Table of contents for Jun-13 in WAKEBOARDING

Yep! Summer is finally here. While some of you reading this magazine might be from all different parts of the world, here in the U.S. the summer vibe is popping off: barbecues, sunburns, frosty beverages and more importantly, days on the lake. Winter lasted a little longer than a lot of people may have wanted, but the Old Farmer's Almanac is calling for a hotter-than-normal summer on the coasts, and things are looking good in the central part of the country too. I actually included the map from the Old Farmer's Almanac so you can know what to expect. Whatever slice of the country you call home, make sure you make the most of your summertime this year. I know that thinking about “maximizing your summer” is probably giving you…

Wake parks have been present in wakeboarding since the beginning, but up until seven years ago, they had yet to make much of an impact on wakeboarding as a whole. They have helped the sport tremendously in so many different aspects: broadened the sport into new dimensions; brought in more newcomers and riders in general; and now board companies have even created park-specific boards. Wake parks have really added another direction within riding. There are many different ways to shred the park, whether rails only, tricks from the flats or even hitting the kickers the exact same way as you would hit the wake or a double-up. It is a great way to become a better rider in general. Because of wake parks, we are now seeing up to nine…

You can have the shiniest, most badass six-figure wakeboard boat and still be a kook if it won't start or get on plane. At the end of the day, performance is the most important part of your boat, and it will make or break your summer. PTMEDGE.COM Sick of craning your neck to see your rider? Does your rider leave your mirror's field of view when he's going out into the flats? If so, you've got the wrong mirror. Professional boat driver Travis Moye was even using dual mirrors in his quest for better rider visibility, but then he found PTM Edge's 140-degree mirror and never looked back (pun intended). “As a guy who spends many hours a day looking into a boat mirror, I can honestly say that the…

Asking a photographer what his favorite photo is — it's not only a difficult question, it's kind of annoying too. It's like asking a parent who their favorite kid is, or a musician what their favorite song is. We ran the risk of being a little annoying to a few of our top photographers to bring you four photos for your viewing pleasure. Check out what Bill Doster, Bryan Soderlind, Jason Lee and Rodrigo Donoso have to say about the favorite photos they've taken over the years. SUBJECT: Trevor Hansen YEAR: 2008 CAMERA SETUP: Nikon D3, 70–200 f2.8 at 75 mm, 1/2500 sec., f5.6, ISO 320, Lee graduated sunset filter This shot is of Trevor Hansen doing a Pete Rose during a Supra team shoot on Norris Lake in Tennessee.…

A boat without a tower is like a guy wearing parachute pants — it just looks retro and '90s and out of place. Not only does a tower instantly make your boat look more legitimate, it also provides you with an elevated tow point that will keep you in the air longer and create more space in your boat with board racks. Think your boat can't be retrofitted? Think again. There's an aftermarket tower for almost any boat out there (including pontoons, although we don't encourage it) and it probably costs less than you think. Z5SPORTRACKS.COM Chances are you're already familiar with the Z5 cargo rack and its space-saving potential. Z5 has relationships with five major inboard OEMs to create Biminis tailored to each model, so you get a perfect…

Boats look cool and chicks love them, but for most of us, their primary function is still wake making. Without some sort of ballast, your boat might as well be a 20-some-foot fiberglass drink dispenser. While the pontoon crowd might jump at this, the rest of us want a boat that does stuff. A low-riding boat cutting through glass and leaving thigh-high ramps 70 feet back is nothing short of awesome, but you probably won't get there without some wake enhancers. Whether you want to plumb your ballast in or be able to move weight around quickly and efficiently, these guys will get you sorted out. A LOW-RIDING BOAT CUTTING THROUGH GLASS AND LEAVING THIGH-HIGH RAMPS 70 FEET BACK IS NOTHING SHORT OF AWESOME. RONIXWAKE.COM One of the best ballast…

The term “free riding” can be confusing to grasp because its varying definitions are contingent on where it is applied. In snowboarding, to free ride essentially means riding uninhibited by man-made obstacles, a ticking clock or a panel of critical judges — the main goal is to enjoy the ride. In wakeboarding, the term has morphed into somewhat of a position or description of what a rider is. While this term is still evolving into something we can all agree on, it can be said that the pioneers of free riding were not out there calling themselves free riders. To them, it was wakeboarding pure and simple. They were pushing to wakeboard better for themselves. The origins of free riding can certainly be traced to the Northwest in the early…

Whether you just bought a 2013 model or you want to make the most out of your vintage barefoot boat (“It's the same boat Byerly rode behind when he first started wakeboarding, bro, it's gotta be good!”), you need to consider these products. Boats hold their resale value surprisingly well, and it only gets better if your interior looks the same as the day you bought it. In some cases, these products not only extend the life of your boat's interior, they also cut down on maintenance and cleaning time so you can spend more hours enjoying your boat and less time cleaning. COMMERCIALSEWING.COM Commercial Sewing's Outer Armor covers were the first strapless, buttonless covers on the market. A simple ratchet strap at the back cinches the whole cover tight,…