Latest news with #wakeboarding
Forbes
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Shaun Murray Serves Up Wakeboarding's Wildest Ride
Seattle may be primarily known for its grunge music, its vibrant arts and culture scene, and even its temperate, if rainy, weather. But it's also a city known for its openness to the new and the exciting. Enter Shaun Murray, the four-time wakeboarding world champion, to bring the weird and the fun to the water. This past month at Seattle's Lake Washington, Murray and friends held an all-new kind of wakeboarding competition called Can You Ride It. The first of its kind event took place on August 2, during Seafare, the city's annual air and water show. The wakeboarding event is the brainchild of Murray, who teamed up with Best Day Brewing to launch the event. Murray has already begun to explore the limits of what can be towed behind a boat on his YouTube channel and wants to make the event a regular feature on Seattle's biggest summer stage and across America. One of the main attractions of Can You Ride It is the wild variety of devices contestants affixed to their wakeboards. Among the competitors were cowboys, a Roman centurion, and a guy drinking a beer in a moving lawnchair. There was also a realtor who built her wakeboard with 'for sale' signs, while others rode with tennis rackets, suitcases, and even one with a moving bar stocked with Best Day non-alcoholic beer. Murray says he regards wakeboarding as a creative sport, and one that led him early on to experiment with whatever could be ridden while moving on the water. 'Ever since I was a kid, I'd grab whatever I could ride, even if it didn't float—a boat cushion, a bucket, whatever I could find—and see if I could ride it,' Murray said. 'Over the years, I've kept doing it with friends (and) other pro wakeboarders and waterskiers, and it's always a good time.' He adds that having the right event partner and sponsor was huge in making such a fun event happen. 'Partnering with Best Day Brewing made perfect sense because they're all about fun and trying new things—so we thought, why not give everyone the chance to see what they can come up with? I had no idea it would be such a huge hit.' Contestants rode upon the waters of Lake Washington while testing whether their homemade vessels were sturdy and buoyant enough to be pulled by a powerboat at speeds going up to 20 mph. The event's judges included Seattle Sounders goalkeeping coach Tom Dutra and longtime US Men's National Team goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who is now also a soccer analyst for ESPN. Both judges assessed participants based on their creativity, stunt, craft design, and showmanship. 'I was impressed with the athleticism of the riders,' Keller said on the day of the event. 'The guy riding a suitcase was unreal.' Related story: Tony Hawk talks new digs, home improvement. 'What I'm excited about,' said Dutra, 'is to see where this progresses. I think with a lot of new sports, you have to start something, build it up, and when you get creative with it, you get more people interested.' But Keller and Dutra hinted that many newer sports that have taken off in the last decade, from pickleball to MMA, show that there is much more interest in sports beyond football, basketball, and other so-called major sports. Dutra added, 'I think if you look at the sports that Red Bull (founded) years ago, up to now, you have to think there's a huge upside to Can You Ride It and wakeboarding.' Energy drink Red Bull, launched in 1987, not only owns interests in extreme sports events but has expanded into soccer, skiing, and motorsports, and boasts partnerships with world-class athletes such as Lindsey Vonn and Formula One champion Max Verstappen. When asked if he thinks watersports and extreme sports can expand beyond top-level competitions and be adopted by more of the general public, Murray said he's very optimistic. 'Wakeboarding's definitely come a long way, since boats and gear are way better now—and people see it all over social media. I get folks of all ages trying it for the first time, and that moment when they pop up and realize, 'I'm doing it!' whether they're 6 or 83 years old.' Murray adds that the feeling people get from wakeboarding is 'addictive, and it's what keeps the stoke alive and people heading back to the water.' Founded in 1950, Seattle's Seafair now draws more than two million attendees annually and also features boating races, a triathlon, a music fest, a classic car show, a visit from the Blue Angels, and more events open to the public. Best Day Brewing shared the event's podium highlights via Instagram. Cameron Horn, from Boise, Idaho, nabbed first place riding a hobby horse, while second place went to veteran pro water sports athlete Tony Klarich, who took to the water on two tennis rackets while hitting tennis balls served from his boat. Seattle's own Randy Webster rode his suitcase wakeboard to third place. VIDEO: Shaun Murray talks up wakeboarding and Can You Ride It. Murray thinks that events like Can You Ride It are not only enjoyable to watch and do, but accessible to the public and relatable to everyday fans of summer fun. 'You don't have to know tricks, you don't even have to know how to wakeboard—you just need an idea and the guts to try it,' Murray said. 'People show up to laugh and have a good time, and some end up leaving thinking, 'Maybe I'll give wakeboarding a shot.'' He adds that it's an all-round 'low-pressure, fun way to get more people on the water.' Most of Murray's dozens of career titles came between 1998 and 2020, and he was the first wakeboarder ever to land a 900, a two-and-a-half-time aerial over the water. Murray, 49, is the only rider ever to hold World, Pro Tour, and National championship titles all at once. Wakeboard magazine publicly recognized Murray as a legend of the sport in 2005. Read Frye's recent interview with skateboard legend Tony Hawk. ##
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ukrainian wakeboarder, 17, wins silver medal at 2025 World Games
Ukrainian wakeboarder Sofiia Sokolova has earned a silver medal at the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China. Source: Champion, a sports news platform within Ukrainska Pravda's holding company Details: In the wakeboarding final, 17-year-old Sokolova secured a silver medal with a score of 50 points, finishing just behind Canada's Bailey Rush. The bronze medal was claimed by South Korea's Moon Joohee. This marks the end of the Ukrainian athlete's performances at the World Games. Sofiia's medal is Ukraine's ninth placement at the competition in China. In the medal standings, Ukraine ranks fifth with four golds, four silvers and one bronze medal. Germany remains the leader with 9 golds and 21 medals in total. Background: Earlier, Ukrainian dragon boat paddlers added four medals to the country's World Games tally, including two golds, while jiu-jitsu fighter Bohdan Mochulskyi advanced to the semi-finals of the competition. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
The Sun
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Tasha Ghouri shows off her incredible body in a bikini as she enjoys yacht day after shock exit from Celeb SAS
TASHA Ghouri has shaken off her sudden Celeb SAS exit by showing off her killer figure in a bikini. As the Channel 4 show aired on Thursday night, Tasha whisked herself away to sunnier climates to spend time at sea on a yacht. 6 6 6 Sharing pictures of her trip, Tasha donned a white bikini to hit the open water, enjoying time wakeboarding and swimming with pals. She wrote alongside the pics: "Spending my last days of being 26 just having fun with my besties." A video from the ship saw her leaping from the top of the boat into the water below, while other snaps saw her cuddled up to her "day one" pals as they relaxed. The snaps come after Tasha chose to completely snub any mention of her time on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins – with scenes of her quitting the show airing on Thursday. Tasha, as well as Chloe Burrows, both opted to "VW" (voluntarily withdraw) from the brutal TV series, seemingly out of nowhere. The pair were climbing up a hill towards their latest task, when they decided they didn't want to continue. Chloe gave over her armband first, calling the show "the worst thing she's ever signed up to" before Tasha followed shortly after. When asked why, Tasha said she "wasn't mentally there" and felt like she couldn't carry on. Tasha later said: "You have to be so mentally strong to do this," with Chloe adding: "And physically." Unlike her competitors, Tasha has made no mention at all about her time on Celeb SAS on her social media – instead focusing on her holidays and other work commitments. She became the fourth person to withdraw from this year's series, following S Club 7's Hannah Spearritt, Louie Spence, and Chloe. 10 stars still remain on the show as they continue to get put through their paces to pass the ultimate test. 6 6 6
Daily Mail
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Very brave Texas girl shrugs off huge gator that surfaced close to her as she was wakeboarding
A Texas girl bravely shrugged off her close encounter with an alligator while wakeboarding in the Lone Star State. Clair Hurta, 12, was floating in the water of the Colorado River while waiting to get back on her board when an alligator popped its head out yards away from her. The young girl was seen laughing just moments before her mom noticed the animal languidly perusing the waters on the sunny day. The Pure Wakesurf-sponsored surfer didn't fret, though, as she calmly turned back around, a TikTok video showed. 'After we saw the gator we left that area and surfed in another area of the river,' her mother, Crystal Hurta, told Daily Mail. 'She wasn't scared at all. They don't bother her.' The mother-daughter duo did admit that the alligator was big, but Clair just shrugged it off. 'Now, if she sees a snake, it's game on. She will be in that boat so fast,' the mother joked. The mother-daughter duo did admit that the alligator was 'pretty big,' but Clair 'looked at it and just shrugged it off.' 'She wasn't worried. Now, a snake would make her walk on water,' the mother joked (pictured: Clair wake surfing in a differing video) It's not uncommon for gators to be seen in that portion of the Colorado River, but that didn't mean a bolt of adrenaline didn't run through Crystal when she saw the animal near her daughter. 'Gators are there and we know they are. We have had some encounters over the years,' she told Daily Mail. 'There has been an instance in the past when one started swimming towards the boat. When instances like that occur I contact the game warden because that is a nuisance gator. 'I prefer training in the colder months so you know you don't see them then.' Alligators are not usually a threat as they fear humans, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said. If an alligator hisses it is a warning to move farther away. 'It is extremely rare for wild alligators to chase people, but they can run up to 35 miles per hour for short distances on land,' the department said. 'Never make the mistake of thinking that an alligator is slow and lethargic. Alligators are extremely quick and agile and will defend themselves when cornered.' Earlier this year, a woman was dragged out of her canoe in Florida by an alligator. The woman had been near the mouth of Tiger Creek into Lake Kissimmee, south of Orlando, when she was attacked just after 4pm on Tuesday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said. The woman went into the water and wasn't seen again until her body was recovered nearby.
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Aussie dad left fighting for life as father-son day out at a waterpark ends in horror
A father is fighting for life after falling from a wakeboard and hitting his head on a ramp as his young son watched on in horror. The accident occurred on what was meant to be a father-son bonding day out for Darcy Coulson and his seven-year-old boy Sonny, at a waterpark in Melbourne on July 5. During the session, Mr Coulson lost his balance and fell from the wakeboard, hitting his head 'hard' on the ramp in the process. 'In a moment no child should ever experience, Sonny witnessed the fall and was the first to raise the alarm,' family friend Danielle Dickson said. She said it took lifeguards 'several crucial minutes' to reach the young father, before they found him unconscious in the water. 'The impact caused a severe brain bleed, and with significant oxygen deprivation, the situation was critical,' Ms Dickson said. First responders administered CPR at the park before paramedics rushed Mr Coulson to the Alfred Hospital. He remains there in a critical condition on life support. 'Against the odds, Darcy is showing small signs of improvement, but the road ahead is uncertain and incredibly tough,' Ms Dickson said. Last week, things took a turn and Mr Coulson developed a chest infection caused by E. coli bacteria while in hospital. He was then diagnosed with pneumonia, and was placed on strong antibiotics to fight the infections through an IV drip. On Monday, the family was told the antibiotics were beginning to work. 'It's a small but deeply meaningful step forward,' Ms Dickson said. 'We cannot express enough how grateful we are for the exceptional care Darcy is receiving. 'The team at The Alfred Hospital has been nothing short of incredible - their expertise, compassion, and dedication have given Darcy the best possible chance during the most critical time of his life.' Ms Dickson has set up a fundraiser on GoFundMe for the family, saying 'any donation, no matter how small, will make a real difference' to his partner Leah and their two children. She said the family needed assistance with living expenses, medical bills, travel, psychological care for the couple's two children, and Mr Coulson's long-term care. The family has so far raised more than $12,600.
