Koppert Lake is set to host the annual AWS Spring Classic. This Saturday, April 25, 2009. Details and flier 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)

Words by Jefferson Vowell at Active Water Sports
- “Anyone in the Northwest who owns a Moomba or Supra Boat is invited to come hang out at the 2nd Annual Skiers Choice Reunion. The plan is to meet at Clackamette Park in Oregon City from 10:00am to 11:30 for registration. Then launch the boats and go on a poker run thru downtown Portland, ending at the beach inside Ross island. We will then relax, BBQ, play games and enjoy the sun. Slingshot is going to be on-site to DEMO Wakeboards.”

WakeboardNorthwest encourages you to take a Slingshot Response or Recoil for a ride if you haven’t already. These boards are truly the future of Wakeboarding in regards to their flex technology. Active Water Sports is the local dealer in Portland to pick up a Slingshot (boot and board) setup. Both their Beaverton and Oregon City locations have a selection of Slingshot Wakeboards for men and women.

All the details and RSVP info for the AWS Boat Owners Reunion is listed 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 newly updated Slingshot Wakeboard web site has a familiar face on the Team page for 2008. Brandon Robins of Lake Tapps, WA has been on the Slingshot Regional team from the early stages of the company and has a new Bio page on the site. Robins has worked on staying injury free this “off-season” (He skis/snowboards 125+ times a season) and is looking to get a ton of water time for ‘08.

Link to his Bio page … after the jump.

Sean Kilgus, of BFY Productions, is in the process of filming DRIVE. Again Kilgus has assembled the top riders in the sport to create what looks to be his best cinematic achievement in DRIVE. The entire video has been shot with HD Super 16mm Film. Look for the film to release in Spring 2008.

Riders Featured in DRIVE : Rusty Malinoski, Randall Harris, Danny Harf, Chad Sharpe, Jeff McKee, Ben Greenwood, Jimmy Lariche, Adam Errington, Trevor Hansen, Gabe Lucas, and JD Webb, Erik Ruck

Check out the DRIVE teaser after the jump or by clicking on the logo in “Latest Video Trailers” section.

Brandon Robins spent the last part of the season filming with Spencer Norris of WIT Productions. The filming sessions took place on Lake Tapps and in Central Washington. He is now busy working at BAKES Marine in Issaquah preparing for the snow season ahead.

We will be adding many more galleries and trip recaps over the next few weeks that will feature fellow Northwest Riders Alex Scagliotti, Rob Carter, and Thomas Olson from the Central Washington Filming trip with WIT Productions so keep checking back.

Click on the link to view the photo gallery of Brandon Robins after the jump.

Even though the weather has been taking a turn as of late and feels like winter already there is still wakeboarding going on here in the Northwest. If you don’t have plans this weekend you should make the trip to Koppert Lake for the AWS Fall Classic Wakeboard Tournament this Sunday. Riders from around area are planning to attend and ride in what is the “last” wakeboard comp of the season.

Saturday I know Slingshot will be at Koppert Lake so venture down there to demo their new gear. The on lake pro-shop has other industry brands to demo including Liquid Force.

The Fall Classic flyer and all the event details you need to know are posted after the jump.

It brings a tear to my eye knowing that this is the last article summing up this summers’ adventures on Tour. It’s been another great Northwest summer, with lots of time spent on the road and in dozens of lakes and rivers across the region. This being “Part II” of our story across Big Sky country, you probably guessed that there was a “Part I.” For those of you who haven’t read that riveting article, I will begin this tantalizing tale where I last left off: Great Falls, Montana.

Read Greg Young’s “Part II” Recap of the Montana Stops of the Northwest Riders Summer Clinic Tour after the jump.