5 Questions With Raph Derome

After a banner year in 2012, Raph Derome found himself on two magazine covers and winning “Best Wakeboarder” and “Rider Of The Year” with TransWorld WAKEBOARDING and Alliance WAKEBOARD, respectively. He won many events all over the world, highlighted by his coveted, overall victory at the inaugural Red Bull Wake Open. Here is where Raph’s head is at coming into 2013.

1.) Now that it’s Spring of a new season, what is your perspective on last season and all of your success?

It was amazing. I had a lot of fun and it was great to be back riding and traveling. Everything has really motivated me to figure out my plan for this 2013 season.

2.) What are your goals behind your WAKESETTER 22 MXZ this season?

I would honestly just like to ride more and have fun behind my boat. I didn’t get to ride that much behind the boat last year with all the contests and traveling. And the year before, I had my elbow injury so hopefully, I can get out and ride a lot this year.

3.) You are a creative rider on all levels. What do you think can be some areas for progression behind the boat?

Hard to say. But I believe the best progression happens naturally.

4.) Your lifestyle seems to be a little cleaner than a lot of other pros, how to you resist the urge to fall into the rockstar lifestyle?

I don’t know, I do my own things. I guess I’m just not a rockstar.

5.) What advice would you give to young aspiring pros, and those just looking to have fun and learn a few tricks this year? What is the key to keeping the fire and passion for wakeboarding?

You need to just ride and appreciate the present. I meet a lot of people who have a strong desire to become pro. To have fun, they need to become pro. Once the dream doesn’t happen, they stop riding. But that’s not what it’s all about. When wakeboarding is not going well, people should do something else, like go skateboarding or pick up a guitar. But always give it another shot.

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WaterSki Mag Interviews Team Malibu Pro Skier Will Asher

What’s next on the list for Team Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) pro slalom skier Will Asher (@WillAsher)? WaterSki Magazine interviewed Will with this very question in mind. He continues to train behind the World's best selling boats, Malibu. The Response LXi is Will's boat of choice and it seems to be working. He has cemented his place among slalom skiing’s elite with wins at the 2009 Masters and Worlds. WaterSki chatted up the world’s number one slalom skier about his most successful season to date, his research and development role at HO Sports alongside Bob LaPoint and his recently acquired citizenship.

Read the WaterSki Magazine Will Asher Interview at waterskimag.com.

Tags: Malibu Boats | Will Asher | slalom skiing | water skiing | ski boat | Response LXi | WaterSki Magazine | interview | Team Malibu | World Champion

Wakeboarding Mag Asks Malibu's Brian Grubb 20 Questions

1. How did you become pro? I guess just riding and being in the right place at the right time. Hanging out with Byerly and those guys. I was wakeboarding at the time, and I did a few pro events and made a little money doing that, but that's about the time I started wakeskating too, and I wanted to see where it took me, and that's when I started hanging out with Byerly and he helped me out a lot along the way.

This interview was posted by Wakeboarding Magazine, written by Craig Kotilinek and the photo was taken by Spencer Smith.

2. What made you switch over from wakeboarding to wakeskating? Probably the biggest thing was riding at the cable park and hitting rails. We'd seen it in the mags growing up, but I only really started hitting rails when I went to the cable park. That's when I really started to fall in love with the sport and I really wanted to start pushing it to the next level.

3. What was your favorite trick when you first turned pro, and what's your favorite now? My first trick that I really got consistent and thought was a hard trick was probably the toeside shove indy. My favorite trick now is a wake-to-wake backside big spin.

4. Who is your favorite rider and why? My favorite rider is Scott Byerly. I watched him growing up since I was really little and then being able to meet him and ride with him and become really good friends with him over the years is really cool. And even to this day he's still ripping. He hasn't lost it a bit.

5. What is the hardest thing about being a professional wakeskater? Probably all the travel, but that's also the best thing. We get to go all over the world and do all these crazy trips just because we're riding our boards. We're away from home a lot and it takes its toll, but it's definitely worth it.

6. What would you be doing if you weren't a pro wakeskater? Oh man I don't even know. I went to college and got a degree, but I haven't had any desire to use it at all. Liberal Studies from UCF; it's pretty much an undecided degree. I'd be living in Orlando, though, and doing something.

7. What is your biggest goal to accomplish this year? This year I really want to win Worlds. I haven't won it for a couple years — or actually about five years — and I really want to win it this year. I've been second for a lot of years, but I really want to win it one more time and I think this will be my year.

12. What's one thing you couldn't live without on a daily basis? I like riding everyday, so maybe my Malibu.

14. Who are your sponsors? Hyperlite, Billabong, Red Bull, Malibu, Von Zipper, Kustom Shoes, Watermans Sunscreen and Performance Ski and Surf.

18. What's your favorite way to ride? PWC, cable, boat? I like riding behind my Malibu VLX the best. I like going big. I like hitting double ups and hitting big wakes with long ropes. The higher you can go the better. I like hitting rails and stuff too, but if I had to pick one thing to do exclusively, it would be riding behind the boat.

To read this entire interview visit the "20 Questions with Brian Grubb" article on WakeboardingMag.com.

Tags: Malibu Boats | Brian Grubb | Wakeboarding Mag | 20 Questions | interview | wakeskate | wakeskating | wakeboard boat | Wakesetter VLX | Team Malibu