Wake Skiing

About 18 months ago, I get a call from a guy who wants me to help him build skis to wakesurf with. It took me a few minutes to really get my head around what he wanted to do, but we worked together on coming up with a design that would work to 'surfski'.

He just launched www.starrsurfskis.com and is looking to go big -- he's got pro surfers riding them on some big waves in Hawaii -- movie coming soon.

For now, here's some video of surfing on skis behind a boat

November Wakesurfing in Austin

Catching a quick afternoon wakesurf set on Lake Austin on a warm, windless day.

Wakesurfing in Montana

Some boys up on Whitefish Lake in Montana pulled the trigger on a Smed Wombat a few weeks back. From the looks on their faces it seems they didn't like the board at all... they just ordered another... :)









This last pic was on an 87' 19ft Nautique. The fairly flat rocker line on the Wombat makes it versatile for various wake sizes...

One more Wombat

This is a bright neon yellow -- looks really great on the water.
Shiny gloss coat -- nice durable epoxy. Get it while it lasts.
$375

Boards for Sale

I've got a couple of Wombats that I'm letting go for cheap.

Bennett PU foam blank with 3ply stringer / Epoxy finish
4'8" x 21.5"
double layer of 6oz S-glass top and bottom.
Quad Futures setup
Custom airbrush
Xtrak Traction
$400




EPS/Epoxy
4'6"x 21"
double layer 6oz s-glass top and bottom
Futures Twin setup
Custom Airbrush
Xtrak Traction
$400

Slaysh! Blog

Things have been a bit quiet the last month or so -- last time out on the water was weekend of Thanksgiving with the Khun brothers crew.

In the meantime, some of my buddies from Shredstixx have created a blog and are putting good stuff up there all the time. Check out www.slayshBlog.com

Four Way Fin System

In my opinion, one of the least explored areas in making surfboards is fin placement.

4Way Fin System allows you to adjust your fins to try different set ups in ways that used to require purchasing another board with a different set up.

Here's a few pics of the 4Way Fin System. Forward/Back; Toed-in or out; Canted more or less.

RJ takes 3rd in Men's Open

Last weekend in a wakesurf competition on Lake Castaic, RJ (proud new owner of a custom Smed Wombat - blue & black in the middle) with 4 way adjustable fins, took third place. He was beat out by Johnny Steig and James Walker, two of the top wakesurfers in the sport. RJ is only 13 so look out!!!

Life Rolls On

Earlier this summer I built a board for a Charity Auction with WakeOutlaws.com
Each builder was able to select a Charity to auction their board for to raise money.

My choice was the Life Rolls On Foundation www.liferollson.org is focused on ensuring that people that have spinal cord injuries are able enjoy life to the fullest by participating in the sports they love -- including surfing, wakeboarding, MotoX, skateboarding, dance, and others.

I'm super stoked to be included in this years LRO "Night By the Ocean Fundraiser" in Hollywood. I donated completely hand-shaped "Reactive" model for the night's auction.

Super Custom Graphic

Customer wanted to do a custom wakesurf with a very specific graphic.
We had it printed on a high end color plotter and glassed it under the fiberglass. Sick sick sick!!!

 

 

 

RJ getting some air

RJ won one of my Wombat boards at a wakesurfing comp this year.
He is 13 and ripping it up!



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Blue Camo Wombat

I found a guy who does big logopaper prints on a plotter and had customer that wanted to do a sexy camo type image. This is on the whole bottom of the board. Top is airbrushed.

 

 

 

 

Red Wombat

Just sold this red Wombat Wakesurfer. Wakesurfing traction is hard to find cheap. I put the traction together with a few odds and ends I had laying around..

New Video -catching a little air on the wombat

Wakesurfing on my Wombat

Don't Powerturn

This video shows how to properly pick up a fallen rider when wakeboarding. Same principles can apply to wakesurfing.

AWSA Contest

Smed Wakesurfing is sponsoring some of the American Wakesurf Association events this summer.

Here's some pics from the Northern CA contest this past weekend.

another creation

Here's another one fresh out of the SMED wakesurf lab.
Traction gone wild!

Some airs

With my 200lbs and with our small Malibu Vride it is not always easy to bust out of the wake and catch air when wakesurfing.

It can be done however....

Fresh Air Exhaust Install

After testing Larry's "wing" and the wing plate we were ready for the FAE install. This should make our boat much more wakesurf friendly. Woot woot!

One of the challenges with the Malibu Wedge is that it makes it difficult for an FAE install. It is possible, but then the wedge needs to remain in the DOWN position. However, to remedy this for when we want to ski or just cruise down the lake to Hula Hut, Larry made a plate that allows the wedge or (wing) to be removed with a quick release. (the quick release isn't installed in these pics, but we hope to have it installed in the next week)

The original Malibu Wedge removed, and the WING and Wing Plate installed.


Removing the exhaust flaps


Exhaust flaps removed and prepped for install


Installing the system






FAE on the boat


Installing support bar under the swim platform




Support Bar installed, Swim Platform back on and ready to ride!!