First Wake Surf Event of 2014: Synthetic Swell

Synthetic Swell is the first wake surfing event of the year and is being held in sunny SoCal.  The festival will take place on February 22nd & 23rd 2014. The first day will be fresh water at Lake Elsinore on the 22nd and the second day on the salty waters of Mission Bay in San Diego on the 23rd.  

This is not your average wake surf event and is going to be an awesome 2014 kick off shred party with fun contest like "wake surfing in the best outfit" said event coordinator Marco Thompson.  This is not a competition but more of a shred sesh/demo day/festival that you can bring your own boat to if you want to show off your wave. There will be BBQ lunch and dinner with fellow ripper and anyone is welcome from first time to pro. Here is some info you might want to know about the contest: 

• Bring your boat, and try out the wake behind other boats
• If you don't have a boat, bring your boards and surf with us
• Bring all your boards to share, and try out boards you have not ridden before
• Bring your wetsuit if you have one, if you don't, we have several to loan, and we have some dry suits available also
• Bring some friends that have never surfed, get them surfing, expert teaching is free
• Bring the family, this is designed to be a 100% family friendly event
• RV friendly locations
• This is NOT a money making exercise, the organizers are doing this at their own expense, with no event income please bring money to help out with gas.. boats don't run on thank you's.
• On Sunday, there will be some giveaway / goodies for every attendee, courtesy of Wakesports & our other sponsors

The schedule for this awesome event is as follows:

Saturday February 22, 2014 at Lake Elsinore 

• Fresh water Day 1
• 7:00 AM - Sun-Up First boats on the water 
• 8:00 AM -10:00 AM Sesh 1
• 10:00 AM - noon Sesh 2
• noon - 1:00 PM Pot Luck BBQ on the beach
• 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Sesh 3
• 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Sesh 4
• 5PM - Pot Luck BBQ on the beach

Sunday, February 23, 2014 at Mission Bay

• Salt water Day 2
• 7:00 AM - Sun-Up First boats on the water
• 8:00 AM -10:00 AM Sesh 5
• 10:00 AM - noon Sesh 6 - Wild Ride
• noon - Pot Luck BBQ on the beach
• 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Sesh 7 - Wild Ride
• 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Sesh 8
• 5:00 PM - Pot Luck BBQ on the beach
• 6:00 PM - Awards & Contest Results

Get registered today as spots are limited and to find out more about the event visit www.SynSwell.com

Tige Boats Announces 2014 Endless Wave Tour Dates

Be a part of the surf revolution this summer and join us again this summer for the ultimate surf series -- Tige’s 2014 Endless Wave Tour.

The Endless Wave Tour is being planned across North America driving fun-filled events throughout the summer bringing families together and providing healthy competition.  Surfing Tige’s ocean-like surf wave behind the best surf boat in the industry, the Z3 equipped with Tigé’s patented Convex VX. Come see the Coanda Effect in action! It is the best surf competition of the summer, so mark your calendars for these upcoming stops and follow the Endless Wave Tour Facebook to stay connected with the latest news.

EWT Stop #1 – 5/28 – 6/1       West Coast Wakesurf Open, California
EWT Stop #2 – 6/19 – 22        WWS Shred Fest, Colorado
EWT Stop #3 – 7/17 – 7/20     Wake the Desert, Texas
EWT Stop #4 – 8/22 – 8/24     Texas Surf Showdown, Texas
EWT Stop #5 and #6 is planned for August and September, locations to be determined

Each stop will have scheduled professional surf clinics and two days of surfing competition.

If your company is interested to sponsor the series contact us at 325.676.7777 or email info@tige.com

Photos from 2013 Endless Wave Tour by TradeMarek Photogreaphy.

Chase Hazen

Dominic Lagace

Ashley Kidd

Raya Walker

Brandon Tollie

Interchangable Arch Bar & Flat Pad - Inland Surfer - Press Release

Inland Surfer, the most innovative wake surfboard manufacturer does it again with factory-direct, interchangeable arch bar and flat pads. Redesigned for 2014 Inland Surfer has all new decks in the Classic Series and Ultralight Series.  New boards will ship with a flat deck insert as well as pro-pad raised arch bar. 

Constructed of high quality EVA foam shaped into Inland Surfers signature diamond grooved pattern the inserts measure in at 7cm by 36cm. The raised arch bar measures with a domed 5mm standard arch.  For any riders with a skimboard background these arch bar inserts are going to make you feel right home with Inland Surfer’s latest wake surf technology. 

The entire 2014 lineup will have available flat decks or raised arch bars excluding the Tako and Keenan Surf Pro Model.  Now you can customize your board to your preference and continue to evolve as a better surfer.  

VP of Inland Surfer, Lance Connor

Inland Surfer, the World’s largest independent wake surfboard manufacturer and the first wake surf company has a board for every shape, style, size and skill of surfer.  With the biggest board selection in company history and all-new graphics, decks to complement the already industry leading shapes and performance. Leading the lineup, the Inland Surfer Flyboy Division boasts the James Walker Pro and the James Walker Big Boy; the most popular wake surfboards in 2013.  The ever affordable Tako, Inlands premier value surfboard introduced in 2013 brings professional wake surfing to the masses with its exclusive performance over price offering. 

For more info visit: www.inlandsurfer.com

Minnesota Wakesurf Championship on Lake Minnetonka!

The Minnesota Wakesurf Championship will be the first organized wakesurfing competition on Lake Minnetonka.  We have all been waiting to combine the best parts of Lake Minnetonka which is the biggest, baddest, and craziest lake with the best watersport out there Wakesurfing! 

Come out July 18th & 19th, 2014 and see some wakesurfing – via boat or land and also enjoy a beach full of activity. During the weekend of the MNWSC, the annual Spirit of the Lakes Festival will be occurring at Surfside Beach. Some of the Spirit of the Lakes Events include: live bands, a great variety of food/drink, fireworks, whiskey tasting, chartered boat tours of the lake, and more! This is sure to be an awesome weekend bringing wakesurfing to a large audience by working in conjunction with the Spirit of the Lakes festival! Stay up to date on the event by following it on Instagram @MNWSC, Twitter @MNWSC, and Facebook.com/MNWSC also visit the website www.MNWSC.com. 

Photo: www.russellheeter.com

Nectar Sunglasses - Signs surf giant Jamie O'Brien

Nectar Sunglasses 

Jamie O'Brien aka JOB 

Nectar Sunglasses is excited to announce that surfer, Jamie O’Brien, has signed on to represent Nectar. Jamie continues to push the limits of surfing and always showcases his talents on the North Shore of Hawaii and worldwide. Nectar has released Jamie's Signature Series "Mahalo" sunnies. Sean Holmes, co-founder of Nectar Sunglasses said, “Jaime represents the sweet life 110% , and that is what we’re all about. We are stoked to have him on the team and are excited to build this partnership.” Check them out at NectarSunglasses.com.

A couple awesome videos of JOB wakesurfing a yacht & flowboarding with pro surfer buddies on their trip across the US this year to experience all the different surf cultures and board sports! 

Kaley Sparling- Mrs. World far from Toddlers & Tiaras

Hidden away in the Boise, ID pro wakesurfer Kaley Sparling received an unexpected knock on her door from her neighbor three years ago. Kaley’s out-going, friendly natured spirit, and beautiful complexion had compelled her neighbor to approach her about participating in pageants. A new world to her considering she had never competed in a pageant before but she was up for the challenge and started working on her platform. For those of you, like me, that aren’t familiar with pageant lingo the contestants “platform” is the cause they support and speak about. Kaley’s platform is childhood sexual abuse prevention, as it is something she is passionate about. 

Very different from your normal pageant girl, she has an addiction to board sports that stems from her husband Jimmi, who has always been passionate about board sports. She caught the addiction herself too after starting to wakesurf with him in 2008. In 2009, after practicing a few times a week behind their Centurion Enzo for a year, she signed them up for the NWWSA wakesurf competition and made the drive up to Seattle where Jimmi took first place at the event. Always supporting each other’s dreams and goals, Kaley would start competing in pageants the following year too.

Hosting the 2013 World Wakesurfing Awards

Kaley & Jimmi Sparling

Photo not owned by Boarders

Kaley's husband Jimmi at 2013 Worlds

Kaley airing out!

Photo not owned by Boarders.

What does it take for a relatively small town girl to become Mrs. World?

Taking on pageants in Idaho to claim the state title of Mrs. Idaho was the first step to moving on to the national stage to compete for Mrs. America. The pageants are judged by the following: 50% of your score is based off the interview with judges while the other 50% comes from they way you carry yourself in your evening attire and swim wear. Kaley competed against 51 other contestants on the national level earning first runner up for Mrs. America. When it came time to head to China to compete for Mrs. World, the other contestant was unable to go and Kaley happily stepped up for America and boarded a plane to China to go claim the title of Mrs. World. After two weeks in China, Kaley returned to the US with a new accomplishment and the title of Mrs. World! 

Photo not owned by Boarders

How many pageant women do you know that snowboard, ride flowboards, SUP, compete in wakesurf events, and have on their resume: “ announcer of the 2013 World Wakesurf Championships”? Just Kaley! Also, Jimmi brought home skateboards not too long ago and is teaching Kaley and their 2 children Jack Danger and Madison to skateboard as a family. The wakesurf world is very lucky to have awesome people like the Sparling's to help grow the sport we all love & we look forward to the future with them and their kids pushing the sport too!

Kaley would like to thank her husband for always supporting her & her wakesurf sponsors for all of their help! Centurion Boats, Soulcraft Boarding, & Agenda Surf!

On Stage at the Wakesurf Awards

Kaley with her Soulcraft Teammates

Photo: Tim V. Walker

Announcing World Wakesurf Championships w/ Todd Gaughan from Centurion Boats

By: Danny Braught

Our visit to DFW surf...

Amazing sunsets, stand up paddles, reggae music, chill vibes, cool people, relaxing hamacs, and a beautiful lake is what we found in our visit to DFW Surf Shop….

Danny Braught and Tyler Marshall  are the gurus behind this cool place. It is also the home of Boarders Magazine, which just launched a month ago. The magazine is dedicated to the surf sports industry and lifestyle, showing a healthy, fun, interesting, lifestyle with Standup paddle, Flowriders, and Wakesurf action…

The Lake Lewisville location is a nice oasis with amazing sunsets and a little island in the middle, which is also is the home of the biggest Marina in Dallas. We found a vacation place… Justin, Danny, Tyler, and all the guys make us feel more than welcom and the fun action starts right away..

Here SUP is so popular, another cool way to enjoy the lake. Everyday we saw people enjoying the sport and at the same time working out (its one of the best work outs you can ever have). It's a very friendly sport, which is perfect for the 103º outside.

These guys have the most fun and chill set up...the surf shop has a little bit of everything: surfboards, SUP boards, wakesurf boards, longboards, sunscreens, hats, shirts, chill area for the members, TV screen with surf videos...everything you could ever need.. and for sure a few surprises each day.

The wakesurf fever keeps the lake busy on the weekends. Everyone wake surfs here in Texas. We couldn't wait to jump in the beautiful Malibu of the local rider Parker Payne and play around with that surf gate. Dom coached Parker to have a very nice surf style, land some new tricks, huge airs, all while having a lot of fun.

The sunsets in Texas are always something spectacular. The conditions of the weather were more than perfect with some clouds in the sky and flat water. During the weekend the guys from DFW organize a party with all the members of the club...everything was super well organized with a local guitar player at sunset call Grant Braudrick, (Google him, he's amazing!)  They brought a Fly board that was a lot of fun and they also had food and drinks there. Later on the DJ arrived making everybody move their bodies. It was nice to see young people involved.

Thank you Danny, Tyler, Justin and everyone for not only one of the most cool places we have ever been, but also for sharing and spreading your love and passion for these kind sports and the lifestyle that comes with them!!! <3

-Marina L.

Beautiful Texas sunset at DFW surf! 

Dominic Lagace Photo: Courtney Gould

Dominic Lagace Photo by Courtney Gould

Wakesurfing Pictures

The following are a collage of wakesurfing pictures!  Surf Within.