Words by Zach Schneider (AWS Team Rider)

What’s up everyone? I wanted to fill you all in on Active Water Sports next big event for summer, The 10th Annual Freerider’s Ball on August 9th and 10th. It’s called the Freerider’s event because the judging is based primarily on not what you do, but how you do it. There’s divisions for all levels of riding including juniors, novice, intermediate, advanced, women’s, sliders, masters, wakeskate, and the open division. It’s a two day event with camping spots available and rv hook ups. The open level division rides on sunday so you can count on a good time saturday night. Last year Mike Ennen took home the first place prize of $1,000 and I hear this year there will be twice as many riders ranging from the California and Idaho regions. Mark your calendars for the event, tell your friends, pack your camping gear and head up for some grassroots northwest fun…. oh and say a little prayer to the big man upstairs that we get hot, sunny weather for the whole weekend ! ! ! !

For more information check out Active Water Sports site at www.Activeh2o.com

* View the full event flyer after the jump.

We’ve posted 3 photo galleries from the 2008 BAKES Northwest Wakeboard Invitational. Check out the photo galleries and official recap if you haven’t read it already after the jump.

Thanks to all the riders, sponsors, and spectators that showed up and made this the best BAKES NWI thus far….

Yesterday afternoon, at Coulon Park in Renton on the shores of Lake Washington, Thomas Olson landed a toeside 900 in the finals to WIN his first BAKES NWI title against defending 2 time Champion Bret V. Everyone who showed up to watch the NWI witnessed a passing of the torch between these long time friends from Gig Harbor. Many folks know that Bret V has been a mentor and significant influence in Thomas Olson’s wake career to this point. The 4th Annual BAKES NWI had the teacher give way to the protege’ in the closest finals decision the event has ever seen…

Congratulations Thomas Olson… we are proud of you bro ! And thanks to all the other invited riders who threw down with style and showmanship. This had to be one of the best wake comps I’ve been to locally.

* Check back this week for a full recap and photo galleries from this weekends BAKES NWI.

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1st - Thomas Olson (Gig Harbor, Washington)
Sponsors : BAKES Marine, Northwest Riders Clothing, OBrien Wakeboards

2nd - Bret V (Gig Harbor, Washington)

Sponsors : BAKES Marine, Malibu Boats, OBrien Wakeboards, Straight Line

3rd - Sam Cole (Oregon)

Sponsors : Active Water Sports, Slingshot Wakeboards

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* Biggest Air - Bret V (Heelside Indy Front)

* Best Trick - Thomas Olson (Toeside 900 in the Finals)

The 2008 Bakes NWI Double Up Competition is a little over a week away and the anticipation is building. Can two time defending champ Bret van den Heuvel secure his place atop the podium with a three-peat? Will Original title holder Nick Jones once again take top spot? Or will one of the newcomers unseat the throne and become only the third name to fill the last line in the brackets?

These questions will be answered on Saturday, July 26th from Renton, WA at Gene Coulon Park. Come out and see the best wakeboarders from the Northwest take to the water and compete in a double up shootout. Big air, big tricks, and big bragging rights on the line.

Read the official press release and get more info … after the jump.

Alex Scagliotti has been busy this summer. He recently took the time to catch up with WakeboardNorthwest to tell us about his Wake season so far, his coaching experience at O-Town Water Sports, the 3rd place podium at the Tige Pro-Am, filming with WIT Productions, and coaching at ELEVATE Wakeboard Camp throughout the summer.

“This is what has been happening so far this summer. It started off with me making the move to Orlando, Florida from March-June (love the NW but you can’t ignore the climate). I was an instructor at O-Town which has helped my riding more than anything else so far in my riding career. I definitely got a little spoiled living on a lake, with warm weather, flat water, big wakes, and other riders to push me. The ever present alligators also gave me a little more incentive not to fall. My favorite part about working at the O-Town Water Sports was that every week it seemed like we had someone new from another country…….”

Read Alex’s full “blog style” update and check out some photo galleries posted after the jump.

MAVEN Team Members and Coaches, Hayley Smith & Barrett Perlman, took the time to tell us about their experience in Portland working with the gals that participated at the MAVEN Sessions on the Willamette River (in collaboration with Active Water Sports).

Read their recaps after the jump…..

The next Northwest MAVEN Sessions are with BAKES Marine August. 18-19. Registration is still OPEN for both days ! Register today and reserve your spot before they fill up. Read about last years BAKES MAVEN Clinic : Click Here

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.

Sean Kilgus, BFY Productions, has created another masterpiece in DRIVE. He has stretched the limits to bring us, the viewers, unique angles during the filming of this video. The use of zip lines during slider sessions will truly give us a vantage point and perspective unseen before. The Rider line up in DRIVE The Video is as red carpet as it gets : Randall Harris, Rusty Malinoski, Danny Harf, Chad Sharpe, Trevor Hansen, Jimmy Lariche, Benny Greenwood, Gabe Lucas, JD Webb, Jeff McKee, Erik Ruck, and Adam Errington.

DRIVE The Video hits local pro shops and online wake stores this week. Go out and pick up a copy - let us know what you think of the video. Check out another short teaser after the jump.

Do you want to learn how to wakeboard or wakesurf this summer ? Do you live in the Inland Northwest (Spokane / Coeur D’Alene Area) ? If so, we strongly recommend you check out the Hayden Board School Coached by Hunter Graham.

Last year I first met Hunter Graham during a Slingshot Demo with area youth. Justin Meyer, the Slingshot Tech Rep, had told me about this up and coming rider who’s positive attitude for the sport of Wake was contagious. Hunter is going to be a Northwest Rider you will hear about in the years ahead. WakeboardNorthwest will continue to support Hunter and regional riders that have a common goal to grow the sport throughout the Northwest and beyond.

All the details for the Hayden Board School, coached by Hunter Graham, are posted after the jump.