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

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

Schulz Family Bare Footer Fun!

This Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) photo was sent to us by Jennifer Schulz. Jennifer tells us “Here is a picture of my husband and my son (first year footer) going side by side. Obviously Wyatt is showing his dad up with the one foot!!”

Love the one foot action by the way. Tell Wyatt, “Way to go!”

Thanks Jim and Jennifer for sharing this great 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!

Daring Water Sports at 76 Behind a Sunsetter LXi

This Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) Sunsetter LXi owner is well known in his area of Tennessee and we caught wind of his antics today. His Nephew, Adam McCall, Managing Director for Axis Wake Research, gave us the 411 on Uncle Ron.

Ron Tiller is 76 years old, but still loves being behind the boat. According to McCall he typically wakeskates behind his 2000 Sunsetter LXi wakeboard/ ski boat, but also enjoys slalom skiing, barefooting, wakeboarding and a some miscellaneous water sports. The unclassified water sports he tries are what seem to get the most attention. This video captured by a local news station proves that. Take a look and you'll see what we mean.

Keep it up Ron! We're proud to have you as a part of the Malibu Family!

Tags: Malibu Boats | Ron Tiller | 76 years old | wakeboarding | wakeskating | water skiing | barefooting | wakeboard boat | wakeboard boats | ski boats | Sunsetter LXi | Malibu Family

Barefoot Water Skiing with a Senior Citizen

Karen Putz (@DeafMom) tweeted Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) with this great barefooting article she wrote for the Chicago Tribune. It is as an extremely inspiring read!

Twenty six years ago, I went from hard of hearing to deaf in an instant. I was water skiing on my bare feet and crossing over the wake when I caught a toe and hit the water sideways. When I climbed into the boat, I thought I simply had water-stuffed ears; it wasn't until weeks later that I realized that being deaf was here to stay.

Last fall, my husband sent me a link to the Today Show featuring Judy Myers, a 66-year-old woman who took up barefooting at the age of 53. Judy competes in tournaments and she can barefoot backwards and on one foot. Judy inspired me to get on the water again. In the spring of this year, I flew down to the World Barefoot Center and I went back to barefoot water skiing at the age of 44. I've been having a blast ever since.

To read the entire article visit the Chicago Tribune online.

Thanks for sharing Karen and congrats on getting back on the water! Keep footin'!