we've come a long way! what direction will things go?

electricsnow · cassette Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 10753 City: Jefferton

From discussions on and off of the forums, the thought of wakeskating's progression comes to my mind from time to time! Here are two interview excerpts from 2002--truly wakeskating's infancy from a "commercialized" (use that term loosely) and industry stand point. The short brownish quote is from an interview between grubb and thomas in alliance. The second one is from thomas' interview in the butter book.

I feel like for whatever was just a thought back then is now an actual concern, and i think people have different opinions on target markets and what not. But there is progression, and today's wakeskaters are proof of that! So many more riders skate and never touched a wakeboard! Let me be clear that i don't have a problem with wakeboarding, but it's proof that riders can come from other directions. And not only that, but they can be the guys who lead the industry in terms of progressive riding!

And seriously, every time i see a wakeskater noseslide on their skateboard, i think of this butter interview. Because thankfully, the skate kids are here and they like to wakeskate. And not only do they get and use a 4 track concept, there's an actual accessory company for this...run by riders!

So take it all in if it means something and makes you think. It very well might not coming from me--i don't run a company and never made my living off of anything wake related. So take it as you will.

dirtyohioriver22 · Backside 180 Joined: 13 Mar 2006 Posts: 1705 City: cincy

All i Know is there is some australian dude killing it on a wakeskate fingerboard, if that doesn't say progression then idk what

also you guys landed

-laserflips and varial heels that was never expected guaranteeing the first nollie tre is landed this summer. by me. after i get my shuvs consistent and stop doing drugs and eating del taco.

11RANDOMNESS · Posted: Dec 23, 2012 4:50 pm Post subject:

I think one of the real reasons it has branched off is that in wakeboarding you really need an 80k wakeboat or some 1,00 dollar cable park membership. In wakeskating all you need is flat water to have fun. You can do it anywhere behind anything. I mean if you have ever seen a wakeboarder just winching in the flats its pretty boring. just 180s, 360s at most. But in wakeskating you can do pretty much any trick in the flats.

This is probably why its progressed so much too. Moving away from boat riding. Also the heavy influence from skateboarding.

11RANDOMNESS · Posted: Dec 23, 2012 6:13 pm Post subject:

Almost forgot, I think things are going to be more skate style. The way I Look at it is,
Boat=Vert
Cable park=skatepark
winch=street skating
I don't know where jet ski fits in but whatever. But looking at skateboarding, street is the most popular. This is where I think wakeskating is going, more and more winching. I mean we have a nearly winch exclusive magazine (WSM)

electricsnow · cassette Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 10753 City: Jefferton

Man, that's kind of always been the analogy. Pwc and tinny is just another accessible way to ride...getting in trick lines, having that transition for lip tricks or something just to boost off of.

Aside from the riding thing, i guess my angle was a little bit different, in that i'm thinking about where riders are coming from and how wakeskating can continue on its current path of emancipation. Something i keep thinking about based on past discussions, and looking at the wakeskate mag, etc.

And i guess i just think, with how accessible wakeskating is, and how it's supposed to be cheaper, etc, why is it that wakesurfers (which you need that expensive inboard and a shizzle ton of weight to use) are out selling wakeskates? It just doesn't make sense to me, and that is how i end up thinking about target markets and such.

11RANDOMNESS · Posted: Dec 23, 2012 6:57 pm Post subject:

electricsnow, Well going with the whole target market things, I guess some of the companies who sell wakeboards and wakeskate are targeting people who just casually wakeskate with cheap wakeskates. Whereas solely wakeskate companies are making boards for serious wakeskaters at higher prices and higher qualities.

David_Roehm · Backside 180 Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Posts: 911 City: Austin

I think wake surfs out sell wakeskates just because it is simply easier. Anyone can go out on the boat and learn how to wakesurf. Even grandpa and grandma can go out with the fam and learn, there is less impact and it isn't quite as hard as wakeskating to get up and learn! so for the weekend warriors, wakesurfing is the go to choice IMO.

electricsnow · cassette Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 10753 City: Jefferton

I guess thats kind of the point david. How much benefit is there really in trying to attract that crowd? I'm just trying to say, to whoever cares, that wakeskating can be wakeskating without the assistance of wakeboarding. This is all just to outline and remind that things have changed...it's been slow and there's a long way to go though!

Anyway, i hope people see this and feel that hope for wakeskating. How cheesy!

canalskater · Taco Bell Fa'Lyfe Joined: 22 May 2005 Posts: 649

I hope Thomas is proud of wakeskating because that mentality he had back then but was afraid to let out too much, is now a collective understanding between some of wakeskating's ambassadors and they're no longer timid about it. His outlandish and futuristic vision of what wakeskating could become is now our reality and I am beyond stoked to be a part of it in the stage we are now, and I'm excited to see where it's headed.

electricsnow · cassette Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 10753 City: Jefferton

I would like to think he's psyched--my understanding is he digs the wakeskate mag also! And as you said canalskater, a whole lot of what he hoped for is here. This is from an interview i did with him--i'm guessing it's from late 03 or maybe 04:

WS: How would you describe how styles have changed over the years (if at all)?

TH: Aaron Reed, Danny Hampson have changed the way that I wakeskate.

WS: How? Just the way you look at things, or tricks to pursue?

TH: A little of both, of course, but mainly just a reassurance that there are some skate kids out there that actually enjoy wakeskating as well.

Reed and danny helped start that (and still kill it, esp. In that devise and conquer video!), and the next level to me is guys like ben and andrew. Like, the "ben we came to wakeskate" story is the best to me...that direct influence of thomas to ben, and now he's one of the raddest skate oriented guys on the water, and he's a leader on the business end also. And andrew, i thought an early wakeskate encounter of his was borrowing a copy (or whatever) of sfumato. Then he ends up being another mindblowingly talented rider who is also running a brand and trying to support his riders. It's cool that the skate influence is so huge and those kids are trying to do great things their way. And again, that's what thomas was hoping for a decade ago.

And going back to the wakeskate mag thing, to have the smaller brands solely support that publication makes me happy that things have made it to this point! There are just more skate oriented brands out there that are trying to support wakeskating.

It felt cool to be a wakeskater when cassette was around, this also feels really good! More than machines, the rise of brands like remote and watermonsters (who also have team vids on deck), the wakeskate mag, the success of the wakeskate tour and just crushing the idea of what contest riding is (or that the formats can encourage so much more progression than what you'd expect from a contest)...that's just a short list of things that are keeping me on the edge of my seat!

nick · Posted: Dec 29, 2012 11:31 am Post subject:

I love where wakeskating is right now, and where it's headed.

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