 |
Who's Online |
 |
|
2 anonymous users and 0 registered users online.
You are an unregistered user or have not logged in.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome to GotWake.Com
Whether you're a wakeboarder, a geocacher, a snowboarder, my mom, or all or none of the above - hopefully you find something of interest while you're here.
To log a Gotwake signature item, please visit the Tracking Application.
|
News
|
Articles: Finally, some riding! |
|
Posted By: Billy
on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 04:20 PM |
Well, it may have taken until October... but I finally managed to get out on the boat a few times and do some riding. It's funny to think that I did more riding in October than any of the summer months - but it's true. A bit of an indian summer hung around, a the crew put in several nice days of riding during the month. I've been spreading my sets equally between the wakeboard and the skate - they both appeal to me in different ways. Here I'm actually starting to get a little air on the skate - still far from making it wake2wake, but hey: it's a start!
Most of all, it was just great to be out on the boat with the crew, enjoying the sun, the water, and taking a few pulls. Next summer seems so far away - especially since it hasn't started snowing yet!
|
 |
>>>
[ ] |
2347 _READS |
|
Articles: Surf Expo 2004 |
|
Posted By: Billy
on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 04:20 PM |
This event is a chance for those in the wakeboard industry to get a peek at next year's products, connect with vendors, order (or sell) stuff for shops of all varieties. The show is called Surf Expo, but it's a fairly diverse event with surfing, wakeboarding, skating, kite surfing, kayaking, and boating all well represented - not to mention swimwear.
It was a year with a lot of product innovation. Probably the most intriguing new item I spotted was Cassette's new "bi-level" wakeskate. The bottom deck is fairly familiar, but mounted on top of that is another deck, this one softer with more flex. It instantly reminded my of my Burton Junkyard (snow skate) - except the 'trucks' were a bit shorter, and rigid. Here's none other than Danny Hampson describing the new ride to fellow skater Dave Barousse.
 .
Clicking the image will take you to the Expo photo gallery, showing just a few of the innovative new things that will be hitting shelves for the 2005 season.
Following Expo, we headed into Downtown Orlando for the Wakeskate Street Jam: Scott Byerly and crew built a two-pool stair gap on a downtown city street. Click here to see some photos.
All in all - a BIG year at Surf Expo 2004!
|
|
| >>>
[] |
847 _READS |
|
Articles: It Gives You WINGS! |
|
Posted By: Billy
on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 04:20 PM |
Okay - so I'm a bit goofy (but I ride left-foot forward ;-)...
I found this kite wing while out geocaching one night - wherever it came from, it blew up right under my car tire (around 2AM), and since it all but matched the tribal graphics of the boat... I couldn't resist.
A couple days later, we're loading the boat, and I see the wing in the car. I toss it in the boat - and next thing I know, we've got a Red Bull promo photo shoot going on...
|
|
| >>>
[] |
687 _READS |
|
Articles: Finally - Some Riding! |
|
Posted By: Billy
on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 04:20 PM |
With both Dave and Lee distracted with new activities, interests, and responsibilities, my core crew has been dissolved. To make matters worse, Thomas and Robert are gone for the summer, so Desiree and I have missed a couple days on the water for lack of a 3rd!
Add to that all the work, geocaching, dirt biking, and travel - and you can understand why I haven't done nearly as much wakeboarding as I would like this season.
Well, this last week we finally changed that. I rode 6 out of 9 days before leaving for San Diego. I towed the boat back and forth multiple times, pulled and re-installed the prop no less than 3 times, and did some much needed maintenance on the boat (though it still needs more).
Then, thanks to a little windfall, I picked up a new board (a Hyperlite DNA-core Premier) and some Liquid Force Transit bindings. Add a new Parks carbon-fiber handle and Zebra jacket fusion mainline, and it's a whole new setup - and so far, I LIKE it!!
Can't wait to get back out there!
See you on the sloughs,
Billy
|
|
| >>>
[] |
1046 _READS |
|
Articles: Diablo Marine Company Camping Trip |
|
Posted By: Billy
on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 11:07 PM |
What could be better than being a boat owner with a boat mechanic, who owns his own shop, for a best friend? Well, I recently hooked up with the Diablo Marine (current and alumni) crew and extended family for a big camping trip to East Park Reservoir. A great time was had by all, and Desiree and the boys even came up late Saturday night - what amazing good fortune it was running into them on the dirt road on the way into our (very obscure) campsite!
I didn't snap any photos until the final day (Monday), so many people wealready gone, and you'll find they're little more than boat and dog pictures - click here to view them. Aside from a bent prop within the first 30 minutes in the water, and a trashed Insta-Shade (some idiot forgot to stake it down ;-) - it was a relatively incident free weekend. Despite the primitive site (no running water or flush toilets), everyone was well prepared, and (near as I could tell) a great time was had by all. Brandi got up on her very first pull wakeboarding, Thomas and Robert and Dave all had great surf sessions, and there was an endless supply of great food all weekend long.
From wakeboarding to wakeskating, tubing to swimming to surfing (and maybe just a little drinking) - it was a great outing. I could do with out all the wind and dust - but as they say, location is everything. Have to get there earlier that late Saturday to score a premium camping spot - I scored six geocaches on the drive up. What a great weekend!
|
|
| >>>
[] |
1069 _READS |
|
Articles: Mixing It Up |
|
Posted By: Billy
on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 02:22 AM |
It's not at all unusual for the crew to start shifting gears around the seasonal equinox' - but this year it's a bit different.
It started out with another great day at Cow Mountain - where I actually placed a new geocache while out riding, which was TOO much fun, and looked something like this. Also found six other caches on the way to and from the mountain. Big day #1.
On Sunday, Dave and I picked up the boat (he had serviced it the day before, while I was out riding!), gave it a quick wash, and headed out on the Delta with Brandi and Blake. Air temps were just over 80, and the water temp averaged about 61. It was warm enough that I was skinning it - but then, I'm wearing a natural wetsuit. ;-) It was Dave's first time back in the boat since he broke his ankle - it was GREAT to see him lace up those same skate shoes and get out there and TEAR it up! I took a set on the wakeboard, and another on the skate... and landed pretty much all my stuff - well, okay: No switch toeside wake to wake. ;-) Big Day #2.
That's enough, right? Go on, take it easy: Spend the day washing your bike (I did), and resting (I didn't). Instead, I was FTF on a couple of new nearby caches, and then hooked up with Jeff from Russo's Marina, loaded up our bikes and headed out to Carnegie... where we also ran into good friends Marcus and Darci (although sadly not until the end of the day). That place is RAD! Extreme hill climbing? Sure - but there are "bunny slopes" and all kinds of good practice terrain for a beginner like me, as well. Big Day #3.
So - not your typical springtime mix where we might snowboard and wakeboard in the same weekend - although I'm sure that will happen any weekend now. This one was a blur of riding (dirt), caching, crashing, conference calls, riding (wake/skate), working, more caching, and more riding (dirt). WHEW!
Time to get back to work, so I can get some rest!
|
|
| >>>
[] |
1123 _READS |
|
Articles: 63 Years Young... |
|
Posted By: Billy
on Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 06:54 PM |
So, my parents were down visiting from Oregon last week, and Phillip got behind the boat and picked up right where he'd left off last fall - up and riding on his first pull this time!
Aside from the occasional slip back into old familiar bad habits (we all do that when we ride, eh?) - he really progressed a huge amount while he was here. In a four day weekend, we spent three days out on the boat riding, and one day geocaching. What a TROOPER! Click the thumbnail below to view Phillip's updated photo gallery:
Way to go, Phillip! Next time down, we'll have you jumping... ;-)
|
|
| >>>
[] |
1262 _READS |
|
Articles: Gotwake to Host Pro Wakeskater Aaron Reed for NorCal Tour |
|
Posted By: Billy
on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 05:09 PM |
Ever wanted to spend a day in the boat with a pro wakeskater -- one who also happens to be a coach at The Wakeboard Camp in Florida? Well - this is your big chance...
GotWake will be hosting none other than THE Aaron Reed for some fun and relaxation and a little NorCal tour in between upcoming Pro Tour stops. You know Aaron - he's the guy that won the Alliance Magazine "Ollie Over the Red Bull" Wakeskate Contest, beating out the likes of Grubb, Horrell, and Parks. The same Aaron Reed who stood on the podium at the first two Pro Tour wakeskating events. The same Aaron Reed who graces the cover of the latest Alliance Wakeboard magazine, plus the star of SNAP, the new wakeskate instructional from Bump Films.
While he's here, he has been kind enough to agree to a clinic or two out on the Delta. If you've ever wanted to spend a day getting instruction from a pro rider - this is your chance. Read the extended text for more details, and contact Billy to reserve your spot today. Space is limited, so don't delay!
|
|
| >>>
Read more about Gotwake to Host Pro Wakeskater Aaron Reed for NorCal Tour (970 bytes more) [] |
1459 _READS |
|
Articles: Season Opener |
|
Posted By: Billy
on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 08:41 PM |
A week ago today, I had the opportunity to go riding with Buffalow, Matt from AirCowboy, and Jeff from the marina. While it was technically my second day out this season - this actually felt like wakeboarding. When we went out on March 1st when Rob was visiting - it was novel, and definitely fun - but COLD.
Last week was nice - I still wore my spring suit, but it was warm and sunny, and I enjoyed relaxing in shorts, no shirt between sets.
Then this weekend - WOW! Saturday, Dave and I towed the 'bu up to New Melones, where we hooked up with Tammy, Zach, Christie, Josh, Mike, Mimi, Patty, Peter, and a long list of friends, old and new. They were camping for the weekend - but Dave and I were daytripping, because...
We rode with Wes out of B&W yesterday on his SuperAir. Dang - ain't that Nautique wake STEEP! The weather was PERFECT - air temps in mid to upper 70s, with water temps around 63-64. My first day "skinning it" - which was a pleasure!
I'm still counting on a few more days of snowboarding - but there's no doubt about it: wakeboarding season is HERE. Yeah, I know - some of you ride all winter long in dry suits... but what's wrong with you? Don't you own snowboards?? ;-)
Peace,
Billy
|
|
| >>>
[] |
1116 _READS |
|
Articles: WICed Fest Dates Announced |
|
Posted By: Billy
on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 07:34 PM |
Dan, Rob and the rest of the crew have finalized dates and details for the sixth annual WICed Fest. The event will take place Friday June 20th through Sunday June 22nd at Candlewood Lake in Connecticut.
Read the extended text for the full press release, and check the WICed Fest website for more details.
|
|
| >>>
Read more about WICed Fest Dates Announced (2119 bytes more) [] |
1041 _READS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
