Back in U.S.A

My girlfriend joined me for the endless summer tour to Orlando and I am so stoked to be back in paradise.  My friend Freddie Wayne picked me up from the airport and took us back to his place for the night.  The Wayne family have always looked after me so well, Freddie’s Mum Darlene is like my US Mum!.

Mike, Freddie & I - Acworth Podium

First stop to settle in was Nick Galotifiore’s house.  Nick won the 2010 Jr Pro Tour and he has probably the best weighted Super Air Nautique 230 I have ever ridden (including my own). Staying at Nick’s gave me a chance to get some serious riding time in before the first stop.  I also had a session with Harley the day before I left for Georgia and I rode well.  I got 3 w2w 9's and a couple of other fun things.  Feeling pretty stoked on how my riding is at the moment and how this season will play out.

My Gold Coast mate Corey Turnbull has been helping me car hunt and we tracked down a pretty new Ford Explorer for me to use this year in the US.  Some of the stops are close enough to drive through, and its a chance to see more of this amazing country.

Acworth - Photo by OLLI Photography

Acworth is one of my favourite sites, the set up is awesome, huge beach, you can see all the riding from everywhere, and of course, how could I forget, the party island that all the boats make every year, the party gets bigger and bigger each year.  I  was really nervous about this one, after missing Wake Games due to other commitments it was my first contest in America.  I got 3^rd at the event last year and I was pretty nervous about the event.  In the heats I went out and had a solid ride and did my thing, then the semis were a bit better, I  had Italian Massi Piffaretti in my heat and he is a shredder! I had a solid Semi ride and got my first perfect 100 in a US pro Event.  In the finals I had me and all my mates and the riding level was insane! Dirty Mike Dowdy came out on top and I got a close second and Freddie and Kyle rounded out the podium, respectively.  Dowdy looks in great form this year.

Right now I’m at Callaway Gardens in Georgia for the US Masters which is aout the biggest event in the world.  I was so thrilled to get an invite for it. It’s my sponsors event (Nautique) and after winning their Moomba Masters Event 2 years running I had my mind set on doing well.  I was going to finally ride the Super Air Nautique G23 for the frst time. I was out in the boat on Clear Lake with Tony Carroll the other day and I saw Jimmy Lariche out in his G23 with Phillip Soven and Oli Derome, and the Wake looked unreal and I can see why the boat has got so much attention.

The comp didn’t go well for me, I didn’t get the result I was hoping for and Dowdy once again went home with the silverware.

Callaway is beautiful, it has a big golf course with so much stuff to do here.  My good mate Tim Mossop has just arrived from Australia to stay with me for the rest of the tour.  Tim is my personal photographer and is pretty pumped to be following me on the tour this year and coming everywhere and seeing what all the fuss is about wakeboarding and join my on Our Endless Summer

After this weekend at Callaway me, Tim and Jillian will be making our way back to Orlando to start house hunting, but first there is a massive road trip to Fort Worth Texas and Branson Missouri for stops 2 and 3 of the Pro Tour.

Massive Weekend in Penrith

It proved to be a massive weekend in Penrith.  The Liquid Force Boardstock Event which included The Team Riders Cup, The Rail Jam, King of Kicker, Flat Water Freaks, Two Tower Challenge and the Riders Choice Awards.

I was really pleased to be chosen alongside Harley Clifford for the 2 man Liquid Force Team competing riders from Byerly, Hyperlite, O’Brien, Ronix, Double Up, Indy and more

Team Riders Champions - Langfield and Priestley defeated Clifford and Prideaux

Harley and I had solid rides making the 4 team semis with O’Brien, Ronix and Byerly.  Then it was down to two.  Myself and Harley vs Brenton Priestley and Mitch Langfield.  Talk about tough competition especially on rails.  Brenton and Mitch are two of the best in the world at sliding.

We finished the final with scores all locked up even after a countback so it was decided that the Team Trophy would go down to a one rider ride off.  Langfield vs Clifford.  It finished close as well with Byerly coming out on top. 

I guess I shouldn’t complain about being 2^nd in the Team Riders Cup.   Lets hope we can win it back next year!

The Rail Jam was really good and the Riders Choice Awards were all well deserved.   James Windsor won the best 'Up and Comer' and Tony Iacconni won 'Grom of the Year'.  After 2 world titles in 2 years, he deserved every bit of the credit he got.

The Australian Season has started

Just wrapped up the first round of the Liquid Force Australian Rail Series at Bli Bli on the Sunshine Coast.  I love riding at Bli Bli and it was a huge crowd of over 100 riders in attendance.

I thought I was riding well and I won my heat qualifying me first place into the 10 man final, but a couple of uncharacteristic falls meant I missed the podium and finished in 5^th spot. 

Round 1 of the Wakeboard Queensland Summer Series kicked off this weekend and it was a great event.  The round was towed by Mastercraft and we used Harley Clifford’s boat for the event.

The venue was Marshalls Ski Lakes on the Sunshine Coast.  I have heard of it as a former venue for the World Championships, but have never been there.   It was developed by a family and they did it without certain council approvals so it’s not really open to the public, but they let us on for a special event.

Water conditions were ideal given that it was a windy day and I had an awesome qualifying heat finishing 2^nd to Harley Clifford.  I had only managed 2 boat rides since coming back from the States s I was a bit rusty and it showed in the final where I only managed 4^th.  Missing the podium now in my last 2 events has made me hungry.  I don’t want to miss another one this year.

My first US Pro Tour Event

Had a nice flight to Knoxville and went and checked out the site. It’s a great location for people and crowds but it looked like the water traffic and roll back might be a problem. But hey, we all ride the same water so we are all affected the same.

For my first US Pro Event I was in Heat 2 against Julian Cohen, John Jeffries and Kyle Evans. I was first off the dock. I had a pretty solid ride, stand up pass which included a Toe 7, Back 5 and a Whirly 5. Didn’t need to throw down too much to get through and I was pleased to get through to the Semi Finals. I was stoked at the number of people who thought I was a podium chance. I just came here for the experience and to see what I need to do in the next 12 months to be a serious competitor in the Jr Pro Tour.

In the Semis I unfortunately crashed out on my opening trick (Whirly 5) which I never fall on and I crashed out on my opening trick of the 2nd pass (a tail glide) so I struggled to get enough tricks in my pass to get through to the final. It was a great event though and a really good one for Liquid Force and Australia with super nice people like Amber and Harley winning the event.

It was also good to have a talk with some of my Billabong Team Riders like Shawn Watson, Danny Harf and The Bomb. I met the Bomb at my first ever Pro Event on the Tour in Sydney 2 years ago, he is a cool guy. Shawn and Danny have both offered to take me riding.

Back to Clermont and riding with Danny Burnstein, I landed a toeside 9 and all of my other tricks. I thought to myself that this will be a good week getting ready for worlds.

Today I went out on Bennett’s boat with Aaron Brown and stuck more Toe 9’s, all of my 7’s and my 3 Mobe 5’s. Tricks come and go and sometimes when you learn something new, you lose something. I guess I am going through a solid phase at the moment where I have most of my tricks very consistent.

I have stopped free riding for the moment and I am just running my pass over and over.

Tonight I am heading to Aaron Browns to crash for the night. Tomorrow is the last day before worlds and I will get 3 or 4 sets in with Aaron and Nick Galotifiore am felling pretty pumped about it. Nick won the Overall Jr Mens Pro Tour, so he is the benchmark of what I need to be next year for my chance at a US Tour Title.

Worlds start on Thursday and finish on Sunday. It’s all about riding on Sunday, I hope I get the chance.

Just landed in downtown Orlando

Corey and I touched down from the overnight flight from Los Angeles into Orlando at 5.30am and was picked up by Daniel Watkins. It was so cool for DW to drag himself out of bed at that hour to pick us up.

Daniel arranged for us to go out for a ride on Jimmy LaRiche's boat and I had the most awesome set and felt super confident. I also had a second ride with Jimmy's room mate Jeff Langley.

Went to Cable with Dean Smith where I caught up with a bunch of Aussies including Harley Clifford, Mitch Langfield, Brenton Priestley, Parker Siegele and Ryleigh Pfitzner. Had so much fun and went back to chill at Harley's house for the rest of the afternoon.

Finally checked in to the Wakeboard Camp at Clermont and made our plans for tomorrow and then went for a midnight swim and saw my first alligators.. I hear they aren't as bad as our Aussie crocodiles, but I wont swing too close just in case..

Looking forward to waking up tomorrow and continuing my adventure.....

Australian Wakeboard Nationals at Renmark

I am so thrilled to have been crowned this weekend the new Australian Junior Boys Champion.

I had fantastic rides in my Heats and Semi finishing in first place overall and then having an awesome ride in the final to win.

I want to thank the people who have supported me along the way.  Daniel & Mick Watkins from ProWake, Mick Neville and Paul Hodge from Liquid Force, Paul from Slush Puppie, Mum and Dad and the families who help each other out all the time.  The Clifford, The Askews, The Teunissens - what an amzing group of friends my parents and I have made on our journey so far in this sport.

And a special shout out to John Henson from Pro Wake Academy who really helped me pull it all together and get focussed for competition.

BroStock at Penrith Cables

Fantastic trip to Sydney for the first ever BroStock.   Arrived Friday and had a great doubles set on the Cable with Shawn Watson.  I competed in the Rail Jam on Saturday and the Siesitech Obstacle Challenge on Sunday.  I got a podium in both events and picked up a couple of prize cheques which capped off a great weekend.

Sunday Night was the Riders Choice Awards which was a good way to finish off the weekend.  It was awesome to see top international riders like Watson, Fooshee, Greenwood and Rathy come over to compete in our comp.

This week I will get a few rides in with Harley before he heads over to Abu Dhabi and this weekend we have the Tige Owners Reunion on Grafton.

Welcome to 2010

What a start to the year!  I went back on the Tige Tour from the Gold Coast down to Sydney having rides at Grafton, Newcastle, The Hawkesbury and Penrith.  Had the pleasure of spending time with Parks Bonifay and Dean Smith, and attending Parks' DVD Premiere.  Rode the New Cable Park at Penrith (best in Australia) and then flew into Adelaide for Wake Wars.  Wake Wars was my first open age Pro Event and it was sick.  The weather was hot, the course was perfect and the Glenelg girls were good!   Today I am off to Bli Bli to shred with US Pro Tour Champion and new Australian King of Wake Harley Clifford.    Liquid Force Rail Jam and QWA Round 4 this weekend will keep me busy!

Big Weekend of Riding

Had a massive weekend. On Friday, Dad and I picked up Harley and Bill Clifford and took out his Mastercraft X-Star for a day on the Logan. Had a great ride and threw in a huge 911 just for fun.

On Saturday, we took Harley up to meet with Brad & Cory Tuenissen for a ride on Mick Neville’s 2010 Malibu Wakesetter. It was my first ride on the Brisbane River, what a fantastic stretch of water to have at your doorstep. The boys are very lucky. That night we went to the Liquid Malisha Premiere at Deja Vu.

Sunday and Monday we rode with Mitch and Jarrod Askew (thanks Shaun) on their new boat back on the Logan and found some time for Cable. I love this time of the year, great weather, warm water and lots of riding to do.