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