Jun 27, 2013

The Bu Review: Let Nate Ski

Not at Malibu, but a cool picture anyways

Nate Smith ran 41 off like a boss, Tadd was on the mic pumping up a possible run for a record, the crowd was noticeably amped up, cameras were out, people were hoping to see a record fall and the $10,000 grand bounty paid out.

We saw the boat coming down course, the skier weaving around the buoys, and he ran all six! Holy cow, Nate just crushed the world record!

Wait…no…that was just a 35 off pass, and that wasn’t even Nate…What the hell is going on??

It felt like such a let down. One of the structural issues that any waterski tournament has is its tough to recreate the "head to head" competition part of a team based sporting event, i.e basketball, football, etc.

The bracket style competitions are a nice step in the right direction and compelling jump competitions create a great scene, but, its harder to really gin up the fanatasizm that you find in other sports given the solo nature of the event.

Think figure skating or something, the exact in-the-moment win/lose isn't present as, say, beating your guy off the dribble and scoring a basket.

Its exciting on its own merits, watching a Nate Smith slalom or a Freddy Jump or Patrice Martin trick ski, but, that in the moment head to head action isn't there.

So, when we all thought that it was Nate going for the record there was a palatable excitement rippling through the crowd.

And we felt let down.

Maybe it was the right decision by the judges, or whomever, but, darn it!  We wanted to experience that thrill of seeing that, in THAT moment.

On the other hand, holy cow there are some good slalom skiers out there, as much fun of waterski magazine as we make, the stunning skill of these guys and girls!  I see you Whitney.  Its amazing.

Anyways, we understand the rules and the seasonings for how a tournament is run and all that, no complaints, but, shoot that would have been cool.

Jun 24, 2013

The 'Bu Review - Freddy Is a Beast

Our week long look back at the Malibu Open 2013, our thoughts, take aways and impressions in no particular order.  Each article will tackle different things that we thought we thought.


The Above video is of Freddy's 223 foot jump to close out the preliminary round.

While Freddy going 220 + isn't huge news on its own, the circumstances leading to that make this particular jump something that to our eyes, makes him even more impressive.

The events friday were a bit of a weird situation thought out the day, it rained in the morning, it was sort of humid and sweaty even though it wasn't particularly hot.

A few jumpers earlier Jimmy Siemers went out the front in a spectacular crash that caused him to tap out of the competition.  For those of us who are not around pro skier people on a daily basis or only get to witness it once or twice a year, the speed and strength and sheer velocity of the skiers as they approach, hit and exit the ramp is stunning.

Which makes Jimmy's crash, and subsequently Freddy's, more amazing that they walk away.  While the physics of landing jumps further away make the imact less intense, hitting the water at that speed at any angle of attack is going to hurt.

After a couple more skiers it was Freddy's time to jump, and just like Jimmy, Freddy's first jump was a spectacular fall.  He came off the top of the jump and sort of petered forwards, eventually tucking into a front flip, there was a big explosion as he hit the water and we all sort of assumed that would be it for him.

Which, lets be honest, would be a huge bummer.  With Ryan Dodd not skiing, who I would probably put as the #2 biggest draw for mens jump, losing the biggest name and face of mens jumping would be quite a blow.

After a few minutes, clearing out the cobwebs we supposed, Freddy straped back in and gave it a go...

Jump Two wasn't anything amazing, maybe 200?  But, it didn't, to the naked eye, look like "Freddy"..looked more like a person who looks like Freddy, but, wasn't.  Who is this imposter!!?

But, then came Jump 3.

That looked like Freddy!  Whoooosh.  Boom.  A 223' foot leap to get into the finals.  We all went bonkers and all was right with the world.

Freddy has a distinctive style, where as, in comparison to day, the Jumping Asher Brother whose style appears a more muscular, ferocious attack on the ramp, to Freddy's whose appears to be a more clinical, geometry type..he doesn't seem to generate the same height or force, but, just BOOP glides through the air and lands further then anyone else...its quite mesmerizing.

As our group was wandering off to find a bar, we happened to walk by Freddy as he was making his way to wherever the immortals go after skiing, a throne? a hot tub? and he was limping badly...walking gingerly like a dude who just got his ass kicked.

But, we wished him good luck and off we went.

Saturday evening he strapped on the skis again and went out and won.  This dude who looked broken just a day before again did what he did and won another tournament.  The mentality to be a great jumper has to be one of simply ignoring pain and fear and just going far, let the rest take care of itself.

That was certainly in evidence watching Freddy ski and fight through the injuries.  Thats what makes him a beast.

Jun 20, 2013

/Throws A Tornado

This pic comes from the new cable park in Grand Isle LA.  This may be the coolest thing you see all week, and probably the scariest thing that wakeboarder has done in awhile.  


Jun 19, 2013

Wakeboard Wednesday (3 pics 1 vid)

RedBull does some really cool stuff with lots of different sports.  In my college skiing days I remember them showing up at a few tournaments and handing out free cans, that stuff really hit the spot after a night of debauchery.  Hungover and jacked up on caffeine...there is no better way to wing at the ramp...That may not be accurate, I will have the guys in the lab study that theory.

I may not be a fan of their drinks but I love the way they spend money on cool stuff and produce fun stuff like this night time light show wakeboarding.  If you have never skied in pitch black before you are missing out on a great experience, you are also smarter than I, but still missing out.  A midnight barefooting run is something you will not forget.  Of course its hard to drill a battery pack into your foot and rig up a light system on your legs, so instead redbull went with wakeboarders.  Probably a smart move...








Jun 17, 2013

Vid Day Monday

These guys put together an awesome go pro edit, all of the rest of you go pro users need to step up your game!

Jun 10, 2013

Its to Dang Cold!

Enjoy this weather you hot piece of ass! Dispatch from the CRB weather desk Guess what???  ITS COLDER THEN A WELL DIGGERS ASS OUT THERE KIDS...