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.

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.

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 Liquid Force MAVEN Women are back in the Northwest for 2 days this week in collaboration with Active Water Sports to bring you the 2008 MAVEN Sessions Summer Tour. Andrea Fountain, Barrett Perlman, and Hayley Smith will be the coaches for the next 2 days here in Portland. Yesterday, while at the Tige Pro Am, I talked with Barrett and Andrea and they mutually expressed their excitement to return to the Northwest for this part of the MAVEN Sessions Tour.

If you haven’t had signed up for a spot yet…. call a girl friend and sign up today. There are still openings available for both days. Click on the link to register now : MAVEN Portland Session Sign-Ups

* WakeboardNorthwest Staff Photographer, Bryan Myss, will show up to capture images from a few sessions both Tuesday and Wednesday. You may just end up in a gallery posted on WakeboardNorthwest.com

To check out Liquid Force MAVEN products that include : Boards, Boots, Vests, Ropes & Handles, Luggage, and Apparel click on the link (MAVEN Website) : www.liquidforcemaven.com

More information about the MAVEN Sessions posted after the jump…..

After a successful debut film, The Arrival by WIT Productions, Spencer Norris has been diligently filming his second video throughout the Summer and into the Fall. Known by the riders for some of his random on location antics including his patented cut off jean shorts and t-shirts, his strong obsession with his Hydrodyne, or body surf sessions with his trusty chase boat driver AJ…. Norris is without a doubt a young film maker that will continue to bring us wake videos in the years to come with Northwest style.

Did you know Spencer could wakeboard ? He not only can ride but he’s got style. Check out a few riding and lifestyle photos in a newly added photo gallery after the jump.

Thomas Olson has my vote as the most improved rider in the Northwest. I first met TO during the OBrien Team photoshoot last summer and saw his potential. Over the last year he has rode alongside NW veteran Bret V who has obviously helped Thomas with his style and confidence as a rider. TO, his given nickname, taught wakeboard lessons all summer with Matt V in Gig Harbor and still had time to film with Jared Eygabroad of Scratch Films and Spencer Norris of WIT Productions. Continue to look out for this young rider to make noise in Northwest and throughout the wake industry in the years ahead.

Check out Thomas Olson’s photo gallery from the Central Washington Filming trip after the jump.

Rob Carter is arguably one of the most stylish riders to be grown out of the Northwest. He is also one of the most under recognized riders by the rest of the wake industry media outlets. Throughout the summer Carter has been busy filming with Jared Eygabroad of Scratch Films and Spencer Norris of WIT Productions. You’ll be impressed by his riding when you watch his sections in both films set to release in late December and Spring ‘08.

This Central Oregon native deserves more support across the board from the other media outlets and sponsors. I know we will continue to lobby for it.

Check out Rob Carter’s photo gallery from a recent filming trip with WIT Productions after the jump.

Alex Scagliotti had another great season this year. He rode the Pro-Tour, took the WWA Series, competed in numerous local comps held in NorCal, and even had time to film this summer with Spencer Norris of WIT Productions. However, just shortly after returning from our filming trip to Central Washington Alex was struck by a virus that put him on bed rest. He was unable to compete at the INT Nationals this past week and Tige Open which he was planning on riding in to finish up his season.

The WakeboardNorthwest Staff and fellow Northwest Riders wish Alex all the best and pray for his quick recovery.

Check out the gallery of Alex that was shot during the WIT Productions Filming trip to Central Washington a few weeks back.

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.

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.