Congrats on Wakeboarder of the Year buddy!

Hey buddy thanks a lot! I’m pumped!

Where are you at the moment?

I’m in Florida living with Rusty Malinoski, in his guest house in Clermont. It’s a pretty unreal setup, getting to ride with him all the time as well as probably every other pro you could think of.

How has the start of your season been?

I got down here a week ago and spent the first little bit right in Orlando riding at the cable parks. It was a good warm up and now I feel ready to go and hopefully my boat riding comes back to me ASAP!

Click here to view the embedded video.

No doubt! How do you like living down there? Any good practical jokes or gags those guys pull on each other?

There’s no place in the world I’d rather be, I love it here. Everyone’s always poking fun at each other, but nothing too crazy has gone down.

Definitely. How much longer are you staying down there for? What are your plans for the rest of the summer?

I’ll be down here for another month and a bit. Sucks I’m gonna miss the first Roots stop, but last year I came back at the start of June and it was still super cold and I’m a wimp. I’ll be back for the end of June to compete in Canada and run a wakeboard school on Lake of Bays with my buddy Andy Milovanovic!

Sounds like a pretty good plan! Who’s got your back this summer to make sure you have a board under your feet and clothes on your back?

I’ve been riding for Hyperlite wakeboards, Billabong clothing and VonZipper glasses for a while now and I’m stoked on all of them! They keep me hooked up with the sickest product in the game and I couldn’t be happier!

Sweet. Thanks Robbie!

No worries see ya soon!

Our industry Influence Award winner sent me a message today about a blog that he has started highlighting the evolution of Wake in Ontario. Jeff Barnes was the original founder of one of the first grassroots wakeboard series called the XCup series, so he has a few things in his history bag that you might want to read up on:

On Friday night I was honoured to be presented with the Industry Influence Award at the 2012 Wake Awards. The list of nominees was an impressive “Who’s -Who” of the progression of wakeboarding in Ontario and in fact Canada – they included Bryan Gardiner (first editor of SBC Wake Magazine), Jake Thomas (Riley Lake Productions), Scott Duke (founder of Basecamp), all worthy contributors to the long term success of the sport of wakeboarding in Ontario. The evening was a fantastically organized affair and attended by well over 250 people celebrating our sport.
Anytime you are bestowed with a lifetime achievement award you are led to reflection on what got you to present day. As I looked through the crowd of faces, it was amazing to me how the sport has progressed dramatically through the past 20 years, and often on the efforts of a small group of volunteers and those industry businesses that are truly passionate about it. Competitions, for instance, are run almost exclusively by volunteer organizers, volunteer judges, volunteer set up crews, volunteer administrators, tabulators and volunteer moms and dads lending hands and hearts every day. Passionate involvement at all levels is the key to the continued the evolution of the wakeboard scene. The watersports community is small, tight nit and passionate – there are many unsung heroes that move the needle every day to make wakeboarding better. The morale of the story to me is “If you love it, and you want in to get better – get involved, and get involved now.”
As a living history of the sport of Wakeboarding in Ontario, I will be writing a weekly blog with to recognize the efforts of some of the many contributors, developments and evolutionary points over the past 20 years of wakeboarding. I invite you to not only read it, but contribute your thoughts on my memory of the creation of a sport. Click Here To Read My First Post

http://www.pridemarinegroup.com/custompage.asp?pg=wa_jeff_neil

If you missed all the action at the Ontario Wake Awards check out the highlights and photos thanks to SBC Wakeboard.com. Congratulations to all the award winners and a HUGE Thank-you to all the sponsors and contributors.

Check out the Wake Awards Video HERE

Read all about the event and winner HERE

Check out Andrew Curr’s Presentation of all the Nominees Ontario Wake Awards Presentation

The 2012 Ontario Wake Awards kicked off the season in style as riders, shop owners, marina representatives to parents came dressed to impress to the anticipated awards show. Nine awards were up for grabs and the excitement level was at an all-time high. Photos and event video will be up in no-time, stay posted to www.sbcwakeboard.com for the fill wrap up of this unforgettable night.

The 2012 Ontario Wake Awards were presented in front of a packed house at Red Bull’s 381 Projects on Friday, May 11.

The awards, selected by the Ontario Wakeboard Committee: Erika Langman, Jono Boysen, Ally Boothroyd, Jay Poole, Sean Fleming, Leslie Sparkes & Dave T, grew this year with the addition of two new categories: Video of the Year and Cable Rider of the Year. More than 45 riders were nominated across 10 categories, and all were hoping to get their hands on one of the custom, four-finger brass rings crafted by JBR Designs. Award winners were selected based on three criteria: contest results, media coverage and leadership in sport – 30-30-30.

For the second year in a row, Robbie McMillin was crowned Ontario’s Wakeboarder of the Year. McMillin’s season included a 5th place finish in Junior Pro Men at the Wake Games and a shared title as the Overall Men’s Champion of the Roots Wake Series. He was recognized with an interview in SBC Wakeboard Magazine, and dropped multiple web edits throughout the year. Robbie also coached a group of young riders, worked at Muskoka Wakeboarding and volunteered as a judge throughout the Roots Series.

2011 Provincial Wakeskate Champion Addison Farr was named Wakeskater of the Year. Addison is a silent leader within the Ontario wakeskate community. He volunteered his time at events, built rails and organized the Bungle in the Jungle – Ontario’s first wakeskate-only contest. Leslie Sparkes took home the Female Rider of the Year awardafter her 2011 Roots Wake Series Championship, while Sean Fleming was crowned as Ontario’s newest Legend, and Drew Austin was named Cable Rider of the Year.

Vince Whiteman took home the Video of the Year ring for his edit of  rookie wake skater of the year Braden Ioi, but it was Vince’s heartfelt “Thank You” video that truly stole the show. “Hearing the of the volunteers speak so passionately about the sports we all love, and then seeing a large portion of the community thank us for our efforts in their own individual ways was totally unexpected,” said Wake Canada Chairman Sean Fleming. “It became a very emotional moment for me, and all the other people that volunteer for wakeboarding and wakeskating in Ontario.”

The most important award of the night, the Industry Influence Award, went to Jeff Barnes. This award recognizes individuals and organizations that have spearheaded the growth of wake sports within Ontario. Barnes helped found Ontario’s original grassroots X-Cup Series, which paved the way for riders like Kyle Rattray, Sunni Anne Ball, Erika Langman and Robbie McMillin. He was also instrumental in getting wakeboarding recognized as a separate entity within the watersports community under Sport Canada. Brennan Grange won SBC Wake’s photo of the year and Harrison Carter took home the rookie wakeboarder award.

Once the last of the hardware was handed out, the official after party took over, and suit jackets and high heels were ditched as everyone packed the dance floor to celebrate another successful edition of the Ontario Wake Awards. With all proceeds going to assist sport development and The Roots Wake Series, it was truly humbling to see the support from all the sponsors and everyone in attendance.

Supporting brands that made this amazing night happen: Red Bull, Molson Coors, Tag Vodka, Holland Marsh Winery, Jones Soda, Popchips, SBC Wakeboard, Accurate, Algonquin Outfitters, Art School Skateboards, Crow’s Nest Barbershop, The Bayou, Billabong, Boarder Pass, Boardsports, Buckeye Marine, Byerly, Capix, Dakine, Dunklevolk, Domino’s, Endless Surf, Fox, Hurley, Hyperlite, I/S Eyewear, JBR Design, Jetpilot, Liquid Force, CWB, Malibu, Mastercraft, Metab, Muskoka Woods, Nautique, New Era, O’Neill, Pride Marine Group, Quiksilver, The Ranch Wake Park, Ripcurl, Ronix, Rusty, Sharpley Source for Sports, Somewon Collective, Spy, Summerski, Teva, Voleurz, Xcel, Ontario Wake Committee – Dave Tsuyuki, Sean Fleming, Erika Langman, Ally Boothroyd, Jono Boysen, Jay Poole, Leslie Sparkes, Shavonne Hasfel-Macintosh, Jason Petznick – G&G Electronics, The Wake Institute, Canadian Wakeboard Championships, prints from Brennan Grange, Alija Bos, Dave Sandford, Ally Boothroyd, Andy Campbell, Patrick Donnelly, video by Andrew Curr Films, Vince Whiteman, Adam Cruickshanks, artwork by Dan Hughes, Raph Derome and the team at Red Bull 381 Projects.

For those of you that missed Vince’s amazing video make sure you watch it & check out some of the photos from the night below:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here’s the link to the videos

SBC Wakeboard Magazine

This year they have big news in the boat world, the launch of the G23 . Here is what they have to say about it:

“For years Nautique has been working with its elite team of athletes on a project that will change the possibilities of what you can do behind a wake boat. We started with a clean slate and created a wake that gives every rider the opportunity to do things they have only dreamed possible. The Super Air Nautique G23 represents the start of a new era, and will push your limits and expectations as a rider. Inside and out, this boat delivers an experience that surpasses every wake boat in the marketplace. The all-new Super Air Nautique G23 has redefined what a wake boat can be.”

http://www.muskokawoods.com/summer/index.aspx 

http://www.muskokawatersports.com/programs.html

Sharpley Source for Sports provincial Championships presented by Mastercraft

Algonquin Outfitters Open presented by Nautique

Boardsports Open Presented by Malibu

Date: Friday, May 11, 2012
Location: Red Bull 381 Projects, 381 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario
Doors Open: 7:30PM
Tickets: $30 in advance, $35 at the door available for purchase from any Ontario Wakeboard Committee member. For contact details or for more information on the event, visit http://www.facebook.com/rootswakeseries or email erika.langman@gmail.com .

2011/12 Ontario Wake Awards
- Wakeboarder of the Year
- Wakeskater of the Year
- Female Rider of the Year
- Rookie Wakeskater of the Year
- Rookie Wakeboarder of the Year
- Cable Rider of the Year
- The Legend Award
- Industry Influence Award

SBC Wakeboard Photo and Video Showcase
This year there will be an award to both the SBC Wakeboard Photo of the Year and Video Part of the Year. Ten (10) photographs and five (5) videos will be selected as finalists by the Judging Panel composed of SBC Wakeboard and Ontario Wake Committee members. To submit your photo or video stay posted towww.sbcwakeboard.com for the full terms and conditions.

Photo contest submissions must include the following:
- Must be shot in the Province of Ontario
- Any athlete portrayed as the subject must originate or currently reside in the province of Ontario
- May be an action, wake-related lifestyle or landscape photo
- Photographer must be from, or currently residing in Ontario

Video contest submissions must include the following:
- Majority of the footage must be shot in Ontario.
- Any athlete portrayed as the subject must originate or currently reside in the province of Ontario
- May include multiple athletes and disciplines
- Videographer must be from, or currently residing in Ontario

Silent Auction
The Ontario Wake committee will be looking for Silent Auction items to present at the Ontario Wake Awards, all proceeds raised will go towards the Roots Wakeboard and Wakeskate AM Series, Ontario Provincials and sport development programming in Ontario. If you’re interested in donating an item, please contact erika.langman@gmail.com