘�ƒŽ
™Š‘•‡ ÂˆÂƒÂ–ÂŠÂ‡Â”ÇĄ –Š‡ ‡˜‡Â?– ‡…ŠÂ?‹…ƒŽ ‘Â?–”‘ŽŽ‡” ”‡•’‘Â?•‹„Ž‡ ˆ‘”
win in Skiing was three years ago. He stood tied with friend
•‡––‹Â?‰ —’ Â™Â‘Â”ÂŽÂ†ÇŚÂ…ÂŽÂƒÂ•Â• …‘—”•‡• ‘Â? •‘Â?‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ Â?‘•– †‹ˆĎ?‹…—Ž–
ƒÂ?† ˆ‡ŽŽ‘™ …‘Â?’‡–‹–‘” ‹Â?Â?› ‹‡Â?‡”• ƒ– ʹͲ͜ǯ ™Š‹…Š ‹• Â”Â‡ÂƒÂŽÇŚ
ŽƒÂ?‡•ǥ ’ƒ••‡† ƒ™ƒ› –Š‹• ›‡ƒ” Ž‡ƒ˜‹Â?‰ ƒ…Š –‘ Ď?‹Â?‹•Š –Š‡ …‘—”•‡Ǥ
ly good, but usually not enough to podium with athletes like
John Worden passed away after an unfortunate accident
Ryan Dodd and Freddy “The Nightmareâ€? Krueger still awaitÇŚ
where he succumbed to injuries suffered from a dramatic fall.
ing their pulls. A series of unfortunate mishaps with the other competitors saw the duo begin to raise through the ranks until
‘Š� ™‘—Ž† Šƒ˜‡ „‡‡� ’”‘—† ‘ˆ –Š‡ ™‘”� Š‹• •‘� ƒ…Š †‹† ‹�
you hear a spectator in the crowd yell “THIS JUST GOT REAL!�
completing this course along with close friend Casey Mommer, –Š‡ ‡˜‡�– †‹”‡…–‘” ˆ‘” –Š‡ ’‡�Ǥ ‹–Š‘—– –Š‡ Šƒ”† ™‘”� ˆ”‘�
”‡††› Šƒ† �—ˆˆ‡† Š‹• Žƒ•– Œ—�’ ƒ�† ƒ…Š ƒ�† ‹��› ™‡”‡
ƒ•‡› ‘��‡” –Š‹• ™‹†‡Ž› –ƒŽ�‡† ƒ„‘—– ‡˜‡�– ™‘—Ž† �‘– Šƒ˜‡
Â?‘™ •–ƒ”‹Â?‰ ƒ– ‡ƒ…Š ‘–Š‡” ‹Â? ƒÂ?ƒœ‡Â?‡Â?–Ǣ –Š‡› ™‡”‡ –‘ ˆƒ…‡ ‘ˆˆ
came to fruition. Also in attendance this year were some of the
in a head to head tiebreaker. Jimmy had the option of jumpÇŚ
„‡•– ™ƒÂ?‡ •—”ˆ‡”• ƒÂ?† ˜‹†‡‘‰”ƒ’Š‡”• •’”‡ƒ†‹Â?‰ –Š‡ Ž‘˜‡ ‘ˆ Â™ÂƒÇŚ
‹Â?‰ Ď?‹”•– ‘” •‡…‘Â?† †—‡ –‘ –Š‡ ˆƒ…– –Šƒ– Š‡ ‘—– Œ—Â?’‡† ƒ…Š ‹Â?
tersports through the different watersport communities, as well
–Š‡ ’”‡Ž‹Â?‹Â?ƒ”‹‡• ƒÂ?† Š‡ ‘’–‡† –‘ ‰‘ Ď?‹”•–Ǥ ‡ Ď?Ž‡™ ‘ˆˆ ‘ˆ –Š‡
ƒ• ‘’‡�‹�‰ —’ –Š‡ ’‘••‹„‹Ž‹–‹‡• ‘ˆ ƒ� ˜‡”ƒŽŽ ƒ–‡”•’‘”–• ˜‡�–Ǥ
”ƒÂ?Â’ ™‹–Š •’‡‡† ƒÂ?† †‹Ž‹‰‡Â?…‡ ŽƒÂ?†‹Â?‰ ƒÂ? ƒÂ?ƒœ‹Â?‰ ͳ͚͝ǯ ˆ”‘Â?
Š‡ •—”ˆ‡”• –Šƒ– ‘ ǯ† –Š‡ ”‘™† ”ƒÂ?‰‡† ˆ”‘Â? Íš ›‡ƒ”
the point of launch. This would become the distance to beat.
old Mike Brewer, a rad lil grom shredding the wicked curl behind the Nautique, to fellow Erie Wake and World
The tables were set and the stakes were high. Two jumps for
Wake Surf Champion Ashley Kidd who threw it down
–Š‡ …”‘™Â?Ǥ Â?‡ Œ—Â?’Ǥ Â? Š‹• Ď?‹”•– ƒ––‡Â?’– ƒ…Š ™ƒ• ‘Â?Ž›
–‘ ‹Â?•’‹”‡ –Š‡ ˆ—–—”‡ Â—Â’ÇŚÂƒÂ?†nj…‘Â?‡”• ‘Â? –Š‡ •–ƒÂ?†nj„›Ǥ
ƒ„Ž‡ –‘ ”‡…‘”† ͳ͚͡Ǥǯ – ƒŽŽ …ƒÂ?‡ †‘™Â? –‘ –Š‹• Žƒ•– Œ—Â?’Ǥ Š‡ …”‘™† ƒŽÂ?‘•– ™‡Â?– •‹Ž‡Â?– ĥ Š‡ ’—ŽŽ‡† ‘ˆˆ ˆ‘” Š‹• Ď?‹Â?ƒŽ ÂƒÂ’ÇŚ ’”‘ƒ…ŠǤ Š‡Â?ÇĄ ĥ Š‡ …Ž‘•‡† ‹Â? ‘Â? –Š‡ ”ƒÂ?Â’ÇĄ •’‡…–ƒ–‘”• ‡šnj ’Ž‘†‡† ™‹–Š ‡Â?…‘—”ƒ‰‡Â?‡Â?–• ƒÂ?† ‘–Š‡” ˆ‘”Â?• ‘ˆ ’‘•‹–‹˜‡ ’”‘ˆƒÂ?‹–‹‡•Ǥ ƒ…Š …—– Šƒ”† ƒÂ?† ‡š’Ž‘†‡† ‘ˆˆ –Š‡ –‘’ ‘ˆ –Š‡ ramp with a determined ferocity. His tips pointed high and ƒ”Â?• ‡š–‡Â?†‡† ‘—– ƒÂ?† Š‡ Ď?Ž‡™ –Š”‘—‰Š –Š‡ ƒ‹” ™‹–Š –Š‡ ’‡”nj ˆ‡…– ’‘•–—”‡ ‘ˆ ƒ Ž‹––Ž‡ ‰”‡‡Â? ƒ”Â?› Â?ƒÂ?Ǥ – ‘Â?Ž› –‘‘Â? –Š‡ Ď?‹”•– Â?—Â?„‡” …‘Â?‹Â?‰ ‹Â? ˆ‘” –Š‡ …”‘™† –‘ …Š‡‡” ƒÂ?† ƒ…Š –‘ Ď?‹ŽŽ ™‹–Š ‡Žƒ–‹‘Â?Ǥ Š‡ Â?—Â?„‡” Dzʹdz –‹…Â?‡† ‹Â?–‘ –Š‡ †‹•–ƒÂ?…‡ „‘š Â‡Â˜ÇŚ ‡”›‘Â?‡ Â?Â?‡™ –Šƒ– Š‡ Šƒ† †‘Â?‡ ‹–Ǥ – ʹͲͳǯ ƒ…Š Šƒ† …Ž‹Â?„‡† back to the podium, brought back a successful US Open for –Š‡ Ď?‹”•– –‹Â?‡ ‹Â? Â?‹Â?‡ ›‡ƒ”• ƒÂ?† ”‡ƒŽ‹œ‡† Š‹• ÂˆÂƒÂ–ÂŠÂ‡Â”ÇŻÂ• †”‡ƒÂ?•Ǥ
In Memory of John Worden
by Justin Hammond
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Zach Worden DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
65
1VYKHU >VSML
Brandon Tollie
¸*YV^KZ NH[OLYLK PU HU` KPYLJ[PVU" HSS ^H[JOPUN [OL JVTWL[P[PVU VU [OL ULHYLZ[ ÅH[ ZJYLLU VY VU [OL NPant movie screen next to the dock. It was like a dream. Everyone was there. I found myself just cheerPUN VU ^OVL]LY ^HZ Z\YÄUN HZ ^L HSS ZOHYLK [OL KLZPYL [V Q\Z[ ZPTWS` ZLL [OL ILZ[ [YPJRZ I` ZRPT VY Z\YM Z[`SL YPKLYZ HUK IPN UHTLZ SPRL 2LLUHU -SLNLS HUK (ZOSL` 2PKK ;OL JOHTWPVUZOPW VUS` YLPUMVYJLK [OL PKLH [OH[ [OPZ PZ H JVTT\UP[` VM WLVWSL ^OV ^HU[ [OL ILZ[ MYVT LHJO V[OLY ¹
-Sean Reavis
wORLD WAKE SURFing CHAMPIONSHIP
66
DECEMBER 2014 www.boardersmag.com Photos by| Tim Walker / Danny
Braught
&KULV %DQNV
1VYKHU >VSML
;OL KLZLY[ PU 3HZ =LNHZ ^HZ UV[OPUN SLZZ [OHU ZJVYJOPUN OV[ MVY [OL >VYSK >HRL :\YM *OHTWPVUZOPW ;OL L]LU[ ^HZ OLSK H[ [OL ILH\[PM\S /PS[VU 3HRL 3HZ =LNHZ ,]LY` ^HRL Z\YMLY MYVT HTH[L\Y [V WYV JHTL PU MYVT HYV\UK [OL NSVIL [V [Y` HUK JSHPT a spot on the prestigious podium and with the winds kicking up it added a whole new challenge to locking down a spot as the best wake surfer in the world! ;^V ZWLJPĂ„J Z\YMLYZ JHTL PU[V [OL L]LU[ ^P[O WLYMLJ[ YLJVYKZ MYVT [OL JVTWL[P[P]L ZLHZVU (ZOSL` 2PKK HUK 2LLUHU -SLNLS )V[O H[OSL[LZ OHK H Ă…H^SLZZ `LHY VU [V\Y HUK OVWLK [V JVTWSL[L [OLPY ZLHZVUZ VU [VW VM [OL WVKP\T H[ >VYSKÂťZ 2LLUHU ^HZ the reigning surf style champion and kept a perfect season in both skim and surf by taking the top spot in both disciplines. 4LHU^OPSL (ZOSL` OHZ ILLU MVJ\ZLK VU OLY NVHS [V ^PU OLY Ă„YZ[ L]LY ^VYSK JOHTWPVUZOPW HUK ZOL KPK Q\Z[ [OH[ ^P[O OLY O\NL HPY ÂťZ HUK JSLHU ZO\]Z 0[ ^HZ H KYHTH[PJ JVTLIHJR MVY ]L[LYHU ZRPTTLY :LHU *\TTPUNZ HUK ]L[LYHU Z\YMLY 1PTTP :WHYSPUN HM[LY H SVUN H^HP[LK YL[\YU [V [OL WVKP\T )V[O H[OSL[LZ Z\YWHZZLK [OLPY `V\UNLY JVTWL[P[VYZ [V HJOPL]L Z[HUKPUNZ PU [OL YHURPUNZ ^P[O Ă…H^SLZZ Y\UZ ;OL award ceremony was both harmonious and exuberant as all the athletes and sponsors took to fashion to ring in the announceTLU[Z -YVT ZWHYRSPUN KYLZZLZ HUK OPNO OLLSZ [V [\_LKVZ HUK Ă…PW Ă…VWZ P[ ^HZ [OL ILZ[ VM [OL ILZ[ H[ [OLPY ILZ[ JLSLIYH[PUN [OL ILZ[ :WLPJHS [OHURZ [V ;VKK .H\NOHU MVY HUV[OLY NYLH[ >VYSKÂťZ L]LU[ HUK [OL OPNOSPNO[ VM [OL `LH HUK JVUNYH[Z [V HSS [OL competitors for another great season. See you again at this time next year, -Danny Braught.
ʹͲͳ͜ ‡•—Ž–•ǣ Pro Men Surf 1. Keenan Flegel 2. Jimmi Sparling 3. James Walker
Pro Women Surf 1. Ashley Kidd 2. Raleigh Hager 3. Emily Agate
Pro Men Skim 1. Keenan Flegel 2. Noah Flegel 3. Sean Cummings
Pro Women Skim 1. Bri Chmel ʹǤ ƒ”‘Ž‹�‡ ‹ŽŽ‡�‡—˜‡ 3. Jodi Grassman www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
67
Keenan Flegel 68
DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
Ashley Kidd
Zane Montgomery
Danny Braught and Sean Cummings
Congratulations
to
the
man
behind
World’s
who
PZ YLJVNUPaLK [OPZ `LHY HZ >HRL :\YÄUN»Z 7LYZVU VM [OL @LHY Since day one Todd Gaughan (right) has done more to grow [OL ZWVY[ VM ^HRL Z\YÄUN [OHU OL ^V\SK HKTP[ 0[ HSS Z[HY[LK with his passion for the sport in Texas nearly a decade ago. >P[O HSS VM [OL H[OSL[LZ ILPUN H^HYKLK P[ PZ UPJL [V OH]L PUK\Ztry leaders like Todd Gaughan in the spotlight. There would IL UV >VYSK *OHTWPVUZOPW VU 3HRL 3HZ =LNHZ ^P[OV\[ [OPZ THU /L OHZ W\ZOLK [OL ZWVY[ [V \UILSPL]HISL OLPNO[Z HUK we look forward to a bright future guided by his passion.
1PTTP :WHYSPUN www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
69
3LSHUK >H[RPUZ
9HSLPNO /HNLY 70
DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
Noah Flegel www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014 71
Photo: PepperDECEMBER Yandell 72 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
What it feels like -
Jimmi Sparling -\SĂ„SSPUN H NVHS ^P[O
- Catching the biggest
the run of your life to
air of your life
podium at Worlds The
perfect
storm.
It was one of the best
,]LY`[OPUN JVTLZ [VNL[OLY
experiences of my life. I had
and you can feel when you
so much fun throughout
get that extra pop!
[OL LU[PYL L]LU[ HUK P[ was the icing on the cake.
- Riding my SoulCraft
>HRLZ\YĂ„UN PZ Z\JO H JVVS
pro model
thing to be a part of right now as the sport grows.
Being at home. My board has been tweaked and
- Being married to Mrs.
HKQ\Z[LK MVY [OL SHZ[
World
years and it is so dialed PU 0 JHU MLLS L]LY`[OPUN
,]LY` KH` PZ SPRL *OYPZ[THZ
below my feet. Soulcraft
morning when you wake
truly makes the most high
up next to someone like
performance boards on
Kaley. She is one of the
the planet.
most genuine and caring WLVWSL 0 OH]L L]LY TL[ HUK
:\YĂ„UN ILOPUK T`
that’s why she is always so
Centurion Enzo
successful. You are on top of the world. - To regularly wake surf
It’s great riding behind a
and river surf endless
boat and knowing that the
waves in Idaho
^H]L PZ [OL ILZ[ V\[ [OLYL
A huge gift from mother
- Passing on my passion
nature. There is so much
for extreme sports to
[V KV OLYL HUK 0 SV]L
my kids
OH]PUN ^H]LZ YPNO[ V\[ T` front door.
Nothing
else.
My
kids
JOHUNLK L]LY`[OPUN MVY [OL - Landing a new trick
IL[[LY HUK 0ÂťT Q\Z[ SP]PUN [V make sure they end up with
Finally
taking
a
breath
passion and excitement for
of fresh air after being
^OH[L]LY JVTLZ [OLPY ^H`
underwater. www.boardersmag.com oardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
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DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
lighting the way “Finding my Sweet Spot” By Sean Cummings
Inland Surfer since day one, new Centurion team manager and recently featured in the iPhone 6 commercial, Sean Cummings, aka Dolla Dolla Bill, has lead the way in the past decade amongst wakesurfing athletes. Through promotion of the sport, his travels, private lessons and clinics he has not stopped being and living the inland surfer lifestyle and in 2014 he has hit the sweet spot by taking third place at World’s in the sport’s most competitive lineup since it started.
www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
75
¸)HJR PU ^HRL Z\YMPUN JHTL HIV\[ PU T` SPML PU H ]LY` HIY\W[ ^H` 0 \ZLK [V ^HRLIVHYK H [VU HUK VUL KH` IYVRL T` YPIZ 0[ Q\Z[ OHWWLULK [V IL [OL ILNPUUPUN VM [OL SHRL ZLHZVU HUK PU [OL MPYZ[ IVH[ 0 L]LY W\YJOHZLK ZV 0 ^HZ YLHSS` bummed out. All I wanted to do was be in the water. Then one day while just sitting on the boat I saw these guys doing something behind a boat going by and I jumped and wanted to know what it was. My friend said “that’s wake surfing.�
¸0 ^HZ OVVRLK HUK 0 OH]L UL]LY SVVRLK IHJRš -Sean
76
DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
Photos: Tim Walker
My background came from ocean surfing and skim boarding
([ T` MPYZ[ JVU[LZ[ H[ 3HRL ;\SSVJO PU *HSPMVYUPH 0 TL[ 1LMM
and when I saw this boat go by that’s when it all started.
Page and his Inland Surfer crew.
Knowing I had two broken ribs at the time, it was almost
people. They saw how addicted I was and I was eager to
impossible to do anything, let alone swim in the water, yet
SLHYU TVYL MYVT [OLT 0 KPKUÂť[ KV ]LY` ^LSS PU [OL JVU[LZ[
I was determined to try. I knew if I could surpass the pain
I\[ P[ KPKUÂť[ Z[VW TL MYVT ^HU[PUN TVYL 1LMM 7HNL HUK
of holding a rope to get up that I could do it without a
0 JVUULJ[LK HUK 0 NV[ T` MPYZ[ 0USHUK :\YMLY :RPT IVHYK
problem.
They were awesome
So I did. 0 ^HZ OVVRLK HUK 0 OH]L UL]LY YPNO[ HM[LY [OH[ L]LU[ 4` YPKPUN ZRPSSZ ^LYL UV^ WYVNYLZZPUN
looked back.
but being self taught was hard, so I started looking for any contest I could knowing I could meet better riders and learn more.
www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
77
Photo: Tim Walker 0U 0 H[[LUKLK )VHYKZ[VJR HUK TL[ 1HTLZ 3V]L[[ >L In 2009 I started Wake Shredder clothing in order to help ended up hanging out and riding a ton together. He blew
each contest support the riders. I saw that pros were getting
my mind at the time and I wanted nothing more than to do
winnings but not the amateurs. So I started sponsoring the
L]LY`[OPUN OL JV\SK 6UJL HNHPU T` S\JR ^HZU»[ ZV NVVK HTH[L\Y KP]PZPVUZ ILJH\ZL ^P[OV\[ [OLT [OL ZWVY[ ^V\SK and I didn’t compete well. I didn’t let it get to me. It made
UV[ OH]L NYV^[O 0[ ^HZ H ^H` MVY TL [V NP]L IHJR [V [OL
TL Z[YP]L MVY TVYL 0 RUL^ [OH[ L]LY` [PTL T` MLL[ [V\JOLK ZWVY[ 0 SV]LK that board behind a boat, my mind was clear and I was in T` V^U ^VYSK OH]PUN M\U 78
DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
Sitting here now as a 3rd place World Champion in Skim, I SVVR IHJR H[ HSS [OL JVU[LZ[Z [OH[ 0 OH]L ILLU [V PU [LU `LHYZ HUK MLLS ISLZZLK MVY L]LY` L_WLYPLUJL [OH[ 0 OH]L OHK :V THU` WLVWSL [V [OHUR ZV THU` [OH[ OH]L PUZWPYLK TL VU HUK VMM [OL ^H[LY [OH[ 0 JV\SK ^YP[L [OPZ HY[PJSL MVYL]LY ZV I’m sorry if I didn’t get to plug you. You all know who you HYL )\[ 0 H[ SLHZ[ OH]L [V ZH` [OHUR `V\ [V 1LMM 7HNL VM Inland Surfer for being one of the main people to get me into the sport; to Todd Gaughan who I met at my first pro L]LU[ H[ >VYSKZ PU 4LYJLK *( ^OV JHTL \W HUK HZRLK MVY my picture. Apparently I was already notorious for a pose called the “Gun Show” (or the Sean Cummings) throughout the industry I was flattered. Our relationship grew as our passion for the sport did. ;OPZ `LHY 0 KV OH]L [V ZH` [OHUR `V\ [V H SV[ VM WLVWSL First of all, my girlfriend Missy, for helping push myself HIV]L HUK IL`VUK HUK HS^H`Z ILPUN [OLYL HUK ^OV 0»T ZV proud of for her passion for wakesurfing. And my mom, of course, for helping support me and always telling me to keep doing what makes me happy. Centurion Boats, 0USHUK :\YMLY 3PX\PK 0THNL ? (\KPV 9VJR^LSS >H[JOLZ thank you all for the support this season. Here’s to many more amazing years of wakesurfing!”
Photos: Pepper Yandell
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james walker Photo: Tim Walker
Picture Perfect: Capturing the Moment.
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DECEMBER 2014 | www.boardersmag.com
Lake Las Vegas – World Wake Surfing Championship James Walker with a ʹͲͳͶ Surfing Championship. and has been a force in progressing new tricks surf boards like his signature Flyboy models. Meanwhile Tim Walker is there at the right moment and the right time to get up close and personal.
Boise river wave
Josiah Ness
Boise River Park Boise, Idaho
The Boise River Park is a river surfing, kayaking and SUP destination you do not want to miss. The park features in-river drops, chutes, and one of the most technologically advanced river waves to date via the patented WaveShaper technology built by McLaughlin White Water Design. Here you can see Ryan Ricardo with his laptop out adjusting the shape of the wave as local pro surfer Christopher Peterson airs out over the green wave lip.
Photo: Josiah Ness www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
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Nick Nguyen
Ǥ ͵Ͳ ͵ ǯ ǡ ǡ Ǥ
carbon dream
84
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Nick Nguyen www.boardersmag.com | DECEMBER 2014
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UNTIL THE LAST LIGHT Danny Braught and myself headed out on an epic road trip to Florida where we met \W ^P[O ZL]LYHS H[OSL[LZ SPRL 2LLUHU -SLNLS Boarders Magazine supporters like Waters ,KNL :<7 HUK PUK\Z[Y` ]PKLVNYHWOLYZ SPRL *VK` 3H^ )LPUN [OL 9LNPVU JOHTW 0 went out to race in the WPA Championships at St. Pete Beach while Danny helped run and market the US Open in Orlando. Following the 8 mile distance race on SunKH` 0 KYV]L IHJR [V 6YSHUKV HUK TL[ \W with Danny here following his photo shoot ^P[O [OL ,YPL >HRL [LHT ;OL KH` ^HZ complete when, just before sunset, we deJPKLK [V KYP]L HYV\UK [OL SHRL ^OLYL ^L KPZJV]LYLK [OPZ ZHJYLK ZWV[ 0[ ^HZ :\Uday, God’s day, and we had found this perfect place, so we whipped out the boards, took some pictures and enjoyed the glide. ( TVTLU[ [V YLÅLJ[ \U[PS [OL SHZ[ SPNO[ Ǧ
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