Final Stop of the Australian Rail Series

Well the Liquid Force Australian Rail Series wound up on the Sunshine Coast last weekend at Suncoast Cable Bli Bli.

Due to the amount of time I have had off the water whilst I changed boat sponsors, I spent a ot of time riding cable and it is has helped me a lot in taking cable tricks to behind the boat.

At Junior Mens level the series  has really been between James Windsor & I.  Going into the last round we were on equal points and still on equal points after a countback dropping our worst round.

This made for a really exciting final showdown on James home turf.

It was a tough final and James finished ahead of me taking out the title as well as taking out the title of Junior Mens Wakeskate Champion.   James has a huge talent and has started making some big impressions behind the boat too.

It was also the first official public appearance of our new boat!  Feedback was awesome too!


2^nd place in the biggest series of events in Australia is a pretty cool achievement and it gives me a benchmark to improve on next year!

Billabong Free Ride Fridays

Billabong Free Ride Fridays with Dylan Prideaux

I am really pleased to be able to share with everyone a fantastic series of events that we have been working on for a while.  Billabong Free Ride Fridays, powered by Nautique.


This is a really cool program designed to take the best elements of Wakeboarding (the best boards, the best boat, the latest gear, quality photos, ice cold refreshments and loads of prizes).    Oh yeh, and it’s free!


Every week, I’ll take 5 lucky wakeboarders out in the new Billabong/Nautique 230 Team Edition Boat for a Friday morning before School or Work shred.  Liquid Force have filled the boat with different 2011 Wakeboard setups, Wakeskates and Wake Surfers.   Monster Energy have loaded the boat with ice cold cans and our friends at Sony have provided high quality camera gear that will be uploaded to our social networking site so you can brag to your mates about your action, style and your time on the water.  Oh, and each event will be filmed by Billabong to run on the Billabong IPTV Channel around the world!

Nautique Billabong 230 Coastal Edition 

They will be riding behind the Billabong Nautique 230 Edition which is a one off concept boat specifically built for me by Nautique in collaboration with Billabong.  The Nautique 230 Team Edition is the  boat chosen by an elite list of the worlds’ best wakeboarders including Shaun Murray, Shawn Watson, Danny Harf, Bob Soven, J.D. Webb, Jimmy LaRiche and Junior Pro Tour & World Champion Nick Galotifiore.  It’s the official Tow Boat of the US Masters, US Nationals, Wake Games and the Moomba Masters.  The Billabong Nautique Edition has a whopping 1,850kg (4,000lbs) of stock ballast and a huge 6.0 Litre 409 horsepower engine guaranteed to throw out a huge wake and get on a plain super fast.


Every rider gets a tour shirt and a show bag of goodies from Billabong, Nautique, Liquid Force, Monster Energy, Von Zipper and Sony.  And they go into a draw for a series of major prizes including a complete Wakeboard, Boots, Jacket, Rope and Handle from Liquid Force, Sony Video Camera, Von Zipper Sunglasses and more.


The tour runs through Northern NSW to the Sunshine Coast until end of April on Rivers like the Clarence, Tweed, Nerang, Coomera, Brisbane, Nudgee and Maroochy.  And will be joined by leading pro riders and sometimes by Billabong Pro Surfers trying their luck Wake Surfing behind the monster 230 wake.


We planned Free Ride Fridays to give back to the Wakeboard Community and give social wakeboarders the chance to sample the best, oh yes and to ride for free!


To learn more and to have a look at the locations, visit www.freeridefridays.com and to check out the best Wakeboard boats in Australia, get in and see Steve and the team at Nautique Central on the Gold Coast!


Dylan

Riding through the threshold of pain

Team Billabong Athlete Dylan Prideaux

Back on the Liquid Force Rail Jam tour with event 3 at Logan.  I smashed my hand up pretty bad and had missing skin and blood every time I rode.  I shouldn’t have rode the event, but the points tally for the season is important so I figured it was too important to not ride.

I managed to win my heat, but a couple of falls in the final dropped me to 3^rd place.  This dropped me to 2^nd place in the Overall Comp behind James Windsor and just in front of Ethan Clifford.  With 3 rounds to go it’s wide open and last years winner Jamie Neville is just behind us in 4^th place.

Liquid Force Hammer Time

I also had fun in the Liquid Force Hammer Time Invitational.  It was the Top 13 riders all going head to head with water tricks and big kicker tricks in a winner takes all format.  I finished 4^th and was really stoked because I finished in front of some pro riders who I really respect and it was nice to be in the same company as them

The day after the rail comp I had to go and shoot some video for the Liquid Force Movie with Mick Neville and Chris Flaxman.  Cory Teunissen was also there filming for O’Brien.  We had bad weather, lots of rain but as usual the wake on Mick’s boat was really good.  Considering my injuries I rode pretty well throwing down a couple of 720 variations and a couple of different mobe 5’s.

I am staying off the water for a few days now to heal before flying to Sydney this weekend for 9 days of boat, cable, another Rail Jam, and the Grom Stock Boat Comp.  Should be a fun week.

Back in the Winners Circle

Billabong Rider Dylan Prideaux

Off to Cairns for Round 2 of the Liquid Force Australian Rail Series. I love the Cairns Cable Park.  The whole Cairns crew are laid back and down to earth and its a nice venue and a great cable.  I went up a couple of days early to get some practice in and it paid off.  I won my heat and won the event with a fantastic ride. 

I also had a ride in the Big Kicker Invitational and had a lot of fun seeing who could throw down the biggest trick.  Not a great event for the knees – but awesome to watch and be a part of.

One of my good mates had to pick up a car in Townsville and drive it back to the Gold Coast so he flew to Cairns to meet me and we had a fun road trip on the way home

Then it was off to Lake Kurwongbah for the Qld Wakeboard Summer Series Round 2.  This event was a Malibu Event and as usual we were using Mick Neville’s boat.

I had a pretty solid heat and threw down a great finals pass for the win.  2 wins in 2 events and I was starting to feel a little better about my riding.  No time to rest though, more events are just around the corner.

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.

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go.....

The countdown is on. Saturday morning I fly out with my good mate Corey Turnbull to Orlando - the land of dreams! Only a couple of quick stops in Auckland and Los Angeles along the way. I arrive on Sunday Morning at about 5am and will be met at the Airport by Wakeboard legend, and my number one mentor Daniel Watkins.

I will be based at the Wakeboard Camp at Clermont where fellow Liquid Force Riders Ben Greenwood and Amber Wing are based. I'm also looking forward to catching up with the Billabong Crew!

I have had a great week and have done so much riding doing between 2 and 4 sets everyday. I have my pass real consistent and just have to decide which 7's I am going to run with in the Worlds...

My old mate I grew up with in Echuca Jordan Uren has been at my place this week and he is riding real well too and will be heading back to Melbourne on Saturday with a few new tricks.

Have a big media day tomorrow on my last day starting with a Channel 9 News Crew meeting me at ProWake. Had to choose somewhere and thought it would be great to take them to Mick & Daniels to film. Then I have a crew from the Gold Coast Bulletin doing a set in the boat with me...

After that there's just one more sleep - I wonder if I will get any?

10 Days and counting

10 days until I get to Orlando - I can't wait.

My sponsor and mentor Daniel Watkins was hooked me up with a base at the Wakeboard Camp in Clermont. I will be working at the Wake School and riding every day in preparation for the Worlds on August 18-21. Amber Wing and Ben Greenwood are based at the Camp so I will get to spend some time with the Liquid Force Crew and of course I will get to spend time with the Billabong Team as well.

I have been studying so hard trying to finish my Cert 3 in Fitness at the Australian Sports Academy. I got my Senior First Aid quals this week, and go for my boat licence next week too. As soon as I get back from the US and I going to do the extra units needed for me to get My Cert 3 in Sports Coaching which will be a great addition to assist me in my career.

Mick Watkins at ProWake is hooking me up for some work for them on photoshop to help pull together catalogues and stuff for the website. This will be great for me to help Nathan out when we go on Tour in September.

And about the tour - the Monster Energy Prowake Tige Tour starts on my 16th Birthday at Hervey Bay. This year I will get from Townsville to Renmark and all stops along the way - it's a huge tour, but it's a lot of fun too. We will be stopping at the Super Cross Events along the way to showcase the Monster Energy Boat too!

Between now and Orlando I just need to get as much water time as I can. I'm taking Mitch Askew up to the Brisbane River on Saturday my my good mate Jordan Uren arrives on Tuesday from Melbourne to ride with me until I leave.

I can't wait!

A big week of wakeboarding..

Wrapped up a pretty solid week behind the boat this week with some nice consistent runs of my pass for Worlds. The Junior Pro Mens category has been super competitive in the US this year judging by the Pro Tour stops so I really need to focus on consistency.

I am out in the boat today with my Coach John Henson. We are taking out a group of Executives from Schweppes the Australian Distributors of Monster Energy Drink. They are going to see what Rubber Johnny and I will be doing on this years Prowake Monster Energy Tige Tour. It's a beautiful winter day on the coast with blue sky and very little breeze so I am looking forward to taking my Watson out for a shred.

2 weeks today I am off to Orlando. My main man Daniel Watkins is going to meet me at the airport in Orlando. Daniel and Chris Heffner from Billabong are hooking me up for my trip and I am so pumped to be doing the trip from Brisbane - Auckland - Los Angeles - Orlando with my good mate Corey Turnbull. It's going to be so much fun!

Bli Bli Cable

It's a perfect day today, not a breathe of wind and I am heading out the door with Nick Horatis and Damo Cox to go and shred Bli Bli.  Steve Dipple has put a 2.0 system on the second lake.  My mates who have ridden it say its awesome and I cant wait to try out my new Liquid Force Watson Hybrid on it.

Dad is working like crazy on my new website and says it should launch this weekend.  Can't wait to see the final version!

Courier Mail

What a thrill to be interviewed by the Courier Mail and take them out for a wakeboard.  It was really windy and we had white caps on the Coomera River but we got some great shots.

Can't believe I made page 9 with almost a full page of colour photos on a big news day.  Apparently we got a new Prime Minister yesterday or else I might have made page 3 lol.

So much happening

Smashed up my hand at Cable and need some time off the water.  Working this week at the ProWake Clearance Sale for Jet Pilot, Liquid Force and O'Brien.   It will be huge.

Have the AWWF High Performance Coaching Program next week, then back to Cable getting ready for Cable Nationals in Cairns.

Then I am hitting the road with Rubber Johnny and Mick Watkins for a couple of weeks for a North Queensland Tour.    Life is good!

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!

End of Year Wrap Up

Its the end of a pretty cool year for me.  I feel that I not only have so many more tricks, but I am a much more consistent rider.  I am training hard for Wake Wars in SA on Jan 9 and 10 and very focussed on the Australian Pro Am at Stoney Park at the end of January.  Between all of that there is another QWA Round and a Liquid Force Rail Jam.   Hope you all have a big one tonight, and stay safe.

Tige Tour Update

I had the most fantastic trip to Emerald, Middlemount, Clermont, Mackay, Townsville and other stops over the past 11 days.  Found some great riding spots, had some great sets including an awesome night riding shot.  We did some epic photo sessions, met some great people and I came home with much tighter Tantrum to Blind and a Backside 720.  The 2010 RZ2 Wake is fantastic, and my  riding feels more solid with my change to the Liquid Force Groove Board

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.

Liquid Force Rail Jam

Liquid Force have announced  5 Rail Jams this summer including 2 at the new park in Penrith NSW. I love Cable riding and have learnt some crazy flat water tricks at Cable. It’s a pity that the Rail Jams are obstacle events only because I am riding so good at the moment, but I’m sure I can hold my own on the kickers and sliders!