Table of contents for May-12 in WAKEBOARDING

When the first stop of the 2012 MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour rolls into Acworth, Georgia, on May 19, Zane Schwenk will kick off his 20th year of competitive wakeboarding. In fact, he's the only day-one rider still competing on tour. And though Zane may not stack up so great against riders half his age — “Sometimes I feel like the sacrificial lamb when I get in heats with some of these kids,” he says — no one can match the longtime MasterCraft rider's commitment to the Pro Tour. To celebrate those two decades of dedication, we asked the tour's leading Legend to look at the past, present and future of wakeboarding's premier contest series. When the tour first started, it was all directional boards so it was mostly heelside and…

It happens every year: We hop in the year's latest boat models and find a treasure trove of new toys that make wakeboarding — not to mention the entire boating experience — easier, better and more convenient. We decided to share the wealth, giving you an inside look at 2012's top new standards and options. This year's interiors feature deeper, more comfortable lounge areas; Transformer-style convertible seating and storage; and even seats that help you drive better. Go to page 64. The trend of vibrant, control-everything command centers continues, and with their growing ranks comes ever-cleaner and more elegant dash designs. Go to page 66. Board racks that clamp with the effort of a single finger, mirrors that virtually eliminate the need for peripheral vision and platforms that keep wakes…

The first thing you'll notice about the ZeroFlex Tower 4 is its swooped-back, heavy metal design, but our favorites are its squeeze-release handles and shock-assisted fold-down, which make short, easy work of dropping the ZFT4 for storage, towing or traveling under low-hanging bridges. Max it out with MasterCraft's new two-point quick-release Bimini and swivel board racks, whose rotation into the boat is now dictated by a slick spring-assisted plunger release. GET IT: ANY 2012 MASTERCRAFT WAKE BOAT The angular design and finished bottom of Supra's new surf platform keeps it away from your waves as you weight your boat for wakesurfing, giving you the cleanest faces on the lake. GET IT: 2012 SUPRA LAUNCH 21V, 22V, 242 AND SUNSPORT 20V The effortless-yet-rock-solid clamping and push-button release of Protomet's new Clamp…

There is a lot of new board technology out there that takes riding to the next level, and the new flexible core construction is leading the way. Not only are a lot of flex boards tougher and more durable, they also perform exceptionally well in all aspects of riding. Plus, they give your riding a new fresh feel and offer more control. Everyone from beginners to park junkies and even avid boat riders can advance his riding in different ways with this new generation of boards. Hitting obstacles has never been so fun. The ability to lean and press more gives riders better control of their weight and position while sliding across an obstacle. This makes it much easier to lock into that long rail or box with more style.…

Over my past decade in wakeboarding, I've seen a lot of really, really good riders. Some simply came and went while others lifted the sport to places none of us thought possible just a few short years ago. After spending quite a bit of time with Adam Errington on the water, on the road and just plain hanging out, I know he belongs in that latter group. Adam is part of what I like to refer to as the third generation of true pro riders. Since the first was the Byerly era and the second was the Pointless era, Adam and his contemporaries have quite a large responsibility on their hands. Namely, keeping the progression of wakeboarding alive. One of the coolest things about watching this new generation of riders…

The center rear flip seat in the all-new X-30 takes MasterCraft's convertible seat design a relaxing step further. A light tube and lift transforms the forward-facing rear lounge into a rear-facing stadium seat so you can take in all the action behind the boat. Fold the seat back down and add a stowable cushion insert and the stadium seat morphs into an uninterrupted lounge area in the cockpit. GET IT: MASTERCRAFT X-30 The idea behind the Malibu 22 MXZ's massive new bow isn't novel. After all, this isn't the first or last wide-nose bow design we'll see in a wake boat. Its execution, on the other hand? Well, that's plenty noteworthy. Malibu's first crack at an open bow is a home run, carving out 32 square feet of super-deep, extra-broad…

To earn approval from the U.S. Coast Guard, life jackets must pass rigorous tests for both buoyancy and impact protection. The results of all that work? Confidence. Confidence that your life jacket will keep you afloat when your life is on the line and confidence that your money will stay in your pocket and not go toward fines for improper equipment. Most vests will stretch when wet, which means a properly fitting jacket should feel tight when it's dry. Your life jacket should be so snug, in fact, that it should be a little hard to breathe when you try it on at the shop. Every life jacket has its own unique cut and stretch characteristics. As a result, you'll likely have to try on several brands and multiple models…

Time on your wakeboard is key to learning, progressing and taking your riding to the next level. But to truly maximize your potential you must learn to ride all types of boards. Whether it's wakeskating, skateboarding, surfing or snowboarding, every board sport requires different skills and techniques and mastering each will greatly improve your wakeboarding. The more boards you ride the more you'll develop your overall board control. Riding a variety of boards will also help improve your balance, strength and body control. Make sure to try a sport with no rope because you'll learn to ride and maneuver completely on your own. After that, wakeboarding will never seem so easy. Riding all kinds of boards will also give you a new way to look at wakeboarding. Other sports expose…

Welcome aboard our new boat. The all-new TransWorld WAKEBOARDING Tigé Z3 is the official boat of the world's leading wakeboarding magazine and the most customized model Tigé has ever created. It starts with Tigé's best-ever wake boat as a foundation and takes it to another level with some of wakeboarding's best options and a host of one-of-a-kind touches. The result? A boat so sick we put our name on it. Behind the striking wraps and you-can-only-get-them-here features are Tigé's best-ever wakes for both wakeboarding and wakesurfing. The Z3 sports the latest version of Tigé's ConvexV hull as well as its biggest-ever ballast system at 2,300 pounds, helping you create pro-level wakes right out of the box. The TransWorld WAKEBOARDING Z3 is available in your choice of three custom wraps, which…

A new touch-screen version of the all-encompassing BIG system is the centerpiece of MasterCraft's sleek and clean new command center. Since the BIG's brilliant screen allows you to manage every essential boat function, MasterCraft engineers were able to lower the dash by 3.5 inches for improved visibility and simplify its layout for enhanced aesthetics and easy operation. Trick new billet aluminum knobs replace yesterday's toggle switches for added life and durability, and MasterCraft's signature broad strokes of billet aluminum make the entire package shine. GET IT: ANY 2012 MASTERCRAFT WAKE BOAT MaliView's new Auto Pull-Up feature helps even beginner drivers deliver pro-level pulls. Designed by Malibu and Indmar, the first-of-its-kind feature takes the idea of presets a step further, allowing riders to record their preferred acceleration rate. Once activated, the…

Mixing it up and riding new spots is beneficial in a lot of ways. In fact, just being in a new environment can give your riding a whole new feeling. Plus, the journey itself can be just as fun as actually riding. The experience and stoke of riding a new spot is priceless. Get your crew together, load up the boat and go. Escape the same old routine and go to that spot you have always wanted to ride. No matter if it's a day trip or a weeklong houseboat trek, you can't beat being in a new environment surrounded by beautiful scenery. Cable parks these days are a rider's dream come true. Where else can you ride all day and hit more obstacles than you have ever seen before?…

To land a perfect indy tantrum, the key is understanding that you use the opposite edge technique than you would on any other trick, says Mike Rosenberg, who spent five days riding with Travis Moye and Shaun Murray at The Boarding School. as told to: vanessa hornedo The Approach Cut away from the wake, coast for a second, then take an aggressive edge into the wake. Once you reach the trough of the wake, let off your edge and let your board go flat. Let Go As you ride up the wake, let go of the handle with your back hand and square your shoulders with the rope so you're facing away from the wake. Pop, Tuck, Grab When you pop off the wake, arch your head back and tuck…