Hello summer (photo: Mathis)

Can you feel it? The calm before the storm. It’s in the air and we’re just as excited as you. Yes boys and girls, just like years past, summer is back that can only mean one thing: it’s time to wakeboard! Let the masses rejoice! As temperatures and lake levels rise, what’s got you stoked about this season? Maybe it’s the anticipation of long days on the boat, or landing that elusive new trick you’ve had stuck in your head all winter? Spinning laps at your newly reopened local cable? All of the above? Whatever your answer may be, if it’s got to do with being on the water then we’re all about it. Have you been staying active all winter long, or just sitting around eating Twinkies and dreaming of days on the lake? Don’t tell me you’ve gotten lazy on me … it’s going to make that first set back all the more challenging. But what’s life without a good challenge?

The 2019 season is primed to be even more rad than years past. Why, you ask? Well, lucky for you, I’ve made this nice little list of what I’m stoked about and what you should keep your eyes peeled for.

  1. Progression is at an all time high right now – Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know a lot of insane maneuvers went down this past season. Here’s just a few: Tyler Higham’s wake-to-wake switch double mute mobe, Cody Hesse’s switch triple mute roll to revert, Dylan Miller’s one footer switch roll to revert, Timo Kapl’s huge switch heelside front mute 1260 (in a contest no less), and Trever Maur’s rocket air roll-to-blind. You get the idea. People are thinking outside the box more than ever and that’s only going to add more fuel to the progression fire.
  2. More cables are popping up all over the place – Whether they be private parks or public, more cables are being built and that means more people are learning how to ride. The more the merrier.
  3. Contests on contests – What’s better than hanging out and seeing some of your favorite pro riders throw down their best runs? Nothing! Contests have always been a staple in our sport, helping get more people into the sport at grassroots events and putting wake in the eyes of the public at big pro events. With events like the PWT, the Liquid Force US Park Pro series, the Valdosta YardSale, the Wakeskate tour at Black Water Junction, and international events like Plastic Playground at Liquid Leisure in the UK, there’s plenty going down this season all over the world for you to be a part of.
  4. Wakeskating will not be stopped – Despite there not being many wakeskate-focused events this past year, progression in wakeskating has done everything but slow down in recent memory. With riders like Travis Doran (our 2018 Wakeskate ROTY), Jake Ramsdell, Nick Taylor, Andrew Pastura, Coco Mendez, Zuzana Vrablova and Josh Zentmeyer (plus way too many more to name) leading the charge in terms of progression, the sky is the limit for wakeskating as far as we’re concerned and we’ll make sure to cover it every step of the way.
  5. Up and coming riders – Now more than ever, we’re seeing more and more amazing riding from all over the planet thanks to the wonders of the Internet. So much so that it’s pretty damn hard to keep up with all of it. Every time we turn around it seems like there’s another ripper coming out of the woodwork. I won’t get into naming kids since there’s so many out there pushing themselves and the sport but needless to say, the future of the sport is in good hands.

Listing the reasons to be excited is one thing but nothing beats the feeling of putting on your board just seconds before you drop in for a set. Whether it’s behind the boat, on the cable, or being dragged by a winch, if you’re riding then you’re doing it right. Every new season brings the promise of good times on the water and memories that stay with you for the rest of your life. Whether it’s stomping your first invert, teaching someone new to ride, shooting a video or some photos with your buddies, or whatever, we’re all out there for the same reason. Fun. Wakeboarding is your escape and it should always feel that way. So de-winterize that boat, knock the dust off that setup and get your ass on the water. You won’t regret it. What are you most looking forward to in the 2019 season? If you see me out there, make sure to let me know.

Stay weird,

Jeff