hyperlite's blog

Hyperlite Wins Malibu Team Challenge…Again

hyperlite — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:13:00 -0700

For the second straight year, Team Hyperlite took home the coveted title of Malibu Team Challenge Champions. Representing Team Hyperlite were Aaron Rathy, Jimmy LaRiche, Erik Ruck, JD Webb, and 14 year old Jacob Valdez.

The contest took into account 3 different aspects of wakeboarding: wake, rails, and double ups. Each team sent out their 3 best riders for each category and they were awarded points for every round they were able to advance upon, and the top 3 spots were awarded additional podium points. The teams competing were Hyperlite, Gator, Ronix and Liquid Force.

Rusty Takes 2nd at Wakeboard National Championships

hyperlite — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:36:42 -0700

Kenosha, WI – The 2008 Wakeboard National Championships showcased the best riders out on the water today, but in some unfavorable conditions. But as true champions do, they rise to the top when the challenge is the greatest…and that is exactly what Jimmy, Rusty and JD did.

With a significant wind chop rolling across the lake, Hyperlite’s young phenom, Jimmy LaRiche, was poised and ready to defend his 2007 Nationals Championship. He continued his dominance on the rooftop rail and transfer box as he back lipped and 270 transferred the obstacles in the course and nailed his big spins and mobes including his huge heel 7. It was a run that no one could touch, Jimmy won his division for the second year in a row and took home the Jr. Men’s National Championship Trophy.

Pro Wakeboard Team Challenge

hyperlite — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:55:41 -0700

EATONVILLE, WA. (July 23, 2008) – With $25,000 on the line, the 2nd Annual Malibu Pro Team Challenge offers one of the single biggest event purses in the sport of wakeboarding. This three part competition - boat pass, rail jam and double-up contest - will feature some of the top pro riders in the world riding for their prospective board manufacturers, a shot at the “winner-take-all” prize and bragging rights as the best team in wakeboarding for the next 12 months.

Hyperlite Riders grab '08 PWT Awards

hyperlite — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

What a year for Hyperlite on the 2008 MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour! July 13, 2008 was the final Tour stop held Reno, and it marked the end of one of the best seasons ever witnessed:

Today in Reno in the Pro Men Division, both JD Webb and Aaron Rathy were in the finals. Rathy had just come off a 2nd place finish in Portland three weeks prior, and JD had finished in 3rd at Phoenix just two weeks ago. They were both hungry for the podium and were riding hard to get there. Rathy showed off his super technical run with both a Pete Rose and a switch Pete and back 5. And JD blew every rider away with a nose slide transfer to a tail slide, up and down the rooftop rail – it was one of the smoothest and most styley slides anyone had seen all tour. With their solid riding Rathy ended up grabbing 3rd place, and JD nabbed 2nd place.

Jimmy and Nicola Clinch Titles

hyperlite — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:40:16 -0700

Jimmy LaRiche put together yet another amazing performance this week in Phoenix. He went bigger with more technical maneuvers and spun better than anyone else on the water on Sunday. He made it clear why he is the force to be reckoned with on the Jr. Men’s Tour.

There was one noticeable difference with Jimmy this week; he was off his usual Sub 6 and on a 136 Marek. When asked why he made the switch he said, “Well I go so much bigger with the Marek. I get like this much higher (holding his hand at about waist high indicating a measurement from the ground up of about 3 feet). And I can land move moves with it”.

Rusty, Rathy, and Nicola all winners at the Tige’ Pro Am

hyperlite — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

The boys from Canada felt right at home on a cool summer’s day in Portland - both riding absolutely incredible as Rusty Malinoski took 1st, and Aaron Rathy took 2nd at the 2008 Tige’ Pro Am.

In Pro Men’s, Rusty took the podium again! This time he was back on top in the first place position. He was riding so well, showing off his technical skills with a pass full of switch maneuvers. To see Rusty ride with such fluidity switch and being able to boot out in the flats is just unreal. He has been so consistent on his new 2009 Marek pro model board showing everyone why he is such an incredible athlete and competitor on the scene. He stood up two great passes and just popped the handle on a 1080 on his first double up attempt!!!! But Rusty was not the only Hyperlite rider to have a great day either…

Jimmy LaRiche is 20K Richer!

hyperlite — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 09:12:46 -0700

Jimmy LaRiche just graduated from Pope John Paul II High School in May, won his second Pro Tour contest of 2008 in June, and is the current overall leader in Junior Men’s – so what more could be going for this young phenom from Boca Raton, FL you ask? Try $20,000 check in his pocket!

Jimmy LaRiche is the 2008 BroStock champion!

Jimmy has been killing it in Junior Men’s so he got the invite to participate in BroStock - a double up event with a 20K purse at Lake Powell. In Jimmy’s opening round were Shane Bonifay, Shawn Watson, Rusty Malinoski, and himself. It was obviously a super difficult round, and with riders getting only a few attempts at each double up, it made the each double up attempt that much more important.

Nicola Butler Wins 3rd Straight Pro Tour Stop

hyperlite — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Nicola Butler continues her 1st place streak in the Twin Cities tour stop. For the third straight tour stop, grabbed first place once again on Sunday, June 8th, as she was able to hold off Dallas Friday and Melissa Marquart with a stellar pass that included a 911, moby dick, whirley, heel 5, batwing, and a front lip 270 out on the rooftop rail.

Nicola’s hands were full at the podium with her 1st place Gibson Guitar in one hand and her $250 check from Mona Vie for winning best trick for her front lip, 270 out on the rooftop rail.

More Podiums in Acworth, GA

hyperlite — Mon, 19 May 2008 08:07:15 -0700

The Acworth, GA tour stop was a stop to remember as the competition was as tight as we have seen in a long time.

In the Pro Men’s Division the final heat was one unlike any other. The final riders were Adam Errington, JD Webb, Rusty Malinoski, and Phil Soven. All four riders stood up their passes and landed their double ups. But the amazing part is how they were able to stay so controlled in a lake where the water was blown out due to the high winds whipping across the surface. Everyone on the shore was left in amazement at the sight they had just witnessed and they were all wondering who might take home the tour stop victory because the riding was just to close to point to a favorite. The scorecards finally came in and Hyperlite’s Rusty Malinoski and JD Webb took Third Place and Second Place with Phil atop the podium.

A Windy Start in Acworth

hyperlite — Fri, 16 May 2008 20:43:36 -0700

The day after a heavy rain storm that everyone wished to forget, Friday morning started out warm and sunny – it showed signs of a great day ahead, but that was not the case. But by 11:00am, an unforgiving wind rolled into Lake Acworth and stayed through out the entire day. The water went from calm to chaos. The riding conditions were rough water with occasional sightings of a few white caps. Legion rider, Kyle Alberts, was caught off guard by the conditions: “The water didn’t look to bad from the dock, but as soon as you are riding it is way worse than you though, and the wake was really unpredictable”. All afternoon and evening, riders struggled to find consistency in the choppy water. Everyone was falling. All the riders hung out around the athlete’s tent to see firsthand how everybody faired against the adverse weather. The people who were able to make it out of their heat were the ones who could quickly adapt to the fluxing water conditions. The early afternoon hosted the Junior Men’s qualifying heats, and the Hyperlite Legion team was really making their presence known. Alex Scagliotti, Danny Burnstein, Eddie Valdez, Nick Davies, and Jimmy LaRiche all moved on to Saturday by finishing in the top two of their respected heats. In the Pro Women’s division, Hyperlite’s Nicola Butler showed why she was the defending Wake Games champion and moved on to the next round. In the Pro Men’s division, the quick spinning Kyle Alberts, and the rising Danny Thollander moved on as well. Speaking of Thollander, Danny scored the best run of the day – a perfect 100! (It was probably a result of his literally staying at a Holiday Inn Express the prior evening). Be looking to see Danny build off of his 100-point performance and push the Pro Men’s competition on Saturday. Everyone is hoping for better weather in Acworth for Saturday, a day with no wind, calm waters, and sunny skies.