After meeting Travis Morita a few months back I told him to send me a story about the crew of local Portland riders he rode with on the Willamette River. He couldn’t stop talking about the Mize Family (Paul, Brandy, and Sean), and his friends on pdxWAKE.com. A dedicated community brought together by a local wake site.

“As the sun slowly starts to come out and the down-pouring rain gradually turns into a drizzle, the wakeboarders of the Portland metro area start piling into the Willamette. Although the weather has been a bit inconsistent so far this season, epic sessions are slowly on the rise. One local internet site, www.pdxWAKE.com, is doing a huge part in bringing the wakeboard community together and making these very sessions happen.”

Read Travis Morita’s article and check out the gallery of these Portland / Willamette River Riders after the jump….

Yet another leg of the 2008 Northwest Riders Summer Tour has come to a close. However, with the end of this stop…two more have been added to the list. The crew will be headed to a new location in Washington and also in Oregon.

The last Idaho stop of the season finished off with Coeur D’Alene and Hagadone Marine. We saw many new tricks attempted with a lot being landed for the first time for many riders. The sun came out in full force and summer finally showed us it was still going to stop by this year.

For a Journal style recap click into the article and read on … after the jump.

The Northwest Riders 2008 Summer Tour has started and unbelievably is already one third of the way done. Clinics have been completed for the state of Idaho and are coming to Washington next in early July.

If you live in the Mason Lake, Tri Cities, or Issaquah, WA areas (or just feel like taking a road trip), please join the Northwest Riders for their next clinics on Mason Lake, at The Mud Hole, or out on Lake Sammamish coming up July 11th, July 13th-14th, or July 15th-16th respectfully. Register online at NorthwestRiders.com.

For a Journal style recap click into the article and read on … after the jump.

Bakes Board & Ski in Issaquah, WA is having a demo featuring Byerly Wakeboards and Hyperlite Wakeboards. Come out to Lake Sammamish State Park on Thursday, June 26 and strap in to try out the latest and greatest in gear from two of the top board brands in the industry. Scott Byerly, the legend himself, will be on hand hanging out and showing you his new gear. Come try the Byerly Monarch, Hyperlite Marek, and other buzz products.

More info and flier download is available … after the jump.

The Northwest Riders 2008 Summer Wake Tour is almost here! With stops in Idaho only a handful of days away, sign-ups are open. Head over the NorthwestRiders.com and reserve your spot while you can.

Going on year four, the Northwest Riders Summer Clinic Tour blankets the Northwest bringing world class professional instruction to riders all over the region. Malibu pro team rider Brent Starr serves as head coach with the all new 2008 Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV wake machine churning out the best wake in the business.

For info on the 2008 tour including dates and links to sign-up read more … after the jump.

The Hoffman sisters have made quite the impact on the women’s ranks the last few seasons. They add competition to any event and no other rider can relax when paired against Raequel or Shawna. Part of team CWB, the Hoffman’s ride some of the best products around, and now you have the chance to win some of the same gear.

CWB wakeboards is giving women all over the chance to win big. More … after the jump.

If you have nothing going on this weekend then Grizzly Sports has you covered. There will be a “DRIVE” premiere, a skimboard rail demo from Dashboards Skimboards, and a whole lot more this Friday thru Sunday.

Northwest Riders Clothing Company will also be on hand Sunday with their Tour Bus and all new 2008 Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV that just won boat of the year (Malibu’s 7th consecutive Boat of the Year Award from PowerBoat Magazine). If you have not seen the Bus or the Boat yet, head on over and get the full tour. The DB Skimboard team will be throwing down and word on the street is that Liquid Force’s Aaron Reed will also be on hand.

The flier with info is available … after the jump.

All you have to do in order to grab a chance to win some free goodies is head over to Wakeboarding Magazine and give them some good old fashioned information. If you know your name, can spell it, and have the ways of the computer keyboard down…you contain the tools to make it happen.

Potential winnings include gear from CWB and Rusty. What have you got to lose?

The link and the list of gear up for grabs … are after the jump.

Active Water Sports is having an on-water demo Saturday, May 17 at the Bernert Landing/10th Street boat ramp in West Linn, Oregon. Now is your chance to get on the latest and greatest in gear for the coming season. If you are in the area and have the means to make it out…do it! Take advantage of the ‘ol “try before you buy” situation and get a good grasp of what gear will work best for your abilities.

Press release from AWS and more details … after the jump.

Hyperlite brought a pretty unique concept to the industry this season with the new “Hyperlite Podium Payback” program. This program allows “everyone else” to get awarded pro style when they place in select events around the country. That means all you have to do is ride in one of the events that Hyperlite has chosen as a qualified contest, place in the top three, and collect some cash like the big boys do.

Check the details … after the jump.