Summer 2012

Tons of riding this summer. Not a lot of updates posted here. Follow me on Twitter and Facebook if you'd like. Did manage to win the Picnic in the outlaw division this summer and riding has been so fun. Enjoy! 

Wake Games...from Home

Wishing all the Wake Games riders the best. Enjoy this great event at Orlando Watersports Complex. It is a great experience...that I will have to wait until next year to enjoy...provided I don't have any broken bones! Tried to ride with the cast, but common sense kicked in. See you on the lake...and at US Nationals!!!

New Use for Hyperlite Boots

March in Nebraska this year has been exceptionally warm. But the water is still freezing. So while I love my Hyperlite boots for wakeboarding as they perform great, I tried them out for surfing too. Sure, I'd rather have my feet free for surfing, but if it means keeping warm, the boots are the answer. Advisory: Exposing your eyes to the picture of my winter anti-tanned look may be hazardous to your health.

2012 Hyperlite B-Side

The new Hyperlite line is sure to push wakeboarding in 2012. I’m excited to be riding the B-Side with Marek boots and System bindings. Here’s why:

Hyperlite B-Side Board: Great pop for HUGE air, fast tracking, and really forgiving for a pro model board. Like most, I ride the B-Side without the center fin, but if you are just getting started or riding really rough water, you may want to use the fin. Here’s a board that truly can be ridden by a top pro, a beginner, and everything in between.
Hyperlite Marek Boots: The stiffest boots in the line for really fast responsiveness. They are easy on and easy off. If you prefer a freer feel, the Murray, Webb, or AJ boots are the way to go.

Hyperlite System Bindings: Hyperlite started a binding revolution in wakeboarding last year and they are super. I was merciless with my 2011s and they held up great. Systems bring your feet closer to the board and give you unmatched board control.

Go get some!

Comps, Cable, and Crow Mobes

Just got back from a super fun road trip to the Kansas City area. With Ozzy (the new dog) in tow, my dad and I managed to win both Saturday and Sunday’s INT event (Outlaw and Masters between us). Oz is the one sporting the gold around her neck! She’s part Jack Russell and part miniature pincher. The days following were reserved for roughing it (tent camping!) and riding cable at KC Watersports. The crew there is super and it looks like the new ownership is doing a great job making the place look great. Landed my first crow mobe--pumped on that!

Harley Clifford's Riding is INSANE!!!

Harley from Austin Hair on Vimeo.

Pre-Season Season Ender?

We have been getting ready for Wake Games in Orlando at the end of April and riding has been progressing. That is until the end of my second set a few nights ago. Caught an edge (on an OLLIE 180 OF ALL THINGS!) ripping my patella from place. Nothing like having your knee cap on the side of your leg! The doc says 4-6 weeks for recovery. May still attend Wake Games, but only to watch. Planning to ride WWA nationals in July, WWA Worlds in August, and some other events throughout the summer, but have to heal up first. Hope to see you on the water and hope you see me doing something other than driving the Mastercraft. Watch your ollies!!!

Shaun Murray

Spent time with Murray last week. What can I say? He is Shaun Murray?!?! He helped me a ton with my riding. The time was amazing for sure...and I was and still am amazingly sore! Kyle Rattray (Gator Boards) and Travis Moye (Mastercraft) also helped me out. Thanks guys! Before heading home we checked out some paddleboarding in Cocoa. Would love to have one. Counting down the days til the Nebraska thaw. Oh, and one more thing, the 2011 Hyperlite Bindings and boots did not disappoint.

All New Hyperlite Equipment

One word describes my attitude about the 2011 line: PUMPED! The only problem is all of the snow here in Omaha. Thankfully, I’m off to Florida next week with Shaun Murray to try out the new board, bindings, and boots. That’s right, bindings and boots for 2011. I can hardly wait. Note: In case you are wondering, I did not try snowboarding via the wakeboard!

US Championship FINALS

Nationals was a blast this year. I will keep the update quick as it is late and I am spent and you don't want a book. To keep it simple, I won first place and am stoked. Thanks for being a part of my world of wakeboarding. Its a rush.

Go to full screen, turn up the sound, and enjoy this video summary.

U.S. Championships in FL

After two days of qualifiers, the top three riders are advancing to the finals. Pretty happy about making it through and I'm not sure how, but seeded 1st. The first day was pulled by Andrew Adkison's Mastercraft X-Star which was great given it is the same boat that we train behind. Day two was pulled by a different boat and the wake size was underwhelming making everything feel small (as the grabbed scarecrow pic sort of indicates). There are some really good riders here from around the nation so I am just thankful to be in the running. Top pros like Murray, Lyman, Adkison, B. Soven, Schwank, Hansen, and Ruck were around. Murray and Adkison sleighed it.

Wanna go HUGE?

Get yourself on a Hyperlite wakeboard, strap in, ballast up the Mastercraft, and charge! Oh, yah, your parents Visa may need to be involved. But landing in the flats is worth it. Convince them that it will be great family time (it is!) and then set the gps for Omaha Marine Center. If that doesn't work, remind them that Christmas is coming and everything is on sale now because it is the end of the season. See you above the treeline!

Riding the Cable Park in KC

Thinking about heading to KC Watersports for one last cable ride before they close for the season. If you need some inspiration, here’s a helmet-cam video of some riding we did there last month. Get out there and ride!

2011 Hyperlite Bindings

The 2011 Hyperlite bindings have been unveiled via this photo and description. Can't wait to nab some myself. Look for Omaha Marine Center to stock these bad boys in 2011. Here is what Hyperlite is saying:
Ride Like Rusty, JD and Shaun with The System
The dawn of a new wake footwear philosophy, the System binding solves an inherent design flaw that has plagued wakeboard boots since the first bungee bindings. A rigid plastic plate coupled with a soft, textile upper forced the rider to sacrifice either support and durability, or comfort and range of motion. The new System binding separates the traditional design, creating a comfortable and light water-specific boot that's free from hard plastic and heavy plates, with a separate external binding that supplies strength and durability. The boots perform like athletic footwear with a supportive chassis for a locked-in feel and responsive ride. Designed for any riding style, Hyperlite's upcoming boot series is compatible with the System, including Rusty Malinoski's Marek, JD Webb's Kobalt and Shaun Murray's Murray.

Tennessee Mountains and Doing the “Dew” Wakestyle

On our way home from FL we stopped in the Nashville area to see friends and enjoyed some of the best water known to mankind. Center Hill lake was insanely smooth and so warm that it was almost too warm. Thanks to the Yawns for hosting us and Jason and Melea (and fam) for pulling us behind their Supra (and Joe for the Tige...even though we never met you while we were there?!?!).

If you are wondering about the music, the song is by the Pogues (read: my dad’s 80’s alternative collection) singing about the original Mountain Dew which was from “them there Tennessee parts” and wasn’t what it is today I’m told. Enjoy the video. I hope it makes you want to get out and ride.

The HOT Picnic

“The Picnic” was a fun time with Ronnie Romero and his crew. As always, it was a great event. Kyle Alberts made it a homecoming from FL and impressed everyone with his skilz. Brian White was also there representing Hyperlite with their great product. Lots of really good riding went down. Enjoyed winning the advanced division. Stay tuned to Wakeboard Nebraska for a recap of the festivities. I’m back in Florida for a week and then hoping to ride on the Center Hill Lake in Tennessee on the way home. *The pic here is with Ben Bazis who won outlaw.

Cable, Comps, & Coaching

We had a great time in the KC area over the weekend! Friday night we hit the cable park and rode with the rail master himself, Shane Bonifay. Shane had some helpful pointers for me on spins and was really fun to watch. He is recovering from his THIRD knee surgery—ouch. Saturday and Sunday meant winning x2 at wakeboard comps (dad got a 2nd and a 1st) and then another fun session at the cable. Hit the water again tonight (Tuesday) for some lessons with the Jensens. It’s always fun to watch riders progress and they are doing just that. Enjoy the video of some fun cable footage. No broken collarbones this time. Ride on. More pics here.

Go Pro Camera Day One--FUN

Picked up a Go Pro waterproof video camera and had some fun with it. Oh, yes, we had another one and it ripped off of the helmet after the first fall and SANK! Moral--always wear a flotation device...even if you are a camera. Watch the video here.

It’s All Here!

The three things I have wanted all winter have finally arrived—spring, 2010 Hyperlite equipment, and our Mastercraft X-star. Spring means we are riding quite a bit and any day now I will hang up the dry suite until that unmentionable season comes around again.

A few long awaited boxes recently arrived on my doorstep from Hyperlite which made it ten times better than Christmas as far as presents go. The new Marek is SICK! It is super fast with unmatched launchablity. If you have not tried a Marek you owe it to yourself. The 2010 Marek bindings are on the stiffer side of the Hyperlite line making them really responsive. I’m diggin em. Check out Hyperlite’s line at their website and at Omaha Marine Center. A HUGE thanks to Hyperlite for the support. As for the X-Star, Omaha Marine Center has come through once again. Those guys are dedicated. From routine maintenance to winterization, they are great. They also did a full redo on our decal package which turned out perfect (check the pic and be impressed!). OMC knows boats! Thanks guys. Speaking of OMC, check their site for details on upcoming Rider’s Club events. They should have some new 2010 equipment to demo and as always, they will have world class wakeboard boats at the events. We’ll be there so come hang with us and enjoy.

8 or 85? (entry 2)

After riding at The Projects for a couple of days with the likes of Clay Fletcher, we hit OWC. BTW, the dog that chases Clay in Box of Fun doesn’t just do that for the camera. That dog is nuts! At OWC I did a coaching set with veteran pro Cobe Mikacich in the morning. That was very helpful. Then my dad and I rode the cable for a while. This was my first time back after breaking my collarbone at the cable a few months ago. Thankfully it wasn’t a repeat performance and I was able to see some progress. Man rails are tough. We are going to wrap up the week with another day of coaching and maybe some surf. Then it’s back to SNOmaha for a shock to the system. J. The pics are here.