You remember LA Gear right? They made those shoes all the cool kids wore that had lights in the heel that flashed whenever you took a step? Now you can have your chance at revenge and prove to everyone you’re not the dork you were in grade school.

Ronix has released two new boards the DHV1 and CSV1 based on the familiar One and Covin series wakeboards, respectively. And while they didn’t actually work with LA Gear on these new wakeboards, Ronix has incorporated a piezo-electric diode that lights up when you hit the wake hard enough.

The new boards feature the same shape as the signature lines they’re based on, but make use of a high end “Italian Dark Core” for a lighter and stiffer board. If you currently ride a Ronix One or Covin wakeboard, but wish it weighed just a little less and had more pop, these may be just what you’ve been waiting for.

The Ronix DHV1 and Ronix CSV1 wakeboards retail for $599.99 and can purchased through Wakeside.com.

There are many factors that determine how a wakeboard will perform, but without a doubt, rocker profile is one of the most prominent contributors to the overall feel of a wakeboard on the water. Understanding how different rocker shapes influence the way a wakeboard riders can be a huge advantage when it comes time to by your next wakeboard. So sit back and relax as we school you on wakeboard rocker.

Basic Rocker Profiles
Rocker is the amount of curvature in a board, from the center to the tip or tail (on modern symmetrical boards, the measurement is the same regardless of which end it’s taken at). If you lay a wakeboard flat on the floor, the amount of rocker is how far off the ground the tip and tail sit. When it comes to wakeboard rocker, there are two basic outlines for the shape of a board:

• Continuous Rocker: One smooth bend from tip to tail, as if the board were a section of a very large circle.
• 3-Stage Rocker: Appears as though it is constructed from 3 flat planks joined together which results in a large flat spot at the tip and tail, and one under the rider’s feet.

Below is a brief summary of each type of rocker design, along with the more general pros and cons for that given profile. Of course every board will be different, but here what you can expect from a wakeboard based on it’s rocker shape.

Continue reading for a detailed explanation of continuous and 3-stage rocker boards.

The wakeboard industry has seen a number of substantial changes in the last few years. From the purchase of nearly every major manufacturer by Bob Archer, to the emergence of new companies like Ronix Wake, it’s safe to say things have been in transition.

And now, although there has been relative stability through the last couple of seasons, there is another new player on the horizon, this time in the form of Company Wake. Although details are thin, and they’ve chosen to take a decidedly cryptic approach to marketing, some information is starting to leak out. What we know at this point is that the company is the brain-child of Justin Stephens, a veteran of the industry. With Surf Expo ‘08 set as their public unveiling, we can expect to see quite a bit more from this young company.

Until then, check out the viralish video they’ve released for more teasing and not much information after the jump.

After much anticipation, and a lot of hype, the day has finally come. Rusty Malinoski’s Hyperlite Marek wakeboard is finally available for the world’s wakeboarders to try. We’ve covered Rusty’s new pro-model in great detail already, so we’ll skip the basics.

What you need to know is that the long wait is finally over, and the Marek is now available for purchase. Whether you’re a heavy, aggressive rider, or just have ambitions of landing a 1080, the Hyperlite Marek is worth a look. And with weather warming up throughout the nation, what better way to mark the official beginning of summer than with a new wakeboard.

> Purchase the Hyperlite Marek Wakeboard at Wakeside.com <

Straight Line is recognizing Ben Greenwood’s success on the water with an all new pro model handle. The handle is unlike anything Straight Line has created in the past. It features an all new aluminum bar with a thicker and even softer EVA grip that fit Ben’s style. This handle is also thin and forgiving. It features an all new design for the anti-roll arms that is thin and slightly curved with rounded edges.

The Ben Greenwood signature handle will begin appearing in advertisements soon and will be available this Spring.

It’s no secret that Rusty Malinoski’s new Hyperlite MAREK pro-model is getting a lot of attention right now. It’s definitely the most anticipated wakeboard of 2008, and with the world release coming up on May 15th, wakeboarders won’t have long to wait until they can ride the MAREK themselves.

If you can’t wait for the official release, we’ve got your MAREK wakeboard fix after the jump. Hyperlite released a video showcasing the construction process of Rusty’s new pro-model, everything from designing the graphics to pressing boards is detailed, and backed up with an awesome soundtrack.

Hit the jump to check it out.

It looks like Alliance Wake scored some new intel, in addition to what we brought you last week, on Rusty Malinoski’s new Hyperlite MAREK pro-model wakeboard. In addition to some more specs, they’ve also scooped the first look at the wakeboards official graphics, in addition to the source behind the MAREK (apparently all caps is the official way of writing it) name. Here’s the reader’s digest version of what we know so far:

• The MAREK is a bigger board, being offered in 136cm, 141cm and 146cm sizes.
• With a fully machined NOVA core, the MAREK will be part of the D.I.N.E. line.
• Designed for an aggressive rider that doesn’t mind a little extra weight
• Named after Rusty’s first-born son, Merek Jaxon Malinoski.

Nike wants to hook you up with a free pair of their new Air Mogan wakeskate shoes, so they’ve devised a little contest in order to give out five pairs of their special edition shoes. To win, all you have to do is submit your best illustration of the Nike 6.0 wakeskate team.

The five best drawing of Nick Taylor, Matt Manzari and Ben Horan, as chosen by Nike 6.0 will each win a pair of Mogan shoes. You can submit your handiwork to editor@wakeboardingmag.com, or mail it to:

Wakeskate Contest
Nike 6.0
One Bowerman Drive, MH-2
Beaverton, OR 97005

You’ve got until May 8th to submit your original artwork, so get to work.

Rusty Malinoski’s new Hyperlite pro model has to be one of the most anticipated new wakeboards the industry has ever seen. We were the first with news of the Canadian’s new board, and now that it has been over a year, it’s apparent that Rusty and Hyperlite are taking their time to perfect the finished shape.

Today we get a little encouragement that the wait is almost over though, along with some extra information about what we can expect from Hyperlite’s newest shape. In addition to the details we announced last February, we know that Rusty’s pro model will be named the Marek, and will feature Hyperlite’s new DINE technology. Hyperlite has deployed this lightweight core, which results in a lighter, more durable and lively board, on the top-of-the-line Hyperlite Sub VI and Hyperlite Murray wakeboards, proving that Rusty is a cornerstone of the Hyperlite brand.

With a release date of May 15th, we won’t have long to wait before the Marek is ready to ride, and if your style matches the aggressive nature of Rusty’s riding, you can be sure it will be to your liking.

File this one under the completely unfounded rumor category, but it looks as though Ronix may be experimenting with a 4-bolt binding pattern for their wakeboards and wakeboard bindings.

The advantage of a 4-bolt system over the industry standard 2-bolt is a more secure mount for increased contact area between the binding and wakeboard. The result is additional responsiveness when edging, as well as added durability when it comes to pulling out board inserts.

A number of manufactures, including Slingshot and the now defunct Full-tilt, have attempted to take a 4-bolt pattern mainstream in the industry, but none have been able to gain enough traction to dethrone the standard 8″ 2-bolt pattern that dominates the industry.

Of course there are issues with a proprietary binding insert system, the biggest of which is the loss of compatibility with other brands products. With the standardized insert pattern on current wakeboards, you can use any brand board with any brand binding, which is great for wakeboarders that prefer a specific manufacturer’s binding or board.

Of course this could all be a non-issue, as we’ve seen shots of Ronix wakeboards with a new insert pattern for over two years, and nothing has come from it. You can be sure we’ll be watching for any developments, and will keep you up to date on the latest developments.

[Courtesy of WakeWorld]