Photos: Jason Lee

Was there really any question as to who improved the most this year? Honestly? No there wasn’t, because Harley Clifford improved more this year than most professional riders have in the last four. Considering that last year Harley managed to be the youngest rider to win the PWT since Parks, that’s a pretty big statement. Seriously, what the kid can do with his wakeboard is jaw dropping. If you ever get the chance to watch Harley ride in person you will undoubtedly leave shaking your head in disbelief. Forget the contest results and unfair consistency for a moment and just pay attention to the tricks he can do and how smooth he makes them look. Whether it’s a toeside backside 180, a scarecrow 720, or a rodeo 1080, Harley’s riding has a fluidity to it that is nearly unmatched (especially with the more technical tricks). In reality, Harley is just on a different level (especially when you do factor in his consistency, which is unparalleled). We’d really just like to take this time to officially start calling him the Kangaroo Kid, and if you need more proof, just go on the internet and watch the 37 or so videos of him shredding over the past year and you’ll see exactly what we’re talking about.