O’Neill just announced yesterday that their team rider Jenn GilanFarr just landed her first varial flip! This is the first time in history that a girl has landed that trick and everyone is so proud of her! O’Neill was able to catch up with Jen and ask some quick Q&A:

For those of us that don’t wakeskate, can you explain what a varial flip is?
A varial flip is a kickflip with a shuv-it…aka vflip.

How long have you been trying to land this trick?
It’s definitely been a work in progress. I learned them on the trampoline first to save my shins some damage! Almost a year ago I started trying them on the cable to learn the rotation. The cable pull is much higher than the jetski so you have more time in the air to figure things out. Once I started to get the rotation down I started to try them behind the jetski, a few every set.

How does it feel to be the first girl who has ever landed a varial flip?
It’s pretty groundbreaking for women’s wakeskating, there is still only a small handful of girls that can kickflip. And landing a vflip takes us into that next level of tricks. The guys are progressing so fast it’s hard to try and keep up, but this gives me hope to one day narrow the gap!

Where were you when you finally landed the varial flip and what were the conditions like?
We were on Lake Mills, one of my favorite lakes in Orlando, and my old stomping grounds. It was overcast with glassy conditions. I knew the TransWorld Wake Awards were coming up and I was determined to get a trick in the reel for Women’s Move of the Year. So my friends Danny & Andrew took me out on the ski two afternoons in a row and made me try vflip after vflip. The first day I tried probably close to 40, I put 3 hours on the jetski between those two days. The second day about half way through my set I looked down and my feet were still on the board and I rode away.

What are you going to try next?
Probably a backside flip, which is a kickflip and backside 180 all in one motion. Backside 180s are my favorite. I’d also like to learn vflips toeside!

If the Transworld Wake Awards offered a Women’s Trick of the Year category you would have owned it! We’re so proud of you Jen!
It would have been huge for women’s wakeskating even to just make the reel, women’s wakeskating has never been a part of Wake Awards. Last year was a progressive year for women’s wake, and this year there wasn’t enough tricks submitted to have the category. I worked really hard to get that trick in time, so it was ultimately disappointing. I feel like women’s wakeskating would progress twice as fast if we had more support from the industry.

About Jen:
Jen GilanFarr’s ascent to the top of women’s professional wakeskating was fast, if not especially furious. The 24-year-old Lake Tahoe native quietly swept the WWA National AND World Championships, and was unanimously named Alliance Wakeskate’s Female Rider of the Year.She is the first and only woman to ever land a wake-to-wake shuv it (several, in fact), and one of the few with all-around skills behind the boat, on rails, at the cable or exploring terrain with a winch. There are few who love water time any more then Jen, and it’s obvious. Off the water she is an accomplished graphic artist.

Check out Jen’s blog: jnonymous.com

Follow Jen on Twitter: @Jnonymous

If you’ve ever seen Dean Smith ride, you have to at least be a little bit curious to see how his little sister, Hayley, rides. Once you see Hayley ride, you’ll realize where Dean got all his skills! Hayley has an intensity on the water that stands in stark contract to the smile that’s always on her face and the laid back attitude she has towards life. And she definitely has the “big air” gene that apparently runs in the Smith family.

At a time in women’s wakeboarding where you could easily make the case that there is more competition than ever before in the history of the sport, Hayley is slowly working her way up the ranks and earning respect wherever she rides. That’s how she walked away with the 2009 Aussie Rider of the Year award and that’s why you should keep an eye on her in 2010.

WW: How old are you and how long have you been wakeboarding?
HS: I am getting over the hill now at 23. I remember learning heelside 180′s when I was 13, so I will say I have been wakeboarding for 10 years.

WW: Where are you from and where do you live now?
HS: I grew up and still currently call Sydney, Australia my home. I used to live right on the Port Hacking River 30 minutes south of the city, but now live about five minutes from the Big Smoke and Sydney Harbour, which is my favorite place in the world!

WW: How would your mom describe you and how accurate would she be?
HS: My mUm would probably describe me as cheeky, messy, bossy and a little b*t*h. She would probably be spot on. To her I would say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, darling!

WW: You are back in the U.S. after spending a summer in Australia. How was your summer?
HS: My summer was amazing! We now have a cable park in Sydney, which pretty much occupied all of my spare time. I was not home for very long though, roughly four months as there was no Australian Pro Tour, which usually takes up a majority of the summer. Though I was still flat out, with three big events, Wake Wars, the WWA Pro Am and Brostock.

I also coached at a bunch of grommet cable mornings with Black Diamond Wakeboard School, which was so fun. We would ride doubles with the kids and teach them some basics. We would help seven-year-olds over rails for their first time and get some of the bigger kids learning new tricks on the kickers.

WW: I heard that you were voted 2009 Aussie Rider of the Year. Who votes on that and what was that like?
HS: Ah yes, this is true! The Riders Choice Awards are voted on by pretty much the riders, and some key industry figures. It was a pretty crazy feeling actually. Obviously, every year I would love to have to be awarded it. Since the start, Amber has been given the honors, and rightly so. I honestly didn’t think that I had a chance this year as Amber was riding so awesome and I had a pretty bad American season. I was shocked and kind of sat there for a little bit taking it all in! It is probably my proudest moment!

WW: Where are your favorite spots to ride in Australia? What about the U.S.?
HS: Australia would be the Port Hacking on a perfect flat day. The water is normally crystal clear. In some sections you can see the sandy bottom. You have the Royal National Park on one side and big houses on the other, along with a few cute little shacks. The butter mornings don’t last long before the tubers and social boaters come out, but when you get those amazing mornings it is hard to be anywhere else! There are also some awesome rivers in the northern NSW area that run through small country towns. The rivers are pretty much untouched apart from a few fishing boats that might drive past you every now and then.

I have been able to travel a little bit around the U.S., though not as much as I would like to. From the places I got to visit I would say South Carolina had a really cool place. I wish I remembered the name or where it was! I would love to go back there one day. Though, I don’t think I would want to live anywhere other than Clermont. I love our chain of lakes and the people I get to ride with.

WW: Are you still roommates with Amber Wing or did you get sick of each other?
HS: I have been living with Amber for the past four U.S. seasons. It is just so easy. This year we are living with another Australian girl, Beck Frangi, in Amber’s new pad, which she bought at the end of last year. It is awesome. I am currently looking out from the lounge to the dock where Amber’s boat is sitting fully loaded on a sheet of glass. Things could defiantly be a lot worse!

WW: Will you be competing much in 2010?
HS: I will be competing again this year. So far I have a few events planned with Masters, Wake Games, which I am really excited about, along with the usual U.S. Tour stops. I am looking at heading to the UK to ride at Wakestock in June, which I have wanted to get to for a few years now, so I am super pumped to finally get there.

WW: Whom do you usually ride with besides Amber?
HS: A usual crew would be Amber and Ben Greenwood or one of the other coaches from the Wakeboard Camp like Bob Sichel, Chad Lowe and Kiwi Kurt Robertson. Pretty much any of the coaches at the camp will be out with us riding.

WW: Who would you like to ride with, but never have?
HS: How long a list can I have? Last year I got to watch Lyman ride doubles with Murray, which was real cool. Jealous? I would be extremely content if I got to ride in one boat with Byerly, Randall, Darin and Parks. That’s not so much to ask for is it? Didn’t think so.

WW: What kind of run is it going to take to win a Pro Tour stop this year?
HS: This year is going to be tough with the girls. Nicola is so consistent and just rides so darn smooth. Amber has been banging out a few new tricks and getting super strong on toeside 720′s now. It’s at the point where we don’t flinch when she pulls it out. She has been really focusing on making all of her tricks stand out by holding grabs longer and tweaking things differently. So to beat Nicola, Amber and Dallas, the girls aren’t just going to have to learn a bunch of new mobes and spins, everything is going to have to be perfected and stand out from the rest of the field.

WW: What are the toughest tricks you’re trying to get down before the season starts?
HS: Over the last summer I have been working on Pete Roses, crow mobes and toeside backside 360′s. I would like to have them all in my bag of tricks by the end of the season, along as a few different glides.

WW: What are your favorite tricks to do?
HS: I love cutting into a kicker late and trying to grab glides in a different way. I just learnt melan glides at OWC and haven’t been so excited for a long time. Also, toeside backside 180′s with a late melan grab. It is a real slow feeling trick and I feel like Shawn Watson when I do it!

WW: What’s the secret to your success?
HS: Surrounding myself with positive influences on and off the water. I really look up to Amber and Ben, so getting to ride with them most days is awesome. Getting to ride with some of the world’s best coaches both in Australia at Black Diamond and at The Wakeboard Camp in Florida doesn’t hurt either. Everybody I learn from all know how I want to ride and don’t try to make me ride like everyone else. I think that is why Amber and I both like to ride together, because we are both on the same wavelength as far as the direction we want to take woman’s wakeboarding.

WW: Are you happy with the current state of women’s wakeboarding?
HS: I am! It is not like there are only three girls doing big things. All the women are driving themselves on rails, behind the boat and on the cable. There are girls with such different styles and focuses. Even in the younger girls there are some rippers who are going to come up through the pro women ranks giving the girls a healthy future.

WW: How do you think it could be improved?
HS: I honestly think the girls are doing good things for themselves. I have always been one of the people who would agree with the guys that us girls aren’t really doing that much to help ourselves. I don’t think that applies anymore. Hopefully, the industry will start to see that and appreciate what the girls are doing. With websites like WakeGirls.com trying to showcase the improvements at all levels of women’s wakeboarding, hopefully, more people will agree with me.

WW: Do you ride better when you can hear music pumping from the boat?
HS: If I can hear a song that makes me excited while I am riding, I do usually ride better probably because I am not thinking too much while I am edging into the wake rather than singing in my head! Music can change a mood so easily, as can people around you. If everyone is pumped and you have feel-good music playing, then generally you’re going to be relaxed when you get into the water.

WW: What kind of music do you listen to?
HS: I like such a variety of music. Depending on what I am doing and what my mood is like, I can change from rap to house music, real mellow beats and soulful pop music. I love the Hill Top Hoods, Phoenix and Sia at the moment.

WW: Are you single? Attached? Looking? Accepting applications?
HS: Accepting applications.

WW: Is wakeboarding your favorite sport or is there something else you really like to do?
HS: Growing up I had to decide if I wanted to wakeboard or ride horses. I still love horse riding. I was getting into cross-country just before I sold my horse to head to Florida for the first time. Pretty much I decided that I can always ride a horse, but there are only so many years my body will hold out to wakeboard. I love board sports and would love to be really good at them. I could only imagine a day involving surfing, wakeboard and surfing.

WW: What’s your current setup – board, bindings, etc.
HS: I am riding the Ronix Dahlia with Faith Hope Love bindings. I am loving my board, the way it holds its edge and snaps off the wake. It holds super tight through the wake and has a solid vertical pop. I really do think it has changed the way I ride, giving me more confidence to cut in a little harder and develop a bit more of an aggressive style.

WW: What do you hate about wakeboarding?
HS: There are a lot of things, but I would prefer not to think about most of them. Wakeboarding is a social sport mainly because you always need other people to drive and observe. Sometimes you just want to get out there, but you’re stuck to find a crew. It would be cool just to go out whenever you want. Sometimes we are also a little more restricted, needing the wake and a handle, but things like winches are opening up the options to where we can go.

WW: What’s the biggest wake you’ve ever ridden behind?
HS: Probably Keith’s wake. He has his boat dialed and his shape is just perfect. It is not daunting to edge into because it is so solid and clean. Keith, can I come ride with you?

WW: There is a character named Hayley Smith on a TV show called “American Dad!” Have you ever seen it? If so, do you have anything in common with that character?
HS: Other than having an alien living in the house and a geeky brother? Maybe I should start watching it just in case I get asked this again I have a funnier response. There used to be a character on an Australian TV show called “Home and Away” also with my name. I used to think I was pretty cool.

WW: What’s the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to you?
HS: It has taken me four attempts to answer this question. Clearly I am not that exciting! After brainstorming with my roommates, WE have decided that getting to see boy band Hanson 13 years after their last chart topping hit for my 23rd birthday. I was pretty darn excited!

WW: What’s the dumbest question anyone has ever asked you in an interview?
HS: ARE YOU KIDDING?? THIS ONE!

WW: Any advice for women that want to excel at wakeboarding?
HS: You are always going to take hard falls that are going to knock your confidence around, but you need to be able to compose yourself and move forward. Go to The Wakeboard Camp or Black Diamond Wakeboard School! Spending the time and money to have a professional coach analyze your riding and correct your technique can make huge differences rather than banging your head set after set. It is amazing how quickly I have seen people learn when they are getting coached three sets a day for five days. Sometimes making an investment in your riding can save a lot of headaches and simply build your ability.

I also believe one of the biggest things that has helped Amber and myself has been the fact that we have ridden with guys the whole time we have been wakeboarding. We were just one of the boys and they were just as hard on us as they were with each other. Sometimes they were tougher. Even now I think it is the same. We ride with a bunch of guys who are all positive influences with Ben, Bob and my brother. The guys all believe in us and push us to try new things. Having a crew that motivates you to want to learn is so important!

WW: Whom would you like to thank?
HS: My family. My dad who put up with so many bad attitudes from me, especially early in the morning! But he would still put the boat in when it was dark throughout winter, while Dean was in the USA, just to pull me before school.  Also, my brother Dean. I don’t think there is anyone who has helped me believe in myself more than him. My mum. Who would I be without my mum? Black Diamond, The Wakeboard Camp, Wing Wetsuits, Ronix Wakeboards and WakeGirls.com. Ben, Amber, Bob, Kurt Robertson and John Henson. Thanks for all your help.

-David Williams

Check out more articles like this one at WakeWorld.com

Nick Jones landed the first video documented W2W Big Johnson yesterday!

What is a big Johnson you ask? Invented by Brannon Johnson back in his day, Its basically a big worm with one more 180. Ive been watching Josh Palma do big worms lately in competition and they are already crazy looking going to 5. Video courtesy of  NickJonesWake.com.

Check some of the crew (Grasman, House, Trask) out here as they explore some ways to shred the historic site: “Cypress Gardens” (which has been recently shut down)

More stories like this one >> Jet Pilots blog
Shop JetPilot: KillerDana.com

The first day of spring was one to remember at MAWI Wake Park in Oklahoma. With a blizzard dropping 8 inches of snow that day, the temperature below freezing, and the wind chills in the low teens the Skeen brothers took to the water to ride some rails. Garrett and Trent Skeen braved the blizzard that was near white out conditions. “The rooftop had atleast an inch of ice on it when I first hit it! The ice was breaking off and hitting me in the face” Trent stated after he climbed out of the frigid water. After completing their goal of twenty laps around the park they immediately ran inside and put their feet to the binding heat mold machine! ‘This is probably something that we will never do again, but with the cable park tuned up and ready to run we saw an opportunity to have some fun and jumped all over it!’ said Garrett after his body thawed out!

More stories like this one at >>AllianceWake.com
Shop Wake Gear: KillerDana.com

Courtney Brumley fell in love with wakeboarding as a teenager in Oklahoma. Today, the 24-year-old model keeps that stoke alive as a Rockstar Girl on the King of Wake World Series and as a wakeboard boat model for Tige boats. We caught up with this riding beauty to find out about her recent foray into music videos, why she loves to ride, and her favorite part about being a bikini model.

How long have you been wakeboarding and how did you get started? I’ve been wakeboarding since I was 14. My parents had a lake house on Tenkiller Lake in Oklahoma, so I grew up going to the lake every weekend. It took me about 50 times before I could even stand up on a wakeboard. I started out behind a Sea Ray deck boat that my dad had. Eventually when I got into high school, my family sold it and bought a wakeboarding boat and I rode behind that.

What do you like about wakeboarding? I love everything about wakeboarding. It’s a great way to stay in shape, and when I get behind the boat, it just puts me in such a great mood. I mainly just ride for fun. I’m definitely not pro material by any means!

Where’s your favorite place to ride? Definitely Lake Tenkiller. It’s where I grew up and the water is beautiful. You can always find a cove with smooth water even on a busy holiday weekend.

Who’s your favorite pro wakeboarder and why? Emily Copeland-Durham. She is an amazing rider and she’s a strong Christian, who leads a life of faith and lives for God. I really admire her. I met her a few years ago at King of Wake in Orlando and she was so sweet!

Aside from wakeboarding, what are some of your favorite activities? Anything outdoors — snowboarding, stand-up paddle boarding, fishing, camping — spending time with my family in Oklahoma, photography, church and reading.

How long have you been a Rockstar Girl and how’d you get started? I’ve been working for Rockstar a few years now. I got started by submitting my photos to their website. I didn’t have any connections with the company, and that’s the only way I knew how. I never thought they would actually pick me considering hundreds of girls submit all the time, so it was a shock when they contacted me.

What’s the best thing about the Rockstar gig? Definitely meeting new people from all over the country. I’ve met a lot of amazing people that I still keep in contact with and the entire Rockstar crew is awesome! We all get along and have a lot of fun.

What’s the worst part about being a Rockstar Girl? Being under a black tent when it’s super-hot outside

What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever got to do as a Rockstar Girl? Shooting the new music video for A Day to Remember’s I’m Made Of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of? They are a great band. I jam to their CD in my car, so it was pretty cool being in the music video for them.

Have you ever worked a King of Wake event for Rockstar? Yes, I have worked a lot of wakeboarding events for Rockstar. Orlando, Fort Worth, Texas, and my favorite was getting to work Nationals in Oklahoma City. I got to visit family and work at the same time. I just love being around people who love the sport as much as I do.

We hear you’re getting into wakeboard boat modeling now, too. What was your Tige Boats shoot like? It was on Possum Kingdom Lake in Texas. It was about a week long, and the crew that we had there were amazing. I met so many great people and we definitely had a lot of fun together. They even let me drive the boat.

What other kinds of modeling have you done? Well, I have been modeling professionally for over three years now, so I’ve done fashion shows, commercials, music videos, magazines and trade shows. I love modeling for bikini companies because they always let you keep the suits. I can’t remember the last time I had to buy a bikini. I get about 20 new ones every year.

Turn-ons? A sense of humor and being adventurous.

Turn-offs? Self-centered people and smoking.

Describe your dream date? Anything outdoors like going to the lake, fishing, kayaking — something like that is perfect.

-Luke Woodling
WakeboardingMagazine.com

Shope Wake Gear: KillerDana.com

This month’s Wakeboarding Mag cover goes to JP’s resident “rail killer” Clay Fletcher.  Watch him destroy more rails in his section of Box Of Fun!

Find more stories like this one on >> Jet Pilots blog
Shop JetPilot: KillerDana.com

Wakestock UK has long been one of the coolest mash-ups of wakeboarding and music in the world. This year, the Wakestock model was exported to the Middle East for the first-ever Wakestock Abu Dhabi, which was the first stop on the World Wakeboard Association’s 2010 World Wakeboard Series. The three-day event mixed an array of riding, including pool gap, System 2.0 and boat comps, with performances from big-name music acts like De La Soul and Maximo Park.

JD Webb won the Wakestock Pool Gap, which was situated on Abu Dhabi’s downtown beach and towed by Sesitec’s System 2.0 cable system. Webb also did well in the impromptu Wakestock Cable Jam. When wind postponed the main event, the pros put on a show with the System 2.0. Webb, Padiwat Jaemajan and Adam Errington each walked away with a fistful of cash for their best tricks.

Harley Clifford beat out Rusty Malinoski, Phillip Soven and Aaron Rathy to win the mens pro boat event while Dallas Friday topped Amber Wing and Nicola Butler in the womens pro boat event.

-Luke Woodling
WakeboardingMagazine.com

Shope Wake Gear: KillerDana.com

Aaron Reed has been sidelined with a broken leg for the past few months.  Here’s a quick Q&A that will bring you up to speed with Reed.

How’s the leg doing?  Was the rehab difficult?
The leg is doing much better.  I can walk now and I am really starting to progress with my therapy.  At times it is difficult. This is my first major injury, so the first time I’ve had to do the therapy process.  At the beginning it was a lot more monotonous, just trying to get mobility back in my leg and ankle, but now I feel like I am able to push it a lot more and make some progress.

Explain a typical rehab day for a broken leg
I start with a heat compress, followed by some stretching. I usually try and ride my bike a few miles each day, and I do a lot of squats, balance exercises, and lunges.  I haven’t been able to run yet,but that’s next.  As of now, Chuck Norris and his Total Gym are my best friends.
When do you anticipate getting back to riding?
My doctor cleared me to ride whenever I feel comfortable. Since I have a metal rod inside my Tibia, the chances of it breaking again are pretty slim.  I think I want to wait until I can run comfortably before I start to ride.  We are having a demo day at the Texas Ski Ranch on Feb. 13th and 14th so that is the date I have set for myself to get back on the board.

The broken leg happened right before your wedding.  How did the new wife take it?
If I needed any reassurance that I was marrying the right woman, that was it.  She handled it like a champ.  Not to mention she waited on me hand and foot for about 6 weeks.

The Obsucra project is well under way. How’s it looking so far?
We are really pumped on this whole thing.  It is a dream come true for my partner Danny Hampson and myself.  We just got samples of our new shoe with DVS and they are incredible.  It is really a blessing to be involved with every level of production, from marketing to manufacturing.  But I think the real joy for us is managing the team. It’s fun to see a group of focused young guys in the position I was in 7years ago.  They are hungry, look out!

What’s coming up next for Aaron Reed?
This year I am all about traveling around and promoting my new brand as well as O’Neill and my other sponsors.  We have a lot of tours planned this year.  We are doing demos on the road, but it is more about letting the kids ride all of our stuff.  I am really pumped on allof my gear for this year, and we figured it would be best just to let people try it for themselves.  The next stop is at the Texas Ski Ranch where itis mandatory that you wear a coast guard approved vest.  I am really pumped on this new Revenge CGA vest.  It has the mobility of a comp vest with the safety and flotation of a CGA vest.   Check obscura09.com for details on when we will be coming to a town near you.

Get more stories like this from O’Neill at O’News