Author: Lisa Hayden-Matthews

I know there’re mixed reactions to carbon fiber technology for surfboards. I’ve read and heard from some guys in my area that the carbon fiber boards are stiff and no good performers. To me, it sounded like the carbon fiberboards were a new-fangled technology, still in its infancy R&D stage. But that quickly changed once…

Are helmets even necessary for wakeboarding? If you find yourself asking this question, the answer is a big yes. You shouldn’t ride a wakeboard without one. Just like a seatbelt in a car, a wakeboard helmet is usually your first line of defense for protecting your most important asset-your brain. Of course, there’re plenty of…

I’m a proud owner of Malibu 21 vRide. For a long time, I’ve used it for casual boating rides and sometimes fishing. But you can only get excited by fishing so much, so late last year, I decided I wanted to try something new. Get into a sport that would pump my adrenaline more and…

There’s a misconception that all longboards can noseride. It’s so widely spread that I fell into it during my transition from shortboarding to nose riding. Out of naivety, I got a 10’ Storm Blade longboard surfboard and could only picture myself performing the gravity-defying stunts, including the hang ten toes, stretch-five, heel hang, and so…

Nothing disrupts a good night’s sleep more than getting jolted awake by a nightmare. For most people, being chased by shadowy figures with ten tail-like legs or feeling naked in public is disorienting and scary. But those don’t scare me. My nightmares are usually about my wakesurfs; I usually wake up in a cold sweat…

It amazes me when I see wakeboarders handling a rope attached to a powerful boat like it’s harmless. New surfers are the worst, coiling rope on their wrists to pull themselves into the sweet spot of the wake. It’s dangerous! See, if you’re an old hand in wakeboarding or any water towing sports, I’m pretty…

I’m aware most wakeboard enthusiasts are mostly concerned with mechanical issues and ensuring their boats perform perfectly. Maintenance for them is a top priority. And I agree that these things are by far the most important things that will ensure a happy wakeboarding experience. But what about the cool things we do to our wakeboards…

Birthday morning. The fun and flurry of gift wrap torn open.   Squeals of delight- “Look what I got you, son!” His mom anxiously glanced towards him. But when little Mike unwrapped his present, I could sense disappointment. He put his gift surfboard down and stared at the floor. But how could he? After all, all…