I was just curious as to who everyone considers to be the best free-riding wakeboarders of all-time, and why. I haven't heard this discussion in quite some time, and I thought it'd be interesting to get people's opinion given how the sport has changed so much in the last couple of years.
Here's my two cents:
#1 - Danny Harf
#2 - Parks Bonifay
#3 - Harley Clifford
#4 - Phil Soven
#5 - Darin Shapiro
I don't know if I'd say "best of all time", but my favorites to watch these days are Rathy, Benny G., Harris and lately Josh Twelker and Trever Maur.
-in no specific order.
1. Randall Harris: most stylish rider ever, goes bigger than anyone except Darin
2. Darin Shapiro: A freak! Balls of depleted uranium. Goes scary huge. Did tricks others wouldn't dare attempt even when he was years past his prime. If I was set the challenge of learning to ride like any of the riders on this list (not that I could ever come close, obviously), I'd be most intimidated by Darin's riding. Watching the video below is awe inspiring and terrifying. I can't imagine the falls he must've taken over his many years of riding like this
3. Harley Clifford: Most complete, well-rounded rider ever. Oozing style, dizzying tech, and goes huge. Does the hardest tricks in wakeboarding, period. Pushing wakeboarding to a whole new level that not even Phil Soven can match.
4. Keith Lyman: Goes huge, clean, smooth style. So unique! No one but Randall has ever ridden like him.
5. Dean Smith: Less tech than Harley, but makes up for it with amplitude and style
Last edited by TheHebrewHammer; 01-24-2012 at 11:03 PM.
Needs to be more of a top10 than 5
Top of the list for me is Murray.... nobody executes a smoother and seemingly effortless ride than him. Fill in the rest after that.
^Murray is so smooth he could put a tumbleturn, a huge whipped powerslide, and a million fun little things he does into a contest run, finish it barefooting, and still place top 5. I'd have to say my top 5 (in no order) are:
-Murray
-Benny G
-Watson
-Harley
-Rathy
Notice 1-4 have been around for a long time in terms of the wakeboarding world. I think thats due to the fact that riding is making a movement that is geared towards technical competition type riding. (minus Twelker and the delta guys that i believe are still trying to advance free riding). However if you watch a video of Harley its hard not to have him on the list.
its all in the eye of the beholder..like the thread though
Notice 1-4 have been around for a long time in terms of the wakeboarding world. I think thats due to the fact that riding is making a movement that is geared towards technical competition type riding. (minus Twelker and the delta guys that i believe are still trying to advance free riding). However if you watch a video of Harley its hard not to have him on the list.
its all in the eye of the beholder..like the thread though
Twelker has some sick style, but let's not put him on a pedestal here like he's some free-riding Lyman-esque rebel who's above competitions and has a different philosophy than the other riders of his generation. He's just as much a technical contest rider as he is a free rider. If you want to talk about current riders that are advancing free riding, you need look no further than Harley Clifford. Twelker is an amazing rider with awesome potential, but he has a very long way to go to match Harley's contributions to free riding.
Last edited by TheHebrewHammer; 01-25-2012 at 8:11 AM.
Twelker has some sick style, but let's not put him on a pedestal here like he's some free-riding Lyman-esque rebel who's above competitions and has a different philosophy than the other riders of his generation. He's just as much a technical contest rider as he is a free rider. If you want to talk about current riders that are advancing free riding, you need look no further than Harley Clifford. Twelker is an amazing rider with awesome potential, but he has a very long way to go to match Harley's contributions to free riding.
I wasn't putting him on a pedestal. Thats why I had lyman and harley on the list and not twelker.. i was just saying that he is "trying" to push free riding.
I do respect your opinion of harley pushing free riding though, and im excited to see what he has for the future of wakeboarding.
Lyman competed for years, he just didn't do very well at it.
Twelker takes common tricks puts them in a blender and pours out something new. All the ingredients to a grabed HS/FS 5 are there, but his interpretation is truely innovative.
Yes, but he competed several more years with limited success as a professional. I was responding to your comment, "free-riding Lyman-esque rebel who's above competitions." He wasn't above competitions, he just did not do well at them and so he is not well known as a competitive wakeboarder. He was there on Fridays, just not many Saturdays or Sundays.
Also, this is not a negative comment. I am not good at contests either and I have always been impressed with Lyman's amplitude and style.
If you want to check-out a good free-rider look to Zucky. He is 50, rides a soft board without fins (behind the boat) and looks as good on the water as in the air. He is a great rider, totally under the radar at least in the Western Hemisphere. (He would be in my top 5)
There are a few web videos of his riding, but if you want to see an awesome section look up "Ensamble". It is a Japanese video from the mid 2000s.
If you want to check-out a good free-rider look to Zucky. He is 50, rides a soft board without fins (behind the boat) and looks as good on the water as in the air. He is a great rider, totally under the radar at least in the Western Hemisphere. (He would be in my top 5)
There are a few web videos of his riding, but if you want to see an awesome section look up "Ensamble". It is a Japanese video from the mid 2000s.
Hell ya! I was thinking of him too. I wouldn't put him top 5 overall, but he's one of a kind and amazing to watch. I would love to learn the surface tricks he does. He just makes riding look so fun:
Quote:
Originally Posted by steezin4noreason
Do you guys really think Dean has good style? He's sick and goes huge, but he's not fluid, and I've always thought of him as a hucker that just goes for it. I see people here and there commenting that he has good style......it always trips me up though. I'm not trying to take anything away from him as a rider. I just wouldn't put him next to Lyman, Benny G, Murray etc. in terms of style. His wakeboarding looks impressive, just not particularly good in the sense of style.
I know what you mean. His landings often look really harsh and stiff. He just has a weird stance that looks really different from other guys in kinda the same way as Rusty's does. It's a little awkward at times. That said, once he gets in the air, he's got some of the sickest pokes and tweaks out there. Check out 1:17, 1:43, and 2:06 of the video I posted to see what I mean. He also does the meanest nuclear whirlybird I've ever seen. In fact, I'd probably have to say that Dean's nuclear whirlybird is my favorite trick in all of wakeboarding.
that video of zucky doesn't do him much justice. Here is a better one although the quilty is poor cuz it looks like it was taken in the 90s because of the binds/board he has on( shows it at the end).
Do you guys really think Dean has good style? He's sick and goes huge, but he's not fluid, and I've always thought of him as a hucker that just goes for it. I see people here and there commenting that he has good style......it always trips me up though. I'm not trying to take anything away from him as a rider. I just wouldn't put him next to Lyman, Benny G, Murray etc. in terms of style. His wakeboarding looks impressive, just not particularly good in the sense of style.
In no particular order.
I also think PB and Vandall are sick, they just arn't my favoraite to watch right now. Harley is also the man, he just wins to many contests to be the right answer.
Also, I'd just like to say one more thing about why I like Harley's riding so much. He's figured out and taught himself the most efficient ways to produce and control rotation in the air, be it vertical, horizontal, or both. When you watch him spin 9s or mobe 5s, it doesn't look nearly as "hucked" as when other people do it. Watching him do these tricks in slow motion is like poetry. He's in complete control the entire time and he makes it look easy. There is no flailing and no wasted motion. He charges up a huge amount of energy in the line and in his shoulders and gives one strong yank on the handle to unleash it in a particular direction, and then he lets this energy carry him effortlessly through the rotation(s). This is especially evident with his crow 7 and whirly dick. His wake to wake backside 9, an insanely difficult trick that no one else can do, looks even smoother than his frontside 9. He puts it down softly as if it was a simple backside 180. It's just ridiculous.
Excellent, perfect list, except for O'Shea. Something about his riding is really strange to me, but if you could help me understand why he made your list I would be in full agreement.
The thing about Dean Smith is he isn't the most fluid rider, but his style is one of his own (imho), the dude doesn't do everything perfect and frankly I think that it's super sick. He is a fantastic rider, but we also have to realize, this guy isn't going to be landing super smooth, he is absolutely boosting. I don't know about you guys, but when I go past wake to wake i'm definitely not landing super smooth, there is simply too much compression. As for my list, there are simply too many that I really look up to in this sport to name or rank them...
1 Randall Harris
2 Shaun Murray
3 Keith Lyman
4 Darin Shapiro
5 Chad Sharpe
Honorable Mentions
Dean Smith
Parks Bonifay
Scott Byerly
Benny Greenwood
Danny Harf
TECH WIDZARDS
Harley Clifford
Phil Soven
Aaron Rathy
Rusty Malanoski
Andrew Adkison
You definately have to go back and look att some of the legends.
Jason Callen (westsidarider) is so right. But it's hard to pick 5. The way Thomas Horrell rode when he was wakeboarding was so stylish. Everyone of these guys had their own style and pushed the sport so hard. besides Horell my top names is Byerly, Nelson, Schmaltz, Randall.
I want to put in more names but you asked for top 5
#1 - Danny Harf -On any given day he could throw a mobe 7, double-invert or one of multiple 1080s in his arsonal. He is in my opinion the best spinner out there, landing tricks like TS BS 9s and the 1260 (which is arguable the hardest trick ever landed... but you could argue the double-mobe). I think he's got pretty decent style too. I just think he's the most well-round boarder out there IMO.
#2 - Parks Bonifay - although he's generally taking it pretty easy these days, back in his prime he was doing: whirly 7s, the 1080, different mobe 540 variations, and about 5 different double-invert variations. He did all this with wakes that weren't as big, and equipment that was probably twice as heavy. He's proven he can compete with the best of them on the rails. He's not a cable rider, but some how he's still landed tricks like double S-bends to blind. His "triple-up whip tricks" have yet to be matched also. He's the only person to land a double-invert with a handle-pass. And as i mentioned already, the double-mobe could be argued the hardest-trick in wakeboarding.
#3 - Harley - can do a lot of the hardest tricks ever landed, with consistency!! He's already invented a number of tricks, and we'll keep pushing tricks that haven't been done. I think he has the potential to go down as the best of all-time at this rate. It's hard to tell now days though with all the new talent.
#4 - Phil Soven - although I don't care for his style, and am not a fan at all, I think it's hard to deny the impact he's had on the tech aspect of the sport. People are just starting to figure out some of the tricks that he's been doing for years now (crow 7, whirlydick). There are still tricks that he's done that nobody else has (dum dum 540, moby dick 7, etc).
#5 - Shapiro - In my opinion, goes bigger than anyone! Not only that, but he also has a few tricks in his bag that no one else has done (orbital 540s, speedball). He is the only wakeboarder that I know of to attempt a triple invert.
I would put Muarry right behind these guys. He's got awesome style, is extremely creative with his tricks, and can also go huge! He can also throw down tech with tricks like the KGB5. I actually just saw him at the boat show. He threw an AIR s-bend to blind on the system 2.0 which was a highlight for me. However, I think he needs to add a couple big bangers to his list of tricks before i would put him in the top 5. Once he stomps a 1080... or double-invert.. or mobe 7, I would have to re-consider.
I would also say that Rusty has made a strong case that he's one of the best.
If this was a list of who has the best style, my list would be a lot different. However, style is a subjective thing and only one aspect to wakeboarding.
HebrewHammer, Danny is throwing down crow 7s now... and maybe more we don't know about yet. When I watched Defy, there was about 5 or 6 tricks in his section at the end that I've never seen him do prior to watching that video. I won't ruin it for ppl who haven't seen it though.
Nice to see Horrell get some love. I had the privilege to go to his wakeboard camp/his parents Ski School back in late 90s and was amazed by how fluid he was. He, without question, deserves to be on the all time list.
As with many of the most stylish riders, their video sections hinted at how stylish they really ride. I think Zucky really highlights a completely stylish rider. It is all of the little things in between each trick.
That said I don't disagree with most of the lists but I'd love to see some complete sets by guys like Harley etc
As with many of the most stylish riders, their video sections hinted at how stylish they really ride. I think Zucky really highlights a completely stylish rider. It is all of the little things in between each trick. That said I don't disagree with most of the lists but I'd love to see some complete sets by guys like Harley etc
too damn many haha all inspirational. deromes, and a couple other (youngins) that i dont think were mentioned but strait rip... adam errington and bob soven
What are some good videos to buy with Randall in them?
Trangression.
Also, the people knocking Harley's style should take a good look, because he has some of the most stylish pokes, tweaks, shifties, and backside 180s in the game. He's more stylish than a lot of the so-called "style riders" that people worship, but he gets overlooked just because of his "technical wizardry."
Also, Harley can style out tech tricks better than any other rider. That's the true measure of style in my opinion. Anyone can poke out a backside 180, but only the best can poke out a handle pass kgb or a heel 9.
Agree on Collin Wright, one of my personal favs. Not sure if you've watched Harley enough...he's pretty frickin' good at both...look at 5:00+ in this vid for example:
I've already stated my top 5, but after reading through this, I'm surprised Gator hasn't gotten a mention. His old video sections when he's riding a squirt are amazing.
I guess the question doesn't make sense. So are you asking the top 5 best wakeboarders of all time? Because every wakeboarder "free-rides" and by the look of most answers, this is the case. To me, a free rider makes his mark and/or money without winning contests.
Top two that belong so far above everyone else is Byerly and Gator.
Next is the westcoast guys; Schmaltz, Smith, Nelson, Wright, and obviously Randy.
Lyman, Randy, Greenwood, Watson, Cook, and O'Brien are the newer guys.
Murray somehow can qualify but should not be in the top 5.
Parks doesn't count, he won it all before he took it to another level. Same with Harf, Shapiro, etc.
Harley is not a free rider because hes better at both contests and freeriding than anyone else.
The only reason i wouldnt nominate Harley is because every video of him feels the same. while his talent is amazing, and the runs he puts together in contests and on the open water are absolutely insane. but when I think of a freerider, I don't like to be able to predict every next trick he's going to do... 4 fs 9's, whirlydicks back to back, crow 7s, kgb 5, and handful of ts3's and back 180's, then usually ending on a bs 9... It just seems like even his video sections are contest runs.
That being said, my list would go...
1. Darf
2. Parks
3. Deano
4. Watson
5. Benny G
Oh man... It'd be so much easier if it were "Contemporary" favorites. If you go All-Time, this gets way more complicated, and the scope has to be widened up a lot. My list if we're going All-Time list, accompanied by brief thoughts, would be (no order here)
Harris- He's been around for ages and still riding like no other.
Lyman- A massive talent that's earned fame and his following through his style and amplitude. (Also a true Patriot I might add)
Parks- There's not much you couldn't say about Parks. Invented how many tricks? Innovated the sport. Has done INSANE things on his wakeboard that others haven't.
Danny Harf- An all around wakeboard legend and somebody who continues to push the envelope.
Murray- Just makes everything look fun and also goes massive.
I had thought about Gator, but I dont think he had the staying power to be considered a top 5 freerider of all time. shoot, when was the last time Byerly was even considered a wakeboarder? and look how many people still list him as a top 5 freerider!
I would put Schmaltz and Colin Wright ahead of Gator. although, his hoochie and front flip to fakie were bigger than anyones back then.
Byerly was well known within the "wakeboarding" industry before his "world record" run at nationals in like 1996. I think that was his first contest on his flight 69 as well.
"Also, the people knocking Harley's style should take a good look, because he has some of the most stylish pokes, tweaks, shifties, and backside 180s in the game. He's more stylish than a lot of the so-called "style riders" that people worship, but he gets overlooked just because of his "technical wizardry." "
You're forgetting the many other shredders before him. The ones that invented the tricks Harley is throwing, and styled them out before him. Don't get me wrong at all Harley shreds and is an amazing all around rider. Top 5 is hard I keep making my list longer and longer. It's hard to narrow it down to just 5.
Hands down no competition, this guy takes the cake! Tobi Rittig, he has the coolest stlye I have ever seen. So fresh and so much fun to watch
heres another video
Hands down no competition, this guy takes the cake! Tobi Rittig, he has the coolest stlye I have ever seen. So fresh and so much fun to watch
heres another video
1 Randall the Vandal
2. byerly
3 Harf
4.Murray
5.Parks
6 all the new school boarders are awesome but they cant get the nod overthe people who created and pushed the sport and the tricks that these kids are now emulati and yes at times surpassing.
*honorable mntion Sean Obrien never met the guy dont know who he is but from all the videos ive seen here on WW this guys might b the most underated and less known badazz of all time ??