Wakeskating.com Custom Build By Integrity Wakeskates

Date: 05-24-2008
Author: Wakeskating.com Staff

Memorial day weekend has always been a significant time for me, as far as my fascination with riding "waterboards" is concerned. Back in 1996, the aforementioned holiday weekend was the first time I was able to ride my very first wakeboard, which was a Connelly Dually. And similar to a parent who had to walk to school, up hill 10 miles both ways, the memories of your first board rush back fondly when you recall how hard you had to work to earn that board. Essentially, you had to prove how much riding meant and how badly you wanted to do it.

And along similar lines, this holiday weekend is generally when I get the chance to take out a brand new board I may have purchased over the winter, or perhaps borrowed from a friend to take for a test ride. However, given the rate of progression in wakeskating and board design, I cannot help but reflect on this whenever I have a new board in my hands that's a radical departure from what one is familiar with. Such was the case when I rode my first bi-level in 2005. While examining a progressive design in what is a relatively secluded location, where there is litereally one wakeskater, a few kneeboarders and bent-at-the-waist combo skiers, and many pontoon boats, it's hard to feel like you're not in on something really special that those around you, even your family, don't quite understand. It's just one of those feelings that re-affirm how special it is to be a part of wakeskating at this point in time.

2008 is quite similar. Over the winter, Integrity wakeskates was hard at work, experimenting with new materials through 25 limited edition Integrity builds. These models were essentially test runs for a new design that includes (but is not limited to) an improved center weighting system (called a centra-fuse core), and the use of urethane to increase durability throughout various areas of the board. Lucky for us, the kind folks at Integrity wakeskates built Wakeskating.com a custom Integrity that will be going out this weekend for what will be the first of many sessions.

I enjoy the consistency in these past-to-present parallels, since I'm a creature of habit and nostalgia. (Sometimes, that's also a curse!) However, it's also a constant reminder that wakeskate design is not stagnant and there are those who continue to challenge design and push forward to make the distinct vision in their mind a solid reality. Integrity operates on their own wavelength, building original boards that they believe in, test thoroughly and like to see on the water. Seeing this shape in 2008 only makes me wonder what is in store for the future, not only from Integrity, but wakeskating in general.

Until then, pictures of the custom build for Wakeskating.com will have to do. But please, put on your shades because the neon green and orange are blaring and just might blow our your retinas like a speaker that's gone up to 11. Stay tuned for a review that will also outline all of the features that were incorporated into this design. And if you have not yet done so, head over to www.integrity-wake.com and familiarize yourself with what's current in the world of Integrity. While the limited 25 Integrity wakeskates are long gone, the highly anticipated artwork for Integrity's two pro models--Nick Taylor and Ryan Lemons--have been finalized, along with the team graphic. Furthermore, all three models are available for purchase.

An extra special thank you is to be extended to Erich Schmaltz, Derek DeBoer and Bobby Miller for building this wakeskate and creating memories.