The Toe Jam Wakeskate series is back for its sophomore year, and after an impressive freshman showing, the 2008 version will have some big shoes to fill.

Fortunately Rock Star and O’Neill are on board again as sponsors, and they’ve even added a four stop in Canada. This year’s Toe Jam tour will consist of three qualifiers, each offering a $10,000 purse, and each giving contestants a chance to earn a spot in the main event, the Byerly Toe Jam Orlando, FL. A total of 16 riders will compete for the crown in the September final, with the 6 main event champs from last year earning and automatic invitation. The remaining 10 spots will be filled by the 6 division qualifiers from this year’s tour, along with 4 wild card entries.

The first event is coming up, April 17-19 at The Projects, so stay tuned for full coverage. WAKEOrigin will be bringing you all of the action this year, so even if you can’t witness the best wakeskaters in the world in person, at least you can get your fix online.

Check out the full press release after the jump.

To mark the one year anniversary of Reed Hansen signing on with Ronix to head up their wakeskate division, the group over at Square One Distribution decided to sit down with younger Hansen to pick his brain about the success of their partnership. Most of the interview is focused on Ronix’s first bi-level skate, the Zariel series, but there are of course the obligatory meaningless questions and associated responses that come out of left field.

It’s not a hard hitting introspective into the challenges a 20-something wakeskater faces, but if you’re into wakeboarding and wakeskating, chances are you’ll enjoy reading it just the same.

Check out the full interview after the jump.

The day after its founder’s and namesake’s birthday Reed Hansen took the honors at the inagural event of Byerly’s 4th Toe Jam wakeskate tour. As the premiere wakeskating event, the Toe Jam series attracks the best wakeskaters in the world, partly for the quality of competition, and party for the relaxed and entertaining atmosphere.

Reed combined solid riding behind the Wakeboard Edition Sea-Doo and made easy work of the 10 rail obstacles on the course to best impressive riding from the likes of Brandon Thomas, Brian Grubb and suprise performer Nick Taylor. The overall level of riding in this years first stop of the Toe Jam Series proves just how quickly the level of riding is improving.

The full details of today’s final round, along with the dates of the remaining tour stops are after the jump.