Essay on Thomas Horrell

Patrick Quinn · Pop Shuvit Joined: 13 Sep 2003 Posts: 117

This is a request for information on Thomas. I'm in first year university and I'm writing a paper for a History course on the intellectual origins of the contemporary West (the course isn't as scary as its name), anyway I'm doing an essay on the Marquis de Condorcet's theory of history and how we are continually progressing towards the betterment of mankind. Now, I have a pretty open-minded prof and so I've choosen to compare Condorcet's philosophy of history with Thomas Horrell's contribution to wake sports, more specifically the parenting of wakeskating. As proof I'll show how he continually pursues betterment of the sport through innovation, i.e. the 4-trac, the winch, etc. However its hard to get hard facts on the guy cause there aren't any books on him and I don't have access to all my old WBM, only the last years worth. Anyways, I'm looking for quotes from Thomas, possibly from interviews I could source, or any information on what he's done for the sport in general. Any help would be appreciated.

BillJ · Pop Shuvit Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 144

Have you tried emailing him? Go to the Cassette website and you can find email addresses for the company.

electricsnow · cassette Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 10756 City: Jefferton

As bill said, I would definitely recommend trying to get in touch with him. HIs address is thomas@cassettewakeskates.com and he is quite accessible, so you could probably get any quote you really needed.

I guess some major contributions would be the first wooden flat decks, which seems simple now, but before that wakeskates were nothing more than wakeboards with foam pads, or a giant piece of styrofoam (actually, that's a slight exaggeration, but I'm refering to the sponge). Nowadays, every wakeskate company has one wooden flat deck in their line and we all have cassette to thank for that.

Cassette also came up with some of the first concaves. Some may say that the hyperlite wakeskate with that skull on the bottom was the first concave, but it's not quite as spectacular because it's more difficult to mill out a 17 ply piece of wood, rather than shaping a piece of foam. So for the sake of technicalities, cassette made the first wooden concave skates. And you also mentioned the 4 trac.

Some may debate the effect of the asymmetrical deck, but that is another first for wakeskating that came from cassette. And I'm talking non-4trac models.

Oh yeah, I don't know if this counts, but cassette also came out with the first all-wakeskating video. And their little wakeskate/slander/mayhem filled zine called analog...that's a first for the industry and the idea was basically ripped off by one of the big whigs in the industry, but I think they gave up on that one.

That's all I can think of for now. I don't know if you have the butter book, but there's a really good, deep interview with thomas in there that's 4 pages long. It's better than what you will find in any magazine. ANyway, your paper sounds like it will be really good. When is it due?

...andoutcomethewolves · Posted: Feb 26, 2004 4:53 pm Post subject:

I'd like to read it when your finished.

electricsnow · cassette Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 10756 City: Jefferton

Oh yeah, you could probably mention that he had one of the first all wakeskate companies out there, with Fresh water traction being the first (although they later merged with double up, and I'm not so sure the name fresh water traction is still around anymore.)

Anyway, let me know when your paper is due. Maybe I can help...

Patrick Quinn · Pop Shuvit Joined: 13 Sep 2003 Posts: 117

The information provided so far is great, anyone with anything else to add or links to interviews or quotes would greatly be appreciated. Unfortunately I suffer from UPS (University Procrastination Syndrome) and the essay is due tommorow. I had all the historical stuff finished up, but changed my present day subject last minute. I was going to do a women's right analysis as a positive progression for society but I figured it would be easier to write about something I love. Anyhow, I'm going back to keyboard, this essay is worth 20% of the term and I left it to the last day, again. I'll let anyone who wants to see it have a look after its done, I only wish I had thought of this idea earlier because it has a lot of potential. Thanks for the help again, and keep sending me ideas, I'll be pulling an all-nighter on this one.

electricsnow · cassette Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 10756 City: Jefferton

Patrick, check your e-mail!

David Legler · Posted: Feb 26, 2004 10:43 pm Post subject:

quote made by Thomas Horrell and Eric Schmaltz: "we would rather be forgotten then remembered for giving in". don't know if it will help much, but just a quote i like a lot

RUSSIAN · Posted: Feb 27, 2004 12:54 am Post subject:

David Legler, I love that qoute, it's my sig on wakeboarder

Kris · Posted: Feb 27, 2004 4:17 am Post subject:

What a great quote!

Patrick Quinn · Pop Shuvit Joined: 13 Sep 2003 Posts: 117

Thanks to everyone for the help, and the e-mails. I anxiously await this one to be marked and handed back, I'll let you know the results.

nick · Posted: Feb 27, 2004 3:07 pm Post subject:

i definitely wanna read this one

Parky · Guest

Patrick Quinn, lets hope your teach understands what wakeskating is.... oh so many times Ive had to explain what skating is Laughing

rukusrider103 · Backside 180 Joined: 11 Feb 2004 Posts: 961

el · Backside 180 Joined: 07 Oct 2003 Posts: 1739 City: The Sea