Welcome Deano!

Axis Wake Research (@AxisWake) in the USA and Australia are welcoming Dean Smith to their Factory Pro Team with this new little intro video.

Deano joined the Axis Wake Team back in April and just finished spending a few days with the Axis Factory Crew on the lake shreddin' behind the A22. Meet Dean Smith, his style of riding and his A22. He's good people and we're happy to have him on a board with Axis!

Tags: Axis Wake Research | A22 | Dean Smith | Team Axis | Australia | wakeboarder | pro | wakeboarding | Factory Pro Team | wakeboard boat

Axis USA & Australia Team Up to Sign Wakeboarder Dean Smith

Axis Wake Research (@AxisWake) welcomes the free-riding, massive air professional Australian wakeboarder Dean Smith (@DeanwSmith) to the team. Check out the video Alliance Wake Magazine put together of Dean shreddin behind the A22.

Axis Wake Research in the USA and Australia are welcoming Dean Smith to their Factory Pro Team because just like Axis wake boats, he is all about charging hard and doing it with style. Smith wanted a boat that would allow him to take his “go big or go home,” attitude into every riding session as well as every competition. It’s this approach that earned the Australian Pro the 2010 WWA Men’s Wakeboard World Championship title. A fun, unassuming guy, Smith has the heart of a lion and conducts himself with true professionalism. Together with his massive tricks and free-riding style, Smith’s character makes him a perfect fit for Axis Wake Research. Smith rides and lives each day to the fullest and that’s how these boats perform; like today is your best day on the water. Axis is proud to call Deano, as he is affectionately known, a member of the family.

When asked about his new team, this is how Smith responded, "I couldn't be happier on joining the Axis team! It is a company that shares that same passion about wakeboarding as I do, and is moving in a positive direction in the process.” Smith continued, “Having Randall and Keith as team mates is also a huge factor for me. Having 2 of the most innovative riders in world on the same team is a huge honor, and will only push me with my own riding. I'm looking forward to the 2011 season!”

On the pro wakeboard scene since 2004, Smith is no stranger to the podium. He has inflicted years of domination on the Australian Pro Wakeboard Tour. In 2010 he won the hearts of wake fans around the world by becoming the WWA Men’s Wakeboard World Champ. This underdog’s success is proof that if you want it bad enough and train hard enough victory is always within reach.

“I have so much respect for Dean’s riding, versatility and professionalism,” says David Thorpe, National Marketing Manager of Axis Wake Research Australia.

Smith is the first native Australian to earn the title of Wakeboard World Champ. He was born in Sydney in 1984 and still lives there for half of the year. He splits time between his birth place and Orlando, FL wakeboarding as much as he can on both sides of the globe. Together Axis Wake Research USA and Australia are keeping Smith in an Axis wakeboard boat whether he is Stateside or Down Under. This way Smith’s rigorous training schedule can remain just as intense no matter his location.

“Sticking to the Axis roots for pro athlete consideration, it is such a logical fit. Just like our boats, the rider’s attitude, style, and skill level must find balance. Deano has that,” explained Adam McCall, Managing Director for Axis Wake Research. “We at Axis look forward to working with Dean and seeing mutual benefit to the brand and to his riding career.”

Tags: Axis Wake Research | A22 | Dean Smith | Team Axis | Australia | wakeboarder | pro | wakeboarding | Factory Pro Team | wakeboard boat | Alliance Wake

WSR Visits Pyramid Lake With A22

Alliance Wake (@AllianceWake) just posted this great story, written by Mellissa Marquardt, about the trip Vandall's (@ThisizVandall) West Side Riders (WSR) took with the Axis A22 (@AxisWake) to Pyramid Lake in SoCal.

As the water trickles down the snowy mountains of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, dams are constructed to create aqueducts distributing water throughout California. Water is mostly plentiful in Northern California and the North generously supplies Southern California with over 50% of our water supply. Water is moved 444 miles, up 3000 ft to traverse up the Tehachapi Mountains through aqueducts, siphons, pumps and tunnels to reach it’s destination in beautiful Southern California.

Check out the sweet gallery of WSR photos from the Pyramid Lake Trip.

Southern California’s desert conditions can cause dilemmas when finding quality water for drinking and more importantly glassy water to ride on. There are only a few spots to ride in Southern California so the WSR has been exploring our zone to discover new spots to ride. During our road travels through the years we’ve driven past Pyramid Lake numerous times while going over the Grapevine, questioning it’s wakeboarding capabilities. We finally decided to round up the troops and test his mysterious reservoir’s ridding potential. Eddie Valdez, Justin Fisher and I decided to camp the night before near the lake. When we arrived we noticed the camp had an eerie feeling, like a creepy Friday the 13th movie, man- eating bugs included. Being one of the only two groups of campers in the entire site didn’t help. Our fears quickly vanished after one of the friendly park staffers provided us with bug repellent and saved our lives. The combination of bugs and Eddie’s random mix ass-blast’n left us a bit sleep deprived.

In the morning photographer Nick Meistrell met up with us at our camp and Eddie made a five star breakfast with eggs, sausage and bagels to prepare for our day in the wakeboarding office. When we arrived at the dock to meet up with the rest of the crew consisting of the WSR vets Randall Harris and Ricky G, we quickly noticed the lake was about as butter as it gets. Randall, Ricky, Eddie, and I rode and Justin showed off his PWC driving skills running chase for Nick. The conditions were perfect all day including crystal clear water that has more than 20ft visibility, ideal for fishing, one of many WSR’s hobbies. The depth of Pyramid Lake is 355 ft containing 30lb+ striped bass, Justin and Eddie ended the day with catching a few trout…

Tags: Axis Wake Research | WSR | Alliance Wake | Randall Harris | Pyramid Lake | SoCal | Mellissa Marquardt | A22 | Vandall Edition | West Side Riders