Well, here I sit. Posted up on the couch watching old wake films, new surf videos, and plenty of Chelsea Lately. Why, you wonder, would I be sitting on the couch at 1:15 in the afternoon on a Friday watching so much tube? Well, I just had my third, yes three, ACL knee surgery. Sadly, this is not an uncommon occurence in our sport. And just off the top of my head I can think of over 15 riders that have had knee surgeries.

With the commonality of a torn ACL, I cannot help but ask myself why I continue to put my body through the pain of injured knees all for wakeboarding. I know that by the time I am 40, which I consider young, my knees will probably be arthritic. I understand that if I have grandkids, it'll be tough to teach them how to shred without some pain in my knees. And for me to be able to wakeboard when I am 70, they're going to have to have major developments in joint medication. Still, with knowing all of this, I was snowboarding, surfing, and wakeboarding on my torn ACL up until the day of my surgery. It IS too much to ask for me not to ride and "take it easy" on my knees.

The only fact I can conclude from my two days laid up on the couch and watching ride films, is that I need to shred. There is no feeling in the world like glassy water and lifting off a huge wake. Fresh powder and a smooth toe edge on top of a mountain is unreal. And paddling out with offshore winds at sunrise is an undescribable feeling.

So, while my parents and local friends are stopping by to visit me and giving me advice on how I should stay away from riding in the future. I know the truth, I know that I will ride, and I know the satisfaction I feel from it all is well worth the pain and percocets that I'm having today.

Why do you ride?

Tragically (but not at all) about a week and a half ago pro wakeskater, Jen GilanFarr' (TM)s, 1997 Honda Civic (one of the most stolen cars) was stolen from her driveway.This is serious (hilarious) because it is not the first time this incident has occurred. Jen' (TM)s car was first taken back at Lake Frederica forcing her to take the Orlando city bus to Full Sail everyday (if you live in Orlando, you know how much this sucks).At the time, Jen' (TM)s insurance was pretty stingy and when the cops found her car, they would not call it totaled, forcing Jen to suffer with her now semi-automatic (no first gear, must shift from 2^nd to drive) Honda Civic.After all this, when I got the call that Jen' (TM)s car had been stolen, yet again, I was not surprised and did find it to be an amusing story.

After speaking with Jen, it was clear to me that she was most devastated by the things in her car that were gone, mainly, her Integrity wakeskate.I mean, to Jen, this was not fair.Jen cared for that wakeskate like it was her first born.And now it was gone, along with her long sleeve, vest, and shoes.Unreal.

I spoke with Jen yesterday and her tone had changed.She filled me in on the trials of her Monday.Erik sent her an Integrity straight away when he found out about the incident and she received it yesterday.Plus, her first pro model will be finished a bit quicker, in about two weeks, to make up for her lost board.Her new O' (TM)Neill gear arrived a bit early as well, since they felt bad that her car got jacked along with all of her gear.And, her boyfriend, Danny Thollander, built her a 14 foot uprail over the weekend to keep her distracted from the car situation.Dang, this car stolen thing didn' (TM)t work out to be all that bad.

Today, Jen is anxiously waiting for Friday.Unfortunately, the cops found her car, yet again, and the insurance will come to assess the damage and cut her a check at the week' (TM)s end.Jen' (TM)s car issues crack me up.If anything, from Jen, we can all realize that with the bad, there is usually some good that can come out of any situation.I also find it rad how tight knit the wake community is, when something happens to one rider, everyone is sure to step in and help out as much as they can.

The 2009 Air Nautiques Australian Pro Tour of Wakeboarding kicked off at the Penrith International Regatta Centre in front of a crowd of more than 40 000 painted and patriotic Aussies . The 2009 tour tow boat was changed to the Super Air Nautique 210 for the first time in 3 years and the official word from the riders is that this was the best individual tour stop in it' (TM)s entire history. All three of the past tour champions showed up to re-claim their crowns but as the results would eventually show, the changing of the guard has finally arrived. With the final eventually seeing 4 riders matched up from 4 different countries, 15 year old wakeboarding sensation Harley Clifford eventually gave the Aussie crowd what they desperately wanted when he edged out the U.S.A' (TM)s Junior Pro Tour champion Jimmy LaRiche to pocket the $4000 and move on to round two as the number 1 seeded rider.

The upset of the day was losing our 2007/2008 repeat champion Dean Smith to an injury he picked up only days before the commencement of this years tour. Other past champions Daniel Watkins and Jeff Weatherall both made it through to the top 16 head to head round but were some of the first riders to fall victim to the younger more energetic riders of the day. Last years WWAA Junior Series winner Ryliegh Pfitzner stepped up to the Pro Division this year and he also made his presence known giving one of the eventual finalists Brad Smeele (4^th) a real scare in the first round of top 16 head to head competition. Ryliegh' (TM)s absence in the Junior Series opened the door to a few new challengers this year and the final saw two QLD kids take the honours in Mitch Askew (1^st) and Brad Teunissen (2^nd) followed by Adelaide' (TM)s Mitch Daniel in 3^rd place. These results set the boys up for next weeks competition at Stoney Park in Port Macquarie feeling really confidant, but there is plenty of hungry talent nipping at their heals ready to bump them off the top spot on the podium. Lauren Bell and Bec Frangi placed 1^st and 2nd respectively in the junior women' (TM)s category.

The Pro Women's division also saw last years champion Amber Wing relegated to 3^rd position on the podium after Hayley Smith (2^nd) conceded the top spot by the smallest margin to the U.S.A' (TM)s Melissa Marquadt (1^st) in a final that once again elevated the level of women' (TM)s wakeboarding and set a strong precedent for the following two Air Nautiques Australian Pro Tour Stops early next month.

The Pro Tour camp have loaded up the 210 and are scheduled to hit the water again in Stoney Park at Port Macquarie this Sun, the 1^st of February.

ROUND 1: 25 - 26 JAN 2009 Penrith Regatta Centre, NSW

ROUND 2: 31 - 1 FEB 2009 Stoney Park, NSW

ROUND 3: 6 - 7 FEB 2009 Nudgee, Brisbane, QLD

Oakley is proud to announce Nicola Butler as the newest addition to the Oakley wake team. Butler, 16-years-old, is only in her second year on the Pro Wakeboard Tour, but already has several titles under her belt. She is the current Queen of Wake champion, Pro Tour Champion, and World Champion. She was also named 2008 Female Rider of the Year in both Wakeboarding and Alliance Magazine.

Butler was born in Cape Town, South Africa, but now lives in Orlando, Florida. Heading into a fresh new season this year she will be representing Oakley for eyewear, apparel, and accessories. "We are very excited to have Nicola on the Oakley Team. She is the perfect addition, hard working and has a big passion for wakeboarding. She brings her own unique style to our very diverse team of athletes," said Oakley Team Coordinator Jack Blodgett.

She will be joining other top pro riders and friends Danny Hampson, Nick Taylor, George Daniels, Aaron Rathy, Keith Lyman, Amber Wing, on the team. When asked about joining the Oakley women's program Nicola said, "I'm honored to be on such a tight team, all of Oakley's product is sick and they have done some really cool things in wakeboarding, I am very excited about my future with them."

Company Wakeboards, Mastercraft, Osiris, and OWC also sponsor Nicola.

Check out Nicola's bio page for more pictures and interviews at www.oakley.com/wake