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

Wakestock Adds to List of Champs

2010 Wakestock Canada pulled by the Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) Wakesetter VLX added new names to the prestigious list of Wakestock Champions taking the coveted Wakestock belts and prize money: Bob Soven – Pro Wakeboard (top photo); Grant Roberts – Pro Wakeskate; Melissa Marquardt – Pro Women!

In a hotly contested Billabong Pro Wakeboard Men's final where three of the four finalists were past Wakestock Champions, it was the young American challenger Bob Soven who came out on top besting defending champ, Canadian Aaron Rathy; the two-time champ Team Malibu Factory Rider (and older brother) Phil Soven (@PhillipSoven) ; and the veteran champ Andrew Adkison!

Likewise in the Malibu Boats Pro Wakeskate final, American Grant Roberts edged out fellow countrymen and 5-time Wakestock champion and Team Malibu member Brian Grubb (@BrianKGrubb) for his first Wakestock title.

WAKESTOCK WWA (@TheWWA) WORLD SERIES PRO WAKE FINALS

BILLABONG PRO WAKEBOARD – MEN'S FINAL
Presented by Monster Energy & Malibu Boats
1. Bob Soven USA 66.67
2. Aaron Rathy CAN 58.33
3. Phil Soven USA 51.67
4. Andrew Adkison USA 36.67

SEMI-FINAL
(Top 2 advance)
Heat 1
1. Andrew Adkison USA 70.00
2. Bob Soven USA 58.33
3. Austin Hair USA 51.67
4. Trevor Hansen USA 36.67

Heat 2
1. Aaron Rathy CAN 70.00
2. Phil Soven USA 63.33
3. Olivier Derome CAN 53.33
4. Shawn Watson USA 33.33

QUARTER-FINAL
(Top 2 advance)
Heat 1
1. Bob Soven USA 80.00
2. Andrew Adkison USA 65.00
3. Nick Jones USA 43.33
4. Kyle Rattray CAN 33.33

Heat 2
1. Aaron Rathy CAN 60.00
2. Olivier Derome CAN 46.67
3. Padiwat Jaemjan THAI 36.67
4. Scotty Broome AUS 25.00

Heat 3
1. Trevor Hansen USA 80.00
2. Shawn Watson USA 70.00
3. Danny Thollander USA 60.00
4. Raph Derome CAN 46.67

Heat 4
1. Phil Soven USA 80.00
2. Austin Hair USA 66.67
3. Shane Bonifay USA 50.00
4. Dustin O’Ferrall CAN 40.00

MALIBU BOATS PRO WAKESKATE FINAL
Presented by Monster Energy & Billabong
1. Grant Roberts USA 88.33
(Spy, Fox, DVS)
2. Brian Grubb USA 84.33
(Malibu, Billabong, VZ, Red Bull)
3. James Balzer CAN 79.00
(Monster Energy, Nike 6.0, VZ, Body Glove)
4. Yan Lecomte CAN 68.33
5. Stuart Shinn USA 53.33
6. Dan Brown CAN 36.67

BILLABONG PRO WOMEN'S FINAL
Presented by Monster Energy & Billabong
1. Melissa Marquardt USA 93.33
2. Erika Langman CAN 80.00
3. Leslie Sparkes CAN 70.00
4. Kelsey Chiappa CAN 56.67
5. Steph King CAN 51.33
6. Susie Mallory CAN 46.67
7. Emily Tenwestinied CAN 39.00
8. Ally Boothroyd CAN 16.67


Tags: Malibu Boats | Wakestock | Phillip Soven | Brian Grubb | tow boat | wakeboarding | wakeboard boat | tournament | The WWA | World Series | Wakesetter VLX

World's Best Riders at Relentless Wakestock

Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) is towing the World's best riders at Relentless Wakestock in the UK July 4th weekend. British Malibu Dealer D2 Marine will have boats on the water for Europe’s largest wakeboard music festival, July 2nd, 3rd & 4th. Relentless Wakestock is combining the cultures of music and the world's fastest growing water sport a weekend of high-octane excitement!

The festival began in Abersoch, North Wales in 2000, when it was a wakeboard contest with a party in a car park for 800 people. It has grown to become one of the coolest, most revered festivals in Europe playing host to some of the industries leading bands and DJ’s, along with the biggest wakeboard competition in Europe. In 2010 the festival enters it's 2nd decade so make sure you book tickets now!

Over the past ten years Relentless Wakestock has established itself as the World’s leading independent wakeboard event, and for 2010 they’ve joined forces with the World Wakeboard Association (@TheWWA) and sanctioned the event as part of the Wakeboard World Series.

The focus will be firmly on North Wales as the best riders in the world descend on the Llyn Peninsula to battle it out in front of thousands at Pwllheli Marina for a piece of the prize money and the sports most prestigious crown.

Relentless Wakestock will be the third stop on the WWA World Series which is held in 6 locations, in 6 different countries and across 4 continents! The World Series is the richest prize purse in the sport with over $200,000 up for grabs over the course of the Series.

The best riders in the world will be traveling to the UK for Relentless Wakestock and will be giving it their all as they compete for the title of Relentless Wakestock Champion.

Learn more about Relentless Wakestock and the Pro riders who will be battling it out behind Malibu Boats at http://www.wakestock.co.uk/abersoch.

Tags: Malibu Boats | Relentless Wakestock | D2 Marine | Malibu Dealer | wakeboarding | Europe | The WWA | UK | British | tournament | wakeboard competition | July 4th | Wakesetter | wakeboard boat

Malibu Towing World's Premiere Wake Event

Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) is pulling the world's premiere professional wakeboarding/wakeskating event, Wakestock (@WakeStockCanada), part of the World Wakeboard Association (@theWWA) World Series of Wakeboarding. Wakestock is also Canada's largest annual action sports and music festival featuring one of the biggest music line-ups of the summer, plus skateboarding, surfing, kiteboarding, and country's largest action sports expo and marketplace showcasing youth action sports lifestyle clothing, gear and accessories.

Wakeboarding
One of the most progressive and richest events in pro wakeboarding and wakeskating for 12 years running, Wakestock is globally renowned as an innovative rider’s event that showcases the best in wakeboarding, wakeskating and the action sports lifestyle including incredible live band line-ups and legendary parties.

Wakestock was the first pro wakeboarding tour event to include rails, wakeskating and winch pools and consistently attracts the biggest spectator crowds in the world. Past Wakestock champions include legends like Team Malibu's Darrin Shapiro, Parks Bonifay, Brett Eisenhauer, Jeff Heer and current superstars like Team Malibu's Chad Sharpe (@ChadESharpe), Shane Bonifay, Daniel Watkins, Keith Lidberg, Team Malibu's Brian Grubb (@BrianKGrubb), Reed Hansen, George Daniels, Stuart Shinn, Rusty Malinoski, Team Malibu's Phil Soven (@PhillipSoven) and Aaron Rathy.

Wakestock is one of five events, including the WWA World Championships, that comprise the 2010 WWA World Series of Wakeboarding, the world’s richest pro tour. The defending Wakestock Billabong Wakeboard Pro Champion is Aaron Rathy. The defending Wakestock Malibu Boats Wakeskate Pro Champion is Brian Grubb. Wakestock also features Canada’s largest grassroots amateur wakeboarding and wakeskating contest presented by Malibu Boats and sanctioned by the Water Ski & Wakeboard Canada.

Music Festival
Wakestock features two days of incredible bands on the Monster Energy Music Stage and nightly shows at local venues. Past Wakestock music artists include the Deftones, Social Distortion, RZA and GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan, De La Soul, Metric, Goldfinger, Classified, Hot Water Music, Lupe Fiasco, Dead Kennedys, Rise Against, Reel Big Fish, Andrew WK, Alexis On Fire, Sloan, Dillinger Escape Plan, USS, Story Of The Year, Silverstein, Boys Night Out, Bedouin Soundclash, ill Scarlett, Silverstein, Closet Monster, No Use For A Name, Gob, Moneen, Social Code, Kardinal Offishal, Protest The Hero, Die Mannequin and many, many more greats.

Visit http://wakestock.com for more information on this event.

Tags: Malibu Boats | Wakestock | Canada | wakeboarding | official towboat | SBC Media | tournament | competition | wakeskating | Chad Sharpe | Brian Grubb | Phillip Soven | Darin Shapiro

Dallas Friday Dominated Abu Dahbi

Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) Factory Team Rider Dallas Friday captured victory at the Wakestock wakeboarding event in Abu Dahbi this past weekend. Santioned by the World Wakeboarding Associations (@TheWWA) and the first stop of this year’s Wakeboard World Series, Wakestock Abu Dahbi was a great way to kick of the wakeboarding season. Congratulations Dallas! Way to come out of the gate swinging in 2010!

Read more about the Wakestock Abu Dahbi event at WakeboardingMag.com.

Tags: Malibu Boats | Team Malibu | Wakestock | Abu Dahbi | World Series | The WWA | wakeboarding | Dallas Friday | competition | tournament |

Kappler Family Malibu Factory Tour Thank You

The Kappler Family stopped by and took a Malibu Boats Factory Tour a couple of weeks ago and they sent us a great thank you email this morning. Thought we'd share...

My family and I wish to thank you for arranging a recent Malibu plant visit for us. While on our way to Little Rock, AR last month for a regional INT tournament, you made it possible for us to visit and tour the Loudon, TN plant. It was remarkable to us to see first hand just how Malibu boats are built and we learned a great deal about the boat building process. After meeting with Kerri Johns and the other Malibu employees, it was very apparent why so many Malibu boat owners refer to you as "family". Everyone we met was so gracious with their time and didn't hesitate to take a few minutes from their busy day to talk with us. Each employee seemed to truly enjoy their job and it was clear that each person took great pride in their work. I was amazed at the amount of individual hands on craftsmanship that goes into building each boat. It's no wonder Malibu boats are the best in the industry. They clearly have the best people in the industry.

From our family, to yours, thank you so much, again, for allowing us to come through the plant and meet the people that make up Malibu.

Best Regards,

The Kappler Family
Brent, Renee, Mitch and Jake

No need for thanks, Brent. We love giving Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) Factory Tours. Kerri and the rest of the Malibu Fam in Tennessee told us they had a great time with you four. They hope to see you back again! Take care and tell the boys to keep practicing.

If you are interested in taking a tour at Malibu Boats Factory in Loudon, TN like the Kapplers please call (865) 458-5478 or fill out the Malibu Boats Contact Us form online. Make sure to include your desired tour date and time in the comments section. We would love to see you at the Malibu Boats Factory.

Tags: Malibu Boats | Mitch Kappler | Brent Kappler | iRide | wakeboarding | wakeboard boat | kids | Grommet | wakeboard competition | tantrum | scarecrow | front roll | back roll | 8-year-old | factory tour | Kerri Johns | Little Rock | INT | Tennessee

8-year-old Boarder Still Shreddin Behind a Malibu Boat

Mitch Kappler is 8 years old and loves to wakeboard. His family owns a Malibu iRide and since we received that first video of Mitch landing a back roll in competition at the age of seven, we have been hooked on this kid. We watched him land his first front roll earlier this year behind his family's Malibu boat. Brent, Mitch's dad, kept us updated on the runs Mitch threw down at the WWA Nationals and sent us a video of Mitch Throwing a Tantrum (wakeboard move) behind the iRide.

Yesterday the Malibu Boats Family had the chance to meet Mitch in person when he and his family stopped by the Tennessee Factory on the way to Little Rock, AR for the INT Eastern Regional Invitational. The Kappler Family took a tour with long-time Malibu employee Kerri Johns who works in Customer Service. Kerri said it was a lot of fun because of how excited the Kappler Family was to see the boats being built and just how pumped they are about Malibu Boats.

The tour also gave us a chance to catch up on the progress Mitch has been making with his riding over the past couple months. Mitch took 2nd place in the Jr. Boys division (9 and under) at the WWA Worlds tournament in Orlando back in August. Mitch ended up edging out the youngster who beat him at the INT Nationals in Texas, which had to feel pretty good.

According to Mitch's dad, Brent, "Mitch has a few more tournaments to compete in this year, but he's already starting to think about new tricks for next year."

We can't wait to see what's next! Keep photos and video coming. We love following Mitch's progress. And good luck in Little Rock, Mitch!

Tags: Malibu Boats | Mitch Kappler | Brent Kappler | iRide | wakeboarding | wakeboard boat | kids | Grommet | wakeboard competition | tantrum | scarecrow | front roll | back roll | 8-year-old | factory tour | Kerri Johns | Little Rock | INT | Tennessee

Siegele's 3rd Helps Aussie Team to Gold in Korea

Team Malibu Boats Australian Rider Parker Siegele returned from the 2009 IWWF World Championships in Chuncheon City South Korea with two medals wakeboarding. Parker scored third as an individual and helped Team Australia bring home gold beating out 26 other countries in the team competition. Way to go Parker! Your Malibu mates in the States are super proud of you man! Keep it up!

Parker wrote this great account of his trip to the Wakeboard World Championships in South Korea so we thought we would share it.

It all started back in July when I left South Australia to travel north and train in warmer weather as a lead up to the worlds. Things were going pretty well riding most days until early August I sustained a hairline fracture in my tibia. This meant that I had to have some time off of the water and there was a chance if it didn’t heal I could not go to Korea. This was a massive disappointment to me. Fortunately a week and a half of intense physio and rest saw it mend to the point I could get back on the water. This gave me a few days back on the water before flying out to Seoul.

On reaching Seoul the Aussie team traveled to Chuncheon and had a few days of getting to know the town and its people. The heats and semis started and I progressed through to the finals. The day of the finals saw huge winds and really choppy water, after being perfect all week.

I reached the podium and came third in the finals. The Aussie team scored the gold team medal against 26 countries. The night carried on with the Aussie team all getting pushed in the pool by fellow team mates. Australia winning the gold and me getting on the podium was definitely one of the highlights of my wakeboarding!

Next for me – heading back to South Australia (home) and back to school. on October I will start my training for SA competitions and the Junior Pro Tour, it has been a huge ride!!

Tags: Malibu Boats | Australia | Team Malibu | Parker Siegele | Korea | Worlds | wakeboarding | tournament | wakeboard boat

Malibu Boats First To Re-sign With INT for 2010 Season

Malibu Boats and The INT League are excited to announce that we are partnering for the next three seasons to host amateur and pro wakeboard, wakeskate, waterski and kneedboard events. Malibu has partnered with INT as an official tow boat sponsor for several years now and we were the first boat manufacturer to re-sign the 2010 agreement this year.

“It has been a tough year for everyone. We are thrilled to have dedicated partners like Malibu Boats on our team so that we can continue to promote the water sports industry and grow grassroots events,” said Rick Stocks, president of the INT League, when he met with Paul Singer, Malibu Boats VP of Sales and Marketing, to make the partnership official.

“INT gives us the amazing opportunity to support the water sports passions of individuals who are near and dear to us, the Malibu Boats Family. We are honored to be a part of their growth and their fun,” says Singer. “We’re proud to partner with INT for the 2010 season.”

By sponsoring INT, Malibu is able to join with the rest of the water sports industry to host several hundred grassroots events per year. The partnership also allows Malibu dealers to get involved at the local INT events in their state. The corporate partnership allows Malibu dealers to sponsor their local INT tour, provide boats for INT events, have a booth at INT events, and use INT’s marketing tools to promote Malibu products to INT’s demographic of water sports enthusiasts.

Look for Malibu Boats pulling INT competitions across the nation!

Tags: Malibu Boats | INT | sponsorship | grassroots | wakeboarding | water skiing | wakeboard boat | ski boat | wakeboard tournaments | water ski tournaments

Team Liquid Force Wins Malibu Pro Team Challenge

The 3rd Annual Pro Team Challenge wakeboard competition presented by Monster Energy Drink and Malibu Boats took place Sunday, August 3rd at the Bow Lake Watersports Complex just North of Seattle, Washington. The site was beautiful and the weather was epic as two of the sport's premiere teams got set to battle head-to-head for a chance to take home the Malibu Cup Trophy and bragging rights as the best team in wakeboarding for the next 12 months. Team Liquid Force reigned supreme!

Check out the Malibu Pro Team Challenge photo gallery on WakeWorld.com.

New to the competition this year was the addition of wakeskating to the line-up. Also, the wakeboarding discipline was revised from a traditional contest pass to a more rider friendly freeride format. The rail jam discipline featured three obstacles; a 60-foot A-Frame, an 80-foot rooftop rail and the 50-foot Monster Energy C-Rail.

The event featured two-time defending champions Team Hyperlite led by the Bone Crusher, Rusty Malinoski. Rusty was joined by teammates Jimmy LaRiche and Jacob Valdez on wakeboard and Team Malibu's Brian Grubb holding things down on wakeskate. They were gunning for the 3-peat and they rode hard to defend their title against the challengers on Team Liquid Force. Team Malibu's Kevin Henshaw was the Team Captain for LF and he was joined by the always-animated Bob Soven and the face of wakeboarding in the Pacific Northwest - Mike Ennen. James Balzer was their wakeskater as they set their sights on de-throning the Champs.

The event kicked-off at around 11am with the wakeskate competition and Balzer was the first competitor to hit the water. Each rider would get two five-minute runs and would be judged on their best of the two. The conditions were perfect and the crowd was ready to see some pro-level skating. Balzer did not disappoint with a smooth run that included a clean wake-to-wake H/S Backside 180, T/S Backside 180 and several Indy shuv-its. Next up was Team Hyperlite's Brian Grubb, who Rides for Malibu Boats, the winningest skater in the history of the sport and always a threat to take down any competition he enters. Grubb was in his element behind the Malibu wakeboard boat that pulled the competition.

After the wakeskate competition, Malibu Boats pro team rider Chad Sharpe, who was driving the event, strapped on his board to ride for the crowd as we dialed in the tournament boat for the wake competition. Next up was the wakeboard freeride session and all of the riders were amped to show the enthusiastic Northwest crowd their best stuff. With each rider getting a five-minute run and no-limit or point deductions on falls, there was no holding back. The format gave each rider an opportunity to reach deep into their bag of tricks and try things normally not pulled out in a regular contest run. Bob Soven was the first rider to hit the lake and he opened his run with a HUGE one-handed Raley while pointing directly at the crowd…the crowd loved it!

Read more about the Malibu Pro Team Challenge Recap on WakeWorld.com.

Tags: Malibu Boats | Pro Team Challenge | Chad Sharpe | Brian Grubb | Kevin Henshaw | wakeskating | wakeboarding | rails | wakeboard boat | Wakesetter VLX | Wakesetter VTX | wakeboard tournament | Bow Lake | Liquid Force | Hyperlite

8 Year Old Throwing Tantrum Behind Malibu Boat

No it's not that kind of Tantrum! This is video of 8-year-old Mitch Kappler perfecting some new wakeboard moves behind his Malibu iRide on Lake Gaston in North Carolina. You'll see Mitch land a Tantrum and a Scarecrow in this wakeboard video.

Mitch's dad, Brent, has been keeping us posted on the phenom's wakeboarding progress. Mitch is training for the WWA World Championships being held in Orlando later this month.

We have been following Mitch since his dad sent us video of him landing a back roll in competition at the age of 7. Then came video of a front roll, and now he's perfected the tantrum and the scarecrow. Mitch is coached by wakeboard pro, Adam Fields. And as far as we can tell he is doing a great job with this Grommet! Keep it up guys and keep Malibu Boats posted. And good luck in Orlando, Mitch!

Tags: Malibu Boats | Mitch Kappler | Brent Kappler | iRide | wakeboarding | wakeboard boat | kids | Grommet | wakeboard competition | tantrum | scarecrow | front roll | back roll | 8-year-old | Adam Fields

AWS Freeriders Ball by Malibu Aug 8 & 9

The 11th annual AWS (Active Water Sports) Freeriders Ball presented by Malibu Boats will take place August 8 & 9, 2009 at Koppert Lake in Toledo, WA. This is the biggest and best grassroots wakeboard and wakeskate event in the Northwest and possibly the world! With a cash purse for the pro divisions and prizes from Hyperlite, Rockstar, Spy, and Oneill, for the amateurs, this year’s event will be better than ever!

Saturday’s festivities will include competitive amateur divisions for all ages and ability levels. Prizes will be handed out to the top three in each category. All competitors, families and spectators are encouraged to camp out Saturday night, AWS will be playing the newest wake videos on the big screen, and the day’s competition will make for great campfire stories!

Sunday will include pro divisions in wakeboard freeride, rails, and wakeskate. The best wakers in the Northwest will battle it out for a cash purse and some serious bragging rights. The best freeriders in the Northwest will be crowned.

Call Active at (503)650-5991 for more info.

Tags: Malibu Boats | AWS | Action Water Sports | Freeriders Ball | Koppert Lake | grassroots | wakeboarding | wakeskating | wakeboard boat | wakeboard tournament