Posted on Soulriders… by Liz Freeman
The Kyle Schmidt clinic was unreal! He is a phenomenal coach with such a complete understanding of all things wake. We started with a nice review of edges, stance and riding positions, etc. which was great for all of us to hear and think about. We had four in our boat: Jen (Flowergirl), Lumpy (Taco Dropper), Mike and me.
Jen - worked on riding cuffed, backside board slides and a ton of board and edge control drills. It is going to make a huge impact on her toeside wake to wakes when she unpacks them again. Kyle was impressed with her ability to do surface 180s. He had her working on surface handle passes too.
Lumpy worked on general form, backside board slides on the outside turn and in the flats. Kyle had his heel side W2Ws getting better - it is suprising how hard it is to come at the wake tall and do nothing. He also worked on toeside edging techniques.
Mike got some instruction on toeside front rolls and toeside backrolls. Kyle has an awesome way of building skills and helping riders feel out the tricks. Mike nearly rode away from his 3rd and 5th attempts. I think in another set or two he will have both of those tricks. Last year he landed a 5 right after working with Kyle. Even though Mike got crummy water for his second set he has plenty of ideas to land those tricks.
I was stoked to get back on the heelside 180 horse. Kyle had some awesome drills for getting me more comfortable landing on that switch toeside edge. I think I'll get that yet. My second set I got to work on toeside 3s (by taking baby steps) and backrolls (again just the basics). Kyle has an awesome way of teaching backrolls with a 25 foot rope. That was the strangest thing riding right there by the passengers! I have hope that I will figure out the technique he was explaining to me.
Overall it was an amazing clinic and SO worth the time and money. It seems like every word that comes out of that guy's mouth makes total sense and brings you to a whole new level of wakeboarding knowledge. As a teacher and a sports coach I completely appreciate his way of breaking down tricks and using everyday analogies. Who knew that car ramps, ice skates, bouncing balls and catapults all related to wakeboarding?
Big props out to Thad, too, who drove us around all day. His skills were outstanding and he allowed the riders to really focus on what they were learning instead of worrying about the pull. He went above and beyond to set this clinic up and to make it successful (even after the water cops stopped us on Petite). Ultimate Wake rocks for bringing in a coach of this caliber.
If anyone ever gets the chance to ride with Kyle here or at the Wakeboard Camp in Clermont, FL I would highly recommend it!
About Me
- ultimate wake watersports
- Volo, IL, United States
- Ultimate Wake is located at Chicago Sea Ray in Volo. One of the Largest Pro Shop's in the Midwest, we carry- Supra/Moomba Towboats, Hyperlite, Byerly, Ronix wakeboards, and HO, Radar Skis.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Thank You - Kyle Schmidt!!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
::2009 Syndicate A-1::
Will Asher is the 2008 Masters Champion on his New 2009 Syndicate A-1 Ski
The first product out of the Syndicate Program initiative, the Syndicate A1, is the creation of 5-time World Champion Bob LaPoint. The goal was simple: to create a super ski designed to redefine what skiers can run in the slalom course. The plan was to design a ski capable of creating progressive angle and maintaining outward direction with unmatched velocity and stability. The Syndicate A1 achieves its goal by the introduction of a Hybrid Concave Design. With the re:evolution of the edge-to-edge concave ski design, the Syndicate A1 incorporates small rails on each side of the concave from the heel of the front foot forward. This allows the A1 to progressively build, and, most importantly, maintain incredible angle off the 2nd wake, propelling the skier onto a wide and early line. Behind the skier's front foot heel, the A1 transforms into edge-to-edge concave design with significantly increased tail section surface area to maximize on water speed. The increased tail section surface area is balanced by a slightly narrower fore body. The narrower fore body puts the A1 in balanced trim for extremely level turns and allows the skier to carry unlimited speed into the buoy with confidence that the ski is going to automatically carve back to the wakes. Bob LaPoint's hand-shaped bevel design fine tunes the A1's on-water attitude precisely balancing grip and slide. Stability is achieved via the industries first and only 5-stage rockerline incorporating dual rockerline flat spots with the fore body flat spot located directly under the skier's front foot. This provides a stable platform for the skier to ride back into the wakes, and the progressive shovel rocker design virtually reduces bouncing through the wakes and maximizes outbound trajectory.
FEATURES:
• Bob LaPoint Design: CAD-Shaped Tip to Tail
• Hybrid Concave: Increased Angle and Velocity
• Torsional Carbon Construction: Increased Speed and Stability
• Correct Center-of-Mass: More Ski Control, Less Tip Chatter
• Surface Area Sizing: Small Ski Feel, Big Ski Speed
• Ø-Draft Fin Slot: Precision Alignment, Low Drag
• CNC-Machined PVC Foam Core: Dynamic Edge Change Transitions
• Handmade in Redmond, Washington
With a correction to the traditional skis' center of mass location, the A1's tip reduction was carefully designed to reposition the skis center of mass closer to the skier's front boot. This reduces the length of the skis effective feel and provides the skier with the best of both worlds; the surface area of a larger ski for maximum speed, with the turn radius of a smaller ski for an earlier line in the slalom course. The Syndicate A1 also incorporates HO's revolutionary Torsional Carbon Construction (TCC). This enhances the skiers cross course speed and finish of the turn stability by increasing the torsional flex pattern of the ski. Finishing touches include a CNC-machined Polyvinylchloride foam core for dynamic edge change transitions, an Ø-Draft Fin Slot for precision fin alignment, and a unique surface area based sizing system for increased surface area with decreased ski length. Each Syndicate A1 is handmade to the highest standards in Redmond, WA.
Monday, June 16, 2008
::CHANCE OF A LIFETIME::
-A chance to watch the Ronix riders compete on Aug 16-17 at the Malibu Pro Team Challange
Saturday, June 7, 2008
::Coming Up:: Russ Wilde Wakeboard Clinics
Russ Wilde is coming to town for 2 Full Days (June 16-17) of Wakeboard Clinics! Spots are limited, clinics are $50. Sign up online for The Wilde Experience Also check out his MySpace
Monday, June 2, 2008
2008 Diamond Lake Hyper Tour
It was an unusual site looking out onto Diamond Lake on Saturday with only one boat on the water, a loaded Supra 24SSV! Yea, Mundelein Park & Rec was able to get the lake shut down for the Comp. However, the Weather was spectacular but the wind was not! There was prolly 20-30 mph gusts of wind that day which made it difficult for the riders. Everyone had a great time. Here are some pics from the event: 
Hyperlite Product
Supra 24SSV(Towboat) & Rider pick up jet ski
2008 Supra 24ssv Gravity Games
Nice Pancho!
Kaila C. doin' her thing
Bart U. gettin' boostin'
Nick K. throwing a Backroll
Justin S. - heelside slob 180
Joe R. - Pop Shuvin' it!
Tom P.- ts off axis 5
James F. - boostin'!
Nick C.- Backroll
1st Place Outlaw - James Feid (shown)
1st Place Intermediate Matt Kuel (shown) 
1st Place Novice - Kevin Foley Thanks to everyone who made it out on Saturday to Diamond Lake for our first HyperTour. Also a big THanks to Mundelein Park & Recreation for Huge help on putting this event on.