Team Malibu Australia skier Joel Wing returned to competition over the weekend after 13 months away due to a knee injury. He came back in great form, winning slalom at the first professional event of the Australian calendar, the Australian Open at Port Macquarie. After coming into the final in third position behind Victorian Nick Adams and Austin Abel from the USA, Joel put forward his best round in the final with a score of 2 @ 39 1/2 off (10.75m), which proved to be too much for his younger rivals. This puts Joel in a great position coming into the Moomba Masters in melbourne, less than 3 weeks away.
Way to go, Joel! We're pulling for you! Good luck this season.
The truth about the LXi is on the water. That’s where you’ll find your next personal best no matter what your skill level. Whether you're searching for World Records or simply looking to make that next slalom turn, the Response LXi delivers.
World Champion slalom skier Will Asher trusts the Response LXi to provide the performance he needs to train for his next milestone in professional slalom skiing. The Cut Diamond hull produces soft, flat wakes that gives pros like Thomas Degasperi as well as slalom faithful like you an edge. This year the Response LXi has also become known for it’s girl power, pulling both Pro Jumper June Fladborg and Pro Slalom Skier Regina Jaquess to World Records.
The Response LXi is not just the boat of World Champions. It is also helping to groom the next wave of record-breakers. Ski schools and Pro skier/instructors like Drew Ross can rely on the Response LXi to grow a student’s skills all the way to the professional level.
All this versatile 3-event performance and the Response LXi won’t leave your family on the dock. Rated for 9 people the LXi accommodates family and all of their stuff. Thoughtful LED lit storage centers line the interior of this boat. The LXi also supports you with the available MaliView dash an optional Zero Off speed control system for precise course runs. Maliview is a graphical way to navigate the boat’s systems, and also allows for video playback, rear view camera connectivity and even iPod® and iPhone® control when paired with the optional Malibu Rockford Fosgate Sound System.
Malibu’s 2011 Response LXi is literally a dream machine, test-drive one today.
Transworld Wakeboarding Magazine wrote “Any rider who knows what’s up will agree the VLX is one of the finest wake boats ever built.” Pros like Dallas Friday, Kevin Henshaw and Phillip Soven clearly know what’s up, as this is their boat of choice.
Whether you’re a pro or a beginner, you’ll appreciate versatile wake enhancement in the form of the industry’s only quad ballast system and Malibu’s available Patented Power Wedge. While waiting to ride, experience a multi-tone, multi-textured customizable interior with three densities of foam, wrapped in G&T Duraguard™ Marine Vinyl and secured with tough SolarFix® PTFE Thread sewn in a French stitch. The available Wet Tek floor with snap-out carpet adds another element of personalization to world’s most customizable wakeboard boat.
Malibu Boats is also offering custom colored Illusion G3 wakeboard towers for 2011. As if the innovative design of this gas spring assisted weightless fold-down tower wasn’t enough, now it can be ordered to color coordinate with your boat. So grab your board from the standard Titan spinner combo racks and attach the rope. Then take a minute to prepare for your next run on the specially tooled transom seat, set at the perfect height to put on your board. The Wakesetter VLX makes you feel like a pro, even if you’re not.
Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) has updated the video that pulled back the curtain on the performance, innovation, construction and interior excellence that goes into their award-winning boats. The new video contains 2011 model footage as well as an in-depth look at Malibu Boats Illusion G3 Tower and accessory production. As the only water sports boat manufacturer to design and produce their towers in-house, Malibu Boats has some unique shots to share. The 2011 Backstage Pass video is available to view and share on Malibu Boats YouTube Channel.
The “Malibu Boats Backstage Pass” was filmed to give viewers a 10-minute glimpse into the Malibu Difference. Performance, innovation, construction and interior details are described and shown through out this video. Watch this video and gain a better understanding of the World’s No. 1 selling water sports boat manufacturer, the Malibu people and the award-winning boats they create.
The Malibu Backstage Pass video demonstrates the power behind Malibu Boats performance. Amy Mauzy, PR Manager for Malibu Boats, explains Malibu’s custom hull options, big wake enhancement versatility, World Record slalom performance, handling characteristics and ride. Malibu’s National Promo Team Director, Dennis Kelley, also talks in detail about the research that goes into Malibu performance design.
“Versatility, handling, ride, wakes, it all comes together on the water and that’s where Malibu boats separate from the pack,” Mauzy concludes.
Paul Singer, Marketing Director, outlines the developments that have made Malibu Boats the innovation leader in the water sports industry. Singer describes a few of the industry firsts implemented by Malibu including the MaliView Dash and Entertainment System, frameless windshields, the new Illusion G3 tower with weightless fold-down and the engineered fin-saver swim platform.
Singer also goes into detail about Malibu’s proven production processes. He focuses on their meticulous gel coat preparation and application, the extra steps Malibu takes in lamination, the Malibu Fiberglass Engine Chassis System (FibECS) and the unibody construction that creates a Malibu boat’s quiet ride. Malibu Boats Production Manager, Reese Stansell weighs in on the company’s superior in-house production of components in additional to the boats, like the new G3 tower. Like many signature Malibu parts, this new industry-altering wakeboard tower is designed, created and assembled in-house at Malibu Boats to ensure quality.
“We don’t build boats this way because it’s easier or inexpensive. We do it because it’s the right way and gets us closer to our goal of building the best boat possible,” Singer explains.
This updated video gives you unrestricted access to factors that make the Malibu Difference. Enjoy!
Watch this new video from Malibu Boats learn more about the Malibu Difference.
As a custom boat manufacturer, Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) offers a long list of boat options and configurations. But perhaps the most unique part of the Malibu boat customization process is color choice. When you order a Malibu boat you can choose from 22 different colors to design your Malibu boat inside and out. The number of designs this kind of creative freedom can produce is fun and exciting, but it can be overwhelming at the same time. We offer you the ability to experiment with colors and design your Malibu boat online. Of course a digital representation of color does have some variation based on your computer's operating system, graphics card, monitor, etc. We have been asked by several new and continuing Malibu Family members who are ordering boats to post photos of possible color combinations. For this reason, we have started to compile a flickr gallery of Malibu boat photos illustrating different interior and exterior color schemes. Each photo includes a description detailing the colors featured as well as where they are located on the boat. We will be adding to this collection of photos each time we obtain images of a color scheme that is not yet represented in the gallery.
If your Malibu boat has a cool color scheme you would like to share, please email a photo to blog@malibuboats.com. We would love to post it! The more color combinations represented, the more useful this gallery will be. Have fun designing your next Malibu boat!
It all started in the summer of 2000, when my husband and I bought our first ski boat. It was an entry-level MasterCraft, and (unfortunately) we were not pleased with it for long. By summer's end we were looking for something classier (sorry, MasterCraft!) and after some research realized that we should look into Malibu. We were at that time living on the Seacoast of NH, and went to see the nearest Malibu dealer - East Coast Flightcraft in Middleton, MA, to see the boats there. We found the perfect replacement - a 2000 black & tan Response LX. The dealer had this boat in their showroom under the lights, beautifully detailed after about 80 hours of demo use, and we fell in love with it immediately.
In the Fall of 2003 we moved to CT, but had no boating friends yet. The following April I was out driving and saw a Malibu out in front of an auto repair place. I stopped, met the owner, and looked over the boat - a 2003 Response LXi. At the same time I met a friend of the LXi's owner, who was new to boating but had always wanted to own a boat and water ski. He was so proud of his new I/O, just purchased (without his friend's advice). We all boated and skied together that summer, mostly on the 2 Malibus. By the end of that summer I so admired the LXi that I decided to look around and found one I liked advertised online by a dealer in NY. My I/O friend and I went to see it - another demonstrator with lots of extras and about 80 hours on it. We took an in-water ride and I fell in love with it - a blue & white 2004 Response LXi. What followed was a domino effect - I bought the blue & white, my friend bought my black & tan, and finally sold the I/O. I also acquired a Shetland Sheepdog puppy - Sammy - that summer; she became our boating mascot. Sammy goes out with us every boating day. Her little head can be seen on the blue & white, at the rear of the boat.
So now we have 2 fine Malibus in our little "fleet", both of which I have lovingly owned and maintained. For me, Malibu is the very definition of quality, style, design excellence and elegance on the water. As long as I continue to ski, Malibu is the only boat I will ever own - I was an admirer at first sight and my opinion has not changed as the years go by. I follow Malibu's technological and design advances that come along each year with great interest, but my '04 blue & white Response LXi continues to be the perfect boat for me, absolutely the best in its class for 2004. The only changes I made over the years were adding a Titan II stainless tower and a Scarpa plate.
In closing, I cannot begin to describe the pride and joy this fine machine brings to my summers. I only wish I had more summer in my life - might have to move away from New England to get it!
Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) Pro Team Rider Phillip Soven (@PhillipSoven) just took home his 4th straight World Series of Wakeboarding Title. We would call it a dynasty if it took a team to get these wins. As it is this string of incredible victories is because of one man. Phillip Soven! Well one man and the Wakesetter VLX that helps him prepare him for these milestone performances. Way to go, Phill! Even though the Chinese calender doesn't recognize the new Year of the Goat until 2015, we believe Phill's amazing performances over the past year have changed the Zodiac sign of 2010 to the GOAT(Greatest of All Time).
Phillip had an unbelievable 2010 season! He captured the 2010 Pro Tour Championship, took delivery of his new 2011 Wakesetter VLX and stomped his first 1080 on the maiden voyage, then a day later he did it again. He also won the King of Wake crown for the 3rd time and now he has cemented his dominance with his 4th Wakeboard World Series title. Phillip has definitely crossed the "T" on the coveted nickname, "GOAT" (Greatest Of All Time)!
Camsur Watersports Complex was proud to host the final stop of the 2010 WWA Wakeboard World Series January 20-23. The exotic five stop series included Brazil, Canada, Abu Dhabi, USA, and Philippines. Each stop combined the top wakeboarders from around the world in their attempt to capture the 2010 WWA Wakeboard World Series Overall Title. Team Malibu's Phillip Soven rode away with the overall victory thanks to a 100-point lead over 2nd place.
Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) have been on display all over North America at local boat shows. Check out this local news broadcast from the Tinus Marine booth at the Milwaukee Boat Show! The interest is high and people are visiting the shows for a Touch of Summer and a great deal on Malibu Boats. There are many more boat shows to come. Visit a show near you to experience the 2011 Malibu boats. Check out this list of 2011 Malibu Boat Shows.
This Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) photo is of Dean Stanbury’s 2005 Wakesetter VLX floating on morning butter on Hawkesbury River, Wisemans Ferry, NSW Australia. Dean sent us this great photo through the Malibu Boats Malibu iPhone App.
Thanks Dean for sharing these great photos!
If you capture or come across a cool Malibu Boats-related photo like this one let us know. We would love to post it on the Malibu Boats Blog and Flickr Channel. We will even Tweet about it on Twitter and add it to the ever-changing Malibu Boats Screen Saver. You can also submit your photo or video through our Malibu iPhone App.
E-mail blog@malibuboats.com with links and/or images. Also make sure to include the name of the person who took the shot and give us a short description of the photo's contents. If you do not know this information and you are only forwarding a link, we can track it down. Thanks!
Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) Australian Pro Slalom Skier Joel Wing returns from injury with a win at the Australian Open. 
