Malibu sponsored athletes put on an impressive showing at the 2008 Malibu Open in Pontiac, MI last week. In a total of five events, Malibu skiers and wakeboarders amassed four first place finishes, leaving little room for anyone else to share the glory.

Malibu team riders Philip Soven and Dallas Friday proved too much to handle on the wakeboard side of things. While Soven’s win was impressive, given the season he’s had, it didn’t come as much of a surprise. Right now there’s no one else in the world that can compete with him when it comes to the shear number of tricks he throws, and the technical nature of his riding.

Friday’s win is even more spectacular, given that she is still on the comeback from what could have been a career ending injury. The fact that she has been able to return to the caliber of riding we’ve known her for so quickly makes it clear that she’s still the best female wakeboarder in the world.

It was another successful year for the Malibu Open, and with this year’s event wrapped up, all attention is turned to next year’s contest. We’ll let you know as soon as Malibu announces the location.

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.

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 <

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.

Aaron Reed is a veteran member of the Liquid Force wakeskate team, and as such, he’s been around the industry for quite some time. There’s a reason why Aaron was one of the first wakeskaters with a pro-model, the guy kills it. And as this video from Liquid Force Films shows, it doesn’t matter if he’s on dry land or in the water, he’s got skill when it comes to manipulating a board with his feet.

Fellow Liquid Force team member Shane Bonifay, ever the comedian, also graces the video with his presence. His multiple appearences add a Where’s Waldo component to what would have otherwise been simply enjoyable skate action.

We can definitely expect much more from Mr. Reed in the future, and based on how much fun he appears to be having in the video, what he does behind the boat should only get better.

Check out the video after the jump.

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.

Dallas Friday has found success that few wakeboarders will experience. ESPN Espy award? Check. X-games Gold? Check. World Champion? Check. Masters Champion? Check. Pro Tour, Malibu Open, U.S. Open, Nationals, Vans Triple Crown? Check. So it should come as no surprise that Dallas has translated that success into some pretty nice digs. Thanks to a video that mimics MTV’s Cribs, we can an inside look into what it’s like to live in Dallas Friday’s world.

Check out the video after the break to see what an Espy award can do for you.

After years of watching the men go at it for the top spot on the Kind of Wake Series, in 2008 we’ll finally see a woman take the throne. Consisting of nine events, the Queen of Wake Series will pit the top women wakeboarders against each other to crown a champion.

With $10,000 on the line for the series champion, you can be sure we will see the best that female wakeboarding has to offer. It’s been a long time since the women have had a series to call their own, and the reception among the industry’s top riders has been incredibly positive.

The full details have yet to be released, so stay tuned for more information as the details are released. You can read the full press release after the jump.

Slingshot has put out a great segment of video featuring team rider Jeff House tearing it up. Compared to some of the recent manufacturer distributed videos that we’ve seen recently, this clip actually has some solid riding backed up with legitimate editing. The overall effect is that it looks like a professional video, as opposed to something high schoolers make during an elective class.

Jeff House has really proven himself of late as a versatile rider, and has added a lot of legitimacy to Slingshot’s product line. If you’ve considered riding a board with flex, check out this video for yourself, and you’ll surely be stoked on the riding dynamics of Slingshot’s wakeboards. From wake to rails, Jeff makes it all look easy, and his board performs well in every situation.

Check out the video after the jump.