He was given a 1 stop ban on the pro tour for hitting a pine cone with a wiffle ball bat? Chase Heavener is a former professional wakeboarder from Orlando, Florida, and has been around since the early days of the sport. Seeing it progress from "trick ski" style riding to where the sport is today has been a wild ride, and a ride that Chase had some influence in. When he got into the sport, he didn't feel as though the current contest landscape represented his crews style of riding, or their visio...
Aug 13, 2024•2 hr 4 min•Ep. 62
What does the future of cable riding look like in America? In this episode we sit down with the Director of Operations at Aktion Parks, Kellan Rudnicki. Kellan got into wakeboarding at Ski Rixen, after initially trying to learn how to kiteboard and getting told he needs to hit the cable to learn board control first. Once falling in love with the sport, Kellan restarted the wakeboard club at his college UCF, then took a job out of the industry after graduating. Eventually an opportunity arose to ...
Aug 06, 2024•2 hr 35 min•Ep. 61
How do you navigate running a brick and morter pro shop in today's time where Amazon seems to run everything eCommerce? Bill Porter is the founder and owner of Performance Ski and Surf, located in Orlando, Florida. Being in the heart of the towed watersports scene, Bill's shop is the "go to" pro-shop for everything wake and watersports. Although his mom initially tried to get people to convince Bill to not open Performance, he did it anyways, and has had a profound influence on both pro riders a...
Jul 30, 2024•2 hr 2 min•Ep. 60
We start off the 5th installment of Shop Talk with the Mount Rushmore of "Worst things that can happen to you on the boat". After that were touching on wakeskating making an appearance at the X Games, who is the best wake photographer, life jacket requirements, optimal cable speed, winch kickers, Wake The City, RGR, a question from Sam De Haan on our thoughts on "grabbing a rail" while riding, Don Pedro, and Violet. We end this episode with all of our gnarliest winching stories, with T.J. having...
Jul 23, 2024•3 hr 7 min•Ep. 5
Did you know Raph didn't hit a single feature in his first 6 months of riding? Hailing from the Philippines, Raph Trinidad got his start riding at a cable where the depth ranged from 6 inches to 8 feet deep, depending on the tide. After choosing wakeboarding over soccer, Raph dedicated his life to being one of the best riders, and now has some of the cleanest and most powerful air tricks in the game. Although he was able to ride year round, Raph found it hard to get sponsor support being in a mo...
Jul 16, 2024•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 59
Ready for 4 hours and 20 minutes of one of wakeboardings most passionate riders? Quinn Silvernale helps run one of the most unique and progressive wake parks in the world, Valdosta Wake Compound. Getting started wakeboarding behind the boat on a lake in Minnesota, Quinn knew he loved it. After highschool Quinn attended college at Valdosta State University in Georgia, and that’s where he began to winch much more. From ditches to ponds, Quinn and his friends rode just about everything you could. A...
Jul 09, 2024•4 hr 21 min•Ep. 58
Freddie Winter is one of the best slalom waterskiers in the world, and isn't afraid to stand up for what is right within the sport. Having put his money where his mouth is when it comes to a unified Pro Tour, Freddie is doing a lot for the sport both on the water and behind the scenes. Growing up skiing at Thorpe Lakes in the U.K., Freddie was ecstatic to ski in college in America, and continued to progress his skiing until he became one of slaloms best competitors. Nerdy waterskiers, getting ba...
Jul 02, 2024•2 hr 11 min•Ep. 57
Kevin Michael, mostly known as “Kevco”, has been in and around the wakeboard and waterski industry for decades, helping shape the sports we know today. From working at Wakeboarding Mag during the peak years of wakeboarding, to lobbying on the steps of capitol hill, Kevco has put countless hours into turning wakeboarding and waterskiing into legitimate and respected sports. With those years helping run one of wakeboardings biggest publications comes with countless stories of shenanigans and unriv...
Jun 25, 2024•2 hr 43 min•Season 1Ep. 56
After just recently coming back from a significant amount of time off the water due to a misdiagnosis on an injury to his ankle, we sit down with one of boat ridings most fierce competitors, Cory Teunissen. Cory grew up in Australia and got into wakeboarding with his family at a young age, and made his first trip to the U.S. at age 11. When Cory is healthy and on the water, he can be a favorite to win at most boat contests. The longest game of W.A.K.E. ever, getting paid as a 13 year old, his an...
Jun 18, 2024•1 hr 56 min•Ep. 55
Is Fynn Bullock the only person in the world to get paid to snowboard and wakeboard? From a young age Fynn was into tons of sports, but standing sideways was where he felt at home. We dive into the differences of the two industries and how Fynn navigates each season when it comes to contests and travel. Sponsors, cutting boards to a smaller size, fin trivia, eating only ketchup sandwiches, Masters, Olympics vs. X Games, and coaching. Hear all that and much more in Episode 54 of the Grab Matters ...
Jun 11, 2024•1 hr 48 min•Ep. 54
In Episode 4 of Shop Talk the boys sit down and chat current wakeboard happenings from throughout the world. We start off by watching the new Alliance movie from Cole Vanthof, Citrus. Then we catch up with Thomas on how Masters went, do a preview of the PWT, check out the Zillow listing for the Lake Ronix house, take a look at some of the worst slams ever on a wakeboard, debate what the next NBD will be on the cable and boat, as well as much more in Episode 4 of Shop Talk. Follow Thomas: https:/...
Jun 04, 2024•1 hr 26 min
Dean Smith is a former professional wakeboarder from Australia, and has been known for being on a short list of riders who truly go "big". Dean got a later start than most when getting into wakeboarding, and never truly grew up with a consistent coach, rather just riding with friends and occasionally heading to ride at Black Diamond. After a somewhat surprising win at the Asian X-Games, Dean's career started to takeoff. Crashing a car and boat in one year, getting cut by his boat sponsor, P.E.D'...
May 28, 2024•3 hr 15 min•Ep. 53
David Vervenne is the CEO of Unit Parktech, the #1 manufactured feature company for cable parks. David got his start riding behind the boat in Belgium, and even competed against some of the best in the sport in his early years. However, contests weren’t where he felt at home in the sport, and truly found his passion in freeriding, as it gave him the freedom that organized sports like soccer (football) didn’t. A renovated park in Florida, homemade vs. manufactured features, wake the line, the per...
May 21, 2024•2 hr 18 min•Ep. 52
She went from being one of the best wakeboarders in the world to working as a lollipop lady, and then an Audi saleswoman - all completely by choice. Zahra Kell was a promising young rider both on the snow and the water, but after years of pressure to win, she needed a break. Stepping away from the sport during the prime of your career surely wasn't easy, but resulted in a newfound love for the sport after a few years away from it. Social media, getting tattoos, the crouch, riding at Black Diamon...
May 14, 2024•2 hr 13 min•Ep. 51
From stranded in an airport in Mexico for three days to being named the Marketing and Team Manager for Hyperlite, Trever Maur has seen just about everything in wakeboarding. Growing up riding on the west coast, an area notorious for producing stylish and talented wakeboarders, Trever is no exception. From learning grabs with Mike Schwenne to filming Randall Harris for quite possibly the last footage we will see of him, we walk through Trever's extensive journey within the industry. Wallriding a ...
May 07, 2024•3 hr 22 min•Ep. 50
Today we sit down with a few members of the Space Mob crew, Wes Jacobsen, Quinn Silvernale, and Crosse Bearden. After cracking bevvies from none other than Valdosta’s own Fifth Street Booze, we chat about cable park etiquette, do a Space Mob boot giveaway, go over riders pay, answer some patreon questions, get a message from Simon Pettai, and talk about Space Mob’s latest movie project this summer. Hear that and much more in Episode #3 of Shop Talk from the Grab Matters Podcast! Follow SpaceMob:...
Apr 30, 2024•1 hr 22 min
Amber Wing is one of the most successful female wakeboarders to ever do the sport, and is still the only woman to land a 900 behind the boat. Although Amber didn’t seriously start wakeboarding until after highschool, her strong background in gymnastics allowed her to progress quickly. Making finals in her first pro tour stop, landing NBD’s, Sets in motion, Foundation for women’s wake, getting sponsors, getting dropped, progression in women’s riding, competing with a child, and retiring from wake...
Apr 23, 2024•2 hr 34 min•Ep. 49
Meet the most talented waterskier of this generation, Joel Poland. Growing up in England, Joel grew up wakeboarding and after a few years of that he got into waterskiing. After attending "Jump camp" in Orlando, Joel became extremely driven towards progression, practicing all 3 disciplines of waterskiing (slalom, trick, and jump). Grabbing your trick ski, sky flying, college waterskiing, getting banned from Australia, keeping skiing fun, competition vs. camaraderie, getting a boat sponsor, G.O.A....
Apr 16, 2024•1 hr 56 min•Ep. 48
Shota Tezuka is a professional wakeboarder from Shizuoka, Japan. Growing up in Japan Shota got his start wakeboarding behind a jet-ski, and eventually turning it into a regular after school activity. After making an initial trip to Florida to compete with the help of friends and family, Shota eventually made the move to Florida full time. Having ridden for companies like Mastercraft, Ronix, Supra, Obrien, Red Bull, and a bunch more, Shota has surely made a mark on the sport through his unique st...
Apr 09, 2024•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 47
Jake Ramsdell is a professional wakeskater from Chippewa Lake, Ohio. Getting his start show skiing, Jake spent thousands of hours on the water as a kid. From barefooting, to trick skiing, to show skiing, and just about everything else, Jake is a certified waterman. In his college years he woke up one day with a desire to make a change and move to Florida to pursue more wakeskating, and while it wasn't necessarily easy, he did it. The Wakeskate Tour, catching gators, winning a national title, qui...
Apr 02, 2024•2 hr 5 min•Ep. 46
Getting robbed while riding a camel in Egypt...? Trevor Hansen is a former professional wakeboarder from Groveland, Florida. Trevor started out behind the boat waterskiing at 6 months of age, yep, another ski baby. However, once he discovered wakeboarding, Trevor was hooked on standing sideways. After having an incredible season in 1999, Trevor went pro. Designing your pro model board, filming music videos, getting bit by a monkey, making your own lead weights, lazy susan vs. tequila, and gettin...
Mar 26, 2024•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 45
Matt Manzari is alive, and that sentence alone is incredible. Having survived not one, but two life altering accidents Matt is truly an amazing human. But before these accidents lies a full professional career in wakeskating, one which holds NBD tricks and incredible video parts. Matt has made a proufound impact on the sport of wakeskating, even riding for Nike in his teen years. But tricks, video parts, or contest results don't define a person, and Matt is a perfect example of this. NBD's, vide...
Mar 19, 2024•3 hr 6 min•Ep. 44
Where is the wakeboard movie Citrus? Cole Vanthof is a videographer in the watersports industry and currently works at Alliance Wakeboard Mag. Getting his start wakeboarding in Georgia, Cole fell in love with being on the water, eventually moving to Tampa shortly after highschool to ride at McCormicks. After several years of riding and being in the industry Cole eventually took a job at Alliance, helping them to create wakeboarding related content, as well as other projects that help pay the bil...
Mar 12, 2024•2 hr 20 min•Ep. 43
How hard is it to be "Pro"? Kyle Alberts is a former professional wakeboarder from Nebraska, and has had a unique journey throughout his career in the sport. Getting his start riding in Nebraska, Kyle fell in love with wakeboarding as a kid, and found a solid community of riders in his local area. After choosing to pursue wakeboarding over basketball, Kyle moved to Florida and continued to chase his dream of being a pro rider, but it never quite panned out financially the way many picture it. Gr...
Mar 05, 2024•2 hr 52 min•Ep. 42
Riley Dillon is a professional wakeboarder from Canada. Riley has been around the cable scene for years, and has traveled the world both doing contests and filming full parts. We talk about how he got into snowboarding at a young age, and eventually making the decision to pursue wakeboarding instead of snowboarding, and the reasoning behind that. Action sports upbringing, two tower vs. full size cables, getting stuanched up and daunched up, injuries, air tricks, videos vs. contests, getting spon...
Feb 27, 2024•2 hr 38 min•Ep. 41
WMJ is one of the most influential riders the sport of wakeboarding has seen in the past decade, and that hasn't happened without hard work and dedication to the sport. Wes didn't fully get into wakeboarding until he went to college, where he discovered the two tower cable system, and that changed everything. After spending some time at CWC in the Philippines, and then at Jibtopia wake park, Wes eventually found his home at Valdosta Wake Compound, where he resided to this day. Skinny stance, a t...
Feb 20, 2024•3 hr 33 min•Ep. 40
In the second installment of Shop Talk we sit down with pro riders Trent Stuckey and Riley Dillon and talk the Aussie Triple Crown w/John Dreiling, ROTY, the edits Gone West and Grounded, snowboarding vs. wakeboarding w/Liam Brearley, manufactured vs. homemade features, how to get more “pro” riders in wakeboarding, events, Puka Nacua catching a pass while wakeboarding, and much more! The goal with the Shop Talk episodes is to serve as a hub for watersports discussion, taking questions and commen...
Feb 13, 2024•1 hr 21 min
Has anyone driven a towboat more than Travis Moye? No. Travis is the owner and operator of one of the best watersports schools in the world, and has been around the industry for decades. Initially getting his start waterskiing, Travis pursued 3-event for years, and even competed professionally. Although, he admittedly made more money from waterskiing when he was 12 than when he was 25. After abruptly stopping his professional skiing career Travis continued to put his focus towards coaching. Trav...
Feb 06, 2024•2 hr 59 min•Ep. 39
Want to hear from the brains behind a massive movement in women’s wakeboarding? Sina Jacobsen is not only a wakeboarder herself, but has also led the charge to create a space for women in the sport of wakeboarding, all while balancing her own love for progression and riding. From Germany all the way over to @valdostawakecompound, Sina has been an integral part of the wakeboarding community for the past several years, and also might be one of the nicest people in the world. Getting her cat stolen...
Jan 30, 2024•1 hr 59 min•Ep. 38
From being a pro rider to being behind the scenes of one of the industry's biggest publications, Ben Greenwood has seen just about everything when it comes to wakeboarding. Getting his start riding on the water during the beautiful summers or the northeastern United States, Ben quickly found a passion for the feeling that wakeboarding gave him. Never one for contests or competition, Ben's drive gave from his desire to make wakeboarding look and feel good. After moving to Florida, Ben began picki...
Jan 23, 2024•3 hr 14 min•Ep. 37
