Date: 11/11/02
Author: Miles Armstrong

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It's the off season and wakeboarding is slowing down - at least for you northern boarders. Like most of us, the winter months are a time to reflect on the year, crank in the videos and watch other people do the tricks you want to be doing. Well, WAKEtv has got a solution for you; a wham bam multiple release of issues 12 and 13. Most of us are pretty familiar with WAKEtv and what Mr. DiGiacomo (Jocko) brings to the table. But for the few who don't, WAKEtv is a one-hour video of featured riders, pro events, amateur events, instructional segments, and wake festivals from all over.

Issue 12 starts off with a moment of dedication to the WAKEtv Mascot, Raj, Jocko's traveling companion, a loving Golden retriever recently lost due to health complications. A kick butt band playing music combined with short takes of what to expect for the next hour gets you pumped.

The first segment is all about Wakestock 2001, wakeboarding Canadian style with the women, the crowds, the bands, the women, some rare shots of the dropped-off-the-face-of-the-earth Evelyn Zerr throwing down on some whirlybirds, obstacles (huge slaughter box), Shawn Murray and a phat Raley to blind night set, super-motocross, the Grubster and his pushing the limits of wakeskating and Austin Ball, an up and coming amateur competing against the big boys. Sector Seven kicks some tunes while Jocko hits you with a collage of clips of all that took place. There's a nice shot of Shaun Murray doing a Osmosis-5 off the kicker.

The next segment is the viewer views, videos sent in by us, the audience, for some play time for all to see. Ensane Wakeboard school has some clips and there are some segments of Mike Sweeney. There is also a great segment of Daniel Lovett doing the first ever caught-on-film...well, you can see for yourself.

Next it's off to Padre Island and some kiteboarding. Now I personally don't care for kite boarding. No, I haven't tried it and would probably like it if I did. I usually blow right through kite boarding segments with the fast forward. This segment was done to take in the whole scene of kiteboarding and not just a bunch of shots of people floating some big air. I actually watched this segment so take that for what it's worth.

Waketoberfest was next with another glimpse of some not-seen-in-a-while riders like Paul Pierce. There were some notable shots of Keith Lyman and Matt Lockwood and, of course, the whole scene form the cookouts, drinking, bands...can't give it all away.

A lot of people have asked for it so Jocko delivers an instructional trampoline set by Kyle Schmidt (the Wakeboard Camp) and Keith Lyman as the executioners of tricks. This is a very good instructional on spins (on and off axis), flips and Raleys. Then, at the end, Keith just does everything you can do in about 10 seconds.

Speaking of Keith Lyman (if you just couldn't get enough), he is the featured rider for this edition of WAKEtv. For all those that have witnessed Keith riding "live," you know what to expect; big floating everything way out in the flats. What I like about this particular segment of Keith is that Jocko focuses on another aspect of Keith's riding I never noticed before, mainly because I'm in awe of how big he goes so I miss the little things. Keith has amazing board control. There is about a 20-second section of Keith just tic tocking the board around combined with some styley slashes and board slides. The board is a part of him. Something else really cool is the late grabs Keith throws in. He'll do some trick and you think he is going to prep for landing and gets a grab in when you don't expect it. Excellent segment.

Yes, there's more. Pro Tour 2002. Step inside Jocko's latest adventure; close circuit T.V. I personally thought the closed circuit T.V. was a well thought out and smoothly executed operation (yes, I'm in the military). Jocko had several cameras all over the tour stop with multiple angles on riders and other events (freestyle motocross) as well. Want to peruse the merchandise in the sponsor tents? No problem. You won't miss your favorite rider because Jocko has got you covered with monitors in every tent with a direct feed and instant replays during falls and end of runs. With slow-mos covering the cool stuff and highlights on the big stuff, it is worth watching. For some of you old schoolers, "Clean" Dean Lavelle soars high again, this time hanging on to handlebars in the FMX exhibition. Catch some rare footage of Scott Byerly competing again and Eric Ruck's first win of the season. Who knew he would cap the season off as "the MAN."

There's more closed circuit in Charleston S.C. Check Mark Kenney doing what Mark Kenney does, executing maneuvers that cause paralysis in your jaw muscles, which leaves you standing there looking silly as drool dangles from your chin! That includes maneuvers that gets him DQed as well.

Another first shown is the Wakeboarding Cable tour. David Cornwall delivers his concept for promoting a cable tour. There are amazing tricks being thrown on the cable and you get to see them. You'll see the masters of the cable throwing down - Rob Mapp, Robin Friday, Chad Forrest, Keith Leidberg, as well as many others.

Issue 13 - This is a great video to sit around with your wakeboarding buddies and split your gut laughing and oohing and ahhing over some intense wrecks. Imagine one hour of crashes. The great thing about this issue is sitting there and thinking to your self, "Did that, ooooohhhhhhh, did that, you did that yesterday!" For every great wakeboarder out there busting some serious runs, they all paid their dues along the way. Now, I don't recommend this video if you are a teenager trying to talk your folks into a new boat and some new wakeboarding gear. This one, I'm not giving away all the details. Jocko breaks down all the crashes into categories capping off the video with a countdown to the number one crash. If you have ever appeared in WAKEtv, you're probably in this one. You know you didn't land every trick when Jocko was filming you. And when he said that he wasn't rolling, he was just focusing the camera, he was rolling!

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