Raph Derome – Beyond Perception
Each is entitled to their own opinion. Rarely do we all share the same view on things and if we did, the world would probably be a pretty boring place. Such is the nature of perception; it’s all in the eye of the beholder.
When it comes to Raph Derome, lots of opinions have been thrown around about him over the past year. Wild rumors that he doesn’t compete anymore, that he doesn’t care about wakeboarding. He’s lazy. He joined the slalom ski tour. And other such nonsense.
So while the wakeboard industry collectively wondered “where’s Raph?”, he was in fact getting busy on one of his most ambitious projects yet. Just because he couldn’t be seen didn’t mean he wasn’t there. He was in stealth mode, with only a handful of his closest crew on the inside, including filmmaker Jonathan Ferguson. Despite fewer contests and appearances in the public eye, it just may have been the busiest seasons Raph has ever had.
“There was some speculation that I took a year off, just missing in action and not really doing much. Truth is, I was working harder than any other year, focusing on progressing my riding and doing something that I had spent so much time talking about… it was something I needed to do”, says Raph
The hard work shows. To give the project the attention it deserved meant sacrificing things like contests, magazine coverage, web clips, signings and other such trappings of the pro-wakeboarding circuit. Everything was kept under heavy lock and key, only to be revealed in one final 10 minute cut. And what made the final cut is nothing short of mind blowing…
Over a year in the making, ‘Beyond Perception’ is truly a labor of love that captures Raph’s raw passion and dedication to the sport. Bringing a no bullsh*t attitude, the clip gets straight back to the core of wakeboarding by delivering pure action and a progressive style that is not just about adding an extra flip or rotation but using one’s creativity and imagination to take wakeboarding in new directions.
The film visits some of Raph’s favorite shred spots including Florida and Quebec. Featuring custom built rail setups that include wall-to-wall transitions, urban jib spots including Ontario Place in downtown Toronto and some classic boat riding, Beyond Perception definitely sets the tone for the future of wakeboarding. Breaking free of the mold, Raph’s progression is reflected through his creativity by seeking out new locations, unique rail setups and finding a different approach to the norm.
“This project re-inspired me. I think it is what I needed. If I’m competing again, there’s no doubt I‘ll be way more pumped for it and I’ll be ready to get back into the scene a little more. I have 110% of myself on this, and I’m already thinking about the next project.”
As a self-prescribed introvert, it’s sometimes tough for Raph to express himself and difficult for people to truly understand the passionate, dedicated rider that he is.
Naturally, Raph prefers lets his riding speak for him. See for yourself.
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Video from Red Bull
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October 15, 2014
This is why slow motion was created. Each trick's approach I was eagerly waiting with excitement.
Thank you
October 15, 2014
Best wake edit of all time. People in the office are wondering were the fuck am i…Locked in the toilet watching beyond perc.
October 16, 2014
The best wakeboard edit I have seen been waiting all year for this one. And worth the wait was lost when it just ended could of watched that all day such a awesome rider
October 16, 2014
Always a little put off when they do the super melodramatic tease with this guy. It really is a bit much. BUT, that dude is definitely an incredible athlete who brought the goods as usual. Guy is out of his mind – its beyond perception! Seriously though, very impressive.
October 16, 2014
Raph you are the Kobe Bryant, Peaton Manning or the Floyd Mayweather of wakeboarding you should be by far the mostly paid in this sport.
congrat this is the best video ever.
October 16, 2014
best video part of all time. ran out of cold water in the shower because I sat on the toilet and had to watch it twice
October 16, 2014
Best wake edit of all time? No.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves. It's one of the most hyped edits, but it didn't really live up to the hype. It's basically just "Raph." 2.0. Build crazy ass rails and make them look good. He's the best in the world at that. Forget Shredtown.
But this didn't really blow my mind like Mike Dowdy did when he debuted the double backroll to blind or like Harley or Josh Twelker did in some of their early coming out edits.
7/10 for me.
October 16, 2014
I had higher expectations…some of the lines were crazy but this took the entire summer to film?
October 16, 2014
This is what wakeboarding needs to be. No bs contests where people just do the same pass over and over. Take your time get a filmer and push yourself. I could do without the philosophising though…
October 16, 2014
Raph you are simply amazing . You deliver on film what others can't even imagine in their mind . Terrific riding 12 on 10
October 16, 2014
by far the best edit to date i wasnt ready
October 16, 2014
Could you imagine being a kid, you parents pull into a shell station, you go fart around in the back while they're dropping a deuce, and you see this guy on the cable doing wakeboarding for the first time?
Talk about perception! That kid will forever be the harshest critic of all other wakeboarding.
October 16, 2014
Only thing I didn't like was all the talking and scenery shots
October 16, 2014
The majority of people who had higher expectations about this video, these people probably never hit a rail in their life or can't even understand how much technical stuff there is in this video. This is straight up like snowboarding. Next level. If I had to show what wakeboarding was to someone, I'd show this.
October 16, 2014
I agree, the riding was on point, but there was way too much BS in terms of talking. I don't think of Raph being that serious and staring down the camera. We all know progression takes time and stuff. I wish there were more edits with just good riding. Leave the fluff out!
October 16, 2014
Easy for wake awards next year…
Rail Master… Check
Web video of the year… Check
Best video part… Check
Best Wakeboarder… Check
And personally, I think it's cool that we actually have a chance to hear Raph talk and let us know what goes through his mind.
I forgot… Alliance R.O.T.Y. (again)… Check
October 16, 2014
Raph was largely absent the past year and a half or so he was working on this. As fans we didn't get to see much of him in mags, web clips, or at contests. After watching this once I understand why. For most pros that amount of time off the radar would be career suicide, especially in a sport as small as wakeboarding. It takes a special and rare talent to be able to go unseen that long, then release a video section and once again find yourself at the very top and most progressive edge of the sport. Basically Raph just came out from the shadows and put the spotlight right back squarely on himself. In a sub-10-minute video piece he proved that he is hands down the best all around rider in the world. And it's not even that close. Have fun playing catch up this offseason, every other top pro…
October 16, 2014
Yeah it was a pretty sick edit. Best ever… well debatable. I loved the 10's and sick indy ts double backroll.
Personally I think of this as a piece of artwork. Everyone should view it slightly differently. I did expect at least 20 mins and a few more bangers, only because I know he's capable of it.
In terms of other edits I loved all of Dowdy's edits before his injury. He went big and super technical. He also always had lines (3 tricks in a row) that blew the mind. Let's not forget he would have 2-3 tricks that as far to my knowledge have never been done. Lastly Dowdy goes huge. No cable, no rails just straight boat tech.
Harley is the other rider that I love to watch a fresh edit. He also goes pretty large considering the super technical tricks he puts down, that nobody else in the world is doing (and if they are, not consistently.)
All in all I am amazed as that are things that I am not currently doing on a wakeboard! Sick edit and thanks Redbull and Raph!!
October 16, 2014
It was sick until you brought the shredtown kickers to the winch spots. You got the pop dude you don't need those handicap ramps.
October 16, 2014
Wow.
Second only to Parks's section in 12 Honkeys. Hard to beat Parks with a Mowhawk though.
Thanks Raph for taking your summer to create this piece of work.
October 16, 2014
My favorite part was the lack of hype for the past 6 months over this edit, and then dropping an edit that crushes everything else from the past year.
October 16, 2014
There are pros that shred cable, pros that shred boat, pros that winch… then there is RAPH. Its not even close. To all you gapers that aren't impressed, obviously dont know the balls and guts it takes to hit these insane setups that he builds.
October 16, 2014
Amazing. That gap 270 at the end. Plain nuts. I really enjoyed this and the recent Dylan Miller edit. Love seeing people that rip everything.
October 16, 2014
Not sure people really understand how much goes into making an edit like this. This video is over the top! The slow motion shots are amazing, and whoever was in charge of the audio was on point. Seems like they may have even had some of the obstacles mic'd up.
And then theres Raph's freakish level of riding. Talk about well rounded, riding at that level on both boat and cable. His ability to get clean hits on those insane obstacle setups is incredible. Spend as long as you want on the edits, they're worth the wait.
October 16, 2014
It's nice to think that he and other cable riders have grown the sport so much that there are a whole generation of riders who have no appreciation for Parks. This part was definitely not the best wakeboarding part of all time. Innovative lines with style that every cable rider can learn a thing or two from. I thought the slingshot edit was just as dope/ technical.
October 16, 2014
Hate to be that guy…but does anyone know the songs used in the vid?
October 16, 2014
Come on ppl anyone who says that video wasn't completely insane is just trying to troll. Thanks Raph and team for an amazing edit!
October 16, 2014
please turn me into the snat…
again
October 16, 2014
***Dusts off board, heads to cable***
October 16, 2014
Not a single person mentioned the creative talent it takes just to come up with the ideas behind this edit. There are riders on Raphs level. More this year than last. However none of them took 18 months and built countless rails. Held all the content back and made a work of art. Props raph. You have topped my preception of you yet again!
October 16, 2014
For some strange reasons, Red Bull decided not to put the credit sections where there were other tricks and all the usual props… Weird!
October 16, 2014
Everything about this was on point. Winch sesh at Ontario Place –love it!
October 16, 2014
This is wakeboarding.
October 16, 2014
Did anybody else notice they blatantly ripped that first song from John Johns movie Done? rule number one of making an edit: Don't copy songs. For whoever asked above: its called Monolith, by Holograms
October 16, 2014
best overall display of wakeboarding to date
October 17, 2014
Best edit i've ever seen !! Very impressive !!
Who is the DP ?
October 17, 2014
absolutely insane!
October 17, 2014
The Director is Jonathan Ferguson, Also known as ( Still not Famous Productions).
October 17, 2014
toeside double roll for months
October 17, 2014
Good stuff. Really amazing.
Cool to see Louif Paradis' snowboard part but on water.
October 17, 2014
Song was also used in Clint Walker's Modern Art Ambig movie..
October 17, 2014
It's crazy that a wake to wake double indy ts backroll is anti climactic.
October 18, 2014
hands down MOST PROGRESSIVE rider in the biz!
keep it up Ralphy
October 18, 2014
influenced by Luif… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2o3U3D726E
sick video good job Raph!
still going for 12 honkeys parks part or randall in nbt
October 19, 2014
Most creative on rails?
October 19, 2014
seems like everyone started having second thoughts about posting an edit after seeing this. not a single edit since raph 2.0 is online.
October 19, 2014
If he only knew how to paint rails like those shred town guys….would have been a little more legit
October 19, 2014
Like a great skate line captured on video, the park section lines stand out for their speed, frequency and variety of hits. From both a riding and a video capture standpoint – I hate when people use this word – but it really was "progressive". There's always a lot of talk about how wake should look like snow or skate videos, well these park lines are the closest thing I've ever seen anyone come on a wakeboard. It's grace on the constant brink of disaster. Dopeness. Good work Raph and production crew.
October 21, 2014
"grace on the brink of disaster" is a great description. This is stunt riding for most pros and he made it look easy.
October 23, 2014
So overrated. Blah blah blah im french canadian and Im all EMO. Sweet
1/10
October 26, 2014
Amazing edit, but no Parks Bonifay in his prime.
November 19, 2014
Names of the two songs?