2018 Syndicate Hilltop Pro-Am
The 2018 Syndicate Hilltop Pro-Am kicked off bright and early Saturday at magnificent Hilltop Lake in Arlington, Washington. With the sun out, temperature mild and water bluer than you can imagine, dozens of skiers pushed themselves to test their limits in search of that elusive personal best. Pro skiers in attendance included last year’s Pro-Mens Champion Nick Adams, two-time winner Will Asher, Jon Travers, Terry Winter, Benjamin Stadlbaur, Zane Nicholson, Dave Wingerter, last year’s Pro Womens Champion Jaimee Bull and Allie Nicholson.
Check out the HO Blog for a recap, photos and more! http://www.hosports.com/blog/?
2019 Radar Skis Collection
There’s something about that feeling - as the sun creeps over the horizon and you slip into your boots. You're in the water, the line comes tight, you smile at the boat and utter those two simple words – “Hit it!”
We live for that feeling, we wake up every day and build beautiful waterskis because we love to be on the water. We design what we design because you live for that feeling too. We make the best skis on the planet because it’s in our blood, it’s what we live for. We create so you can enjoy.
You know what to do. Just go ski.
GOODE skiers win 16 U.S. National titles
GOODE skiers claimed 16 slalom titles – more than all other manufacturers combined – at the GOODE U.S. National Water Ski Championships held last week at Mystic Lakes in Maize, Kansas.
By claiming 16 of 28 slalom titles, GOODE skiers netted an amazing 57 percent of all slalom gold medals awarded.
Congratulations to the following national champions:
Girls 3 – Kristen Baldwin
Women 1 – Kelley Breeden
Women 2 – Keri McClure
Women 3 – Brandy Nagle
Women 4 – Gail Case
Women 5 – Alison Poulsen
Women 6 – Joy Kelley
Open Women – Regina Jaquess
Boys 1 – Luka Zazade
Boys 2 – Nicolas Nelson
Men 4 – Tim Henderson
Men 6 – Steve Ware
Men 7 – Steve Raphael
Men 8 – Bob Hardeman
Men 9 – George Adams
Masters Men – Greg Badal
Additional highlights of the week included:
- A GOODE sweep of Masters Men slalom as champion Greg Badal was joined on the podium by Jay Leach (2nd), Jed Blackburn (3rd), Don Aschenbrenner (4th) and Mark Menasci (5th).
- Three straight titles for Steve Ware and Steve Raphael.
- An eighth career slalom title for Keri McClure, who in addition to 2018 also won titles in 2017, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008 and 2000.
- Nicolas Nelson won the Boys 2 title on the strength of a 5-buoy PB.
- Kristen Baldwin winning Girls 3 slalom in only her second year in the age division. Her sister Brooke had won it the three previous years.
- Greg Badal and Regina Jaquess tying for the highest 34 mph score of the week with 1 buoy at 41 off.
- During the America’s Cup Invitational – held Friday night under the lights with approximately 3,000 people lining the shores – Regina Jaquess won both the Women’s slalom and jumping crowns, while finishing fourth in tricks. Karen Truelove was third in slalom.
Dating back to 2012, GOODE skiers have won 114 out of 207 U.S. national slalom titles, or 55 percent.
For full 2018 GOODE Nationals results, click here.
2019 Syndicate Alpha tech
Syndicate Alpha
Features:
- Syndicate PRO width profile for max acceleration and automatic turn initiation
- Shallower tail concave for increased turn drift for tight rope turn finishes
- Flatter tip rocker creates a stable platform skiers can trust
- Torsionally Stiff Flex: Holds shape in high load situations for great acceleration at the finish of the turn.
- Carbon Fiber SpeedSkin: Advanced laminar textured ski base to reduce ski drag & increase speed, with 20% less ski weight!
- Handmade in Seattle
The Syndicate Alpha builds on the success of the Syndicate PRO design. Asher, Travers, LaPoint and Wingerter spent the 2018 season fine-tuning a loose and light iteration of the Syndicate PRO design; the all new 2019 Syndicate Alpha. The Alpha shares the same width profile as the Syndicate PRO, but is designed with a shallower concave depth in the tail of the ski, and a flatter tip rocker, for a loose and light feel on the water. With less downforce than PRO, the Alpha accelerates with less physical effort, and projects wider off the second wake. The shallower tail concave allows the Alpha to have more turn drift for tight rope turn finishes. Optimized for skiers who prefer lower drag, less physical effort, fast, light and quick turning skis, the Syndicate Alpha is ready for combat. Who dares wins.
BOATING INDUSTRY LEGEND, RALPH C. MELOON, PASSES AWAY AT AGE 100
ORLANDO, FL (August 11, 2018) — It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of boating hall of fame member and industry icon Ralph C. Meloon at the age of 100.
The middle of three brothers, Meloon was seven years old when his father Walter C. Meloon moved the family from New Hampshire to Florida and started the Florida Variety Boat Company (now Correct Craft) in 1925. Meloon was involved with the company then and continued his involvement until his death.
While upholding the tradition established by his father of “Building boats to the glory of God,” Meloon held many positions at Correct Craft over the years including President, Executive Vice President, Treasurer, and Chairman of the Board. He was instrumental in helping shape Correct Craft for over ninety years. On August 11, at the age of 100, Meloon passed away leaving more than just a memory—he left a heritage that will never be forgotten.
During his tenure, Meloon served in many distinct roles and was instrumental in tracking down and paying all creditors back from the 1960 company bankruptcy. He also established the first grassroots water ski promotional program to pull water ski tournaments in the Midwest and shortly thereafter he developed the first water ski promotional program in the United States. Meloon, known as the face of Correct Craft for decades, traveled to 85 countries for the company building the Correct Craft brand and exporting waterskiing boats all around the world.
In recent years as Correct Craft has grown substantially, including acquiring new companies and entering new markets, Meloon was always encouraging the team. There was no one more excited to see the success of the Correct Craft team than Ralph Meloon.
“Ralph was truly an extraordinary man who always encouraged everyone he met; our team understands that the work we do today was built on his shoulders and we are incredibly saddened by this loss,” stated Correct Craft President/CEO Bill Yeargin. “Personally, Ralph was a dear friend. He was always full of encouragement and many times he would pop in my office and say, ‘Betty and I prayed for you this morning, Bill.’ He rarely left my office without saying ‘We love you, Bill.’ As I have traveled the globe for our company, people all over the world would ask me about Ralph Meloon. So, as we celebrate Ralph’s life, we recommit ourselves to the values that Ralph so embraced; faith, integrity, and family – those are the things that were important to Ralph,” added Yeargin.
About Correct Craft: Celebrating 93 years of excellence in the marine industry, Correct Craft is a Florida-based company with global operations. The Correct Craft family includes Nautique, Centurion, Supreme, Bass Cat, Yar-Craft, SeaArk, and Bryant boat companies, Pleasurecraft Marine Engine Group, and Aktion Parks. For more information please visit www.correctcraft.com.
The RéVolution is here
Introducing the RéVolution, a new ski from GOODE that delivers improved performance through breakthroughs in construction design, new carbon fibers and an advanced resin system. The result is a ski that provides a quicker, more progressive rebound, is more durable and weighs a quarter pound less than any other GOODE to date.
The enhancements drastically improve the consistency and overall performance of a shape whose winning lineage includes a Big Dawg Championship and multiple U.S. National titles, including Brian Detrick’s Open Mens slalom victory in 2016.
“This shape is a proven winner, but through a two-year R&D process we’ve been able to ncrease top-end performance as well as user friendliness and predictability,” said Dave Goode, founder and present of GOODE Skis.
A new advanced internal construction process features an internal backbone running from the tail of the ski to the top of the tunnel. This feature leads to a more progressive “wind up and wind down” out of the turn and into the first wake.
“The way the ski flexes into and rebounds out of the turn is one of the most important performance aspects in slalom ski design,” says Goode. “If the ski takes too long to rebound back to shape, you lose cross-course speed. But if it rebounds too quickly and in a jerky-jerky motion, the ski can be very inconsistent. The RéVolution’s flex and rebound is quicker than any other ski we’ve ever made, but it does so in a very smooth way that leads to great performance that you can count on.”
Through a new carbon fiber resin system the engineers at GOODE were able to increase the durability of the ski while reducing weight, thereby increasing cross-course efficiency and decreasing drag – and the extra work associated with it. Additional features of the RéVolution include a water proof core and a refined and more forgiving torsional flex.
What top skiers are saying about the RéVolution:
“Stable, predictable and fast across course. This ski is effortless.” – Chad Scott
“It gets you wide like a big ski and takes angle like a small ski.
This is the best ski GOODE has ever built.” – Chet Raley
“The RéVolution requires 20 percent less effort cross course than any of my previous skis, getting me to the buoy earlier and easier.” – Dave Miller
“This ski has amazingly fast, yet controllable speed. The backside turns are unbelievable and the cross-course direction is outstanding.” – Greg Badal
Learn more about the RéVolution here.
2019 Syndicate Program featuring the Syndicate Alpha and Syndicate PRO
The Syndicate Alpha
The Syndicate Alpha builds on the success of the Syndicate PRO design. Asher, Travers, LaPoint and Wingerter spent the 2018 season fine-tuning a loose and light iteration of the Syndicate PRO design; the all new 2019 Syndicate Alpha. The Alpha shares the same width profile as the Syndicate PRO, but is designed with a shallower concave depth in the tail of the ski, and a flatter tip rocker, for a loose and light feel on the water. With less downforce than the PRO, the Alpha accelerates with less physical effort, and projects wider off the second wake. The shallower tail concave allows the Alpha to have more turn drift for tight rope turn finishes. Optimized for skiers who prefer lower drag, less physical effort, fast, light and quick turning skis, the Syndicate Alpha is ready for combat. Who dares wins.
This new design is available and can be found at the HO Skis/Syndicate booth at the AWSA National Championships in Maize, KS. Stop by, say “Hi” and check out the all new Alpha!
Connelly Skis Acquires Assets of North Sports, Inc. DBA Aquaglide
Lynnwood/White Salmon, WA – July 24, 2018 – Connelly Skis announced today that they have signed a purchase agreement to acquire substantially all the assets of North Sports, Inc., a leading producer of inflatable waterparks, inflatable kayaks, standup paddleboards, and related watersports products under the Aquaglide brand name. The company was originally formed in 1984 as a windsurfing accessory business, and has been involved with kiteboarding, snowboarding, and watersports products throughout its history. The Aquaglide brand was formed in 2004.
John Archer, President of Connelly Skis, commented, “We are very excited to welcome the Aquaglide team to the Connelly family. We believe these products will fit well within our existing dealer and consumer base and will also open new avenues of growth, especially in the inflatable waterparks and kayak categories. We are expecting great things!”
“I am very excited for Aquaglide and my team to have the opportunity to get to the next level. Said David Johnson, President/CEO of North Sports, Inc. “We are very proud of what we have accomplished and look forward to working closely with the Connelly team on the next generation of Aquaglide products.”
Aquaglide will be run as a separate division of Connelly. David Johnson will remain as Director of Product Development, while Jeff Cunningham will add the title of General Manager in addition to his duties as VP Global Sales.
Closing of the transaction is anticipated by the end of July.
Read more: Connelly Skis Acquires Assets of North Sports, Inc. DBA Aquaglide