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's, beef with Phil Soven, video parts, the future of contests, Wakestock, and retiring on his own volition. Hear all that and so much more in Episode 53 of the Grab Matters Podcast!

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 perfect cable size, working for Unit, the business of cable parks, benefits of speaking 4 languages, how often you should change your park layout, and what makes Unit different. Hear all that and much more in Episode 52 of the Grab Matters Podcast!

She went from being one of the best riders in the world to working as a lollipop lady and an Audi saleswoman, 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 Diamond, floods, winning your first contest back, and getting your passport stolen. Hear all that and much more in Episode 51 of the Grab Matters Podcast with Zahra Kell!

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 ship, jet skiing, going pro in a unique way, Al Sur, Dog Dayz, Scumline, crashing a hot air baloon, barely missing the cartel while filming in Mexico, and being a husband and dad. Hear all that and much more in Episode 50 of the Grab Matters Podcast, now streaming on all platforms!

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!

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 start wakeboarding seriously 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 wakeboarding. Hear all that and much more in Episode 49 of the Grab Matters Podcast, now streaming on all major platforms and available to watch on YouTube!

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.T. skiers, and getting wrecked on a dirtbike right before a tournament. Hear all that and much more in Episode 48 of the Grab Matters Podcast, now streaming on all major platforms!

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 style of riding and competitive success. American vs. Japanese culture, his first time in Orlando, turning pro at 12, Powerful Daniel Powers, visa troubles while traveling, magazine covers, and camber boards. Hear all that and much more in Episode 47 of the Grab Matters Podcast, now streaming on all major platforms!

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, quitting your cubicle job, NBD's, gnarly spots, cideo parts, and sobriety. Hear all that and much more in Episode 46 of the Grab Matters Podcast, now streaming on all platforms!

Getting robbed while riding a camel in Egypt...? Trevor Hansen is a former professional wakeboarding 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 getting robbed in Egypt. Hear all that and much more in Episode 45 of the Grab Matters Podcast!

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, video parts, thousands of pairs of shoes, team trips, pedicures, cracking your skull in 17 places, getting electrocuted, and over $500k in medical bills. Hear all that and much more in Episode 44 of the Grab Matters Podcast!

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 bills. Getting your butt cheek sliced open on a boat cleat, working at Ambush and BuyWake, filming the best pro riders, a full length film, filming tips, and being a semi-pro paintball player. Hear all that and much more in Episode 43 of the Grab Matters Podcast!

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. Growing up in Nebraska, losing his father at a young age, wakeboarding at boat shows, driving the opening scene in Relentless, doctoring pink slips, jumping over a bus in Orlando, being on the news, JD Webb money, Four Lokos, and his last time wakeboarding. Hear all that and much more in Episode 42 of the Grab Matters Podcast, now streaming on all major platforms!

Riley Dillon is a professional wakeboarder from Canada, and just came off a heck of a season. 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 sponsored, Free Agent, Canadian struggles, and the Outhouse Crew. Hear all that and much more in Episode 41 of the Grab Matters Podcast, now streaming on all major platforms and available to watch on YouTube!

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 tractor accident, the coalition edits, almost getting a felony for building a rail, the start of space mob, becoming a pro rider, designing board graphics, filming full length movies, having a baby, and space tapes. Hear all that and much more in Episode 40 of the Grab Matters Podcast, no streaming on all major platforms and available to watch on YouTube!

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 comments from our Patreon members to help spark conversation.

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. Travis is an outspoken and passionate member of the watersports community, and has contributed to the progression of countless skiers and riders throughout storied career. First in the family to not be a doctor, quitting skiing, being sponsored by Toyota boats, $500 salary at 12 years old, The Boarding School, hot takes, what a progressive edge really is, and snobby skiers. Hear all that and more in Episode 39 of the Grab Matters Podcast!

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 Valdosta Wake Compound, 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, broken arm, getting kicked out of a cable park, starting CopyCatsClub, creating a print magazine, and being a mother. Hear all that and much more in Episode 38 of the Grab Matters Podcast, now streaming on all major platforms!

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 picking up sponsors and even a professional podium. However, getting photos and filming for videos was where we saw the most from his riding, and earned him 2005 ROTY. Unique grabs, clean landings, Ben embodied what good style looks like behind the boat. Getting his first cover, Aaron Reed not remembering his name, the pete rose, chugging milk, almost getting hit by a plane, winning ROTY, working at Wakeboarding Magazine, the decline of print, TOTY, and the Wake Awards. Hear all that and much more in Episode 37 of the Grab Matters Podcast!

Are you ready for some wakeskate convo? Well, Bobby is about to provide it. Bobby Sutherland is a wakeskater, live-stream god, business owner, and is known by many as being the commissioner of the Professional Wakeskate League. Growing up Bobby had a fascination with wakeboarding, and once he saw he could ditch the bindings, Bob picked up a wakeskate and hasn't put it down since. Bobby is an incredibly important behind the scenes piece of wakeboarding and wakeskating, putting on high quality livestreams like Valdosta’s annual Yardsale event, as well as every PWL stop each year. Equal pay, awkward stances, backyard 2.0's, streaming events for OnlyFans models, starting the PWL, and getting punched at a winch spot. Hear all that and much more in Episode 36 of the Grab Matters Podcast!