If you've been admiring our new 2018 Axis A24, you've got to check out the custom job that SeaDek just installed!  The orange metal flake details on the gray hull were already pretty awesome, but check this out:

You name it, SeaDek did it!  Custom designs, awesome colors, luxurious feel and look!  I have never seen a boat like this.  Come check it out!

Hurricane Irma is gone and everything in Naples seems to be ok.  I was able to get the 2017 Axis to it's new owners in New Orleans and then pick up my new 2018 Axis A24 from the Malibu factory in Tennessee.  The boat has been redesigned and even more improved for this year and includes some of the options you'd see on a Malibu, including the Power Wedge 2.  This boat is going to make an even better wake (somehow) and plane off even quicker.  I chose a gray hull with orange metallic accents to make the boat stand out from my previous few boats.  It is the most impressive boat I've ever had!  

Check out my video at ​https://vimeo.com/221901148 .  Thanks to everyone that made this video possible.  I have the best sponsors and crew that I could possibly ask for!

The summer of 2016 was full of wakeboarding and traveling to new locations.  The contest season was also in full swing as soon as April hit, starting with the Wake Open in Orlando, where I was able to hit all my tricks and place first in the Master's division.  It was a great start to the contest season.    

June began with a road trip to my hometown of Fox Lake, Illinois.  There I did several clinics for the local Malibu/Axis dealer, Munson Ski & Marine, as well as many lessons for my own customers who I met in Naples!  It's so cool to have people out on the water in both places.  It was also great to spend time with family and friends for the summer. 

Next, I got to travel with Ronix Wakeboards for a week of demos and clinics for their 5 gallons of freedom tour.  We covered Oregon, Idaho, and Utah.  There are some really cool lakes in the Northwest.  The water is clear and there are mountains surrounding all the lakes.  I met a bunch of awesome people and had an amazing time.  We ended at a giant festival in Park City, Utah with fireworks over the lake.  It is such an honor to represent Ronix Wakeboards! 

Towards the end of the summer, it was time for the biggest contests of the year.  Nationals was held in Acworth Georgia, near Atlanta.  I made it through to finals as the top seed, but ended up in 2nd place to a friend of mine, who is pretty good!  The World Wakeboard Championships were held in Toronto, Canada.  My friend Tom Paz and I drove up in my truck from Chicago and we even brought my scooter.  I managed to take 2nd place there as well, and lost to some really tough competition.  Riders from Brazil and Canada joined me on the podium.  It was such a fun trip and it's always interesting to meet the other athletes from all over the world.     

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This spring break season has been incredible!  I got the opportunity to teach just about every type of person imaginable.  From 5 years old to 70+, Californians to Germans, first timers to contest riders, and everywhere in between - I think I may have doubled the number of people on this planet that can wakeboard!  I would like to thank everyone who came out and I look forward to seeing each and every one of you again!  

It was great to have so much business over the holidays.  I was booked all day, every day and I met tons of awesome people.  I also got to see a lot of returning customers who were back in town.  It's amazing to see people enjoy their time on the water as much as I enjoy teaching them my sport.  I am thankful to have such wonderful customers.

Where would Malibu choose to do a photo shoot for its newest, most innovative boat?  Naples, of course!  They wanted beautiful houses on the water, incredible scenery, and perfect water conditions and they got it.  Throw in a Lambo and Massi Piffaretti and things get interesting.  With my Axis A24 as one of the chase boats, we spent four days capturing every detail of the M235 for the big reveal at Malibu's dealer meeting.  Malibu riders Amber Wing, Oli Derome, Raph Derome, Chad Sharpe, and Brian Grubb also came down to be among the first people to witness the best wake in the sport.  

For more, check out: ​https://vimeo.com/146191725

I had a great time competing at the WWA World Wakeboard Championships in Portugal.  After a very long day of flying and trying to get myself adjusted to the time change, I had a successful first day and moved on to finals.  I'm proud to say that I made it to the podium again and took home 3rd place!  

I had an awesome weekend competing at the 2015 WWA Wakeboard Nationals, held at the Miami Watersports Complex.  After finishing 1st in my heat in semi-finals, I advanced to the finals and made it to the podium!  

Apple Canyon Lake
Wakeboard Naples is always willing to travel to coach.  I was called to Apple Canyon Lake, home of a family introduced to wakeboarding in Naples and now passionate about the sport.  After their Naples experience, they purchased an Axis A20 from Munson Ski and Marine and tons of Ronix equipment.  I was impressed with their progress since we first met.  We had a great day on their private lake and they even learned to wakesurf.  I look forward to seeing them again in Naples.

Eternal Riders Camp
Ronix teammate and pro rider Kirby Liesmann invited a few professional riders to mentor and coach at the 2015 Eternal Riders Wakeboard Camp.  We had an amazing turnout of 55 students.  Groups of campers switched coaches throughout the week riding behind an impressive lineup of eight wakeboard boats.  It was an awesome week and I was honored to be a part of it.

Keep checking back for more exciting summer news from Wakeboard Naples.