When You’re Not Riding: Surfing, teaching wakeboarding, photography, planning trips, and hanging out with my wife and friends
Favorite TV Show: The League
Music for Your Ears: Hip hop and rock
Future Goals: Keep doing what I love, set up a wake school in the Jupiter/Palm Beach area, and be a good husband
Favorite Place to Ride: Over the past few years, I’ve gone wakeboarding in about 20 different countries, so at this point it’s too hard to pick just one. Each place has been unique and has provided wonderful memories. With that being said, it is really nice just riding at home every once in a while.
Your Perfect Day: Wake up early and eat breakfast, head out on the boat with some friends, grab some lunch and make our way to the beach for a surf session, and finally enjoy some sushi with my wife as we watch the sun dip below the horizon.
5 things you can’t live without: Family, friends, my wakeboard, my boat, and the ocean
Quote: With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
O’Brien WaterSports hosted the first stop of the South African Pro Wakeboard Tour at Germiston Aquatic Club on Victoria Lake in the East Rand on the 22 and 23 January 2011. This first stop of the Pro Tour brought many excited riders to the banks of Victoria Lake, marking the beginning of an exciting season of wakeboarding. South Africa’s top riders ascended in full force exhibiting their talent and passion for the sport, giving the crowd a wakeboarding exhibition to remember. Joining SA’s top riders in the competition were international riders Sean O’Brien and Josh Palma. Sean is currently in South Africa hosted by O’Brien WaterSports SA to conduct training clinics nationwide and was more than happy to display his talent on the water.
The Pro Men’s division had everyone on their feet with Sean O’Brien and Josh Palma showcasing their abilities. They were pitted against some of SA’s top riders. Saturday’s qualifying round ruffled a few feathers with junior new-comers Ryan Durham and Dylan Mitchell both qualifying for the finals on Sunday. Dylan Mitchell managed to top the Pro Men Qualifying on Saturday with a toe 720 followed by a heel backside 540 to end his run.
Sunday’s finals would see some changes. Two times Junior World Champion-South African, Morgan Krause finished in 3rd place, setting the bar very high for the rest of the Men’s division with his explosive array of tricks. Josh Palma took 2nd place stepping up to the challenge with a good composition of switch tricks and a switch toe side 720. Sean O’Brien took top honours in the Pro Men’s division matching Josh’s pace but bringing his own style and intensity to the wake with a grab heel side 720 and a massive heel side Indy roll to blind landing far in the flats.
Pro Men Final Results:
1. Sean O’Brien USA 90
2. Josh Palma USA 89.5
3. Morgan Krause RSA 69
4. Dylan Mitchell RSA 67.5
5. Shaun Faccio RSA 66.5
6. Clayton Krause RSA 63.5
7. Jono Joseph RSA 61.6
8. Ryan Durham RSA 60
Team Rusty went out to Canyon Lake to meet up with two of their top riders Stu Shinn (Wakeskate Phenomenon) and Sean O'Brien (Wakeboard Master). In the event the 1st Annual Wakeskate & Bake was underway. Along to document the extravaganzas was Alliance Wakeboard Magazine and Rusty's very own photo crew. The photography equipment on board was worth as much as the chase-boat itself and looked like the paparazzi following Britney Spears down Sunset Blvd. With this very talented media staff we were able to accomplish what we came for: get some killer footage for editorial content, ads, web content and a possible cover with the help of Josh Sleigh's Winch! After the shoot we headed back to the Rusty team house and fired up the grill for an after sesh RBQ. At this time the DJ rolled in fired up the tunes and the party was underway! Stay tuned for video action!
