10-yr-old Lands TS 5 and Whirlybird Behind Malibu

Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) received an update from Brent Kappler today regarding his son Mitch. Of course we consider him our Mitch too! We even had a Malibu t-shirt designed after this kid. We have been following this young man since he was 7. You may remember the blog posts we wrote about Mitch landing his first back roll in competition at age 7 and his first front roll at age 8.

Today Mitch's dad let us know that Mitch will be competing at Wake Games this weekend. To prepare for this wakeboard competition Mitch has been working on a toe side 540 and a whirlybird. This short video shows Mitch nailing those two wakeboard tricks.

10 year old, Mitch Kappler is from Lake Gaston, NC and this video features him landing a toe side 540 and a whirlybird. Mitch is coached by Adam Fields of the AF Wakeschool and sponsored by Malibu Boats Dealer ProMarine Boats of Durham, NC and Liquid Force. He rides behind a Malibu boat.

We're pulling for you, Mitch! Good luck buddy!

Read more about Mitch Kappler and his family on the Malibu Boats Blog.

Tags: Malibu Boats | Mitch Kappler | Brent Kappler | Wake Games | wakeboarding | wakeboard boat | kids | Grommet | wakeboard competition | whirlybird | toe side 540 | front roll | back roll | 10-year-old | Adam Fields

Orlando Channel 9 Spotlights Tgas

Team Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) pro water skier Thomas Degasperi (Tgas) has been a busy guy behind his Malibu Response LXi. Not only has he been training five days a week for the 2011 pro slalom season, but he was recently photographed for the cover of the May issue of WaterSki Magazine . And yesterday he was featured on Orlando Channel 9 Sports (@WFTV). They interviewed Thomas about his road to the World Championships in 2011 as well as how he started in the sport of water skiing. It is a great video. Give it a watch!

Congratulations on all of the coverage Thomas. You deserve it! We're pulling for you this season!

Tags: Malibu Boats | Thomas Degasperi | WaterSki Magazine | water skiing | Response LXi | ski boat | ski boats | slalom skiing | Channel 9 | Orlando FL | water ski video

WaterSki Covers Degasperi

Team Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) pro water skier Thomas Degasperi is featured on the cover of the May WaterSki Magazine as a part of the the 2011 Best Slalom Ski Issue. The former World Champion was shot in full lean capturing a slalom buoy behind his Malibu Response LXi. It's a great cover and a great issue! Pick it up at a newsstand near you. Great job Thomas!

Tags: Malibu Boats | Thomas Degasperi | WaterSki Magazine | water skiing | Response LXi | ski boat | ski boats | slalom skiing

Take your skiing and riding to the next level!

Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) will be on the tour with INT this summer. Will we see you there? You can get involved with competitive watersports this summer with the INT League. INT hosts a tour of amateur slalom, wakeboard, wakeskate, kneeboard and wakesurf events, culminating the season with regional competitions. The divisions are based on ability, beginner through pro. People of all ages are invited to compete or watch for free. Registration Information and the event calendar are online at www.intleague.com.

Tags: Malibu Boats | INT League | amateur | competitive watersports | slalom skiing | wakeboarding | wakeskating | kneeboarding | wakesurfing | wakeboard boats | ski boats

Malibu Facebook Friend Fired-up

Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) was tagged in a photo on Facebook yesterday by a new Malibu boat owner. He also tagged his local Malibu Boats Dealer on Vancouver Island, Parker Marine. This photo came up in our notifications and we had to get the story behind it!

Turns out the whole scene took place at a Parker Marine camp out last summer at Cowichan Lake on Vancouver Island in Canada. Jake, who is a hardcore slalom skier and footer, had recently purchased a Malibu Response from a Parker Marine customer who upgraded to a new Wakesetter VTX. Jake, the Parker Marine boys and a bunch of other Malibu owners were hanging out by the camp fire when someone brought up the fact that Jake was not wearing a shirt to match the boat he now owned.

Ian, from Parker Marine, described the photo op, "I told him if he was to toss his old shirt in the fire I'd give him a new Malibu t-shirt. He said 'Hell yah!' As he sacrificed it to the fire, I took a quick pic for the Malibu owners of the world!" Ian added, "Jake now wears his shirt proudly because he loves his Malibu!"

Tags: Malibu Boats | Parker Marine | Cowichan Lake | Vancouver Island | Jake | slalom skiing | barefooting | Response | Wakesetter VTX | wakeboard boats | ski boats

$1500 up for Grabs in Big Air & Surf Event

Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) Dealer Cedar Port Marina is hosting their first ever Big Air and Surf Event in Disney, Oklahoma on May 21, 2011. A $15 entry fee gets you a shot at $1000 in prize money for the biggest air or $500 for the best surf session behind Malibu wakeboard boats.

Entries are open to all comers, but if you're not the competitive type come out to watch the action on May 21, 2011. You will also have the opportunity to test drive and/or ride behind the 2011 Malibu boats. A good time will be had by all!

Don't get filled up on the big air and big wakes at this event because you'll definitely want to hit the Grand Lake BBQ Festival in Langley, OK on the way home!

Email Jerry Cookson at Cedar Port Marina for more information on what is sure to be a fun and for one or two people a profitable event.

Tags: Malibu Boats | Cedar Port Marina | big air | wakesurfing | competition | $1500 | Grand Lake BBQ Festival | wakeboarding event | wakesurfing event | wakeboard boats |

SMG Rail Jam 2011

Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) dealer Singleton Marine Group would like you to join them for Rail Jam 2011, May 14th. This will an all day and into the night party. Watch Team SMG and Pro riders launch and grind across some of the biggest sliders this area has ever seen. The course will be over 1200ft. in length. Join the fun from noon until 10pm in front of Singleton Marine Group Yacht Center located at Holiday Marina. Food and drink will be available at Castaways, the marina’s brand new bar and grill. Enjoy the Music and tons of great deals from SMG WAKE shop! If you think you have the stuff to master the rail, email Johnny Tobaben at johnny@singletonmarinegroup.com we might give you a shot!

Location: 6900 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford, GA. For more info call: 770-831-8898

Boating International's South Africa

These Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) very cool shots are from the Boating International’s “Malibu Open House” in Johannesburg South Africa. Thank you to Derrick Levy from Malibu Boats Dealer Boating World in South Africa and Bo Lassen from World Wide Nautic for sending them to us. Looked like a great time!

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!

2011 Schweitzer Tropical Daze Video

Check out this Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) tow vehicle! Nothing like pulling a Malibu on the slopes with a snowcat. This video was shot at the 2011 Schweitzer Tropical Daze sponsored by Malibu Boats Dealer Hagadone Marine (@HagadoneMarine) and held at Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Western Idaho. The event looks like it was a ton of fun! We want to thank Hagadone Marine for sharing the video. Great stuff!

Tags: Malibu Boats | Malibu Dealer | Hagadone Marine | snowcat | Schweitzer Mountain Resort | ski resort | Western Idaho | Wakesetter VLX | wakeboard boat

Cumberland University 2011 Softball Team Picture

Malibu boat (@MalibuBoats) owner and Cumberland University Softball (@CUBulldogs) Head Coach, Heather Stanfill emailed us this great photo of her CU Bulldogs! The girls all have their game faces on in Heather's 2003 Malibu Wakesetter XTi. The photo was taken by Beth Patterson on Center Hill Lake in Smithville, TN. It was shot as the Cumberland University 2011 Softball team picture and a large version of photo actually hangs over the Lady Bulldogs' field.

Heather wrote, "We love to ride in the summer and this picture was awesome! We've had a ton of compliments. It hangs on a huge banner on our field."

The Cumberland Universaity Softball Team is doing well this year and currently ranked 3rd in their conference. Which is pretty awesome considering that both of the teams ahead of them are ranked nationally.

Cumberland University Softball is a hard working, Christian unit. Not only is their education important to them, but so is being active in their community. They are a team with strong leadership, character, and sportsmanship. By supporting each other they believe they can overcome any obstacle. With dedication and passion for the game, they work as one team, for one goal, as one family!

Thanks so much for sharing this photo with us, Heather. It really made our week. Tell the girls thanks too and GO BULLDOGS!

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!

Tags: Malibu Boats | Cumberland University | Softball Team | Heather Stanfill | Head Coach | Bulldogs | Lady Bulldogs | Wakesetter XTi | wakeboard boats | wakeboarding | girls softball

Ryon Riley's Wakesetter 247

This Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) photo was sent to us from Ryon Riley, through the Malibu iPhone App. Ryon took this picture of the boat right after he got done wakeboarding on the Brazos River near Lake Granbury in Texas. 2009 Wakesetter 247 LSV.

Thank you Ryon for letting us share this cool shot!

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!

Gear-ing Up for Spring Cleaning

Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) Apparel (@MalibuApparel) is preparing for the introduction of the new merchandise line. For this reason some Spring cleaning is required on the gear.malibuboats.com web site. There isn't room for everything so certain items are being moved to the "Clearance" section of the web site. Or as we like to call it the "Malibu Boats Gear Outlet".

If you're always searching for a smokin' deal on quality goods at the outlet mall or places like Nordstrom Rack, the "Clearance" tab is the spot for you. Right now there are only a few items listed, but check back regularly for new clearance items. Let our limited space help you get a great price on your next favorite piece of Malibu Boats Gear.

If you're strictly into the latest greatest from Malibu Boats, keep an eye on the gear site home page and follow @MalibuApparel on Twitter for the 411 on the release of the new gear line. Happy Spring!

Tags: Malibu Boats | Malibu Gear | clearance | Spring Cleaning | Malibu Apparel | Malibu Gear Outlet | Malibu Merchandise

Late Season Minnesota Wakeboarding

Wakeboarding // MWC Surf Club & MN Inboard from capture studios on Vimeo.

Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) Dealer Minnesota Inboard Watersports (@MNInboard) hit the water with Capture Studios, Spencer Combs and the rest of the Midwest Coast Surf Club to capture this great wakeboarding video. Rob Mueller from Minnesota Inboard was going off behind a 2010 Wakesetter VLX in September. It looks a litttle cold, but Rob had no problem heating up his riding. Nice job man! The camera work, editing and music add to the great riding to make this short video a must-see! Great work to all involved and thanks for sharing with us here at Malibu Boats.

If you like this one, check out this sweet wakesurfing video from Capture Studios, Spencer Combs and the Midwest Coast Surf Club.

Tags: Malibu Boats | Midwest Coast Surf Club | Spencer Combs | wakeboarding video | Capture Studios | wakeboarding | wakeboard boats | Rob Mueller | Wakesetter VLX | wakesurf boats | Minnesota Inboard | Minnesota

Midwest Coast Surf Club Video

Midwest Coast Surf Club from Spencer Combs on Vimeo.

We came across this great video from a Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) Twitter follower the other day. Spencer Combs (@spencercombspix) is not only a photographer in the Minneapolis, MN area, he is also an avid wakesurfer and happens to own a 2006 Malibu iRide. We liked him right away, but not just because he's a Malibu boat owner who has a passion for water sports. Spencer, along with a group of his friends and relatives are working to make a difference in their community with the help of wakesurfing.

Spencer founded the Midwest Coast Surf Club to introduce inner city kids as well as other interested locals to the sport of wake surfing. With his wife Alex, his dad Andrew, his mom Dana, his brother Wes, the Capture Studios film crew, Craig, Brandon, Rob, Will, Troy, Jon, Stephen, Amanda, Matt, Ty and tons of others that just show up, Spencer and Midwest Coast Surf Club are on a mission. "Love our community through boating and teach people about the fun of wakesurfing in person as well as through videos and photos."

Spencer described his crew and their motivation this way, "We are a group of photographers and film makers, web designers, and SUPER nice loving people. We thought with our gifts we could really push the sport to the next level!"

Spencer and Capture Studios have won Photographer and Videographer of the Year respectively for the state of Minnesota. Spencer said, "...we are so excited to share our gift with the community and what better way than something we are passionate about!"

While you will catch a few glimpses of Spencer's iRide in this wake surfing video, the feature boat is a 2010 Malibu Wakesetter VLX supplied by Malibu Boats Dealer Minnesota Inboard.

When we asked Spencer why he chose Malibu for this video and as the official boat of the Midwest Coast Surf Club he had plenty to write in response. "It was a pretty easy choice to choose Malibu boats! I mean come on, Malibu boats are probably the sexiest boats on the market; not to mention you can get one of the best wakes EVER behind these boats. Once you drop that Wedge and fill up the ballast your wake is high and the sweet spot is nice and long, plus TONS of room inside for friends! It doesn't get much better than that! Plus the quality of the boat is above and beyond all the other boats we have ridden in!"

Right now the Midwest Coast Surf Club is in the planning stages for 2011 events and clinics as well as more videos! We definitely hope to see more from Spencer and the Midwest Coast Surf crew soon. Way to go MCSC! You're off to a great start. This video is sweet! Thanks for including Malibu Boats!

Tags: Malibu Boats | Midwest Coast Surf Club | Spencer Combs | photography | videography | wakesurfing | wakeboard boats | iRide | Wakesetter VLX | wakesurf boats | Minnesota Inboard | Minnesota

Team Malibu Alumni to be Honored by Hall of Fame

Past Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) Team Athletes, champion barefooter Ron Scarpa (@RonScarpa) and champion kneeboarder Ted Bevelacqua (@MarketingYOUNet), will be recognized by the Water Ski Hall of Fame on April 30th.

Being part of the Malibu Boats Pro Team extends well beyond an athlete’s competitive years. Team Malibu Alumni like world champion Barefooter Ron Scarpa and 7-time national champion Kneeboarder Ted Bevelacqua have retired, but they will always be considered a big part of the Malibu Family. That is why their brothers and sisters at Malibu are proud to congratulate both of these world class athletes on the honors they will receive from the American Water Ski Educational Foundation Hall of Fame on April 30th. Scarpa is scheduled to be inducted into the Water Ski Hall of Fame, while Bevelacqua will be receiving the Award of Distinction. Malibu Boats is extremely pleased these two amazing athletes are being recognized for their water sports careers and contributions to the industry.

The Water Ski Hall of Fame honors and perpetuates the names and accomplishments of skiers, pioneers, and officials whose dedication and competitive achievements at National and International levels have brought lasting fame to the sport of water skiing. Scarpa will become the 61st inductee into the Water Ski Hall of Fame for his competitive barefooting accomplishments.

Scarpa is considered the most decorated U.S. men's barefoot water ski athlete of all time. He has won more Open Men national overall titles – 12 (plus one Open Pro Men national overall title) – than any other athlete in the history of barefoot water skiing. He also won four men's world overall titles, the most of any other athlete in barefooting. In addition to the world overall titles, Scarpa won five world tricks titles, four world slalom titles and two world jumping titles. He was selected USA Water Ski's Male Athlete of the Year in 1992. He joined the Malibu Team in 1997 and retired from competition in 2005. He continues to run the Malibu Response LXi at his Orlando barefoot water ski school, Ron Scarpa Watersports.

Longtime Malibu Boats employees Paul Singer and Dennis Kelley, who have grown up with this company as well as these honorees, will be in attendance at the AWSEF Hall of Fame ceremonies. They will be there to cheer for Scarpa and Bevelacqua for the contributions they have made to Malibu Boats and the industry.

When Singer, Malibu Boats Marketing Director, was asked about his upcoming trip to the Water Ski Hall of Fame Induction he said, “What an incredible honor it is to have followed the career of both of these friends and athletes.” Singer explained, “Ron Scarpa truly exemplifies what the Hall of Fame is all about. His incredible accolades and contribution to the sport is unparalleled but his integrity and effectiveness as an ambassador of the sport has been admirable. Ted put the sport of kneeboarding on the map and continues to impress crowds wherever he goes. Malibu congratulates both of these tremendous athletes and ambassadors for this prestigious honor.”

The Award of Distinction was created to recognize individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to water sports. Award recipients have included tournament skiers, innovators, industry leaders, officials and others responsible for landmark achievements in the development of water sports. Bevelacqua will receive this award for his competitive success as a professional kneeboarding as well as furthering the sport.

Bevelacqua was a 7-time national kneeboard champion. He became a part of Team Malibu in 1990 and even after retiring from competition, stayed on as a Sales Manager for Malibu Boats. Bevelacqua also designed the Trident Ted Bevelacqua Pro Model kneeboard and was the founder of Pro-Acqua kneeboard accessories. Bevelacqua runs his own marketing business and continues to be heavily involved in water sports. Congratulations Ron and Ted! Malibu Boats is always pulling for you!

Tags: Malibu Boats | Ron Scarpa | Ted Bevelacqua | Water Ski Hall of Fame | barefooting | barefoot water skiing | kneeboarding | water sports | Hall of Fame | honor | Paul Singer | Dennis Kelley | ski boats

Win Chad Sharpe’s Gear from SBC Wakeboard Magazine

Team Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) Pro Rider Chad Sharpe (@ChadESharpe) had gone from being the brash young punk who had his title stripped from him at Nationals back in the late-90’s to the elder statesman of the Canadian wake scene. Chad doesn’t get back to Canada very much these days with his busy schedule of competing, shooting photos, editing video for his website, funwhenwet.com and being part owner of Ronix, but that doesn’t mean he’s lost any of his national pride. Chad still manages to get out on the ice and play hockey a few times a week in sunny Orlando. And speaking of hockey, that ties in nicely to our skill testing question for this contest.

The Question
Before he got into wakeboarding, Chad was really good at hockey; what position did he play?

The Gear
Ronix Viva Board
Ronix Cell Bindings
Ronix Totem handle & R8 Rope
Billabong Medly Vest
Billabong clothing prize pack
Spy sunglasses and prize pack
Bern Baker Wake Edition Helmet
Rockstar Energy prize pack
Malibu Boats RC toy boat & prize pack.

Learn more on the SBC Wakeboard Magazine web site. Good luck!

Tags: Malibu Boats | SBC Wakeboard Magazine | Chad Sharpe | contest | prizes | Ronix | wakeboard | wakeboard bindings | Malibu RC Boat | Rockstar | Spy | hockey | wakeboarding | wakeboard boats

Schweitzer Tropical Daze & Malibu Wakesetter VLX

Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) and Hagadone Marine Group/Yacht Club Sales & Service at Schweitzer Mountain's Tropical Daze Party. Good weather, Great snow and awesome facilities at Schweitzer Mountain in Sandpoint Idaho. The best skiing in the inland northwest.

Tropical daze is the end of the season Party. Malibu Boats and Hagadone Marine sponsored the pond crossing. The winner earned a new CWB Faction Wakeboard!

See more great photo's of this event at Hagadone Marine Group/Yacht Club's Flickr Gallery

The Pfau's 2007 vRide

This Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) photo is of Aaron and Melaina Pfau’s 2007 Malibu vRide purchased from Skiers Pier in Waterford MI. The photo was taken on Pretty Lake in Mecosta, MI on Labor Day 2009 around 8:30am. Aaron also tells us “We love the boat and Malibu. We’re even going to TN in a couple weeks for a Malibu Factory Tour (May 2nd)” Aaron also shared with us this great story. “My wife and I bought the boat before we got married. It was our first big purchase. I ended up proposing to her on the boat in the middle of my parent’s lake on a labor day evening as the sun was setting in 2007”

We can’t wait to hear more!! Thank you, Aaron and Melaina for sharing your story and photo.

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!

Photos From Viva Las Chicas 2011 in Argentina

Just received these great photos featuring Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) and the young ladies at the Vivas las Chicas - Robbie Rendo Wakeboard Clinic. They are pretty sweet! Shot in Argentina at the 2011 "Viva Las Chicas" Girls Wakeboard clinic, this flickr gallery of photos tells a story about just how much fun the sport of wakeboarding can be for boys and girls. Nothing but smiles and determined looks in these shots. Oh and a couple nice looking Malibu boats! Check'em out!

We were introduced to the Viva Las Chicas event last year with this great wakeboard video We should be seeing a new 2011 video soon. Stay tuned to the Malibu Boats Blog.

Viva Las Chicas was sponsored by Malibu Boats Dealer Druck S.R.L. in Argentina, Rip Curl, Liquid Force, Oakley and Monster.

Thanks to Kris Lassen and Druck S.R.L. for sharing these great photos from this year's event!

Tags: Malibu Boats | Malibu Argentina | Malibu International | Argentina | Viva Las Chicas | girls wakeboard clinic | wakeboarding | wakeboard boats | wakeboard boat | 21 Ride | girls | Wakesetter

Rosenfeld Family & Ty

This Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) photo was sent to us from Scott Rosenfeld through the Malibu iPhone App. Here is a little back ground about this photo and the Rosenfeld family. “My wife (Jeanna) and I purchased our first boat (1995 Malibu Response) and raised our children on it. Before our boys Jacob now 14 and Evan now 12 could walk or crawl, they were on a Malibu. We currently own a 2007 21 foot Malibu Wakesetter. I took the picture with an iPhone in the middle of Lake Naciamento, Paso Robles, CA” . Please notice their cat Ty on the swim step, a 14 lb. Bangle.

“We love using our boat for wake surfing above all other activities. Jacob and Evan are both water polo studs. They are on a travel team and the sport takes up most of our free time. But, as soon as we are able to get away our first choice for fun in our Malibu”

Thank you Scott for sharing your photo and story with us!!

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!

Tags: Malibu Boats | Malibu boat owners | Rosenfeld Family | Malibu iPhone App | iPhone | iPhone camera | Lake Naciamento | cat | Ty | wakebaord boats | wakeboard boat | Wakesetter