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Episode 56: Kevco

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 unrivaled times celebrating some of the sports greatest icons and their achievements. Boardstock ‘96, skiboarders vs. wakeboarders, Alliance vs. Wakeboarding Mag, lobbying at congress, Randall Harris, Wake Awards, Wakeboarding in the Olympics, and Kevco’s newest position at USA Waterski and Wake. Hear all that and much more in Episode 56 of the Grab Matters Podcast!

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Episode 55: Cory Teunissen

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 ankle injury, the next NBD to be landed, the Cory vs. Nic Rapa rivalry, and switching board sponsors after a decade with one brand. Hear all that and much more in Episode 55 of the Grab Matters Podcast.

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Episode 54: Fynn Bullock

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 Podcast!

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Shop Talk Ep. #4 w/ Thomas Herman, Fynn Bullock, and Garrett Cortese

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.

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Episode 53: Dean Smith

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!

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Episode 52: David Vervenne

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!

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Episode 51: Zahra Kell

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!

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Episode 50: Trever Maur

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!

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Shop Talk Ep. #3 W/ Space Mob

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!

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EPISODE 49: Amber Wing

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!

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EPISODE 48: Joel Poland

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!

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EPISODE 47: Shota Tezuka

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!

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EPISODE 46: Jake Ramsdell

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!

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EPISODE 45: Trevor Hansen

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!

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EPISODE 44: Matt Manzari

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!

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EPISODE 43: Cole Vanthof

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!

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EPISODE 42: Kyle Alberts

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!

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EPISODE 41: Riley Dillon

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!

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EPISODE 40: Wesley Jacobsen

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!

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Shop Talk Ep. #2 w/Trent Stuckey & Riley Dillon

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.

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