Update???

LFADAM · Posted: Nov 15, 2008 7:27 pm Post subject: Update???

Maybe its just me but it seems like the wakeboarding world was sucked into a black hole when no one was looking. I know it is winter, but seriously! What is going on? Some things Im interested in:
1.) Whats the deal with Company? Apparently they "launched" at surf expo but I have heard NOTHING since. Their site doesnt even have their product line up (minus a pic or two).
2.) Has Parks fully recovered this time? I know he had another knee injury but he was riding some this year, what happened to him? Im still wondering if/when he will return to progressive riding. Havent heard anything since Carnival.
3.) How is Gatorboards doing with the Vandall gone?
4.) Are there any videos being shot? Normally there are at least a few being filmed at any given time. Only one I know of is Box of Fun. What ever happened to Out of the Pond? It came out right? Is it any good? Havent seen a single review.
5.) How is the new Malibu VLX (especially the wake)?
6.) Is Darin Shapiro still making a comeback?

Thats all I can think of now. Feel free to add more. Hopefully someone will have some answers.

wakeboarderdave1 · Posted: Nov 15, 2008 7:47 pm Post subject:

3.) I read on wakeworld about Gator Boards having to cut some people due to financial reasons.
4.) Billabong is making a team DVD called Out of the Pond.

Not bashing this site or anything, but if you want to read more news about the world in wake you are better off watching the forums on wakeworld.

Blindside_137 · Posted: Nov 15, 2008 7:56 pm Post subject:

5.) A LOT of great reviews of the new VLX on themalibu crew. I hear that the wake has a lot more 'versatility' now. Similar to the shape created by the 247. And aslo that with the new hull, the wedge does a much better job at shaping the wake at greater displacement levels. Whereas before, the wedge tended to wash out the wake when maxed or close to it.. Also the new auto wedge feature for the power wedge is sick. Full down automatically all the time except for within 2 mph of the set speed, then the wedge goes to its set position. Rider falls, pull back on throttle, wedge goes back down to minimum displacement.

http://www.themalibucrew.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=17441&hl

http://www.themalibucrew.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=16645&hl

http://www.themalibucrew.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=16864&hl

6.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeA-Sys08eg&feature=related he looks back to me Shocked

criminally_minded · Posted: Nov 15, 2008 8:17 pm Post subject:

Company wake products (no bindings shown however)

Why haven't Slingshot launched any '09 gear yet? This is all I have seen from them, from some Myspace page. There are some binding shots on there as well but they look a little confusing.

LFADAM · Posted: Nov 15, 2008 8:21 pm Post subject:

Blindside_137, Nice. It sounds pretty sick. Cant wait to ride one! Re: The shapiro vid, thats the whole reason I asked. I saw that vid a while ago (Notice the date: April, 0 Cool

but havent seen anything since. Sick video, but what happened after that?

wakeboarderdave1, true that. Thanks for the reminder. I just checked out the ww forums and there was a lot more going on. I just never post there (or look) because I hate the layout/style of the forums. Its like reading a MS Excel chart vs a well done powerpoint presentation (wb.com Cool

) Their forum interface is garbage. I guess Ill have to suck it up for some quality info

wakeboarderdave1 · Posted: Nov 15, 2008 8:23 pm Post subject:

Blindside_137 · Posted: Nov 15, 2008 8:25 pm Post subject:

haha oops... I just came across that video today. But yea i'd love to get behind a new one and see what it's like.. is Wake n skate ever gonna put on competitions like G&P did? maybe they could get their hands on an 09 VLX for a comp! Twisted Evil

LFADAM · Posted: Nov 15, 2008 8:32 pm Post subject:

Blindside_137, yea man. They do a big one every year at SML. Dont know if theyll ever run a series though. This year it was during brostock weekend. Unfortunately, they always have MC (X-Star..cant complain really Laughing

)

Just checked out the 09 VLX reviews that you posted. Good reviews but I wanna see some freakin wake pics! (Not surf wakes) Evil or Very Mad

Blindside_137 · Posted: Nov 15, 2008 8:36 pm Post subject:

LFADAM, yea I know they're all about surfing over there...

Dude I had no idea they had a comp at SML, I need to make my way up there next year. An x-star isnt all that bad i guess Laughing

LFADAM · Posted: Nov 15, 2008 8:40 pm Post subject:

Blindside_137, ya its a good one. They usually slam the star so the wake is never a complaint

LakeIolaLuke · Posted: Nov 15, 2008 8:58 pm Post subject:

6.) yea, but not coming back to what he was doing. He was dominating the contest scene. Now he's freeriding and focusing on his style and putting a new twist on his riding.

LFADAM · Posted: Nov 15, 2008 9:09 pm Post subject:

LakeIolaLuke, are we going to see him in any videos? Is he riding for LF now?

LFrider139 · Outlaw Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Posts: 184 City: Shelbyville

4.) Out of the Pond is coming out in Spring 2009. It was in the Dec 08 WBM issue. From what I've seen and read it's gonna be a sick vid...but then again...look at the lineup the Billabong team has goin...Insane.

nickdakoolkat · Posted: Nov 15, 2008 11:42 pm Post subject:

wow, after watching the company wake video....all I can say is wow....are they not aware that slingshot already has the exact same product? Nothing about their product stood out because I have already seen it...

criminally_minded · Posted: Nov 16, 2008 2:05 am Post subject:

flixmaster · Site Owner Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 7488

1) Company has been quiet. I have not heard anything about them for a few months.

3) I do not think Vandall will be the downfall of Gator.

4) - I think the days of a few videos being shot at the same time are over. I think more and more video companies are not making enough to support new titles. They are moving off to try and find some industry that will actually pay the rent. I could be wrong but this is just what I am seeing from some of the producers I know.

Bonus) - How is the current economy going to impact our sport?

** note - If you guys would not hammer the newbies so much they would post more and not just lurk. Half the people are scared to post because they do not want to get beat-up in the forums. Smile

LFADAM · Posted: Nov 16, 2008 2:06 pm Post subject:

flixmaster, great question. That is really the underlying theme that is in many of the questions I posted above and more. I think its really going to impact the film industry as you said. I think it has already, as you said. Look at LF, they were spitting out a team video yearly, but now there are no plans for one at all. Their film industry is a feed of random footage shot by one of their riders (Harrington) made into short clips posted on LF.com and alliancewake.com.

I also think the boat industry is really going to suffer. I hope not, because the boats are becoming so sick, but I cant imagine people will be willing to drop 70k on a boat right now. Maybe this will really launch Axis wake research to the top though?

The Standerd has already shut down, and I have a bad feeling more companies will, especially some of the smaller board companies.

flixmaster · Site Owner Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 7488

I will know more about Axis in the near future. I work with the local Malibu dealer all the time.

As for the film industry. I wish the best for the guys like Kilgus, Ronn at Sidewayz and all the other smaller producers. I understand how hard it is to make money on a film title. Maybe fewer titles from a few larger non-wake companies? More along the lines of the Oakley, Billabong films? Maybe some Rockstar money will help fund a project for the Byerly crew?

Start sending positive thoughts to the small companies in hopes that some of them will make it past these current problems.

holdsworth · Posted: Nov 16, 2008 3:09 pm Post subject:

I heard yesterday that Company might warranty boards that have hit sliders. If they do, I'm switching over to them! I just broke my 08 One yesterday at OWC and don't want to fork out money every few months for a new board.

flixmaster · Site Owner Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 7488

that is something different for sure. that goes against everything other board companies are doing.

LFADAM · Posted: Nov 16, 2008 3:30 pm Post subject:

holdsworth, flixmaster, I thought OBrien had a board that is warranted even after sliders. I think I saw it a few months ago in WBM.

Re: the smaller companies- I wish them the best of luck. I really want to demo their products so i could hopefully find the set-up for me by a smaller (rider owned) company. I want to support them but its impossible to demo their stuff so I cant. I love my LF setup, but if I could find a Gator setup that I liked just as much, Id definitely wanna get that one to support them. It just sucks cuz I know how expensive it is to do a cross country demo tour and how hard it must be to get their products to tons of dealers. Its a tough situation.

With regard to the videos, It must be extremely hard to make a profit and with the movies already costing 30-35 bucks I dont know how much more they could charge and have people stll buy them. I know I already really think about a title before buying it now with them being that expensive.

Blindside_137 · Posted: Nov 16, 2008 4:51 pm Post subject:

LFADAM, yea i think it was called the R5 maybe? Like a roam shape?

holdsworth, maybe give the LF grinds a shot?

flixmaster · Site Owner Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 7488

ahh.. I think you are correct it was a roam type board. I remember hearing something about that.

LFADAM · Posted: Nov 16, 2008 6:53 pm Post subject:

While we're on the subject of random questions...

In Transgression, during the first shot of Lidberg's gap...you can see another gap set up to the right that looks even bigger. Did anyone ever hit that? What was it for? Unfortunately, I doubt anyone but GB team members or Pat Panakos would know.

flixmaster · Site Owner Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 7488

I talked to one of the coaches a few weeks ago and it seems like they are building rails there all the time so it could have been something they were using for another video, photo session, or random project.

brinks · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 566 City: Orlando

More info on what Darin is up to: www.grindwater.com
This is Darin's new company he launched this year at expo.

There is actually a few videos with release plans this coming season. One of them being one of better known board companies. There is also Adam Errington's video (forgot the name), Collin Harrington's Box of fun, Keith Lant's Fun Boots(Wakeskate flick) and a few others I have heard of being in the works.
LF Films has got some ideas floating around for some upcoming projects as well. I think Collin and the rest of the guys are doing a good job with keeping fresh content up on the LF films site.

Parks rode at the redbull wakelab durring surf expo. It aired on Fuel TV a week or so ago.

benjaminp · Criminal Joined: 30 Jan 2008 Posts: 65

I am not sure about the warranty, but the Obrien board you are talking about is called the R5, and yes, it does bear a very striking resemblance to the Roam, and the Ronix Covenant. And on the subject of Obrien, in the WBM Buyer's guide (or maybe it was SBC), I saw two pairs of closed toe boot, the Vice and the Natural. Their website seems to think otherwise, and I havent seen any vid of their team (Sanders or Watkins) riding them on the matching boards. Anyone in the know?

criminally_minded · Posted: Nov 17, 2008 8:22 am Post subject:

The Vice and the Natural are both closed toe boots. Also I heard word that the 2010 line of O'Brien bindings are being designed by the Slingshot boot designer.

LakeIolaLuke · Posted: Nov 17, 2008 8:56 am Post subject:

Daniel Watkins broke 2 R5's tailpressing them on the water during their catalogue shoot. I would be pretty upset if i got that board and it wasn't covered under warranty

LakeIolaLuke · Posted: Nov 17, 2008 8:57 am Post subject:

criminally_minded · Posted: Nov 17, 2008 6:02 pm Post subject:

The O'Brien rep told me someone who is or used to be involved with the Slingshot boot range design had been picked up by O'Brien and was working on the O'Brien range for 2010. Not a fan?

flixmaster · Site Owner Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 7488

1) Company Wakeboards is proud to announce that the wait is over, and that the warehouse doors are officially opening for mass retail consumption. Company’s “Super Limited” 138 wakeboard, along with their entire line of T-shirts and hoodies, will be among some of the first products out the door this week.

just received this press release a few minutes ago..

holdsworth · Posted: Nov 18, 2008 10:58 am Post subject:

flixmaster, are they warrantying their boards on sliders? Or was that not in the press release...?

flixmaster · Site Owner Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 7488

I did not see the full press release.. I just grabbed a little of it.. I do not think it talked about that.. someone is going to post it on the main page sometime in the next few days.

LFADAM · Posted: Nov 22, 2008 3:53 pm Post subject:

Well check this out. Just came across it while surfing the web. It looks like Shapiro is back in freeriding action for real. Hopefully we'll see a video section out of him very soon. Grabbed HS Front to Blind? Sick. Switch Bee Sting? Sick. And how about that last trick?! Looked like a flatline/orbital? halfcab FS 5. Sweet trick Ive never seen before. Looks like he could take it to 7. Twisted Evil

Link: http://videos.wakeboardingmag.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=1134&title=Darin_Shapiro_FULL_VERSION_2008