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The definitive guide to wakeboarding and wakeskating in the UK, with all the info on the diferent ways to ride, such as cable, boat and winch, as well as all the places you can ride in the UK and camps abroad.
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THE RIDE GUIDE 2010
£FREE
alliancewake.co.uk
Pg 1 Cover.indd 1 10/5/10 17:49:19
RGnicktaylor oneill.indd 2 5/10/2010 10:49:44 AM
AREA 52
ONEILL.COM
PHOTO: CORTESE
RGnicktaylor oneill.indd 3 5/10/2010 10:49:47 AM
RG Mastercraft.indd 2 5/11/2010 1:34:20 PM
For 2010, MasterCraft Continues to
be held to a higher standard.
Respected worldwide by our owners,
by our team riders and by ourselves.
We can’t help it, competition is in
our blood. In 42 years, no matter the
challenge, our commitment has
never flinched.
While everybody else was sitting
around in neutral pioneering new ways
to cut corners, we punched the throttle
on innovation, style and performance.
This territory at the top of the podium
was hard earned. We’re not about to
loosen our grip.
The MasterCraft X-Series -
Take-no-prisoners wake machines
Tel: 08456 767876www.mastercraft.co.uk
11 Clifton Business Park, Preston New Road, Preston, Lancs. PR4 0XQ. T: 08456 767876
RG Mastercraft.indd 3 5/11/2010 1:34:20 PM
COVER: Lee Debuse, 270 to frontside tailslide, 90 out PHOTO: AMP
HERE: With a view like this each morning, it’s hard not to love wakeboarding PHOTO: AMP
06
Pg 6-7 Contents.indd 1 10/5/10 17:52:26
14Intro Welcome To The Family
18Boat Riding It Is Called WAKEboarding
22Boat Ownership The High-End
28Wakeskating All The Cool Kids Do It
34Cable Riding The Social Aspect
42Where To Ride Every Lake & Club In The UK
54Camps Where to Ride Abroad
58Winching Where Do You Want To Play?
60AllianceWake Get In The Loop
62Events Calender Where & When
68Goods Get The Gear
C O N T E N T S
Pg 6-7 Contents.indd 2 10/5/10 17:52:30
RG System 2.0.indd 2 5/11/2010 3:01:55 PM
RG System 2.0.indd 3 5/11/2010 3:01:55 PM
Watersports World UK
WWW.WatersportsWorld.co.UK
01706 876 286
*New for 2010, Bio-Lite 2 Core giving faster snappier and
more responsive feel, plus a new faster playground base*
WSW
Pg 10 Hyperlite.indd 1 11/5/10 11:44:12
THE SUPER DUNCANR U S T Y M A L I N O S K I
W W W . F O X E U R O P E . C O M
PHOTO: JOEY MEDDOCK
Fox RG Rusty.indd 1 5/10/2010 10:57:14 AM
you can now also
join us on facebook,
search: ‘Princes Cable’
wwww ww .. pp rr ii nn cc ee ss cc ll uu bb .. cc oo mm
iinn ff oo @@ pp rr ii nn cc ee ss cc ll uu bb .. cc oo mm
CCaa ll ll :: 00 11 77 88 44 22 55 66 11 55 33PP
RR
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Mark Durston
Sim Bradley
Tim Woodhead
Sim Bradley
Helen Griffiths
Rebecca Tappin
Sim Bradley
Tim Woodhead
Pat McGucken
AMP
Martin Hawks
Ben Hannam
Chris West
Pat McGucken
Yann Roy
James Bowler
Bryan Soderlind
Jess Farrell
Alliance Wakeboard
The Orchard
Abersoch
Gwynedd
LL53 7LD, UK.
Attn: Tim Woodhead
01758 710066
Alliance Wakeboard magazine is published 6 times a year for 2010
by Sensation Group. Administrative offices located at The Orchard,
Abersoch, Gwynedd, LL53 7LD. Entire contents copyright 2010 Alliance
Wakeboard Magazine, a part of Sensation Group and a division of
Alliance Multi Media, L.L.C. USA. All rights reserved. Reproduction in
whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited.
Alliance Wakeboard Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited
submissions including, but not limited to manuscripts, photographs
and illustrations.
Disclaimer: The activities described and photographed herein are
performed by trained athletes. Attempting anything contained within
these pages could result in serious injury or death. Sensation Group is
not responsible for any injuries sustained by readers or the failure of
any equipment shown herein.
Printed on 100% recycled paper in the UK
Be Safe - Always Wear A Life Jacket
Alliance UK
Publisher
Editor
Advertising/Brand
Manager
Art Director
Operations Director
Press & Media
Manager
Writers
Photographers
Administration &
Advertising
Address
Contact
Telephone
Pg 12 Credits.indd 1 11/5/10 10:21:35
The only site in the UK with Two Cable Lakes
BOTH Floodlit til 10pm (May til end Sep)
Kickers and Sliders in both lakes
Biggest Wall Ride in the World*
Exclusive Cable hire available @ £400
Skilled Male and Female operators/coaches
Friendly and helpful staff throught the siteFriendly and helpful staff throught the site
Wakeboard Boats with experienced drivers
Home to the ‘King of Cable’ Competition
Home to riders such as:
Nick Davies, Gary Stelfox, Jonty Green, Tor Young,
Lewis Cornwall, James Young and loads more....
*at time of going to press
PPaa yy aa ss yy oo uu gg oo ww ii tt hh aa ll ll tt hh ee ee qq uu ii pp mm ee nn tt yy oo uu ’’ ll ll nn ee ee dd !!
PPLL UU SS GG rr ee aa tt DD ee aa ll ss oo nn MM ee mm bb ee rr ss hh ii pp ss
PPR
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Pg 12 Credits.indd 2 11/5/10 10:21:36
W E L C O M EIn a world of recessions, mortgage payments, tax,
interest rates and made-up epidemics that leave
the population disillusioned by fear, it can be hard to
take a step back and remember to enjoy life. There
are a wealth of hobbies and interests available to the
modern-day man, woman or child, based on whether
you like to challenge yourself, to sit indoors collecting
things or throwing your body around in the hope that
adrenalin will be released into your bloodstream.
Whatever makes you happy, being active and getting
away from the boredom of everyday life is hugely
important for leading a good life. For millions of people
around the world, wakeboarding and wakeskating is the
release that gets them excited, active and healthy. The
chances are that if you’re reading this then you want to
do the same.
Alliance Wakeboard Magazine is a publication
dedicated to the lifestyle and movement of
wakeboarding and wakeskating. We showcase the
sports to the people that love them. But what about
newcomers and people just hearing about this whole
thing, how do you get involved? Well the aim of this
special Ride Guide supplement is to tell you everything
you need to know about the sports, the history behind
them, where they are today and how to go about
getting involved, with a comprehensive listing of
everywhere in the UK that you can go to wakeskate or
wakeboard yourself.
In order to illustrate this, we travelled across the UK to
ride in every different form with photographers and
videographers on hand to show you exactly what’s
up. Going through the Cotswolds to Poole Harbour,
Slough to the Lake District, London, Bedfordshire and
many other spots in the UK; we’ve compiled a broad
range of photos and information to show you every
way of getting in to wakeboarding and wakeskating.
The aim of this book is to get you amped on the
sports that millions base their entire lifestyle around,
in a credible and informative way with the same
top-quality photographical content that Alliance is
synonymous with. We hope this inspires you to step
out of your comfort zone and get involved for yourself,
and if there’s anything you think we missed out then
pick up a copy of Alliance Magazine or head to our
website, AllianceWake.co.uk for an endless supply of
everything to do with wake.
So welcome to the start of your new life, I hope you
get as much enjoyment out of it as we do.
- Sim Bradley, Editor
14
AMP
Pg 14 Intro.indd 1 10/5/10 18:47:39
RG LLWB Ski.indd 1 5/11/2010 10:17:26 AM
WITNESS GRINDLIQUID FORCE
ORIGINATORS OF THE P-TEX SLIDER BASE
JAMES YOUNG
Ultra Sport Europe Ltd. +44 (0) 1332 813150www.ultrasporteu.com [email protected]
Pg 56 CWB.indd 1 11/5/10 20:32:04
WORLD CLASS COACHING
LAKE SIDE CABINS
WAKE BOATS
RAIL PARK
Novice to pro
riders and skiers
Contact us here
Latest Super Air
Nautiques
Local hotels, houses
& apartments
Pg 17 Xtreme Gene.indd 1 11/5/10 16:43:19
As the sport of wakeboarding breaks into its third
decade there are numerous ways to ride other than
using a wake, as a result the term ‘wake’ boarding
is sometimes not so accurate. But no matter what
happens, the sports roots will always be with the
wake and its true foundations are still its most
rewarding. The sport derives from a bunch of friends
hanging out in a boat and riding and so the boat
should always be loaded with beers, friends and
good times! Progressing together and riding on large,
glassy, beautiful lakes is what it’s all about.
There is a very defi nite camaraderie involved in
wakeboarding. While you ride behind the boat your
buddies are watching and hooting you on. The
beauty is that no matter what standard you are, if
you do a trick which is advanced for you, there will
be cheers from the boat. It doesn’t matter if it’s your
fi rst 180 or 1080, everyone is buzzing. It’s the landing
of the new trick that gives most wakeboarders their
ultimate buzz, its progressing; it’s about taking a few
falls and then reaping the rewards when you nail
that new move.
Boat riding has taken its style straight from other board
sports and a lot of the tricks cross over in both name
and appearance. Once you’re jumping the wake you
can start grabbing the board and developing your
own unique style. Switch riding is important and you
shouldn’t forget about this in your early wakeboarding
life, once switch is
mastered you can add a 180 to all your moves, the
progression is easy, 180, 360, 540 and so on. The wake
can be used to go upside down too, or do glide style
tricks. To cut a long story short the rate of progression
can be quick, there is practically an unlimited amount
of tricks to learn and it’s all about adding a unique
fl avour to your riding. Watch videos, look at photos
and develop your style of riding.
There are a few options for riding the wake, fi rstly
you get a bunch of friends together and buy
a boat and secondly you can rock up to a
wakeboard club and pay to ride their boat.
The cheeky and most cost effective way
would be to befriend some boat owners, but
this could prove to be an unreliable means
to an end.
18
AM
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The 2010 Malibu VLX is one hell of a good boat
Pg 18-25 Boat Riding.indd 1 10/5/10 17:46:34
RG Relentless.indd 1 5/10/2010 11:04:04 AM
20
If ‘hassle free’ is your kind of thing then
wakeboard clubs are what you want.
Owning a boat has its issues, mainly in that
you have to look after it and some people
love to do this, they love tinkering around
with engines and they love cleaning their
pride and joy every ten minutes. There is
also the cost issue; some people simply
can’t afford to own a boat.
This is where club riding comes into play
as there are over a hundred places to ride
in the UK. You turn up, pay a fee, have a
ride and go home with none of the bull’.
The clubs offer coaching so not only will
you get towed around the lake but there is
somebody in the boat giving you tips. You
also get the chance to watch other riders,
which can only help your progression. Most
lakes will have a local semi pro rider there
and you can learn so much by watching a
good rider. Places like The Quays offer the
chance to ride behind a £50,000 boat with
a perfect wake; they even have a hot tub
next to the lake for chilling after your ride!
Get what I mean? It’s a grand day out for
you and your mates, and once you get into
riding it’s like an addiction, you will just want
to keep going back for more.
AM
P
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James Young, toeside o� axis 540
Amber Wing, tail poke
Pg 18-25 Boat Riding.indd 2 11/5/10 16:01:54
Sets at wakeboard clubs are usually between 15 to 20 minutes,
and while it may not sound like long, believe me this is long
enough! The classic newcomer to wakeboarding will often want
an hour’s riding, but what they don’t know is how your arms and
body get worked over in ways you never thought possible with
this sport and 20 minutes is the perfect time to ride while still
being able to walk the next day.
As well as the riding benefi ts, clubs offer a hub of wakeboarding
activity and are a perfect place to meet like minded people. A
lot of clubs have onsite Pro Shops, licensed bars, cafés and are
very much more than just a place to go and ride.
AM
PA
MP
AM
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Dan Nott working the wake at LDB Wake School
LDB Wake School, Surrey
Weighting your boat can really improve your wake
Pg 18-25 Boat Riding.indd 3 10/5/10 17:47:42
22
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Dan Nott, indy blind judge
Pg 18-25 Boat Riding.indd 4 10/5/10 17:48:15
Owning a boat is not as expensive as
it sometimes sounds, although as with
anything in life the more you spend
the higher quality product you get.
A spanking new X-Star, Wakesetter
or Super Air will cost you upwards of
£50,000, so what do you get for this?
Well fi rstly you get a perfect wake,
designed to pop you up beautifully
and with control, you get great
looks & design and mod cons like
enhanced sound systems, lights,
ballast tanks and much more.
If £50,000 is out of your price range,
searching through eBay or boat
brokerages you can fi nd boats
coming in at way under £5,000 which
will do the job. That is to tow you
and your buddies around the lake
for hours on end with plenty of fun
included.
In the late 1990’s the tournament
boat manufactures (Mastercraft,
Malibu, Nautique) started making
wakeboard specifi c boats and you
can pick these up from around
£12,000. The term ‘wakeboard
specifi c’ means the wake’s shape
AM
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Jonty Green, mute 180
Nick Davies, S-bend
Pg 18-25 Boat Riding.indd 5 10/5/10 17:48:23
24
has been moulded with this sport in mind. As we jump
down in price you can buy a Mastercraft Pro Star or Ski
Nautique 2001 (the name not the year) for around £5000,
these boats are late 80’s models and maintain their
value very well. It is hard to fi nd a working Mastercraft for
under £5000 and there is good reason for this, they just
don’t depreciate in value. Get four friends together and
£1250 each will buy you a boat like this. The Ski Nautique
2001 model was basically a screw-up back in the 80’s.
Nautique made a ski boat which had a big wake (skiers
want a small wake), and it has now come full circle as
those boats are in high demand. As with anything in life
the older it is, the more care it requires and just beware
that these boats will need a little more maintenance than
their newer brothers and sisters.
The tournament boat manufactures specialize in making
boats for wakeboarding. These boats are designed with
us in mind, they hold their speed easily and the design
features are derived from our needs. You should keep
your eye out for MasterCraft, Malibu, Nautique or Tigé as
these companies all have good dealer networks in the
UK and are easily found on boat brokerage sites. There
are hundreds of sports boat manufacturers out there and
brands like Fletcher run a Wakesport range starting from
£21,000. You get the piece of mind of a new purchase
and a very usable boat.
Once you own a boat you need a place to ride! It would
be advisable to sort this out before you buy the boat,
as it would be a real school boy error to have a boat
with nowhere to use it! The ocean offers the biggest
opportunity for private boat owners, we live on an island
that’s not very big so everybody must be within about 2
hours of the sea! The UK is scattered with marinas, just do
a Google search for marinas near Abersoch (or wherever
you live) and start your research from there. The open sea
can sometimes be too rough for wakeboarding but many
marinas are based on river mouths and estuaries allowing
access to sheltered waters. Marina fees can start from
AM
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Dan Nott, Tail grab.
Pg 18-25 Boat Riding.indd 6 10/5/10 17:48:32
under £1,000 a year but these can also go up to ridiculous
amounts, so do your research.
Lakes offer far superior wakeboarding conditions, you get
fl atter water on a more regular basis that isn’t affected by
the tide. There are large waterways like Loch Lomond up
in Scotland which has its shores populated with caravan
parks, marinas and places to launch boats. There are
plenty of small lakes around which allow boat
membership, basically you pay a fee to store your boat at
the lake and you can use the lake to ride, sounds perfect
hey! The listing in the middle of this magazine will help you
fi nd a place to use your boat.
RO
Y
WE
ST
Olivier Derome, indy roll to blind
Pg 18-25 Boat Riding.indd 7 10/5/10 17:48:38
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Pg 26 Subscribe.indd 1 4/5/10 17:05:47
OFFICIAL AUTHORISED RONIX UK PRO SHOPS
PRINCES : 01784 253201 / MIDDLESEX
JB SKI : 01932 579755 / SURREY
LIQUID LEISURE : 01753 542500 / BERKSHIRE
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MASTERCRAFT IRELAND : 02892 638823 / N. IRELAND
TALLINGTON LAKES : 01778 347000 / LINCS
CRAIG COHOON: 01285 713735 / GLOUCESTERSHIRE
D2 MARINE: 01803 380518 / TORQUAY
EDGE RIDERS: 01473 232918 / SUFFOLK
WATERSPORTS WORLD UK
WWW.WATERSPORTSWORLD.CO.UK
01706 876286
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Pg 27 Ronix.indd 1 11/5/10 17:44:26
28
Standing on a short board with no bindings and doing
skateboard style tricks, wakeskating has become possibly
the fastest growing water sport at this time. In the past it
has always been seen as an off-shoot of wakeboarding,
something to do for fun at the end of the day when you’re
tired or when it’s “too windy” to wakeboard.
What many of you may not know is that the fi rst
wakeskates were actually inspired by fl ow boards,
designed to be ridden on the fl ow rider/standing wave
machines that were just being seen in the early 90’s. Back
in 1993 on the Columbia river outside of Oregon, Jason
Messer fi rst stood up on a kneeboard towed behind
a Baja beach buggy and tried to copy what he had
experienced from a heavily skate and surf infl uenced
childhood. Then after bolting an old skateboard to one
of the fi rst directional Kidder wakeboards he attempted
to make a wakeskate from cut down surfboard foam
covered in fi breglass. Eventually he saw the boards being
made for Kelly Slater and Tony Hawk to ride the Flowrider
and adapted this design to be used behind a boat. As
soon as twin tip wakeboards appeared Messer and others
like Thomas Horrell and Scott Byerly cut them down in size
to make a board that could be ridden without bindings
but that was smaller than a wakeboard. After many
developments, some good and some bad, Thomas
Horrell eventually came out with the fi rst wooden
wakeskate, specifi cally designed for its use as a “water
skateboard” and constructed in a similar way from
plywood like a skateboard is.
- Wakeskating was born.
The beauty of wakeskating and one of the reasons
it has taken off in such a big way is its accessibility.
As with wakeboarding it has now become possible
to wakeskate in so many different ways that “water
boarding” would probably be more apt as a
description. Cable, jetski, boat or winch; all are used to
wakeskate and it is this versatility that has made it grow
so quickly.
Obviously with its wakeboarding ties wakeskating
behind a boat was the natural thing to do but as with
skateboarding, getting “big air” was not the primary
objective and the lip of the wake was originally
where most wakeskaters could be found. Very
quickly basic skateboard tricks were learnt on the
fl at water at the side of the wake and then the
same tricks were thrown on and off the lip of the
wake like a never ending fl at rail that followed the
tow boat wherever it went.
Liam Smith, bombdrop. Poole Harbour
HA
WK
S
b y p a t m c g u c k e n
Pg 28-33 Wakeskate.indd 1 10/5/10 11:28:38
RG Mystic.indd 1 5/10/2010 8:36:22 PM
30
Boat RidingAs the wakeboard boat manufacturers saw the rise of wakeskating
they saw the need to promote their boats to a new market. They
began to sponsor the top riders in the US with boats just like the
wakeboarders and this then gave rise to progression in a “wake to
wake” skating style. This meant that the same technical tricks from
skateboarding were then starting to be taken across the wakes
just like all the fl ippy spinny tricks in wakeboarding. This progression
lead to wakeskating going in a direction of bigger air just as
skateboarding had done before it and what could be described
as the equivalent of vert ramp skateboarding had begun in
wakeskating.
Due to this, these days contests have specifi c disciplines orientated
around boat riding, jet ski riding incorporating rail and technical lip
tricks and fi nally pool gap disciplines towed by the winch.
AM
PA
MP
Terry Hannam, backside shifty.
Zander Jones, backside noseslide
RailsSkateboarding and rails go hand in
hand and wakeskating is no different.
Cable parks around the world now
build rails specifi cally for wakeskating
alongside the monster A- frames, fun
boxes and pipe dragons that they build
for the wakeboarders. Manual boxes,
fl at bars and incline rails are popping
up everywhere, all designed for the
more technical side of rail riding that
wakeskating lends itself to. Rail specifi c
contests are more prevalent than any
other in wakeskating, with pool gap
set ups at events such as the “Byerly
Toe Jam” in the US and “ThinkTank” in
Pg 28-33 Wakeskate.indd 2 10/5/10 20:19:03
the UK being designed with wakeskating rather than
wakeboarding in mind.
Compared to wakeboarding, wakeskating rails are
cheaper to build due to their size and the fact that
surfacing them is cheaper because of the rounded
edges of a wakeskate not needing quite as smooth
a surface, but they are also easier to site with the
invention of the winch. Now a rail can be put into a
pool on the beach or the middle of a fi eld in 2 to 3 feet
of water because the depth needed to run a boat or
even a jetski is not required.
Jet Skis & RibsIt soon became apparent to wakeskaters that riding
behind a £50,000 boat was unnecessary and that
smaller craft such as jet skis would do. Not only are
they cheaper to buy and cheaper to run (a mid 1990’s
2 seater jet ski can be picked up for under £1,500),
they can also be used on much smaller and shallower
bodies of water and in small sheltered coves on windy
days. The amount of riding time made possible by all
these factors meant that the sport started to develop
really quickly. Apart from anything else, when you fall
while wakeskating (which to be fair, happens a lot),
the jet ski can be back around to pick you up and you
are riding again in a fraction of the time it takes for
a wakeboard boat to circle slowly round to get you.
This was soon picked up on by Sea Doo who put their
development guys to work on designing a jet ski built
specifi cally for wakeskating. Based on their original sit-
HA
WK
SM
CG
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Any watercraft will do for wakeskating, you don’t need £50,000 here.
Marcus Jackson, 360 shuv
Pg 28-33 Wakeskate.indd 3 10/5/10 20:19:10
32
down jet ski design seen being used by fat blokes on beaches all around the world, they added an extended pole
for better towing and eventually ballast tanks to create a better, fi rmer lip to the tiny wake and the perfect craft for
technical wakeskating had arrived.
WinchingJust as with street skating the kids who didn’t have access to boats had to answer back and the fi rst winches were
built. Now with the aid of a buddy and a 6.5 hp Honda lawn mower or go- kart engine, wakeskating truly took to
the streets. Actually it took to the canals & rivers and the weirs dotted along them, with kids using winches to drop
weirs like stair sets and skate ledges in pools outside shopping malls and offi ce plazas in towns all across the US
and Europe. This sort of wakeskate adventure obviously isn’t for everybody but the fact remains that the winch,
even when used at your local
wakeboard lake or duck pond,
can be used to tow you on
your wakeskate to do all the
same fl at water skate style
tricks that are possible riding
behind a jetski or boat. Using
very little petrol per hour and
with a factory built winch
costing around the £1,000
mark, it is a very affordable
way to ride.
MO
OR
TE
HA
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Ollie Moore, kick� ip
Pg 28-33 Wakeskate.indd 4 10/5/10 20:19:16
Skate companiesEver since Thomas Horrell fi rst started Cassette wakeskates
back in the beginning, wakeboard companies have
produced their own wakeskate lines. Some have been
horrible, some have been excellent, but now such is the
growth in the sport that it is in a place where it is big
enough to support many wakeskate only companies.
Integrity, Sattelyte, Cassette and Oak to name but a few,
all began to make a name for themselves producing only
wakeskates. From basic wooden fl at decks to concave
designs, compression moulded skates with shapeable
edges to bi-level decks for a more skateboard feel, all sorts
of designs have been brought to the market place and we
are now really spoilt for choice.
Now 16 years after it all began, we have gone full circle.
Many came from wakeboarding to a sport with less severe
impacts but discovered that grip tape bites. Just like Jason
Messer back in the day, many people that have never
wakeboarded are getting into wakeskating. It’s still early
days for wakeskating in terms of progression but for sure,
year on year it is growing quickly. Maybe one day it will
be bigger than wakeboarding, who knows? One thing is
for sure, it has made its mark, its created its own history
and is set to be around for a long time to come…
HA
WK
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AM
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Liam Smith, backside boardslide to fakie
Bret Little, frontside varial kick� ip
Pg 28-33 Wakeskate.indd 5 10/5/10 20:19:23
34
AM
P
Of all the ridiculous sounding inventions in the world, a
steel cable suspended 15 meters above an expanse of
water dragging people around in circles all day long
has got to be up there with the best of them. The only
difference between this invention and the others is that
while it may sound like a stupid idea, in reality it is a
machine that has not only revolutionised watersports, but
a way of life for millions of people all over the world. Plus
it came from Deutschland and when it comes to anally
perfect engineering, the Germans have it down.
Based on the idea behind chair lifts at ski resorts, the cable
tow system was invented by Bruno Rixen in the early 60’s
when he found a way to run his machine at speeds far
above that of a ski lift, while retaining structural stability as
well as pulling people around on waterskis beneath. When
wakeboarding fi rst came about behind boats, it was only
a matter of time before it transferred to the cables, but
when people realised you could apply tension on the
rope (by edging) that could pull you upwards of 15 feet
in the air, a hybrid of wakeboarding was born. There are
currently over 130 Rixen cables around the world and
now two companies Rixen and Sesitec, both offer 2-tower
versions that are once again revolutionising the sport. With
that little history lesson over, let me tell you about cable
riding today.
It’s no secret that wakeboarding isn’t exactly a cheap
sport to take part in, so with the cost of boat tows and
fuel so high, cable parks are a great way to get on the
water regularly and for longer than a half hour. While the
method behind inverted tricks is far different from that
with a wake, the two types of wakeboarding are hugely
similar, and for practicing and learning rail tricks, the cable
could not be more perfect. Cables lend themselves so
perfectly to wakeboarding, that the name ‘cable’ is even
being pushed out. Many people now refer to them as
‘wake parks’ since waterskiing, kneeboarding and slalom
skiing are barely practiced at a lot of cables these days,
and wakeboarders & skaters are literally taking over. This
new title is a testament to the development of the sport
with rail riding. Obstacles, rails, fun boxes, kickers and
even split-level pools with rails between them have gone
beyond taking infl uence from snow and skateboarding.
Rail builders such as Pat Panakos have designed and
built rails ranging from perfectly mellow A-frame shapes
to 45-degree banked transfer ledges that are so high that
you need to launch off a kicker to get onto the top.
The popularity of rail riding is growing at an astonishing
rate, and it’s thanks to these wake parks that people are
getting better and better so quickly. Last year Alliance
ran a pro rail tournament in Earls Court that was won by
16-year old Louis Floyd, the only un-sponsored rider at the
event, and in his fi rst major contest after only two year’s
riding. For a young kid to come out of nowhere and
defeat a group of experienced professional athletes gives
you an idea of how the cable system does wonders for
the rate of progression compared to riding behind a boat.
George Newell. WMSki, Cirencester
Cable Riding.indd 1 10/5/10 10:26:15
Untitled-1 1 12/5/10 09:54:59
36
The other side to cable riding is inverted aerial tricks.
As you don’t have a wake to ollie off, getting up in
the air is a much different technique behind a cable.
Unlike ropes used for boat riding, the line’s used on
cable’s have some stretch in them, so if you cut against
the direction of the pull, the rope stretches under the
tension. With careful timing and the right release from
your board, this tension stores energy that then pulls you
into the air to do a trick. The way you do a cable trick
somewhat dictates the style of tricks that can be done.
With a boat wake you are sent into the air on a pretty
even axis, but with cable you are yanked forwards
and the board often trails behind, making raley and
glide tricks a lot easier, and spins like 720’s or 900’s
almost impossible without a lot of practice. You see a
lot of laid out tricks spinning on a horizontal axis rather
than vertical, which really separates the two types of
wakeboarding.
This technique is hard to comprehend from just words
and is something you really have to see for yourself in
order to make sense of it.
Luckily the popularity of cable riding has grown and
there are now twice the number of cable tows in the
UK than there were four years ago, each one with a
slightly different atmosphere and vibe. If cable inverts
are your thing, Princes Club near Heathrow is the
favoured option as the height of the cable really adds
to your hang time and a lot of the best cable riders
emerge from riding at this spot. If you want to hit a load
AM
P
AM
P
George Newell, crail glide
Lee Debuse, nosepress
Cable Riding.indd 2 11/5/10 16:16:25
of rails then JBSki, also near Heathrow, and WakeMK
in Milton Keynes both offer superb rail parks, with a
wide selection of rail shapes, multiple kickers and
ramps. Plus the locals all rip so the learning curve is
steep and fast.
Finally if you are a bit more relaxed and want
somewhere fun to wakeskate, then Box End Park in
Bedford should be your fi rst stop. This year-old facility
was purpose built and with an island in the middle of
the cable and tall banks at each side, it is perfectly
sheltered from the wind and elements, ideal for
wakeskating where a strong gust of wind can easily
blow your skate away when trying a 360 shuv. There
is a big collective of wakeskaters at this park and the
rails they have are also perfect for skate tricks.
AM
P
AM
PA
MP
Steve Dyer, backside lipslide
James Young, backside lipslide on the nose
JBSki, Thorpe, Surrey
Cable Riding.indd 3 10/5/10 10:27:03
HA
NN
AM
AM
PTA
YLO
R
Rich Underwood, frontside tail press. WakeMK38 Steve Dyer, switch mute 360
Cable Riding.indd 4 11/5/10 16:20:16
There are plenty of other places to go no matter where you are in the country. Each one has
something a bit unique and special about it, making road trips to all the cables a big part of the
culture. When you are doing hundreds of laps on the same small lake every day it can become a
bit stale, so most cable riders get away on the weekends and venture to another of the UK’s seven
parks to ride the different rails and especially catch up with distant friends and meet new riders as
the social aspect to cable riding is enormous.
Think about it, you can have 9 people on the lake at one time, so the dock is always full of
like-minded people riding together. Friendships are formed quickly in this environment and with
everyone pushing each other on to learn new tricks and improve their riding, cable is one of the
best ways to get your fi x on the water.
AM
P
AM
P
Lee Debuse, frontside lipslide
George Newell, frontside lipslide
Cable Riding.indd 5 10/5/10 10:27:29
PHOTO : SIM BRADLEY
THE DECADE VISIT OBRIEN.COM
FOR MORE ON
PHOTO : ROB GRIST
TTTTHHHH EE DDEE CC AA DD EE VVII SS II TT OOBB RR RRII EE NN .. CC OO MMTTTTHH
Pg 10 Hyperlite.indd 1 10/5/10 19:56:46
Pg 17 Xtreme Gene.indd 1 10/5/10 12:34:04
LOCH LOMOND WAKEBOARD
Inverbeg Caravan Park
Inverbeg
Loch Lomond
07545 561360
WWW.LOCHLOMONDWAKEBOARD.COM
ACTIVE SCOTLAND
Lochearn Watersports Centre
Lochearnhead
FK19 8PU
01567 830321
WWW.ACTIVESCOTLAND.COM
ABERDEEN WATERSKI CLUB
Loch of Aboyne
Aberdeenshire
AB34 5BR
01224 818563
WWW.ABERDEENWATERSKI.CO.UK
KYLE WATERSKI CLUB
Kilbirnie Loch
Glengarnorck
Near Beith, Ayrshire
KA14 3AZ
07950 152831
WWW.KYLEWATERSKICLUB.ORG.UK
LOCH KEN WAKEBOARD SCHOOL
Loch Ken Marina
Parton
Castle Douglas
01644 470333
WWW.SKILOCHKEN.CO.UK
LOCH LOMOND WATERSKI
Balloch Pier
Loch Lomond
01436 860632
WWW.LOCHLOMONDWATERSKICLUB.CO.UK
SCOTTISH WATERSKI CENTRE
SNTS, Town Loch
Town Hill
Dumfermline
KY12 0HT
01383 620123
WWW.WATERSKISCOTLAND.CO.UK
LOCH TAY HIGHLAND LODGES
Loch Tay Marina
Milton Morenish Estate, by Killin
Perthshire
FK21 8TY
01567 820323
WWW.LOCHTAY-VACATIONS.CO.UK
MERLIN BRAE WATERSKI CLUB
Little Whickhope
Kielder Water
Northumberland
01429 872350
WWW.MERLINBRAEWATERSKI.CO.UK
BALDERHEAD WATERSKI CLUB
Balderhead Reservoir
Barnard Castle
Co. Durham
DL12 8AA
01833 650310
WWW.BRITISHWATERSKI.ORG.UK
S C O T L A N D
42
Pg 42-51 Listings.indd 1 11/5/10 17:06:04
TEESSIDE WATERSKI CLUBTees Barrage
Navigation Way
Stockton On Tees
01642 595604
WWW.BRITISHWATERSKI.ORG.UK
BLACKPOOL WAKEPARKThe Lake, Ream Hills Farm
Mythop Road
Weeton, PR4 3NB
01253 836 543
WWW.BLACKPOOLWAKEPARK.CO.UK
PORT HAVERIGG WATERSPORTSPort Haverigg Caravan Park
Haverigg
Cumbria
077465 39636
WWW.PHWATERSPORTS.MOONFRUIT.COM
CLUB NAUTIQUE WATERSPORTSPine Lake Resort
Carnforth
Lancashire
LA6 1JZ
07850 185150
WWW.CLUBNAUTIQUE-WATERSKI.CO.UK
PRESTON WAKEBOARD CLUBRiver Ribble
Preston
Lancashire
WWW.BRITISHWATERSKI.ORG.UK
SALE WATERSKI CLUBTrafford Watersports Centre
Rifl e Road
Sale
M33 2LX
0161 355 5479
WWW.SALEWATERSKICLUB.CO.UK
SOUTHPORT WATERSKI CLUBMarine Lake
Southport
Lancs
01704 226864
WWW.BRITISHWATERSKI.ORG.UK
WHITWORTH WATERSKI CLUBCown Resevoir
Tong Lane
Whitworth, Rochdale
OL12 8BE
01706 852534
WWW.WHITWORTH-WATERSKI.CO.UK
SHEFFIELD CABLE WATERSKIRother Valley Country Park
Mansfi eld Road
Sheffi eld
S26 5PQ
01142 511717
WWW.SHEFFIELDCABLEWATERSKI.COM
YORKSHIRE WATERSKI CLUBWelton Waters
Brough East
HU15 1PT
01482 666133
WWW.YORKSHIREWSC.FREESERVE.CO.UK
43
Y O R K S H I R E
Pg 42-51 Listings.indd 2 11/5/10 17:06:12
CALMWATER BAY SKI CLUB
Farnham Quarry
Boroughbridge
Knaresborough
near Harrogate
01423 322977
WWW.CALMWATERBAY.COM
SOUTH YORKSHIRE BOAT & SKI CLUB
Treeton Lake
Off Wood Lane
Treeton
Rotherham
0114 2540898
WWW.BRITISHWATERSKI.ORG.UK
WHITE CROSS SKI CLUB
The Boatyard
Rythergate
Cawood, Selby
York
01757 268216
WWW.BRITISHWATERSKI.ORG.UK
WHITE ROSE WATER SKI CLUB
Cromwell Lake
Cromwell Bottom
Elland Road
Brighouse
WWW.BRITISHWATERSKI.ORG.UK
TEN-80 WAKEBOARD CENTRE
West Midlands Waterski Centre
Tamworth Road, Cliff
Warwickshire
B78 2DL
01827 870203
WWW.TEN-80.CO.UK
CHASE WATERSPORTS CENTRE
Pool Road
Brownhills
WS8 7NL
08448 584754
WWW.CHASEWATERSPORTS.CO.UK
BOMERE WAKEBOARD & SKI CENTRE
Bomere Pool
Condover
Nr Shrewsbury
SY5 7AP
01743 872122
WWW.BOMERE.CO.UK
WAKE MK CABLE PARK
The Cable Building
V10 Brickhill Stree
Willen Lake Milton Keynes
MK15 9HQ
01 908 670197
WWW.WAKEMK.COM
CHARWOOD SKI & WAKEBOARD CLUB
Murphy’s lake
Canal Street
Thurmaston
Leicester
07860 605643
WWW.WATERSKIINGLEICESTER.COM
CHURCH WILNE WATERSPORTS CLUB
Sawley Road
Draycott
Derby
DE72 3QF
01332 875574
WWW.CHURCHWILNE.CO.UK
M I D L A N D S
44
Pg 42-51 Listings.indd 3 11/5/10 17:06:20
45
COVENHAM WATERSKI CLUB
Covenham Reservoir, Firebeacon lane
Covenham St Mary
Lincolnshire
LN11 0PA
01472 887953
WWW.COVENHAMWATERSKICLUB.CO.UK
GRENDON LAKES
Grendon Lakes, Main Road
Grendon
Northants
NN7 1JW
01933 665303
WWW.GRENDONLAKES.CO.UK
MARNHAM BOAT CLUB
The Brownlow Arms
High Marnham
Newark
Notts
01623 824176
WWW.BRITISHWATERSKI.ORG.UK
NENE VALLEY WATERSKI CLUB
Ditchford Lane
Rushden
Northants
07813 761439
WWW.NENEVALLEYWATERSKI.CO.UK
NOTTINGHAM SKI LAGOON
National Watersports Centre, Adbolton Lane
Holmepierrepont
Nottingham
NG12 2LU
0115 981 1316
WWW.NOTTINGHAMSKILAGOON.CO.UK
SKEGNESS WATER LEISURE PARK
Skegness Water Leisure Park
Walls Lane
Skegness
PE25 1JF
07889 243889
WWW.WATERSKISKEGGY.CO.UK
TALLINGTON LAKES
Barholm Road, Tallington
Stamford
Lincs
PE9 4RJ
01758 710066
WWW.PHWATERSPORTS.COM
TATTERSHALL PARK
Belton Lake
Tattershall Park and Country Club
Tattershall, Lincs
LN4 4LR
01526 348800
WWW.TATTERSHALLPARK.CO.UK
BARTON LAKES WATERSKI CLUB
Barton Quarry, Walton Lane
Barton Under
Needwood Staffs
DE13 8EJ
07831 472077
WWW.BRITISHWATERSKI.ORG.UK
DUDLEY WATERSKI CLUB
Lodge Farm Reservoir
Highbridge Rd
Netherton Dudley
DY2 OHB
01384 566250
WWW.DUDLEYWATERSKI.ORG.UK
Pg 42-51 Listings.indd 4 11/5/10 17:06:27
PARKLANDS WATERSKI CLUBStoke Prior
Droitwich
Worcestershire
B60 4EQ
07970 297066
WWW.BRITISHWATERSKI.ORG.UK
OFF AXISGlanafon Garage,
Lon Engan, Abersoch,
Pwllheli, Gwynedd
LL53 7HP
01758 713407
WWW.OFFAXIS.CO.UK
GO-WAKESA1 Waterfront
Swansea
01792 367453
WWW.GOWAKE.CO.UK
ALWEN WATERSKI CENTREAlwen Resevoir
Nr Denbigh
North Wales
01978 233519
OCEAN BEACH WATERSKI CLUBMarine Lake
Promonarde
Rhyl
01745 330168
GLASFRYN PARCY Ffor
Pwllheli
North Wales
LL53 6PG
01766 810 2020
WWW.GLASFRYNPARC.CO.UK
PENARTH QUAYS MARINAMarina Offi ce, Penarth Marina
Penarth
Vale of Glamorgan
CF64 1TQ
02920 705021
WWW.QUAYMARINAS.COM
DEGANWY QUAYS MARINADeganwy Quay
Deganwy
North Wales
LL31 9DJ
01492 576888
WWW.QUAYMARINAS.COM
DEESIDE WAKEBOARD & SKI CLUB10a Dock Road
Connahs Quay
Deeside
Flintshire
01244 821728
WWW.DWWC.ORG.UK
LLANGORSE LAKE WATERSKI CLUBLlangorse Lake
Lakeside Caravan Park
Llangorse, Powys
LD3 7TR
01874 658226
WWW.LLWSC.COM
W A L E S
46
Pg 42-51 Listings.indd 5 11/5/10 17:06:35
BOUGHTON LODGE WATERSPORTS
Little Paxton
St. Neots
Cambs
WWW.BOUGHTONLODGE.CO.UK
SOUTH LAKE
South Lake Ski School
Little Paxton, St. Neots
Huntingdon
Cambs
01480 216966
WWW.SOUTHLAKE.CO.UK
BRIGHTLINGSEA POWERBOAT CLUB
Point Clear Bay
North Channel
Brightlingsea, Essex
CO7 0AX
O1206 298656
WWW.BWSPC.CO.UK
BUCKDEN WATERSKI CLUB
Buckden Marina
Mill Road
Buckden, Cambs
PE19 5QS
07832 732825
WWW.BRITISHWATERSKI.ORG.UK
EAST SUFFOLK WATERSKI CLUB
c/o Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club
Felixstowe Ferry
Felixstowe, Suffolk
IP11 9RZ
01394 283785
WWW.ESWSC.CO.UK
GOSFIELD LAKE
Gosfi eld Lake
Church Road
Gosfi eld, Essex
CO9 1UD
01787 475043
WWW.GOSFIELDLAKE.CO.UK
NORWICH WATERSKI CLUB
Costessey Lakes
Cotessey Road
Tavenham
Norwich
01603 741895
WWW.NORWICHWATERSKI.CO.UK
PENTNEY WATERSPORTS CLUB
24 Chenery Drive
Kings Lynn
Norfolk
01603 416341
WWW.PENTNEY-WATERSPORTS.CO.UK
PREMIER WATERSKI CLUB
Pentney Lakes, Common Road
East Winch
Kings Lynn
PE32 1NN
07947 752704
WWW.PENTNEYLAKES.COM
STEWARTBY WATERSPORTS CLUB
Stewartby Lake
Green Lane
Stewartby
MK43 9LY
01234 767751
WWW.STEWARTBY.ORG.UK
47
Pg 42-51 Listings.indd 6 11/5/10 17:06:41
48
STONE WATERSPORTS CLUBRiver Blackwater
Essex
01621 772280
WWW.STONEWATERSPORTSCLUB.COM
WAVENEY WATERSKI CLUBBath Hill Road
Earsham
Suffolk
01986 788375
WWW.BRITISHWATERSKI.ORG.UK
WELLS & DISTRICT WATERSKI CLUBWells next to the Sea
Lifeboat House
Norfolk
01603 415031
WWW.WELLSSKICLUB.COM
WOODHAM FERRERS WATERSKI CLUBMarsh Farm Rd
South Woodham Ferrers
Chelmsford
Essex
WWW.WOODHAMFERRERSWATERSKICLUB.CO.UK
PRINCES CLUBClock House Lane
Bedfont
Middlesex
TW14 8QA
01784 255568
WWW.PRINCESCLUB.COM
JOHN BATTLEDAY WATERSKIThorpe Road
Chertsey
Surrey
KT16 8PH
0870 6061270
WWW.JBSKI.COM
BOX END PARKBox End
Kempston
Bedford
MK43 8RQ
01234 846222
WWW.BOXENDPARK.COM
LDB WAKE SCHOOLThorpe Road
Chertsey
Surrey
KT16 8PH
0870 6061270
WWW.JBSKI.COM
QUAYSIDE WAKE & SKIColeford Bridge Road
Mytchett
Surrey
GU17 0BT
01252 524375 WWW.UKWAKE.CO.UK
OXFORD WAKEBOARD & WATERSKIQueenford Lake, Burcot Lane
Dorchester-On-Thames
Wallingford, Oxford
OX10 7PQ
07974 369982
WWW.OXFORDWSC.COM
Pg 42-51 Listings.indd 7 11/5/10 17:06:49
49
BURGHFIELD AQUA SPORTS CLUBGreen Lane, Burghfi eld Bridge
Reading
Berks
RG30 3XN
WWW.BA SCONLINE.CO.UK
LIQUID LESIURE CABLE & BOAT PARKDatchet
Berkshire
SL3 9HY
01753 542 00
WWW.LLSKI.COM
HARDWICK PARKSDowns Road
Standlake
Witney, Oxon
OX29 7PZ
01865 300841
WWW.HARDWICKPARKS.CO.UK
THEALE WATERSKI CLUBWellmans Water
Mill Road, Off Burghfi eld Road,
Theale, Reading
Berkshire
01962 884882
WWW.TWSC.ORG.UK
TAPLOW BOARD N SKITaplow Lake
Amerden Lane
Bucks
SL6 0EA
01628 782113
WWW.TBNS.CO.UK
RUSSEL WATERSPORTSFox Lane
Eversley Cross
Hook, Hants
RG27 0NQ
01252 877337
WWW.RUSSELLPOWERBOATS.COM
CHICHESTER WATERSPORTSCoach Road, West Hampnett
Chichester
West Sussex
PO18 0NX
07817234363
WWW.CHICHESTERWATERSPORTS.CO.UK
NEW FOREST WATERPARKRingwood Road
Fordingbridge
Hants
SP6 2EY
01425 656868
WWW.NEWFORESTWATERPARK.CO.UK
ROCKSTAR WAKEBOARD SCHOOLWestquay Marina
Poole
Dorset
07772 395261
WWW.ROCKSTARWAKEBOARDING.CO.UK
GRAVITY WAKEBOARDINGDorset Lake Ship Yard
Hamworthy
Poole Harbour
07979535327
WWW.GRAVITYWAKEBOARDING.CO.UK
Pg 42-51 Listings.indd 8 11/5/10 17:06:57
EXE WAKE
Exmouth
Devon
EX8 1ER
0782 5539450
WWW.EXEWAKE.COM
CRAIG COHOON WATERSKI SCHOOL
Whelford Road
Fairford
Glos
GL7 4DT
01285 713735
WWW.CRAIGCOHOON.CO.UK
PENWITH WATERSKI CLUB
Hale Esturay
Cornwall
07017 001889
WWW.BRITISHWATERSKI.ORG.CO.UK
WM SKI
Summer Lake,
Spine Road, Souh Cerney
Gloucestershire
GL7 5LW
0845 895 9000
WWW.WMSKI.COM
PLYMOUTH WATERSKI CLUB
South Bank
River Plym
Plymouth
0794 1344308
WWW.PLYMOUTH-WATER-SKI-CLUB.CO.UK
MIDDLEMOOR WATERPARK
Middlemoor waterpark
The Causeway
Bridgewater
TA78DN
01278 685578
WWW.MIDDLEMOOR.CO.UK
THE EDGE WATERSPORTS
233 Loughan Road
Coleraine
County Antrim
BT52 1UD
0771 0015067
WWW.EDGEWATERSPORTS.CO.UK
CARRIG SKI & WAKEBOARD CLUB
Caum Cross, Carrigadrohid
Macroom
Co Cork
Ireland
00353 8723 11179
WWW.CARRIGWATERSKI.COM
CORK POWERBOAT & SKI CLUB
Agherinagh
Lower Dripsey
County Cork
00353 863069202
WWW.WATERSKIIRELAND.COM
WATERMARK SKI CLUB
Lough Derg
Portumna
00353 87 2573661
WWW.IRISHWATERSKI.COM
I R E L A N D
50
Pg 42-51 Listings.indd 9 11/5/10 17:07:05
IRISH AQUATIC SPORTS CENTREArods Town
Summerhill
County Neath
00353 866016340
WWW. WAKEBOARDINGWATERSKIING.COM
LOUGH MUCKNO WAKEBOARD CLUBCastleblayney
County Monaghan
353 (0)87 740 2806WWW.SKIMUCKNO.COM
THE WAKEBOARD CAMP848 W. Osceloa St
Clermont
Florida
USA
(352) 394 8899
WWW.THEWAKEBOARDCAMP.COM
XTREME-GENEEmbalse de la Brena
Almodavar de Rio
Cordoba
0034 6677393932
WWW.XTREME-GENE.COM
THE PROJECTS19504 East Colonial Drive
Orlando
USA
407 491 7312
WWW.THEPROJECTSPARK.COM
DOUBLE WAKEHarbour of Gelves
Sevilla
Spain
0034 667 366 256
WWW.DOUBLEWAKE.COM
DE LE WAKESanta Clara a Velha
South Portugal
Portugal
00371 294 98 150
WWW.DELAWAKE.LV
SNOW & WAKE BULGARIALake Iskar
Rila National Park
Bulagaria
00359 8845 15753
WWW.SNOWANDWAKEBULGARIA.COM
WAKE THE BEST590 route d’Annecy
74410 Duingt
Annecy
France
00(33)6 80 98 89 13
WWW.WAKETHEBEST.COM
MCCORMICKS2020 McMormicks Lakes Way
Seffner
FloridaWWW.SKIMCCORMICK.COM
51
Pg 42-51 Listings.indd 10 11/5/10 17:07:14
Be prepared to love it.
WaveRunnerwww.yamaha-motor.co.uk
London
The Boat Harbour Ltd
020 854 25857
www.theboatharbour.com
County Tyrone N. Ireland
Jet Products
028 816 58668
www.jetproducts.co.uk
Jersey Channel Islands
Gallichan Marine
01534 746387
www.gallichanmarine.co.uk
Guernsey
Sunsport Marine Ltd
01481 248466
www.sunsportmarine.co.uk
Bridgend
Worldwide Watersports
01656 723889
www.worldwidewatersports.co.uk
Dorset
Offshore Performance
01202 722632
www.offshoretoys.co.uk
Gwynedd Wales
Blue Water Marine
01758 614600
www.bluewatermarine.co.uk
Yorkshire
Fosse Hill Jet Ski Centre
01964 542608
www.fossehill.co.uk
Tyne & Wear
Powerhouse Marine
01914 140065
www.powerhouse-marine.co.uk
Leicestershire
Six Hills Jet Ski Centre Ltd
01664 434080
www.sixhills-jetski.co.uk
Merseyside
N & C Performance Jet Ski
01516 910006
www.ncjetski.co.uk
Norfolk
Beach Rock Leisure
01692 598000
www.beachrockleisure.com
Staffordshire
Jetcraft Performance Ltd
01782 768511
www.jetcraft.co.uk
Lancashire
Avos Watersports Den
01772 811866
www.avoswatersportsden.com
Kent
Power Products Marine
01634 711267
www.powerproductsmarine.com
Hampshire
Watercraft World Superstore
01329 826622
www.watercraftworld.co.uk
Essex
The Boat Shop
01708 523016
www.the-boat-shop.com
Devon
Gliddon Marine
01803 842245
www.gliddonmarine.com
Cornwall England
Rock Marine Services
01208 863396
www.rockmarineservices.co.uk
Renfrewshire Scotland
Stirling's Jet-Ski Services
01505 382222
www.stirlingsmarine.co.uk
Suffolk
Bob Spalding Marine
01473 659674
www.bobspalding.com
FX SHO
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RG yamah.indd 1 5/10/2010 8:50:57 PM
RG wakemk.indd 1 5/11/2010 1:25:57 PM
We all love a holiday, there is no doubt about that! If you are one
of those weirdos who doesn’t take up all their allocated holiday
time because they choose to work instead, then this Ride Guide
is of huge importance to you because you need a hobby, big
time! We have pretty much given you all the details so far about
taking up wakeboarding and wakeskating in the UK and we
have saved the best bit for last, the wakeboard camps. These
are places in much warmer countries than ours, they require a
bag packed full of shorts, sun cream, bikinis and sunglasses. It is a
holiday in the warmth with wakeboarding.
Most of the camps will have top of the range boats and
coaches who can teach you plenty of new tricks and the
correct basics for progressing. Whatever you do, don’t think of
this as a boot camp. While they do have great coaches, Wake
Camps are super relaxed, so if all you want to do is free ride and
do the stuff your love, nobody will be forcing you to try anything
out of your depth. The wakeboard camps are all about doing
your hobby and new found love in warm waters. The difference
between riding in a wetsuit and just in a pair of shorts is crazy;
there’s so much more freedom and movement! Once you have
been infected with the wakeboard bug you will want to keep
learning, you will want to be better than your mate, you want to
be better for yourself, whatever the reason a week or more of
constant riding will really bring you on leaps and bounds.
Florida and especially Orlando, could be
described as the designated home of
wake due to its year-round hot weather, an
abundance of natural lakes that you can live
right next to, and because the majority of the
worlds best athletes either come from here or
have moved here to further their careers; it’s
the hub of wakeboarding and wakeskating.
The Wakeboard Camp in Clement, Florida was
the fi rst of its kind and is still going strong. The
Projects has the sickest rail park in the world
and is designed and owned by Pat Panakos,
the worlds leading wake park designer and
Scott Byerly, the godfather of the sport as we
know it today. Florida isn’t everybody’s cup
of tea, and if you don’t like the prospect of
an 8-hour fl ight then Europe offers camps
that are equal to if not better than the US
facilities. Xtreme-Gene (Spain), SnoWake
Bulgaria (Bulgaria), De La Wake
(Portugal), Double Wake (Portugal) and
many others are all within a 2-hour
fl ight from the UK.
54
Raph Derome at The Projects, Florida
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Pg 54-55 Camps.indd 1 11/5/10 08:59:36
Finally if your piggy bank is so light that fl ights are out of the question,
then why not head north to Loch Lomond in Scotland. The crew up
there have a great setup with a cabin, hot tub, barbeques, guest pro-
coaches year-round and a couple of Malibu boats to use on the 24-mile
stretch of water that is one of the best places you can ride in the UK.
These camps all offer onsite accommodation in anything from log
cabins to authentic local villas and hotels. Waking up with a view of the
fl at water with none of the hassles of launching a boat, that’s what I’m
talking about! The only worries you have is when to take your next ride
and if your nose is going red! Going riding with other like-minded people
and seeing the coaches ride can only improve your skills and get you
more amped to ride.
Most camps will offer you a week package including accommodation,
some food and three sets a day. The three tows a day can quite often
break you, so make sure you are prepared to have your muscles worked
big time. Riding for almost an hour a day behind the boat for 5 days on
the trot is quite simply fantastic exercise.
Marc Rossiter is now coaching at The Projects
Loch Lomond is one of the best camps in the UK.
Stu Chatham, backside shuv
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Xtreme Gene, Spain
Double Wake, Portugal
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James Hooper, in the new Loch Lomond rail park
Pg 54-55 Camps.indd 2 11/5/10 08:59:47
Rockstar wakeboarding is one of the south’s leadingwakeboard and wakeskate schools - rider owned
and rider run - using the best equipment in the game.
Based in Poole, Dorset we operate around the beautiful surroundings of Poole Harbour.
www.rockstarwakeboarding.co.uk 07772 395261
RG monster rockstar.indd 1 5/11/2010 8:28:25 AM
RG skeggy ldb quays.indd 1 5/11/2010 5:24:54 PM
58
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Tired of the same rails at the cable park - then build your own park!
Winching is a fairly new phenomenon that blasted
onto the wakeboard and wakeskate scene about
4 years ago. For those that took to this new way of
riding, the whole experience became incredibly
addictive. Places that we had dreamt of riding
on for so long, all of sudden became possible
and practically any stretch of water could now
be accessed. Wakeboarders started looking
for waterfalls and weirs to drop and the winch
became a wakeskaters best friend.
There are a few companies making winches and
luckily for you the best winch on the market is a
British made winch called the Monkey Wench.
There are a couple of other brands in the USA
like Distortion but with the current exchange rate
they work out pretty expensive. Making your own
winch has become a winter hobby for hundreds
of people and there will be plenty of homemade
winches towing riders all over the country. In theory
the winch is pretty simple, you just have to make
an engine that pulls a rope. The problems are, that
you need a nice smooth start and a rapid top-
speed with plenty of torque.
Winching and wakeskating are a match made in
heaven. There are an unlimited number of tricks
you can learn with a wakeskate and a winch,
The Goodwood Wakeskates team are big winch fans
Terry Hannam, kick� ip
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Pg 58-59 Winch.indd 1 10/5/10 20:12:10
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Matt Crowhurst, backside 180 down a weir in Slough
Bret Little, frontside 360and we advise the addition of rails to increase
the fun and trick possibilities. It makes for a perfect
afternoon session; Set up the winch, put the rail
in the water and then you and your buddies ride
until it gets dark. Pushing each other and always
progressing and all for the incredible fuel cost of
around £10 a day!
The wakeboarding aspect of the winch is one that
really brought in a fl avour of snowboarding like
the feeling of dropping off cliffs and natural terrain
in the snowboard backcountry. A wakeboarder
can now access waterfalls, weirs, fountains and
all sorts of natural and manmade obstacles. As
well as the riding, searching for new spots can be
half the fun. Using Google Earth and searching
the web for spots is the fi rst stage, then scoping it
out comes next. An added buzz from hitting these
kind of places is when they are on private land or
part of the Inland Waterways (who really don’t like
winching) as the possibility of getting busted raises
the stakes and ups the excitement levels!
Pg 58-59 Winch.indd 2 10/5/10 20:12:26
RIDER: DEREK GRASMANPPPPHHHHOOOO TT TT OOOO :::: CCCCOOOORRRR TT TT EEEE SSSS EEEE
Pg 60-62 Website Ad.indd 1 4/5/10 14:36:19
Pg 60-62 Website Ad.indd 2 4/5/10 14:36:23
C A L E N D E RMay 20101st - 2nd - Loch Stock Coaching Weekend Loch Lomond Wakeboard, Scotland – www.loch-stock.com
8th - 9th - UniWake Development Weekend Box End Park, Bedford – www.uniwake.com
9th - Wake & Ski Boats UK Rider League Stop 1Tees Barrage, Teeside – www.wakeandskiboats.co.uk
12th - 16th - FISE Montpelier, France - www.fi se-events.net
15th - Ten Feet High Stop 1 Sheffi eld Cable - www.tenfeethigh.com 27th - 30th - ThinkTank Wakeskate JamPrinces Club, Middlesex – www.alliancewake.co.uk
June 20105th & 6th - Wake & Ski Boats Ride League Stop 2Welton Waters, East Yorkshire – www.wakeandskiboats.co.uk
12th - Relentless Wakestock Qualifi erLDB Wake School, JB Ski, Surrey – www.wakestock.co.uk
12th - Relentless UK Pro Boat Tour Stop 1LDB Wake School, JB Ski, Surrey – www.ukprowakeboardtour.com
12th - 13th - Loch Stock Stop 1Loch View Motel, Dumfries, Scotland – www.loch-stock.com
19th - Ten Feet High Stop 2 & Relentless UK Pro Cable Tour Stop 1 Sheffi eld Cable – www.tenfeethigh.com www.ukprowakeboardtour.com
21st - 25th - UniWake Student Nationals Sheffi eld Cable – www.uniwake.com
26th - Longest Day CompetitionWM Ski, Gloucestershire – www.wmski.com
26th - 27th - Wakeboard UK Open Wakeboard & Wakeskate National Championships West Midlands Waterski Centre, Tamworth – www.wakeboard.co.uk
July 2010 2nd - 4th - Relentless Wakestock WWA World Wake Series Stop 3, Abersoch, Wales. - www.wakestock.co.uk 4th - Wake The Line Cologne, Germany – www.waketheline.com
10th - Wake & Ski Boats Ride League Stop 3 Calmwater Bay, Knaresborough – www.wakeandskiboats.co.uk
17th - Ten Feet High Stop 3 Sheffi eld Cable - www.tenfeethigh.com 17th - 18th - Loch Stock Stop 2Loch Earn, Scotland – www.loch-stock.com
62 c o n t i n u e d . . .
Calender 1.indd 1 11/5/10 13:53:02
DISCOVER MORE AT
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 JUNE
... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 SEPTEMBER
... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 JULY
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
RG Relentless.indd 1 5/11/2010 6:17:30 PM
64
23rd - 24th - British Cable Nationals & Relentless UK Pro Cable Tour Stop 2Box End Park, Bedford – www.ukcablewakeboard.wordpress.com & www.ukprowakeboardtour.com
31st - Wakeboard UK Junior Wakeboard & Wakeskate National ChampionshipsVenue TBC – www.wakeboard.co.uk
August 20107th - 8th - Loch Stock Stop 3Loch Lomond Wakeboard, Scotland - www.loch-stock.com
11th - 15th - The Protest Cable Call - WWA Wake Park World Series Stop 2 Down under Cableway, The Netherlands – www.thewwa.com 14th - Ten Feet High Stop 4 Sheffi eld Cable - www.tenfeethigh.com
19th - 22nd - WWA Wakeboard World Championships WWA World Wake Series Stop 5. Orlando, USA - www.thewwa.com 28th - 29th - T-Mobile Extreme Playgrounds WWA Wake Park World Series Stop 3 - Hamburg, Germany - www.thewwa.com
28th - Born Extreme Cable & Boat CompetitionNottingham Cable - www.bornextreme.co.uk
September 2010 4th - Ten Feet High Finals Sheffi eld Cable - www.tenfeethigh.com
4th - Relentless UK Pro Boat Tour Stop 2 Quayside Wake & Ski, Surrey - www.ukprowakeboardtour.com
11th - Lord of the Lake WM Ski, Gloucestershire - www.wmski.com
11th - Wake & Ski Boats Ride League Stop 4 White Rose, Brigghouse - www.wakeandskiboats.co.uk
12th - Summer Jam
Wake MK, Milton Keynes - www.wakemk.com 18th - 19th - King of Cable & Relentless UK Pro Cable Tour Stop 3 Princes Club, Middlesex - www.princesclub.com www.ukprowakeboardtour.com
25th - 26th - Glass Butter BeachAbersoch, Wales - www.glassbutter.com 27th - October 2nd - WWA Wake Park World Championships
plus Wake Park World Series Stop 4 - Hip-Notics, Antalya, Turkey - www.thewwa.com
October 2010 2nd - Ropes & Wires Box End Park, Bedford – www.boxendpark.com
27th - 31st - Ultimate Wake Championships & WWA Wake Park World Series Stop 5 & WWA World Wake Series Stop 6 Cam Sur, Philippines – www.thewwa.com
Check www.alliancewake.co.uk for an up-to-date list. If you want your event to be listed in Alliance Magazine email [email protected]
C A L E N D E R
Calender 1.indd 2 11/5/10 13:53:14
Pg 14 Intro.indd 1 10/5/10 18:18:32
RG System 2.0.indd 2 5/11/2010 2:37:02 PM
RG System 2.0.indd 3 5/11/2010 2:37:02 PM
68
COMPANY SEVERANCE
RRP: £350
WEB: WWW.COMPANYWAKE.COM
WHAT THEY SAY: Originally sparked and crafted under Timo Santori’s direction, the
Severance Series returns to the Company line-up for 2010 with a fresh look, and some fresh
guts. Tino’s baby has quickly become one of Company’s most celebrated 3 stage series
boards, and with a slightly modifi ed core layup this year we made it that much better. That’s
the beauty of technology, and that’s the beauty of our mfg process. Our modifi ed layup has
not only livened things up overall, but the ultra durable ABS sidewalls and PMU bas material
combined with its 3 stage kick make for the perfect wake riding jib stick!
WHAT WE SAY: Flex boards aren’t a particularly new concept in wakeboarding, but it’s only in the
past couple of years that the technology in the boards has become strong enough for boards
that fl ex to rival stiff wakeboards, and now they are taking the sport by storm. The Severance is
surprisingly good on the wake, but where this board truly shines is at cable and wake parks. Hitting
rails and obstacles with a fl ex board opens up another world of tricks and has the added bonus
of being way more durable than traditional wakeboard designs, to put it simply your board will fl ex
instead of snapping! The future of wake is all about fl ex boards, especially on these cable loving shores.
HYPERLITE AUDIO BOOTS
RRP:310
WEB: WWW.HYPERLITE.COM
WHAT THEY SAY: The Audio boot was inspired by the freeride movement
which demands fl ex and feel. Utilizing the new Low Pro plate system, the
Audio is closer to the deck of the board than any other Hyperlite boot ever
produced. The integration of a BOA closure system allows for a custom fi t over
the top foot where a rider needs it most. A lower overall cuff height allows this
boot to fl ex easily and give a softer feel without sacrifi cing any support. All in all
the Audio boot is on the cutting edge of innovation and truly the next generation
of Hyperlite boots.
WHAT WE SAY: This is designed and inspired by freeriding legend Eric Ruck, it has a
softer fl ex and lower cuff which means you can really poke out your grabs and bone
your legs out on rails. A softer fl exing boot gives you way more freedom to add your
own style to tricks. The boa system is situated above the foot which means you can
really get it tight and secure where you need it.
LIQUID FORCE ANTHEM
RRP: £159
WEB: WWW.LIQUIDFORCE.COM
WHAT THEY SAY: This is ideal for the rider looking for a Concave shape deck for high
performance skating but on a tighter budget. From the fi rst ride you’ll be amazed at the level
at which this moulded concave skate performs. With the 9-ply maple and 3D top deck, your
feet will remain locked in while you snap huge airs and work your way up the wakeskating
ranks.
WHAT WE SAY: If you’re serious about skating and want to do more than surface spins on the
water then you need to be buying a skate with some concave to it. In simple terms this means
your wakeskate has a kicked up tail and nose in a similar fashion to that of a skateboard. This
concave makes your ollies pop more and you can really snap the board higher. The Liquid Force
Anthem is the starting price for skates with concave.
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vvvvii nn gg ss hh oo rr eess.. ss.. ss hh oo rr iinn ss..
Pg 68 Goods.indd 1 11/5/10 12:50:04
WATERSPORTS WORLD UK
WWW.WATERSPORTSWORLD.CO.UK
01706 876 286
WSW
Pg 56 CWB.indd 1 11/5/10 10:11:00
70
CWB VIBERRP: £260
WEB: WWW.CWBWAKEBOARDS.COM
WHAT THEY SAY: The CWB Vibe fl ex wakeboard is ideal for the larger intermediate to
expert wakeboarder who likes to tackle rails and other obstacles. Designed, shaped
and ridden by Gabe Lucas. Features include; ABS sidewalls for added durability and
strength, rail friendly, wake approved, fl ex Construction with X-trans base built for sliders,
fl at bottom design catch free on rails, 4 fi n design, adjustable forward and back, subtle 3
stage rocker.
WHAT WE SAY: If you are looking at getting into this sport and have a background in other
boardsports then look no further, this CWB is a price aggressive dream ride, it is a fl ex
board that can take a battering! You can press it like mad on the rails and land hard and
fl at and it will still survive.
MASTERCRAFT X-SERIES X2 WRAP EDITIONRRP: £66,950
WEB: WWW.MASTERCRAFT.CO.UK
WHAT THEY SAY: The X-2 is by far the largest 20 footer on the market, people swear up and down it is bigger
than 20 feet. The X-2 has MasterCraft’s innovative pickle-fork bow design, allowing for more room up front
(and giving the X-2 the moniker of “The mini X-Star”). The X-2 comes standard with MasterCraft’s newest
innovation, the BIG (Boat Instrument Gauge) Screen, a beautiful, crystal clear 6” display that is more computer
than gauge, allowing you to see not only typical fuel, temp, speed and cruise settings but providing a cutting
edge interface to save user data (i.e. ballast and surf tabs settings) and for watching footage shot by the
optional tower camera.
WHAT WE SAY: The X-2 represents a serious bit of kit, if money was no object this would be high up our list of dream
wakeboard boats. Nobody in the world can argue with the wake of this boat, it has towed numerous events
worldwide. The part we love is the BIG screen, it really is top marks for innovation, in some ways a simple idea, but
it has been cleverly designed. A camera mounted on the tower follows the rider and relays the footage to a big
screen right in front of the steering wheel. Plug in your USB stick and you can video the days riding too!
FOX ANDO WAKESKATE SHOERRP: £55
WEB: WWW.FOXEUROPE.COM
WHAT THEY SAY: Perfect for on and off water
activities, the Fox Ando Lite Wakeskate Shoe
does it all. The Ando Lite is a lightweight wake
skate shoe with breathable open-air mesh and a
super grip outsole surface. Get a pair and get out there!
WHAT WE SAY: You may think that the perfect use for your old trainers is wakeskating, but you are wrong, the
best place for your old worn out trainers is the bin. When wearing trainers in the water and asking your feet
to kick and fl ick a wooden board around you need appropriate footwear. A set of lightweight trainers that
allows the water to drain quickly and easily is what you need and exactly what these do.
EESSEESSEESS
AAFF TT .. CC OO .. UU KK AAFFTTFFTT CCOO KK..UUCCOO KK
2222 0000 00
Pg 68 Goods.indd 2 11/5/10 12:50:28
THE STOCK CLEARANCE WAREHOUSE
M A S S I V E S A V I N G SA D U L T W A K E B O A R D P A C K A G E S F R O M £ 1 9 9K I D S W A K E B O A R D P A C K A G E S F R O M £ 1 6 9U P T O 4 0 % O F F W A K E B O A R D SU P T O 5 0 % O F F W A K E B O A R D P A C K A G E SD E M O B O A R D S A V A I L A B L EP R I C E M A T C H G U A R A N T E E *
0 8 7 1 2 8 8 2 2 4 7w w w . b a r g a i n b o a r d s . c o . u k
F R E E D E L I V E R Y ** C O N D I T I O N S A P P L Y
RG wakemk.indd 1 5/11/2010 1:45:45 PM
RG born tri indo.indd 1 5/10/2010 8:13:36 PM
RG WM Ski.indd 1 5/11/2010 9:59:31 AM
Introduction Offers from £36,495 Inc Trailer & VAT
Saltwater Series from £39,995 Inc Trailer & VAT
RG Malibu.indd 2 5/11/2010 2:22:25 PM
HERE’S TO ENDING YOUR DAY
BETTER THAN IT BEGAN
D2 Marine 01803 380518
www.D2marine.com
RG Malibu.indd 3 5/11/2010 2:22:25 PM
Wakeboard / Nick Davies in Dispatch™
Willful disobedience.
©2010 Oakley, Inc. 01462 475400 oakley.co.uk
RG Oakley.indd 1 5/11/2010 5:32:07 PM
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