Date: 3/18/03
Author: David Williams

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2003 Tige Team Riders Named

Cobe Mikacich at 2002 IWSF Worlds (Pic: Márcio Rodrigues)

It was a tough start to 2003 for O'Brien rider Cobe Mikacich, one of the greatest ambassadors wakeboarding has ever known. His board company, which produces several shapes bearing his name, essentially shut down their operations as well as any communication with their eldest team rider. Despite his sudden lack of a board sponsor, Cobe has not taken the opportunity to jump from O'Brien and is sticking by them while they wrestle with an ownership change.

Cobe's bad luck continued with the recent announcement of Tige Boats' 2003 team riders, which produced a list that was missing his name, a name that has become synonymous with the Tige name over the years. Although Cobe has indeed split from Tige, he's reported that the departure was an amicable one.

So sans board and boat sponsor for the first time in his career, Cobe went looking for a way to pay the bills for 2003. A great relationship he's always had with Mike Brendel of MB Sports turned into a great opportunity with an up-and-coming boat company. "This is the best position I've ever been in," quipped Cobe. "I've researched a lot of boats and the quality of these boats is incredible." Cobe will be helping MB Sports with design work and marketing on the MB Sports wakeboard boat line up.

In addition to his hands-on duties at MB, Cobe will be heading up his road tour for 2003, dubbed the I Ride Tour, with an MB Sports B52 VX2 Team Edition in tow. This boat features a two-speed transmission and the 2,100-pound Triple Up ballast system. Details on where you can hook up with the Mikker on the road will be released soon.

In addition to Cobe's new boat sponsor, he's recently re-signed with Arnette sunglasses. He's also very excited about a relatively new wetsuit manufacturer, Execute, that he'll also have the opportunity to represent.

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