Wakeboarder Thoughts is an ongoing "journal" by Wakeboarder.com Editors.
Check back often for new thoughts on wakeboarding, wakeskating, this web site, and other random stuff.
SNAP
The latest press release from Malibu about the upcoming Bump Films wakeskate instructional SNAP has me pretty excited. Bump Films always puts together good stuff, and the wakeskating scene could use a good instructional DVD out there to help push the sport to the next level. Plus I hear it has plenty of freeriding footage to get us pumped up to skate.
I also just got the first issue DVD of Current Video Magazine from Scott Jobe. It's pretty cool stuff, and we'll be doing a full review soon. It's been a long winter, and watching it has me excited for wakeboarding again!
- posted by staff
Interesting
Today's opinion poll was about how people liked the new forums, and suprisingly it seems like an even amount of people think they're better, worse, or about the same. Personally, I think they're WAY better do to all the features, the look, etc. Maybe people aren't used to them? Or maybe I'm just weird.
- posted by staff
On a lighter note
With the depressing news of Liquid Force and O'brien, this link might cheer you up:
Ouch
So, Liquid Force and O'brien both shut down today. It's been a rumor for a couple of days now, but employees and dealers have both been notified now.
It's pretty sad really, we need more industry support for things, not less. Both these companies were very instrumental in supporting videos, the magazines, web sites, pro riders, and very involved with developing new products.
Apparently one or both of the companies are for sale. So perhaps they'll be back in action. But it's not a good sign that employees are already looking for work elsewhere.
What's interesting, is both companies were two of the bigger and more popular board companies. O'brien also had skis, tubes, and other watersports equipment. So what went wrong? It's a tough business to make money in, so what do board companies need to do to survive? We see little companies pop up and fail all the time, but it's a shocking to see some of the big dogs go down. Do they need smaller pro teams? Less money spent on advertising? Less money spent on product development? A change in warranty so that they don't replace broken boards? Higher prices?
I don't know the answer for sure, but I'd imagine doing some or all of those things would help, although it hurts us at consumers to have smaller pro teams, expensive boards, and not be able to have our boards replaced. But what's worse, having to pay more for a board, or having no wakeboard companies to buy from?
