liquidforce.com blog

So today I am posting a few items that have been e mailed to me recently. I get quite a few e mails everyday, but for some reason the past two days I have gotten some really strange one’s. The first is this video of some random kid lip syncing to an amazing song, check it out…

This next e mail is from a random fan of Shawn Watson and his new 2009 set up. TW, (initials of the gentlemen who sent me the e mails, I want to keep him anonymous) if you see this post, I am not saying anything bad, I just want to share your ideas man. I think you are brilliant and have a ton of knowledge that needs to be shared with the world. However, you may want to spell check and grammar check. You seem to have a lot of run on sentences and fragment sentences as well. But I am not an English teacher, so who am I to judge.

Hey corky im not sure if ur the man i need to get a hold of or not but i have a great idea for you. First i should introduce myself my name is T W and i have an excellent idea for you to work on because this is an idea i do not want or need investors for it is a strictly non-profit organization. Still interested? well here it goes all i need and i do happen to have my father on my side whose P.H.D. is in microwave technology so all i would like to create is a water proof headunit with a microphone perhaps to go on the end of the liquid tunes mp3 player and i will handle the rest because i am working on lyrics for how to wakeboard being an aspiring hip hop artist and i was wondering if i could name the mixtape liquid force after of course my favorite board the watson… its design is incredible props to shawn. so anyways let me continue i really think that if me and my father or perhaps a friend sat down for a couple days with proper funding u would find that the desogn is quite simple. Let me explain my father designed a antennae to communicate with the rover that repairs the international space station so if there are antannae that powerful there probably is antennae that can mimic sound that is uttered through this amazing thing called my mouth… i would tell you i want it to communicate with the tower speakers on my boats which i am planning on repairing the and mimicing when i try to create the perfect wakeboarding engine using clean coal technology you could call it the unsinkable ship but you and i both know that there are plenty of boston whalers which dont even sink when you cut them in half and who cares about floating anyways thats what life jackets are for. So i am enstilling a lot of trust in you now to not ruin my plans in life but i was actually planning on competing with Nautique boats by bringing back the Super AIR hull that was retired in 2006 yes 7 years was a long run but i plan on keeping the dream alive as my brother Hakeem would say. So as i continue with my temporary retirement from wakeboarding as i have been officially shafted by the wakeboarding team here at Texas Tech “i payed 200 dollars to ride () times?” i guess my cash down payment was not enough insurance that i would not injure myself again on a wakeboard. o well lesson learned i guess theres just nothing like The Creek but actually i was interested in getting an invitation to the brostock after this microphone technology is created. Why u might ask well i must let you know that Jeff Williams sister is named Kathy and she is my aunt and she has dedicated her life to working with children with disabilities and im sure there are deaf kids out there wakeboarding and if there arent then there should be however it seems a little too hard to make it possible for a blind boy or girl who has never seen to wakeboard and i just wanted to be in charge of that non-profit orginization. So now the only question i have to ask you is “Is it impossible for a man or woman who has gone his or her entire life without seeing anything to walk on water?” and the answer is well the closest we have come to that is barefoot skiing however i dislike that sport its time for the people to start realizing that when we are asked that question we say HELL NO we glide fly tilt and twirl on water and its time to make a blind ballerina if u catch my drift. So anyways… my aunt will continue training the blind to read brail and the deaf to sign however my life is merelely dedicated to teaching those kids to learn how to jump the wake so please hold your sponsorships i merely make the boats well that is whenever i can learn how to fiberglass well enough to i changed majors when i dropped my courses at tech and decided to save enough money to make my way to florida and learn about marine engines. If this isn’t the man you have been looking for to add as a member of your team i dont know who is i will continue to battle the hyperlite and ronix men the best way i know how by putting a big liquid force wrap on every boat i continue to repair that is if i am allowed to.
Continuing to think.
Your Bro
TW

Cold, drysuit, windy, freezing, shiver. These are a few words that are commonly used when you talk about wakeboarding in February. However, at Wakesports’ fourth annual February Freezeride I didn’t hear one of these words the entire day. Watersports enthusiasts from all over Southern California migrated to the Carlsbad Lagoon to be greeted by near eighty-degree temperatures and butter like water conditions. I think I might have even got sunburned by the end of the day. Now, if you have ever been to the lagoon, you know that there is just as much happening off the water as there is on. If you were not wakeboarding behind the boat, or wakeskating behind the jet ski, you were battling Keith Lyman at ping-pong or picking up a basketball an challenging the Wakesports crew at a game of L-A-G-O-O-N.

As I just mentioned, Keith Lyman happened to be on the Left Coast and made sure he came down to not only hang out and play basketball, but also put on a jaw-dropping demo for everyone in attendance. Carlsbad Lagoon and Wakesports team rider Jacob Valdez was also fresh off the injured reserve to put on a demo, riding for the first time since he broke his collar bone a month ago. After taking a set in the near frozen sixty-something-degree water (heavy sarcasm), riders enjoyed some of Greasy Greg Cantor’s famous chili dogs. As the sun went down, people finally started to leave the lagoon, completely stoked to have just gone wakeboarding in the middle of winter. If for some unexplainable reason you missed this year’s February Freezeride, mark your calendars because you have less than 365 days until we are going to do it again. Thanks to Liquid Force for keeping everyone at the Freezeride slayshing on all the new setups and for bringing out the one and only Keith Lyman.

Support for the TSR FreezeRide grows every year. While this event is more focused on the athlete than the spectator, everyone seems to enjoy him or herself despite the weather. Those who were able to make it out for the practice day on Friday were treated to one of the nicest Texas days I can remember in February. The sun was shining, the wind was nonexistent and you couldn’t ask for a better setting for a wakeboard and wakeskate tournament. Then on Saturday tradition takes over and the temperature drops thirty degrees, the wind increases by 30mph and rain clouds move in to top it all off. I guess we were lucky that it never rained really hard, just a slight drizzle most of the day. At one point Aaron Reed jokingly asked to change the event name from February FreezeRide to February Fun in the Sun Ride. But after six years and laying claim as the Original FreezeRide we will keep the tradition alive.

This year due to the drought in central Texas we had to cancel the boat portion of the FreezeRide competition. To fill the void we held a winch jam in the new pond located between the cable and boat lakes at TSR. This lake will soon be home to the new Rixen Little Bro two tower system but Aaron Reed decided to utilize it for the Obscura Winch Jam this weekend. Bret Little took home the title with Aaron Reed and Collin Gee rounding out the top three. This was the perfect break in the action on the cable and added another exciting event to this years FreezeRide.

The cable preliminary rounds began at 10am and saw over 50 competitors in five different divisions. (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Wakeskate & Pro) The riders battled for their spots in the finals until the Fashion Show began at 2pm inside. The Board Shop displayed the fashions for the new season and gave everyone a reason to head inside and warm up. As the finals began the temperatures dropped even more but the riders didn’t let it affect them. Brendon Wilmoth and Colby Mnich had almost identical runs in the finals but Brendon’s ollie onto the structures from the side was the difference. In both the Intermediate and Advanced divisions we saw the best all around performances I can ever remember. The judges ask for riders to be extremely versatile and not ignore sliders, kickers or air tricks. The more versatile riders were rewarded with better composition scores, which turned out to be the difference. Elliot Moore and Sam Scoggins won the intermediate and advanced divisions in very close final heats.

The same could be said for the wakeskate finals, which had three riders that each had an opportunity to walk away with the win. Bret Little owned the slider portion as usual utilizing all of the structures as if he was attached to his board. Aaron Reed had the best run utilizing the kickers hitting two backside threes and a frontside three as well as a poked out air that only Aaron can do. Oury Yarbrough showed off his strength on the flats tricks, hitting kick flips, big spins, frontside flip, varial flip and a backside flip. His mastery of flats tricks was as good as anyone we have seen in two different Toe Jam events at TSR. In the end Bret was the strongest across the board and took home the win.

The pro men were last to go on the water which also meant it was the coldest for them. Tom Fooshee again took home another title. I could write about his backside 7, pete 5, S-mobe or his mastery of the rails but I am kind of tired writing about how good he is. Tom Fooshee makes it look to easy so instead of talking about his skills on the water I will let you know about Tom’s other strengths. Throughout the weekend I noticed Tom talking to just about every rider from out of town as if he had known them for years. It could have been about coming to college at Texas State or how to do an air trick for the first time or just about anything. The point is when Tom wasn’t helping judge or riding in the event he was taking the time to get to know everyone at the event, not because he had to but because he loves wakeboarding and the people involved in it. I can’t think a better person to represent not only cable wakebnoarding, but wakeboarding in general. If you ever get a chance to meet or watch Tom ride don’t miss the opportunity!

The 2009 FreezeRide lived up to and exceeded all expectations! Because crews came from Kansas, Oklahoma, California, Arkansas, Louisiana and Florida the Texas riders had a new group of friends to ride and party with. We hope all of them are able to make it back to Cablestock on May 8-10!

For more information on TSR events goto www.texasskiranch.com. TSR would like to thank the sponsors that have helped make this event happen: MasterCraft, Liquid Force, NIKE6.0, Helium, Cable Wake Parks, Wakeworld.com, Wakeboarder.com, CableWakeboard.com, Wakeboarding Mag, & Alliance.

CABLE Results
Pro Wakeboard FINALS
1. Tom Fooshee
2. Josh Rice
3. Cody Johnson

Wakeskate FINALS
1. Brett Little
2. Aaron Reed
3. Oury Yarbrough

Advanced FINALS
1. Sam Scoggins
2. Donald Konomos
3. Ryan Sanders
4. Reed Leible

Intermediate FINALS
1. Elliot Moore
2. Juan Navarez
3. Ethan Manley
4. John Brooks
5. Reese Phillips
6. Collin Haus (Injured)

Beginner FINALS
1. Brendon Wilmoth
2. Colby Mnich
3. Austin Zielinski
6. David Roehm

Winch Results

Pro Wakeskate
1. Bret Little
2. Aaron Reed
3. Collin Gee

Check out the new WBM Product of the Week, the Liquid Force Too Cool
hat. Head over to liquidforce.com to pick one up!

The event was great this past weekend, it was located in the Power and light district, which is pretty much a full on outdoor mall with bars. It is fully covered and you can walk around from bar to bar with a beer, perfect for an event like this! Tons of people, the city was really into it, and a great venue for putting on an awesome show!

I was stoked to go to the event and cross market to the snowboard population in KC. Thanks to Mike Olson and Kansas City Watersports for everything, I can’t wait to be back next year!!

Here is a shot of me interviewing for the morning news on FOX News Channel 4!

- Mikey Ennen

Osiris Girls is proud to welcome Melissa Marquardt to the girls team. Melissa is currently one of the top female wakeboarders in the world and spends her time riding in various locations around the globe and shreddin’ in her backyard in Canyon Lake, CA. A true Socal rider, Melissa spends her time snowboarding, skateboarding and surfing when she’s not behind a boat. Her other sponsors include: Liquid Force, Monster Energy, Spy, Freestyle, Cobian, and Skull Candy. Welcome to the family, Melissa!

For more about Melissa and the Osiris Girls Team, head to www.osirisgirls.com.

Phillip Soven Gets Technical to Win His First Ever Pro Rail Jam

DALLAS, TX (February 10, 2009) - The 4th annual Boardshorts, Bulls and Bikini’s wakeboard rail jam, presented by Malibu Boats and Monster Energy Drink, took place in Dallas, Texas last Saturday night and it was arguably the best one to date! It was definitely the best weather conditions yet for this Texas style winter wakeboard party as temperatures were in the mid to high 60’s. With an impressive line-up of top local and pro riders, the packed house was treated to some exciting rail jam action, rowdy mechanical bull riding, a smoking hot bikini contest and great live music from Fort Worth based psychedelic rockers - Spoonfed Tribe.
The event took place at the world famous Gilley’s honky-tonk, just south of downtown Dallas. The action kicked of at 8:30pm as seventeen riders prepared to battle it out for cash and one of two coveted Boardshorts, Bulls and Bikini’s custom silver belt buckles that were up for grabs. The set-up provided by Orlando based Step Up Productions featured a 40-foot rooftop rail, a cheese wedge kicker to fun box and a massive big air kicker. Riders were split into three heats with the top two from each heat advancing to the rail jam finals. Each rider would get three attempts to lay down their best trick.

Heat #1 featured Andrew Dyrhood, returning champion Shane Bonifay and his Liquid Force teammate Aaron Reed, Ronix pro Clay Fletcher and Hyperlites high-flying Kyle Alberts. Fletcher won the round with a clean transfer 180 to nose press and would advance along with Kyle Alberts whose massive bat wing off the kicker had the crowd going crazy. Alberts narrowly edged out Bonifay’s stylish transfer to back board.

Heat #2 featured Tony Carroll, Billy Garcia, Company Wake pro Tino Santori, Brady Webb, Lucas Snyder and 2008 King of Wake champion and Malibu Boats/Liquid Force pro Phillip Soven. Soven had three clean hits to take the round and Tony Carroll followed Kyle Alberts lead launching off the kicker with a huge tail glide to advance to the six-man final.
The third and final heat featured 2008 WWA Wake Park Champion Tom Fooshee, his regional LF teammate Ryan Anderson, wakeskate shredder Bret Little, Jo Jo Lemberg, CWB pro Gabe Lucas and Brian Sasser. Gabe Lucas advanced with a super clean back board 270 out and would be joined in the finals by his San Marcos, Texas neighbor Bret Little. Little, one of only two wakeskaters in the competition stomped a flawless front board shuv off the fun box.
The party was in full swing by the time the finals got started around 10:00pm. The viewing balconies at Gilley’s were packed and the Monster Energy Drinks were flowing as the crowd prepared for the final showdown. Each rider would get four attempts to throw down their best trick for a piece of the $2000 purse. They all attacked the course with reckless abandon, but when the dust settled, it was the technical precision of Malibu/Liquid Force pro Phillip Soven that secured the win. The trick that did it was a super clean switch 270 to front board on with 270 transfer to switch front board 90 out. For the win, Soven took home the Monster check for $1000 and the first of two custom silver BBB belt buckles that would be given out that evening. It was Soven’s first ever rail jam win and he was stoked to get it at an event presented by his boat sponsor – Malibu Boats! Soven narrowly edged out the always-innovative Gabe Lucas who took second place and a check for $500 for his switch toe side transfer to front board. Third place went to Kyle Alberts whose aerial antics had the crowd on their feet all night. Alberts boosted a HUGE indy tantrum off the kicker and landed clean to lock up third place and a check for $250.

After the rail jam wrapped up, the six finalists, along with defending champion Shane Bonifay, headed over to the bull-riding arena for a shot at the second custom silver belt buckle. Gabe Lucas looked like he had it won with a ride of 20 seconds, out-lasting his friend Bret Little by a couple tenths of a second. But then the final rider of the evening…defending bull-riding champion Shane Bonifay…stepped into the ring. After a couple of laps around the arena high-fiving the cheering crowd…Bonifay mounted the mechanical bull and proceeded to win an unprecedented third buckle with a ride of 27 seconds.
The crowd then headed inside The Loft at Gilley’s for the awards ceremony followed by the Hot Bod Bikini Contest and a live music from Spoonfed Tribe. It was a great way to wrap up to a great evening and insured that Boardshorts, Bulls and Bikini’s will return to Gilley’s in 2010!

In addition to Malibu Boats and Monster Energy Drink, this event was made possible with support from Liquid Force Wakeboards, Spy Optic, Woly Board Company, Straight Line, Skull Candy, Gilley’s-Dallas and local Malibu Dealer Waterski America. Media partners included Alliance Wakeboard Magazine, Wakeboarding Magazine, Texas Boating Magazine, Dallas Wakeboarding.com, Wakeboarder.com, Wakeworld.com and local rock radio station – 97.1 The Eagle.
Special thanks to all of the riders who participated, fans who attended, judges, crew and to announcer extraordinaire – Dano the Mano – who kept the party rolling all night long!

Rail Jam Round-by-Round Results
Heat #1 (Top 2 advance to finals)
Clay Fletcher
Kyle Alberts
Shane Bonifay
Aaron Reed
Andrew Dyrhood
Heat #2 (Top 2 advance to finals)

Come join WAKESPORTS, Liquid Force, California Watersports, and Keith Lyman at the Carlsbad Lagoon on February 21st for the annual February Freezeride!

Meet Keith Lyman, get his autograph and then just hang out n the sun and enjoy basketball, ping pong, and just hanging with friends and family. Greasy Greg will be putting the amazing smell of his Famous Chili in the air and serving up the drinks. $25 will get you a ride on the lagoon behind our boats with our coaches and you can try any of the NEW 2009 Liquid Force gear. Ride without a wetsuit and get a FREE Liquid Force T-Shirt.

All of the Lagoon demo product is now up for grabs and Wakesports is clearing out all of the 2008 product. So come down to the Carlsbad Lagoon on Feb. 31st to hang with Keith Lyman, get a smoking deal on wakeboard goods, and catch you first run of the year under the beautiful California sun!!!

Hope to see you all out at the glassy Carlsbad Lagoon to get the year rollin.