Ok, here we go again, the second installment of my wakeboard camp series. This article covers Rixen Cable Park, Lavelle Train Station (Dean Lavelle Wakeboard School), The Projects, and the Orlando Watersports Complex.
<< Important Note to Parents: Before sending your children to these camps, please be sure to request insurance information from these places and also please check the backgrounds of the camp directors and coaches.>>
Before we get started I need to address the inherent flaw that increasingly conspires to undermine the objectivity of this series as it progresses.
This series is in danger of becoming a story about my own progression, and each coach I meet becomes seemingly responsible for teaching me more than the last as I make progress. I can only say, that I am aware of this and hope that following the format of review established in the last article will maintain some level of consistency in terms of my opinions. Nevertheless, I was telling Wade after our sessions with Dean Lavelle (reviewed in this article) that I wanted to go back and revise some of my coaching reviews in the last article, but I will not since they reflect my feelings as they were at the time. The fact that I know more now doesn’t change the validity of those feelings back then. With that said, lets get going.
Don't forget to check out the first article in this series.
Ski Rixen Cable Park (Deerfield Beach Florida)
***** This is not a camp! No accommodation and no coaching! *****
I first rode at a cable park in London back in 1999. In Europe, these places proliferate I guess because gas is so expensive (5 to 8 times more expensive due to taxes and import costs) and also because disposable income and credit are far harder to come by for the masses, unlike in this country. These factors make running a boat much more costly abroad. That is a statement filled with generalizations, so let’s move on. But I think we need a cable park in every big city in this country, because they are great places for all levels of rider.
Many truly incredible aerial maneuvers can be accomplished on cables that rival most boat tricks for drama, so on the right day, you can see some incredible stuff at these parks. Well-executed raley-based tricks are typically thrown higher and further on a cable than behind a boat. It is also really fun to watch people who have never been on a cable deal with the corners. You could set up a picnic at Corner #1 at any park and leave with cramps from laughing at the carnage. On an average Saturday, corner #1 looks like the East River after the mob has had a change in power . . . bodies floating everywhere.
However, this article is about services for riders so I’ll get to the salient points. The cable is where I learned and dialed in my ollies, Ollie 180’s, powerslides, dockstarts and riding switch. It’s been my experience that the most rapid progression in these basic riding techniques were best accomplished in this environment where the temptation of hitting wake is not there to distract you. Also, it costs about $20 for two hours of non-stop riding; $30 for all day if you can still walk. You can’t beat that. As further endorsement for being open minded about these places, most every pro rider admits to spending a lot of time riding the cables during their early years of progression. Just because it is a wakeboard does not mean the sport is only played out on wake.
What to expect
This is the closest wakeboarding gets to feeling like a ski resort. Lots of little punks running around being smart asses. Lift lines (read cable lines). A chalet (read pro-shop and a food court). Having a lot of people there watching you . . . at times heckling you. And a wide variety of participants i.e. wakeskaters, knee boarders, slalom and regular skiers. If you are at all self-conscious or find any of these things unsatisfying, then never go on the weekend or after school is out . . . I mean EVER! Unless you are a stalker.
I am lucky that I’ve been on business whenever I’ve been to Rixen over the last couple of years. At 12 noon on a Tuesday (closed on Mondays) it is very quiet and relaxed. These are the ideal conditions for attending a cable park. No lines, no pain in the ass kids, no problems.
Coaching (0 out of 5)
At Rixen the only advice you will get is from the kid running the cable who is not being paid to give advice. In fact, the only incentive this person has for giving advice is to avoid too many bodies piling up in front of the starting dock. So they are often helpful in getting you up and out of their hair. There are typically some very good riders hanging around who are willing and able to help if you ask, but again, they have very little interest in seeing you progress.
Outside of that, the closest you get to coaching will be the inevitable lecture on how to handle the corners if you’ve never been on a cable before. My experience proved this conversation useless as nothing can prepare you for the whip you are about to get. 90% of first timers are toast in their first corner and those that make it are taken out by the 2nd corner that comes only a moment later. A word of advice here: if you are gonna wipe, do it in turn 1. It shortens the walk of shame back to the starters dock by about 100 yards. At a typical park this walk can be 250 yards long. Trust me . . . it sucks to go down at the 2nd turn. It can be 10 minutes before you are back to the start. Barefooted and wet on a goat path takes forever to traverse.
Facilities (3 out of 5)
Located in Quiet Waters Park ($1 for entrance to the park) off Powerline Road in Deerfield Beach, Ski Rixen was once located in a beautiful, wind protected little spot in a municipal park, which means tax dollars help this place out a bit. However, Hurricane Wilma late last fall completely destroyed this park. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that almost 10 full acres of wind protection (read forest) was gone on the southwestern side of the lake. I was shocked. It looked like they were clearing the area for development. Sooo sad. But the buildings and cable made it out fine.
There is no clubroom for hanging because this all happens outside in the fine South Florida sun. There is plenty of space on their decks and stadium (read bleachers) seats both in the sun and covered under umbrellas and awnings. There is a skate park right there too! It is just behind the snack bar that offers quite a wide range of food for lunch. Sirius’s Alt Nation channel blasts from speakers all over the park too.
At a cable park, you need showers and lockers for convenience. Lockers exist but there are no showers. So changing occurs in your car or the bathroom (yucky!). I’ve never used the lockers so I can’t comment; I don’t even remember where they are.
You will want gloves if you don’t already have calloused hands, because the wooden handles they still use here will lead to blisters developing by the end of your first hour there.
They have a great pro shop now (terrible 2 years ago). Mainly hyperlite gear though. They’ve got everything wakeboard related here (videos, lines & handles, boardshorts, comp vests, sunglasses, towels, shirts, boards, bindings, best helmet selection I’ve seen) 1.5 points above are for the shop alone. Worth a visit on its own.
Lake (2 out of 5)
Since the wind protection is gone, this lake blows . . . literally. It gets blown out pretty quickly now and is amazing how choppy it can get due to the wake produced by the riders? It is not that long, nor that wide and its perimeter seems to have been dug out of coral rock. Getting out is a pain in the ass (except at the exit stairs, but who gets out there if they are trying to work on things they find hard?). I dinged my board up bad just getting out one time.
The two points are for the sliders and kickers there (Bring your helmet). Best for beginners at Rixen. If you are pro level, OWC is where you want to go.
Boat and Equipment (2 out of 5)
No boat here. Forget about it.
Rentals are in general of very poor quality. Old vests that are coast guard approved (for insurance purposes of course), old boards and beat up bindings make for an uncomfortable experience. Bring your own gear please! Not sure if they demo gear . . . give them a call.
Two points for much improved pro shop though.
Value (4 out of 5)
This is really a relative category considering it got a zero and highest mark of 3 above. Well, I only care about the riding experience and since it is so cheap to ride for a long time here, I have to love it. After 2 hours and $20 I am very tired and slightly beat up. Now I consider that a high return for little invested. There are sliders that even beginners can hit, so the experience on the water is very good if you go with a plan for yourself. If your are looking for the venue to provide the fun for you and you are just going to hang on to the rope, then you will be bored stiff in about 15 minutes. If you are going to look at beautiful Floridians, you have to find the beauty behind the pimples. I would say average age around there is about 15 or 16 with a few AARPs around here and there with their kids. (Minus 1 for no coaching)
All that said, I never miss this place when I’m in the area for a few days. It satisfies the urge to ride and allows you to focus on things that get forgotten the second you are behind a boat. There is no better place to ride if you are a beginner to this sport.
Lavelle Train Station (Dean Lavelle Wakeboard School)
Here’s an old school story for you. Back in 1999 when wakeboarding magazine was still in its infancy, waterski mag was almost as good a resource for wakeboard related topics. I was in Miami for new year Y2K and looking for a ride and could only find a place called McGinnis Ski School (0 out of 5) which also advertised wakeboard coaching. I went, it sucked and I’m sure it still does because it is for slalom and barefooters. Anyway, I was at Ski Rixen the next day and was told about this guy Dean Lavelle who was a world champion who pulled people, if I remember correctly, somewhere up in Boca. Anyway, I had f’d up my knee pretty bad and took a pass, but have always had him in the back of my mind since then.
The wakeboarding magazine cover that December was the one with Byerly when he had just signed with Hyperlite. Well, Dean Lavelle was every bit as well known as Byerly was back then. From 93 – 98 he was winning most every event being organized along with Shapiro and Byerly. So Dean (referred to as Clean Dean in the Byerly Retrospect movie out last year) is no slouch on a board and continues to be a superb rider today. He usually gets on the water for a little session when you go to his camp, so I can safely say the sport has not passed him by. In fact, three of his students were wakeboarding for the US national team in Russia last year! So this guy is legit.
His school is located just off I 95 (Sample Road exit) in Pompano Beach, Florida in probably the most non-descript building you would think a wakeboard school could be run out of. You can’t even see the lake until you get behind the building. So the little bit of recon I did the night before came in handy. However, once you find it, you realize how convenient a spot he has found for his school, as this lake is as private a commercial lake as you can probably ever find, just off the major highways.
What to expect
You will never be able to ride again without focusing on handle position. Dean warned us of this when he began his basics of riding talk before we got started, and he wasn’t kidding. For Dean, riding techniques all begin and end with handle position. Handle control = trick control. Sounds simple and it is, but then you get on the water and every bad habit kicks in immediately. It took both sets with Dean for me to figure out (read marginally apply) what he explained so simply before we got on the water. When I did it right, it really did work! So I left feeling I had really accomplished something because there is little question I know what to work on when next on the water.
The building is located right at the intersection of Sample and Military trail (on your left when you get onto Military). There is a sub shop out front and a small sign that says wakeboard & waterski lesson. The building itself looks sorta like a motel and Dean’s place is at the end next to the white fence. Really, it is very hard to notice and easy to miss since you cannot see the lake behind the building.
The facilities themselves are not geared for masses of campers (you are actually using Dean’s living room and bathroom) . . . YET! Dean has plans to change all of this soon, so by this summer things could be different. Anyway, this is worth noting so that you realize that there are no accommodations or bathroom facilities specifically dedicated to riders. The Lavelle Train Station is geared toward daily lessons and for a range of water experiences (waterski, barefoot, tubing etc.) all of which he is expert in.
Coaching (5 out of 5)
As I write this, it has been a few days since I was riding with Dean. His suggestions are on my mind everyday since, usually as I go to sleep at night. I say this as an endorsement for Dean leaving a strong impression on me regarding the flaws that I need to fix. I made progress and landed the elusive TSW2W while on his boat and also learned a lot about how much more I need to work on my HSW2W. So all in all, it was a great experience.
I give Dean high marks because of all the coaches and camps I’ve visited, only The Wakeboard Camp in Clermont was as clear in terms of communicating a core philosophy. If you want a preview of his philosophies check out his instructional videos at http://www.wakeboard-school.com/tips.cfm. Furthermore, Dean’s focus on handle control at times conflicted with other pieces of advice I had received before, which ended up helping me out quite a bit. I have to assume that this core philosophy must translate to his junior coaches, I cannot comment on this though since we only rode with Dean
My only complaint was that Dean was on his cell phone at points during my sets, which gave the impression of him not being totally into the session. However, upon reflection, it was not enough to actually take a point away from his overall rating. Nevertheless, only one other coach was guilty of this in my experiences (at the OWA) and that guy apologized profusely so it didn’t bother me.
Facilities (2 out of 5)
There are none that are rider specific, but it is not intended to be that way. If you need to change or use the bathroom, you use Dean’s. If you wanted to use a shower, Dean’s the kind of guy that would let you. There is no proshop or clubhouse or trampoline that I saw here. The facilities remind me of the OWA in my last review, so I’m going with the same number.
However, if you are into dirt bikes or seaplanes, there is a lot on offer here. Also, there is a really good Italian deli/subshop right next door so you don’t need to bring food.
Lake (4 out of 5)
Crystal Lake (not the one in Friday the 13th) in Pompano Beach, Florida is a private lake with only two docks on it that I recall seeing. We rode all day on a warm Saturday and there was only 10 minutes of traffic from a couple of jet skiers who demo out of the shop next to Dean’s camp. The lake is narrow and very, very long so you can get a lot of tricks in on one pass and if you stand it up (I never did) there would be still water waiting for you on your return. Really a great lake! It was windy that day so there was some chop in one spot sort of in the middle of the run, which actually gave some time to pause and regroup for the next few W2W’s.
Dean has an excellent looking kicker but no rails (Minus 1) and a slalom course also on the lake. I take away one point for no rails, but what do I care since I have never tried to hit one before?
Boat and Equipment (4 out of 5)
A 2000 Super Air Nautique is the primary boat here and you know how I feel about their boats and wake. Would you believe he said his boat had over 6000 hours on it? Still ran great but the interior is getting tired. It is worth going just to see Dean’s little innovation regarding balancing the ballast in the boat. It’s simple and I’m surprised that none of the boat companies have figured this out yet. You can bet I’m installing this on our boat this summer. Great idea Dean!
Dean has tons of equipment from CWB, LF and Hyperlite, so you don’t need to bring a thing. However, it appeared that his demo shop is not sponsored by anyone, so the gear is a little dated and not as complete as some of the other camps I’ve visited (Minus 1).
Value (4 out of 5)
It is hard to define value because it is so subjective. My reasoning above for Ski Rixen should give some insight into how I approach it. Is riding with Dean expensive? Yes. (Minus 1) Is it painfully so, No, since he brings his prices down the more you ride with him. Is his coaching philosophy unique and useful? Yes. Did I leave having made progress? Yes. Therefore, was it worth it? Yes. Would I visit again? Yes, after I have mastered what we were working on that day.
Dean’s coaching rate is $75 per half hour but he also has junior coaches who you can ride with for $30 less an hour ($15 less per set). Another nice thing is that there are discounts for riding with Dean that went into effect if you took more than one set with him ($10 off second set). If that isn’t enough, my guess is that we rode for about 40 minutes a set since my buddy and I rode 2 sets each and left 41/2 hours after we got there (It’s slow in February). I felt very positive about my experience at this camp and respect Dean’s abilities as a coach. You can bet I’ll bring my board and visit him again when I’m next getting jiggy in South Florida.
The Projects
How did Fuel TV vote this place the #2 wakeboard spot in North America? I mean I understand Lake Powell being a must ride location due to the scenery, but I cannot believe Powell is more of a day in, day out must see than what is going down at the Projects. The vibe here is straight up wakeboard/skate in its original, non-corporate, laid back form . . . the way it was meant to be. The Projects feels the way Hyperlite, LF, CWB etc. wish it could feel at their tournaments and demo days. Pros you know are riding here everyday, actually they are usually driving and coaching you as well. In fact, half the time I couldn’t tell who was a camper and who was a pro because of the casual way everything moves around this place.
For instance, I am standing on their dock after having finished a set occasionally trying some shuvits with a stray Gator “Doyle” wakeskate that was lying in the grass. There is a funny little guy with a ZZTop beard talking to me every now and then, just making small talk. A little while later this little dude is crushing sliders on the very same board, and of course it turns out he is Ryan Doyle and the board I was scraping up was his pro model skate. No problema!; we are all equals here.
What to expect
When asked by Fuel TV to describe the place, Shane Bonifay was at a loss for words. . . . literally, he couldn’t come up with an explanation. I am a little less tongue-tied, but find it equally hard to capture the vibe here in words. The Projects park/camp/whatever is the brainchild of Scott Byerly and Patrick Panakos. I guess it reflects their vision of what wakeboarding and progression is really about for them, and this must explain why the Projects had such an impact on a rider, such as myself, of average skills who simply loves the sport.
Firstly, prepare yourself because this place is the most laid back business venture I’ve experienced yet. It is almost too casual for a guy like me who values efficiency, discipline and vision; so, at first, I was a little disappointed. Hell, after driving an hour from Disney to get there and then finding no sign of it or for it (eventually I found it behind a plumbing supply shop which was located next to some sort of redneck raceway), I was pissed. Nobody really greets you or introduces themselves upon arrival which made me even more pissed. However, when the day was over, and I had not only seen but also accomplished many things I simply believed beyond me, I realized how well spent my $100 were as well as having my feel for the sport changed for the better.
There is no real business model or mission statement that drives this venture. The whole place just evolved from this contest Scott put on back in 1999 (The Carnival) which was the first rail contest of its kind. Back then, the projects was really just a rail park that these pro riders built for themselves, then people got wind of it, came and dropped their waverunners in and hit rails, then they started to try to push the image of the place toward a camp/training facility. As such, marketing, client service, and coaching all seem after thoughts and often seem to still be treated that way. For instance, the website blows (but is way better than last year = progression), responses to emails are slow, I found phone calls useless (although I did see Pat take a call around 1:30 pm when he was running my credit card). I guess the genius of the Projects is that Patrick and Scott know progression occurs everyday at this place (maybe not always your own), and by being there to witness it, you will leave satisfied and will return whenever you get a chance.
Coaching (3 out of 5)
As I said before, I started out disappointed when I first got there and was in the water with Patrick Panakos driving/coaching about 15 minutes after arriving. I say this because everytime I’ve had a pull since October (8 times), 6 of them have been with paid coaches, so my expectations have been raised a bit. So, when I discovered Patrick to be a quiet guy, I initially mistook it for disinterest (how else do you explain two word email responses and no phone contact, right?).
Actually, Patrick has a good eye for technique and a very friendly approach to communicating what he sees . . . in a way it feels like he is just talking to you rather than coaching. Anyway, by the end of my set with him he had helped me improve technique and timing on getting proper POP on both heel and toeside jumps and had me landing giant HS W2Ws with almost no ballast in the Nautique. His vision became more evident when I observed him driving/coaching the 3 other campers who rode after me. Trust me, he sees it all and is watching.
Patrick’s specialty is hitting rails, and in the afternoon with Pat pulling me on the Yamaha, I managed to slide and ride out a 40’ beginner slider. I had never hit any object before and to do it on my third attempt speaks volumes for Pat, his driving and his coaching. Nuff said.
Minus 2 for having no idea what I was in for with the coaching. I actually don’t know if they have a philosophy/technique they believe in and are communicating. It seems they are just nice guys trying to help you out a bit. This is very different from the other coaches and I’m not sure how quickly I would have made progress here without all the input of the coaches I’ve seen before.
Facilities (5 out of 5)
Three lakes, all well protected. The world’s #1 slider park. Best clubhouse and bedrooms of all the places I’ve visited. Huge TV, multiple gaming boxes, fooseball nice furniture and very clean. Changing rooms and showers available for daily visitors. On site catering.
I’m trying to find a fault that I’ve cited in my reviews of the other places I’ve visited and cannot really find one. Maybe the proshop is a little week. I didn’t see it, but clearly Hyperlite sponsors the place as I rode an 05 board and bindings on the rails and saw a kid (or coach?) bust out a brand new (still in plastic) Era board out of a back room and start riding it a few minutes later. Anyway, I’m sure you can demo new Hyperlite gear here and I bet they got Gator stuff too. Check the website, I seem to remember something about the shop on there.
Lake (4 out of 5)
Should we say, lakes? Three of ‘em. Two dedicated to slalom and wake riding and one for rails only. Conditions were sweet on a mildly windy day. No other boats to deal with as the lakes are private too.
When you are hitting wakes, your runs are through the two lakes that also have slalom courses set up in them. I didn’t like the fact that these buoys were in play during my runs since the lakes are very narrow (Minus 1). Despite the narrowness, running between the two lakes made washback a non-issue. In fact, it looked like marshland, so the wake may simply have dissipated. Anyway, my main point is that the conditions are very favorable to smooth riding and also benefit from long straights.
Boat and Equipment (5 out of 5)
Again, the new SAN 210 is sick boat and it will be hard for me not to buy one when the chance arises. Actually, they had two at the boathouse. This boat seems to be the #1 choice of camps and coaches/pro riders. Great wake machine.
Yamaha waverunner was sweet. I was surprised by its ability to pull me up. Perfect vehicle for rails.
Range of quality gear to demo or just ride if you don’t want to ruin your own board.
Value (5 out of 5)
When you have hit as many places as I have in the last few months, value becomes an increasingly difficult aspect to define. Each place is unique and each coach is different, and I understand certain people will respond differently to their styles. So as I try to pick the arbitrary points, this place just crushes the competition.
Coolness factor - Projects is #1
Most pros spotted - Projects is #1
Most videoed spot - Projects is #1
Best attended camp - Projects is #1
Best accommodations - Projects is #1
Best Lake/Lakes - Projects is #1
Least responsive - Projects is #1
Furthest away from downtown Orlando - Projects is #1
Ok, you get the point. So when you factor in that you can ride 3 boat sets a day and 1 rail set as well, and can ride for 6 days (if you are a “weekly” camper). There is no question the projects is where you will get the most water time of any of the camps for the same amount of money spent. Add to that the fact that the pros are actually there living and coaching (as advertised) and I think you are getting a lot for your money.
I’m tired of writing so check the site for rates. You must attend this place once in your life if you are really into this sport!
Orlando Watersports Complex (OWC)
You must live under a rock if you have never heard of this place. This could possibly be called the home of wakeboarding. Every avid boarder who ventures through Orlando has a desire to hit this place for a session or two as it is possibly the best publicized cable park in the world with THE sickest sliders. Almost every wakeboard organization has held a tournament/event here and it has featured in many mainstream wakeboard videos as well. This place is constantly improving its facilities and will probably set the standard against which all other parks will be compared for many years to come.
Lets see . . . I’ve been to four different cable parks (2 US and 2UK), and this one takes the cake. If I had to rank them, it would be OWC, Princes (London), Thorpe (Surrey, UK), and then Ski Rixen. This place just oozes the fact that it is a legit and profitable business enterprise. Although, as I mentioned in the Rixen article above, I avoid these places when they are busy, so I don’t know how busy it gets. Let’s just say that when there are lines on a Tuesday in January at 1pm, it must be doing well. Hell, in years past the OWC used to close in January so let’s just say this place is still growing.
What to expect
To me, cable parks are all the same in terms of what I expect from them. So, much of what I wrote about Ski Rixen applies here too. However, this place differs in that it has 2 cables (one advanced - littered with ridiculous objects to slide and one beginner/intermediate with a measly kicker), and a world-class coach (Mike Ferraro) driving the 2006 SAN on the part of the lake designated for their boat. In short, whatever your wakeboard or wakeskate needs are, this place will cater to it. Oh yeah, if you are into moto X and paintballing, the OWC also can accommodate.
If you are a member of the Iron Workers Local 808, your office is across the street from the OWC billboard on Landstreet Road. In fact, if you are at all in a building/construction related trade, you will feel right at home in this area. The OWC is located right smack in the middle of the most industrial area I’ve ever been. If you are rolling in anything other than a SUV, drive carefully and expect your car to get filthy.
Coaching (None received)
Believe it or not, I didn’t manage to get onto the boat while I was there, so I have no comment on this subject. I do know that the resident coach is well regarded and is an accomplished rider, and that he turns out great competition riders. I’ll have to hit him up next time and update the review.
Go to the website because they apparently offer coaching for the cable and sliders as well. I have not witnessed this feature when I have been there.
Facilities (4 out of 5)
Located off the OBT (that’s Orange Blossom Trail), this spot is easily seen from the toll road leaving the airport but is extremely confusing to get to at first. This is because if you are trying to approach from the OBT, Landstreet is also the road you use to enter the freeway (528 Toll), which makes you think you are on a merging road for the freeway. Just know that when you see the bridges for the freeway, Landstreet runs right underneath the bridges too. Once you are on Landstreet, you are about a mile and half from the OWC and it is well signposted by a giant billboard.
I give the facilities minus one for no changing rooms, showers and lockers. I had to do all of this(except the shower) in the parking lot, lock valuables in the car and leave my keys at the front desk. I find all that a pain the rear.
However, the OWC more than makes up for this with the best pro-shop imaginable. The shop is run by Performance Ski and Surf which has its main store just about another mile away. They carry almost every model of every brand out there and they demo everything at the OWC. This opportunity alone is worth the visit. The OWC also has a great snack bar unrivalled by any other wakeboard camp/facility. In short, the OWC is perfectly geared for a full day on the water and ensuring that every need you may have is catered for.
Lake (3 out of 5)
Alright, this is a watersports complex as the name says, so it’s more complex than just a simple lake. What you have here is one giant lake amazingly separated into three sections with conditions unique to themselves. I didn’t wipe out on the far side of the cable so that I could get a look at how they do it, but it is amazing that they can run a loaded SAN only twenty yards away from the cables and there would be minimal disturbance in the cable area. I say minimal because the system wasn’t perfect and some wake did creep into the cable area. However, even more significant than the wake is the far side of the lake (turn 3 on the beginners cable), which gets very choppy with only a 10mph breeze from the SW. There was almost no point in doing anything on this side of the cable because it was simply too rough to be consistent with an edge. However, during these conditions (which I assume to be bad), the side where you want to try hard things was very smooth. (Minus 2 for conditions)
The advanced cable area is filled with every kind of obstacle you could want to hit from a beginner level to highly advanced. After a day at the Projects, I returned to the OWC ready to get busy in this area only to find out that the tower supporting turn one had fallen into the water. That is a sobering thought. Apparently the support cables (Guy Wires) had rusted out and snapped. Anyway, if I had been able to go, there was a fun box that had my name all over it.
Boat and Equipment (5 out of 5)
There is no reason to embellish what is pure excellence with my mortal thoughts. Boat and pro-shop cannot possibly be outdone.
Value (5 out of 5)
Everything you could want in one place! Pay for coaching, or not. Best sliders in the world. Brand new SA Nautique. 2006 demo gear in early march. Ride until your arms fall off for under $30. Watch pro level riding before your eyes on any given day at any time. BARGAIN!!!!
So, for those of you who are wanting more of my personal blog on Florida camps, you know that there are two key spots I haven’t hit in the Orlando area. Ride the spot (Darin Shapiro’s camp) and the Boarding School (Shaun Murray’s place). Considering they are about $325 for a day of riding only, I have to take up a collection or land a big account at work. Since, I know your choice is for the later, I’m gonna get back to work and hopefully will have an injury free summer and might visit them in the fall. Thanks for your interest, happy camping and have a great 2006 summer on the water.
Out!
| < Prev |
|---|
