The 3rd Annual Pro Team Challenge wakeboard competition is returning to the Pacific Northwest. The three-part competition will feature some of the top pro riders in the world riding for their prospective board manufacturers, a chance to add their names to the Malibu Cup PTC trophy and bragging rights as the best team in wakeboarding for the next 12 months.

The Pro Team Challenge will take place on Sunday, August 2nd at the Bow Lake Water Sports Complex in Bow, WA., just North of Seattle. At Bow Lake, riders will enjoy great water conditions in one of the top private water sports facilities in the Pacific Northwest. Currently three pro teams are scheduled to compete including two-time defending Champions, Team Hyperlite and Teams from CWB and Liquid Force, trying and de-throne the Champs.

Click the link for more info and to view the event flier.

12 spots are available for the Portland, OR stop in West Linn (10th St) on the Willamette River.

- September 20, 2008 -

Sign up NOW by clicking - HERE -

OR

Visit NorthwestRiders.com

Ride behind the best wake boat in the industry, with the latest and greatest in gear available to use.

Only $100 gets you:

- Two 20 minute sets behind our all new 2008 Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV
- Professional instruction from Brent Starr and other Northwest Riders
- Free Lunch & T-Shirt
- Prizes and Giveaways
- Tons of demo gear available from: Slingshot, Straight Line, and others

Hunter Graham and Brandon Robins (Northwest Riders)

The Northwest Riders have been busy with their ‘08 Summer Clinic Tour around the NW region and still found the time to release NEW T-Shirt designs. They also have a line of NWR stickers for sale in a variety of colors. Take a look and place your order soon while they have inventory.

Above are the most recent T-Shirts released by Northwest Riders Clothing

* DIRECT LINKS TO ORDER THESE NEW T-SHIRTS ARE POSTED 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….

Last Saturday, July 26th featured some of the biggest; booted double ups ever witnessed in the Northwest as the 4th annual BAKES NWI competition took flight. In all, 11 riders took to the milder than normal waters of south Lake Washington at Coulon Park. Many of the competitors were familiar to the event with a few brand new faces mixed in.

This year’s event showcased the best riding ever seen for the 4th Annual Bakes NWI. Riders pulled out some insane tricks and showed that even in tough conditions, they were the best in the Northwest. Read up on the full breakdown … after the jump.

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)

2008 BAKES NWI Rider List :

Bret V (Washington)
Brandon Robins (Washington)
Nick Jones (Washington)
Sam Cole (Oregon)
Nick Cardoza (SW Washington)
Nick Haisch (Washington)
Jeff Fabiani (Washington)
Rob Carter (Central Oregon)
Hunter Graham (Idaho)
Zach Schneider (Oregon)
Thomas Olson (Washington)
Chris Craig (Washington)

* Come out and root on riders from all over the Northwest region this Saturday at Coulon Park in Renton @ 10am.

We posted a link to last years recap and photo galleries, as well as a link to the video that aired last night on King5 Evening Magazine featuring Thomas Olson. Check them out.

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

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.

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.