Here are some shots of Rathy and Dean Smith from this morning. They are both killing it.

Progression

Wow what a couple weeks it has been in the progression of wakeboarding. Starting a couple weeks ago with Rathy followed by Dean Smith hitting wake KGB 5s and then Philip hitting a crow 7. He was at my house last week and he hit one first try, pretty impressive. Now just this week, Rathy was over yesterday and first hit a TS backside 7 w grab and about 10 mins later followed up by a switch hs 1080. Now just today Rusty went out and hit a HS BS 900. WOW. Congrats to all the guys killing it. Its still early in the year and its going off. Most of the time these big tricks are landed later in the season before the awards but if it keeps this trend the trick of the year award is going to be a great show.

I just got back from a 2 week road trip. I went to Bro Stock at lake powell. I also was at the Ronix photo shoot on the Snake River in eastern Washington and Portland for the Tige proam. It was a fun trip here are some photos.

I just got back from portland yesterday. Rathy came over today and hit a switch hs 1080 while we were out riding. My friend that was in the boat got it on a camera phone. Not the best quality but Rathy hit the trick as clean as it gets. Congrats Aron. I also have some photos of my travels over the last few weeks. I will post them when I have some time tonight.

I went riding at Rustys the other day. These are a few shots from the day. The riders are Watson, Rusty, and Dylan. I was sitting on the ski jump and it was a little to far away.

Here are a few photos from the last couple months.

Im back in the country, Tahiti was an amazing trip. I will post some photos of the trip monday. Right now I am just getting ready to go to the pro tour in Twin cities. The season is really under way with the travel. Next friday I am going to lake Powell for Bro stock. The double up contest has a $20 000 first prize. Next week at home the boys and I will be hitting nothing but double ups getting ready. I will be shooting a lot. I will keep you posted on what goes down.

It has been a progressive week as far as riding goes. Dean Smith and Aron Rathy have hit KGB 5s and Phillip Soven has been hitting Crow Mobe 7s. Phil rode at my house yesterday and hit one first try. Pretty impressive.

Thanks for checkin in. Photos will be up soon

Sorry the site has not been updated very recently, but I have been in Tahiti with the Billabong crew getting some footage for our new team vid, and there is not much internet. The trip is going great, we are doing a lot of towins. I caught my first air on a wave yesterday. This place is beautiful. Perfect weather, and the water is so warm. The boys that are with are Danny, Henshaw, Ruck, Wats, Grubby and myself for riders. Good crew

A couple days ago our friend OG, took us in to the forest with his winch, there was a sick waterfall that the boys could gap off. It is so beautiful in the forest. Every thing is so green.

Yesterday we took a ferry from Tahiti to Moorea so we can get some riding done behind the boat. The riding has been good, small wake but we have just been doing triple ups.

Tomorrow we go back to Tahiti and are going to get back in the waves. We will return to the States on friday, just in time for Dallas tour stop.

pro tour #1

Soven Defends His Tour Title in Acworth-

Butler Captures First Pro Tour Win



Acworth, Ga. – Over the past three days, the world’s top pro wakeboarders battled it out on the waters of Dallas Landing Park in Acworth, GA to compete for the first win the 2008 MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour season.



Four rounds and three days later, the top-four riders in the Pro Men’s Division took to the water for the final heat of the contest, where all eyes were on Rusty Malinoski (CAN), Phillip Soven (USA), Adam Errington (SCT) and JD Webb (USA).



All four rippers had a killer showing in the finals, but in the end reigning MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour champion Phillip Soven posted a 92.50 to claim the top spot in the contest and became the first rider on Tour to win back-to-back contests in Acworth. Webb, Malinoski and Errington rounded out the competition respectively.



“All those guys stomped some killer tricks out there, not making it easy on me at all,” said Soven. “I was just dialed-in on my final run and came out with a win.”



Although Rusty Malinoski didn’t win in Acworth today, the “Bone Crusher” did pick-up some extra cash thanks to Rockstar Energy Drink. The Canadian ripper was named the winner of the Rockstar Best Trick Award, a $1,000 cash bonus for landing the most impressive trick of the contest, a Heelside Frontside Switch 720 off of the U.S. Air Force Kicker.



In the Pro Women’s Division, six of the top female riders took to the water today for their finals. All eyes were Emily Copeland Durham (USA), as the two-time women’s wakeboard world champion was looking to repeat in Acworth. However, in the end Copeland Durham only manage to finish third, as Nicola Butler (UK) took the top spot, followed by Amber Wing (AUS).


Today’s win marks Butler’s first-ever MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour victory and her second consecutive win in the Queen of Wake series. Nicola Butler’s success continued in Acworth today, as the second-year pro ripper claimed the MONA VIE Best Trick Award. The award is a $250 bonus for the female rider landing the most impressive trick of the contest, a Moby Dick.



Harley Clifford (AUS) took the top spot in the Jr. Men’s finals today, followed by Jimmy LaRiche (USA) and Robert Soven (USA) respectively. Clifford now paces all Jr. Men riders in the Indmar Performance Standings.



Acworth was the first of five stops on the 2008 MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour. The Tour’s next stop will be held in Forth Worth, Tex. (May 30-June 1), followed by Twin Cities, Minn. (June 7-8), Phoenix, Ariz. (June 28-29) and Reno, Nev. (July 11-13).

Feet on Fire

On monday the annual Feet on Fire barefoot contest took place on Clear lake. It was a really fun event with most of the contestants being pro wake boarders. I loaded up my boat and took it over to watch the festivities. Shortly after arriving i was talked in to footing. You have to step off a ski, I had never done this before but it was much easier than I thought. I won my first round against Kevin Micheals, and was taken down in the second by Parks. Some of the boys are really good. The finals was a good one, Zane vs Daniel Watkins with Zane taking the win. In the event 2 footers start side by side and the boat dose figure 8s with the first to fall loses. There were some great crashes through out the day. Props to Dano for putting such a great event.
I leave for the Atlanta tour stop tomorrow. I will keep updated on standings and photos . Thanks for checking in. Chad