WSR_July 2007 Issue

July 2007 • A S U P P L E M E N T T O W A K E B O A R D I N G M A G A Z I N E
WAT E R S P O R T S
The Official Newsletter of the
Water Sports Industry Association
In This Issue
FRONT PAGE
•See and Be Seen at Surf Expo
Why you can’t miss the most important
weekend of the year
INSIDE THE INDUSTRY
•CWB Hires Steve Bates as Wake Team
Manager
•2007 WWA Wake Park Series
•Hyperlite Launches New Apparel Direction
•JetPilot Promotes Brian Jellig to VP of
Marketing and Design
•BROstock Picks Up Steam
•Correct Craft Expands Sales Force
•USA Water Ski Announces Resignation of
Executive Director
•Regal Gets New Director of Marketing
•Malibu Wins Powerboat’s Boat of the Year
Award
•Website Offers Virtual Houseboat Tours
•American Sports Data Shows
Wakeboarding as Top
Growth Sport
•The Maven Session Tour
PRODUCT NEWS
•HO Neutron
•Connelly F1X
•H2O Audio
•Chammyz Surf Bomber
•Gator Caddy
•Fly High Fat Sacs
•Liquid Force Limited Boots
•CWB Faction
• Volkswagen Marine Engines
ALSO INSIDE
•Leadership Award Winner:
MasterCraft’s John Dorton on how
the reigning Manufacturer of the Year
is looking to further build the brand
and the industry
SeeandBeSeenatSurfExpo
Why you can’t miss the most important
weekend of the year
By Kevin Michael
M
ost established
dealers in this
industry, like
you, have been around for a
while and have no problem
getting the inside scoop on
the latest products before
they’re released to the
general public. Before Surf
Expo in September, you
may have already been to
an exclusive dealer event at
Radar Lake, gotten a sneak
peak of some new product
at Lake Powell, been wined
and dined at the boat-dealer
meetings and already know
what you’re going to buy.
So why would you feel
the need to attend Expo
if you already know what
you want? The answer is
simple. If you’re truly passionate about the sports we
participate with, there is
nothing on earth you would
rather do than be involved
in the most important and
influential event this industry has ever had. And to top
it off, it’s fun!
Expo has evolved into many
things beyond a place to
view product and write
orders. And it’s up to you
to make the weekend as
fun as possible for yourself.
Having fun is the whole
reason we got involved
in the first place, so let’s
keep it that way. Go to the
parties, hang out with exciting people, and make new
friends! Everybody at the
show shares the same passion and will be pumped to
talk about it.
Chuck Morrow of
Ambush Boarding Co. and
BuyWake.com is one of
today’s most progressive
Continued on page 2
WATERSPORTS RETAILER
1
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
See and Be Seen at Surf Expo cont’d from page 1
DearWater-SportsIndustry:
dealers for both in-store
and online sales. He feels
that Expo is one event a
dealer can’t afford to miss.
“The reasons to attend
Expo are endless. I utilize
the show to look at new
products and connect at a
personal level with senior
management of the important brands we sell.”
Morrow has also learned
to find special deals to
help offset the travel
costs. “The opportunity to
increase product margins
with show specials and free
freight on orders placed at
the show should more than
cover the cost to attend.
Also, buyers have the
chance to not only see the
products before purchasing,
but easily compare brands
and models. It’s very difficult to buy a line from a
catalog.”
Attendance has been
growing as Surf Expo has
added more value to the
event each season. Lori
Kisner, vice president of
Surf Expo, says, “We’re
creating the ‘Weekend of
Wake’ since there are so
many great events happening, including Surf Expo,
Rail Jam presented by
Liquid Force, WBM’s Wake
Awards, WSIA Leadership
Awards and the MasterCraft
US Open at Disney. We
continue to attract new
retailers who are just starting out while keeping our
core group of retailers who
consider Expo a ‘must
attend’ event for seeing
new product and networking with their industry.
Outside of the 9/11 show
and the hurricane show in
2003, the attendance has
been increasing every year
by 5 to 9 percent.”
What a great year this has been
already. The WSIA hosted its first
annual Summit in the Snow in
Park City, Utah, February 25-27;
we’re more involved in “boat
governing” than ever; and we’re
headed toward our biggest trade
event of the year, Surf Expo.
If you’ve never been to Surf
Expo, you gotta make the trek
this year. The show has posted
increased attendance for every
year (exception: 9/11 and 2003 hurricane shows). At Surf
Expo, you’ll get a chance to see the entire water-sports
industry “at a glance.” Plus, there’s no better networking experience than Surf Expo. Manufacturers, media,
professional athletes and hundreds of the world’s best
dealers all convene in one place for three days. For more
information, go to www.surfexpo.com.
WSIA executive director Larry Meddock has done
an outstanding job of building relationships with the
Coast Guard, American Boat and Yacht Council, National
Association of State Boating Law Administrators and
National Boating Safety Advisory Council. In April, Larry
attended an NBSAC meeting in Dubuque, Iowa, and
was asked to present the WSIA’s safe-boating initiatives.
From all accounts, the presentation was well-received.
Expect to see more on this important safety initiative
in the coming months. To get more involved in these
issues, please contact the WSIA at 407-251-9039.
The American Sports Data Sports Participation report
for 2006 was recently released. We’re pleased to see
that wakeboarding was one of the fastest-growing sports
in 2006 — now with an estimated 4.4 million participants! For more information, see Inside the Industry, or
go to www.americansportsdata.com or e-mail American
Sports Data, Inc., at sportsdata@optonline.net.
For more information on these or other subjects, please
contact the WSIA headquarters at 407-251-9039 or visit
www.wsia.net.
WSIA — making a difference in water sports.
WSIA President
www.WSIA.net
WATERSPORTS RETAILER
Getting valuable feedback from key dealers,
Kisner has figured out what
they like best. “It’s always
important for dealers to
attend their industry events
to keep up with trends,
learn tips for managing
their businesses through
seminars, meet with manufacturer leaders/owners,
network with industry
peers and celebrate their
industry successes.”
Performance Ski & Surf,
another progressive dealer
out of Orlando, attends
Surf Expo every year, even
though it may have already
seen almost every demo
board and binding after its
team riders are done testing them.
“Expo provides the
dealer the opportunity to
have a broad view of the
industry as a whole,” says
Performance’s owner Bill
Porter. “Being able to
view the entire lines of top
WakeBoarding Magazine Wake Awards
For the last three years,
WakeBoarding magazine
has hosted the annual Wake
Awards, recognizing“The Best
In Wake” right upstairs at the
Orange County Convention
Center as soon as the show
ends on Friday. Around 800
industry folks, riders and
crossover industry players
get hooked up with free drinks
and food, while the best
riders, photographers and
video producers get recognized for their achievements
on the water. Last year, this
event hosted the premiere
public viewing of Danny Harf’s
1080, which also won Movie
of the Year. In conjunction
with the Wake Awards are
the WSIA Leadership Awards,
recognizing Dealer of the Year,
Manufacturer of the Year
and more.
2
boat enthusiasts as well as first-timers
his tenure at Rise, May spent six
a thorough understanding of the
SUPERSTUDY of Sports Participation,
years as the director of marketing for
upscale houseboat-vacation experi-
several sports — for which growth
Correct Craft Expands Sales Force
MasterCraft Boat Company, where
ence. The innovation starts with a
has been observed anecdotally
Correct Craft, Inc., adds a new
he established the brand as a leader in
virtual tour of each houseboat, along
— now have the imprimatur of survey
member to its executive sales team
the competitive ski and water-sports
with a boat-comparison matrix that
research. Wakeboarding advanced by
— national sales manager Mike Yauch.
segment. Before being promoted
enables the user to choose the most
65 percent. Snowshoeing — another
As the five-time consecutive winner
to director, May was MasterCraft’s
suitable vessel for their vacation.
“extreme” sport according to some
of the J.D. Power & Associates award
Southeast regional sales and market-
Users can check available
definitions — grew by 43 percent to
in the ski and wakeboard segment,
ing manager for three years, after
vacation dates on the nine different
2.8 million participants nationwide.
Yauch is a key industry professional
spending seven years as an editor
houseboat models and peruse the
Ice hockey registered an all-time high
who will help manage Correct Craft’s
at World Publications (now Bonnier
wide variety of small boats for rent
of 3.7 million participants across the
rapidly growing dealer network.
Corporation), publisher of WaterSki,
at all locations. The site offers links
U.S., while sporting clays grew by 34
WakeBoarding and Boating Life maga-
to video, news, fishing and weather
percent.
zines.
reports. Houseboats.com includes
extensive information on the five
Lauer, “All of these growth activities
Check out liquidforce.com/bros-
tock.htm for updates.
As the national sales manager at
Correct Craft, Yauch’s responsibilities
branding consultancy. Previous to
include training, assessing and tracking
According to the 20th annual
Cautions ASD president Harvey
dealer productivity to help
resort properties: New
have relatively small respondent
the sales department better
Melones Lake Marina
bases, but while a good portion of
support its dealers and con-
and Barrett Cove Marina
these projected increases could be
tinue to build market share. A
on Lake McClure, and
artificially attributable to random sam-
valued past member of senior
Jones Valley, Sugarloaf
pling variance, the growth estimates
management teams for
and Lakeview on Shasta
are statistically significant.”
several boat manufacturers,
Lake.
For more information,
Yauch brings more than 15
The SUPERSTUDY of Sports
Participation was conducted in
years of direct dealer-relations
call 209-333-8500 or visit
January 2007 and based on a nation-
experience in the areas of
the houseboats.com.
ally representative 16,148 Americans
over the age of 6, who were among
business development, management
Malibu Wins Powerboat’s Boat of
and business-development strategy.
the Year Award
American Sports Data Shows
30,000 respondents targeted in a
Most recently, he was the manager of
Malibu Boats received a sixth con-
Wakeboarding as Top Growth
sample drawn from the mail panel of
dealer development and product plan-
secutive Boat of the Year Award from
Sport
NFO Worldwide. One hundred three
ning at Boston Whaler, Inc.
Powerboat magazine on April 14 in
What is the unifying theme that binds
sports and activities were measured
Sarasota, Florida. The awards were
the eclectic mix of wakeboarding,
over 20 demographic, attitudinal-
selected after the magazine’s rigorous
snowshoeing, ice hockey and sporting
behavior dimensions. Data was also
performance trials in Parker, Arizona,
clays? There are two, actually. First,
collected on health-club membership
Sarasota, Florida, and San Diego,
these four unrelated activities have
and other subjects pertinent to physi-
California. More than 45 performance
been “sleepers” — sports whose
cal fitness. ASD has conducted this
boats were evaluated independently
simmering potential has been long
annual tracking study every year since
by two teams. This year’s Powerboat
evident through anecdotal testimony
1987. For more information, visit
Boat of the Year Award was granted
“on the ground,” but whose growth
americansportsdata.com.
to Malibu Boats for the new 2007
had never been fully documented in a
Wakesetter VTX.
national survey. Until now.
For more information, visit cor-
rectcraft.com.
This honor makes Malibu the
only boat company in the history of
Powerboat magazine to have earned
Regal Gets New Director of
six Boat of the Year awards in a row.
Marketing
Paul Singer, vice president of sales
Regal Marine Industries, Inc., has
and marketing, accepted the award
appointed Rob May as its new director
for Malibu Boats during the Product
of marketing. May, a 17-year marine-
Excellence Celebration in Sarasota,
industry marketing, sales and publish-
Florida.
ing veteran, will be responsible for the
planning, development and execution
Website Offers Virtual Houseboat
of all corporate marketing activities.
Tours
Northern California-based Houseboats.
Prior to his appointment, May
was president of Rise Marketing, a
com announces its new innovative
Knoxville, Tennessee-based marine-
website designed to provide house-
WATERSPORTS RETAILER
TOP GROWTH SPORTS
(2005 - 2006) - 1 Year
WAKEBOARDING
SNOWSHOEING
ICE HOCKEY
SPORTING CLAYS
WRESTLING
TRAP/SKEET SHOOTING
SNOWMOBILING
KAYAKING
ELLIPTICAL TRAINERS
2005
(000)
2,697
2,302
2,585
2,964
2,211
4,046
4,780
6,962
16,679
2006
Change
(000) (%)
4,455
+65
2,752
+43
3,680
+42
3,971
+34
2,850
+28
5,053
+25
5,818
+22
8,377
+20
19,256
+16
7
inside the industry
all about board shape and how to
and progression of this wake-sport
choose the best setups for their
industry and youth culture, combined
segment. The new judging format
riding abilities and preferences. The
with his extensive knowledge in
developed by riders and WWA cable
attendees then hit the water with the
marketing, product design and devel-
officials will be employed during the
athletes for some one-on-one instruc-
opment, will further leverage JetPilot’s
first Wake Park Series event at TSR’s
tion and wrapped up the day watch-
expansion into new markets, as well
Cablestock. The cumulative-scored
ing the pros ride. The tour will travel
as their position as a leading action-
series will encompass qualifying
around the nation through September.
sports-based lifestyle brand.
rounds to earn points throughout the
For details and a continually updated
For more information, visit jetpilot.
season and will name an overall series
schedule, visit liquidforcemaven.com.
com.
Jellig’s understanding of the
champion for wakeboard and wakesHyperlite Launches New Apparel
Finals at Ski Rixen in November.
Direction
CWB Hires Steve Bates as Wake
HO Sports company, Inc., announced
Team Manager
all events together with a grand prize
the launch of its new Hyperlite apparel
CWB Board Co. announces the hiring
ensures that the best riders will be
line. In partnership with the S-Group,
of Steve Bates as the wake team
at each venue to put on an amazing
a design, development and sourc-
manager. Bates has worked with
show.
ing house out of Portland, Oregon,
CWB for seven years as a rep, first
Hyperlite will introduce a men’s and
in Florida and recently in Southern
Cablestock (May 11-13); KC
women’s product line. This line will
California. With a background char-
Watersports, KC Classic (August 4-5);
consist of board shorts, neoprene
acterized by product knowledge and
OWC WWA U.S. Wake Park Nationals
tops, sun guard tops, T-shirts and
dealer contacts, Bates will make a
(September 7-9); and Ski Rixen, WWA
fleece.
great addition to the crew at CWB. He
Wake Park Finals (November 10-11).
will continue as the Southwest rep,
specifically for the water-sports
as well as absorb the team manager
Wakeskate, Open Women and Jr.
enthusiast with quality of materials,
responsibilities.
Men. The total purse will be $25,000.
new construction methods and brand-
BROstock Picks Up Steam
For more information, call WWA at
design features as integral parts of the
Three dates are set for BROstock,
team, as well as recruit and train up-
407-362-7841 or e-mail eventorga-
offering. The line will also introduce
and the list of sponsors is growing to
and-coming talent who he feels can
nizer@thewwa.com.
materials such as environmentally
include Monster Energy, Malibu Boats
make a difference. He will work with
friendly bamboo, which has been
and Spy Optics; plus the DVS crew
the media, influential dealers and out-
used in lieu of cotton in many of the
will be coming along too.
side companies to pave the way for
tops presented for 2007.
Bates will manage a deep pro
The series championship that ties
The events include: TSR,
The divisions will be Pro Men,
For more information, visit hyperlite.
the riders to grow and gain exposure.
The line has been designed
com or call 800-938-4040.
For more information, contact
Photo by Cortese
kate during the Wake Park Series
The BROstock schedule starts
with the return to Lake Powell for the
2nd Annual Lake Powell BROstock.
Bates at steveb@ridecwb.com.
The event will be held
June 8-10 in Warm
Creek Bay (same
The Maven Session
location as last year).
Tour
If you’re interested in
The Maven Session
joining the party via
Tour is off and running. The kickoff
houseboat, check out
2007 WWA Wake Park Series
event took place at the “home
lakepowell.com.
The World Wakeboard Association
waters” of Liquid Force at the
has teamed up with U.S. wake park
Carlsbad Lagoon in Carlsbad,
owners, operators and riders, as well
California. Melissa Marquardt, Amber
JetPilot Promotes Brian Jellig to VP
Mountain Lakes in Virginia, scheduled
Wing, Stephanie Wamsley and Shelby
of Marketing and Design
for August 10-August 12. For informa-
Kantar all traveled into town to teach
JetPilot has promoted Brian Jellig
tion on this event, contact the Wake
wake sports to women of all ages
to VP of marketing and design.
and Skateboard Shop in Moneta,
and riding abilities. Sixty-five women
Jellig is the driving force behind the
Virginia, at
and girls from the Southern California
brand’s creative product innovations.
540-721-1941.
area showed up to the lagoon to meet
Previously serving as JetPilot’s art
make a home for a contest at its site.
the Maven pros, check out the 2007
director, brand manager, and design
added to the BROstock series is
Liquid Force Maven product line and
and marketing director, Jellig’s exper-
Lake Shuswap in Canada August 31-
spend some quality learning time on
tise will be invaluable in leading the
September 2. For more information on
the water. During the two-day event,
brand’s continued drive to expand
this event, go to twinanchors.com.
the pro women taught the attendees
and grow.
as WakeBoarding magazine, to create the first WWA Wake Park Series
for 2007. Each of the four wake
parks in the U.S., including TSR, KC
Watersports, OWC and Ski Rixen,
along with Ten-80, has stepped up to
The WWA has worked on a com-
pletely new event format and scoring
program, as well as reviewed rules
and regulations to foster the growth
WATERSPORTS RETAILER
New to the BROstock
series in 2007 is Smith
The newest location to be
6
PRODUCT NEWS
vendors and seeing other
people’s response to the
products help solidify interpretations I may have made
on the line and how hot
it is. Expo also allows me
to see many other lines,
brands and categories,
which I might not even
consider and that could
possibly help generate new
business for the shop.”
Some manufacturers
have taken a fun approach
and hit on the lifestyle side
of the sport to brand their
image. A perfect example
is Liquid Force. “Expo
really shows which companies are rocking,” says
Don Wallace, sales and
marketing director. “It’s
the only opportunity for
dealers to meet with all of
the manufacturers in one
location and to meet with
all of the people who are
making the product they’re
selling. Most importantly,
dealers need to experience
the vibe of the sport and
of the companies involved.
And sometimes we will sell
special products like limited
editions that you can’t get
anywhere else. We’re also
working on re-establishing
a demo day in Orlando that
will allow all of our dealers
the opportunity to ride our
new gear and learn about it
from our pros and designers.”
It would take a lot less
time to compile a list of
reasons not to attend this
year’s Surf Expo, because
for today’s contemporary
retailer, there really is no
explanation for missing this
show and still considering
yourself a major player. So
book your flights, schedule
some meetings, and make
time to have fun, and we’ll
see you in September.
HO Neutron
all the way through the wakes, where
soft yet durable garments. They are
The unique shape and parabolic side cut
you can start to decelerate going into a
designed to provide the utmost in
of HO’s Neutron
smooth and predictable tight turn. The
warmth and comfort — offering the
give this
slight shaping does some of the work for
highest level of protection against
knee-
you going into a turn. This ski caters to a
rapidly changing weather conditions.
board
very broad range of advanced to expert
Unique design promotes maximum
effort-
skiers and was redesigned in part to fit
water absorption from the body and
less
the International Novice Tour param-
immediate processing through a unique
carving
eters for the shaped-slalom competition.
moisture-management system.
ability
and
lyskis.com or call 425-775-5416.
For more information, visit connel-
For more information, visit cham-
myz.com or call 760-744-9252.
additional
Gator Caddy
speed
With an all-new design and two dif-
through
ferent sizes, the Caddy is still turning
the
heads. For 2007, the Caddy was
wake.
refined with addi-
The
tional directional
board’s
fiberglass. Gator
Boards incorpo-
first-of-its-kind
design adds four molded-in fins providing
H2O Audio
rated a single-
total control while riding in both forward
H2O Audio is dedicated to enabling a
to-double and
and backward positions. HO’s new Shock
truly ubiquitous use of iPods, allowing
back-to-single
kneeboard strap offers traditional adjust-
music to go anywhere and everywhere
center chan-
ability but with additional padding and
we go, safely and conveniently.
nel. Deeper
shock-absorbing elements. The re-engi-
exit chan-
neered orthotic pad is wider and deeper
2) features the same patent-pending
nels mean
for the support and comfort needed on
engineering as the waterproof housing
additional
even the roughest landings. The first-
for nano (Gen 1). Its durable, elasto-
stability
ever retractable pull-up hook offers the
meric, diagonal T-seal provides absolute
while on
rider an effortlessness transition when
waterproof protection. The form-fit case
edge. If you
strapping in while first getting up. Once
complements iPod nano’s compact size,
want the
up and strapped in, the rider can push
ensuring users will be able to take their
all-around
favorite music with them regardless of
versatility of
for a flatter, safer riding
outdoor conditions or recreational envi-
the world-
surface.
ronments.
renowned
Cadillac, built with
the hook into the kneeboard
For more information, call
The H2O Audio for iPod nano (Gen
H2O Audio for iPod nano provides
the first truly waterproof housing for
the finest materi-
Apple iPod nano Gen 2 players and is
als available, the
Connelly F1X
rated to 10 feet. It features patented
Caddy is the choice.
The Connelly F1X is a
easy-access click-wheel control of iPod
The construction was
true high-performance-
nano command functions, as well as a
re-engineered by
shaped ski. Start with the
full-view menu screen, and is compatible
maximizing the fiberglass
proven tournament-win-
with standard and H2O Audio patented
for an optimal strength-to-weight ratio
ning F1 design and widen
waterproof headphones. Wear the
that doesn’t sacrifice durability, stiff-
the tip and tail fraction-
secure armband for carefree mobility. ness or response. The ribbed tip rails
ally, leaving the tunnel
have a longitudinal snap for a livening
and side cut identical
800-708-6080, extension 214.
800-938-4646.
For more information, call
underthebindings.
ride that is aggressive enough for riders who want to ollie higher and ride
The result is a
Chammyz Surf
harder. They upgraded the final glass
slightly shaped ski
Bomber
finish, providing the smoothest, clearest
highly capable of
Manufactured
graphics anywhere.
36 mph passes. The
from 100 per-
edge-to-edge con-
cent “natural”
boards.com or call 866- 487-2730.
cave tunnel holds
fibers, Chammyz
the F1X on a rail
are extremely
For more information, visit gator-
Continued on page 5
WATERSPORTS RETAILER
3
LEADERSHIP PROFILE By Chris Tauber
Finding New Ways to Lead
Photos courtesy of MasterCraft
MasterCraft’s John Dorton on how the reigning Manufacturer of the Year is looking to further build the brand and the industry
Mastercraft’s John Dorton
W
hy did MasterCraft win
What made 2006 such a good year
How are you
Design-a-
the Leadership Award
for MasterCraft?
carrying that
Boat [online
for Manufacturer of
Our work started a long time ago,
momentum
tool] all
the Year? Most of the
way back to the founder, Rob Shirley.
through 2007?
the way to
people in the crowd at the 2006 Surf
He was a pioneer in the industry.
We are continu-
when they
Expo industry party had just seen the
MasterCraft has always had that focus
ing expansion
buy it to
company’s mold-breaking new CSX
on innovation. We continue to have the
in those areas
saltwater inboard model in the exhibit
wakeboard boat of choice. We have
to solidify those markets. From a
hall downstairs when that honor was
men’s slalom and jump records on our
dealer’s perspective, we’ve invested a
announced. Certainly the innovative
ProStar. In addition, we’ve led the way
lot in our IT systems, so our b-to-b and
How is all of that paying off?
powerboat was a major example of
in opening up new markets. This past
b-to-c systems are actually marketable
We’ve seen our international retail
how MasterCraft showed itself as an
year in particular, we’ve really focused
themselves right now, and we’re con-
warranty registrations increase by
industry leader in ’06. But the reasons
on salt water and moving water sports
sidering taking some of those systems
12 percent this year. We’ve seen our
why extend to a range of initiatives
to coastal areas, both domestically and
to the industry. We’ve allowed dealers
domestic retail registrations increase
— some obvious, many behind the
internationally, and I think that’s been
to be more efficient in how they order
by 6 percent. We’ve seen greater effi-
scenes — that has the company looking
great for everyone in our industry.
parts for boats and so forth. We track
ciencies. We’ve got 11 new saltwater-
at the big, big picture, as MasterCraft
boats from the time a consumer is in
specific dealers total, domestically and
CEO John Dorton explains.
their living room on [MasterCraft’s]
internationally, that are raving about
WATERSPORTS RETAILER
warranty to
even second owners.
4
PRODUCT NEWS cont’d from page 3
the product, [saying] that it filled a void
that we’re bringing to market. We’re
they saw in the market. We think that
on the National Marine Manufacturers
Melissa’s designs. These boots are in
will continue.
Association boat-builders division,
very limited supplies and feature the
the marketing committee for Grow
same excellent features of all Liquid
And you’re
Boating. Our
still stay-
niche needs
ing true to
representation,
MasterCraft’s
and I would
roots with
encourage our
Fly
the introduc-
competitors to
High Fat
Volkswagen Marine
tion of the
get involved as
Sacs
Engines
ProStar 214.
well.
Fly High is offering
Ring Power is the
Yes. We’ve
Force boots.
For more
information, visit liquidforce.com.
three Fat Sacs specifically
exclusive dealer for
probably
How do you
geared toward wakesurfing.
over-invested
keep track of all
The Inboard Wake Surf Sac is designed
engines in the United States. These
in research
that?
to fit perfectly in the back corner of
lightweight, high-speed, direct-injection
Volkswagen Marine
[laughs]. We have far and above the
[Laughs] Really smart management. I
inboard ski boats and weighs approxi-
diesel engines range from 40 hp four-cyl-
largest R&D department in our niche
have a dashboard I can pull up on my
mately 700 pounds. The sac’s L shape
inders to 225 hp six-cylinders.
and one of the biggest in the marine
computer and drill down into nearly
consists of an arm that extends forward
industry. So that allows us to be able to
every phase of the business and get
along the engine compartment, and
available is the 225-6, featuring a dry
specialize in salt or wakeboard or com-
some reasonable level of detail till
a square section that makes up the
weight (excluding transmission) of only
petitive water skiing, what have you.
I run out of its ability to answer my
main body of the sac. The valve pattern
717 pounds. This gives a comparative
We still use the likes of Parks Bonifay,
questions. Then I find the people. And
of these sacs (valves on both sides)
weight advantage of 220 pounds over
Zane Schwenk, Chet Raley — top
we’ve spent a lot of time on how to
means that they can be used on either
other diesel marine engines. The TDI 225-
professionals in each of the disciplines
have meetings. You can have an hour-
side of the boat.
6 delivers 225 hp at 4,200 rpm and pro-
— to help us develop these boats.
long meeting with seven to 12 minutes
duces 333 pound-feet of torque at only
of true content. So we started boiling
pounds, the V-Drive Wake Surf Sac fits
2,000 rpm. It’s only 36 inches in length, 30
Beyond the boats, what are your lat-
that down. Things like that that sound
in the storage compartments on either
inches in width and 27 inches in height.
est initiatives?
pretty far away from building competi-
side of the engine in V-drive boats.
Despite all this compacted power, the
We invest a lot of course in market-
tion ski boats, but when it comes
By utilizing this storage space, you’re
engines are quiet-running thanks to a
ing and continue to invest in the Pro
down to it, it helps us be smarter and
effectively combining the weight of the
dual-mass flywheel absorbing transmis-
Tour and INT. We’re trying to bring our
better. This year we’ll build 330 more
Fat Sac with the engine itself.
sion and drive vibrations.
sports to other people, like through
boats with fewer people than we had
AMA Supercross. We send most of
last year.
monster. It’s designed to fit
tion classes throughout the year.
What are your goals for 2007?
in the rear seat bulkhead,
I myself have gone to the Harvard
We have enough momentum and initia-
leading forward under the
Business School, MIT, the University
tives that we’re continuing to execute
side bench seats. The main
of North Carolina, on executive ses-
those. We’re going to add more
section of this sac is 30
sions to get smarter in areas I think
saltwater-specific dealers, increase
inches tall and fits in the rear
we have to focus on. We’ve invested
our distribution in Australia, focus on
compartments.Theportionof
in our Internet marketing. We have a
supply-chain management. We have
the sac that extends forward
big appetite for that, to the point of
two new models we’re going to launch
has a lower profile of 12
broadcasting tournaments and events
this year. And we’re always looking
inches, but it’s more than 100
and being much more interactive and
for breakthroughs — game-changing
inches long. Its massive size
opening up commerce channels. We
events whether through products or
makes for a sac that weighs
want to make buying a boat even
systems or how we do business. We
in at around 1,500 pounds. All
easier, more through our e-marketing
think that’s ultimately going to pay off
sacs can be ordered with any
efforts. It’s odd to say, but executives
for the consumer with a better product.
combination of Fly High’s Quick
are buying $80,000 boats without even
next to it. I finally got it all assembled
Connect fittings to suit your
seeing them. We get that quite a bit
as once piece of property, bulldozed
needs.
with dealers saying they’ve never met
it and broke ground about a year ago.
some customers, but their assistants
The floor is about 45 minutes from being
visit fatsac.com.
come to pick up the boat. We’ve also
finished, and that’s it. So you got me on the
been successful in partnering with the
completion day.
our senioleaders to continuing-educa-
Weighing approximately 400
The Enzo Sac is a true
V-drive boats that have a gap
For more information,
For more information, contact
Chuck Lampman at
813-671-3700 or
vwmarine@ringpower.
com, or visit ringpower.com/vw.
Liquid Force Limited Boots
likes of Cadillac and working with the
Finally Liquid Force has LTD boots
Volkswagen team on a diesel package
from Shane, Shawn or
WATERSPORTS RETAILER
The biggest of the SDI/TDI engines
5