So you’ve been between here and the US for quite a bit now, where do you call your home
lake?
>>8
I guess my home lake would have to be lake Mareitai In Mangakino. Although I have not
really wakeboarded much in NZ over the past few years due to a few injuries. The past two
summers in the US I lived on Lake Holden in Orlando so that was my home lake for a while.
Now be honest... what’s your straight up favourite riding spot, worldwide?
I have ridden in some seriously cool places around the world and I’m having a rough time
deciding between several.. Tahiti was amazing as it was Tropical and we were riding inside the
reefs with big surf breaking in the background.. We Also did some Tow ins to some epic surf!
I also loved riding on lake Tekapo (in the South Island of NZ) while filming for CANVAS, we
got pretty lucky with the conditions as the entire lake was like a mirror, but the coolest thing
about it was the colour of the water. Because its a glacier lake there are minerals in the water
that gives it a crazy blue colour.
But when it comes down to riding, I have had my best rides ever on East Crooked Lake which is
about 45 mins out of Orlando. I landed my first Wake to Wake Heel 9 on that lake as well as
my 3rd 1080 along with many other tricks... So I would have to say that would be my favorite.
You’ve been living the endless summer dream the last few years… how was it to experience a
Kiwi winter again?
Yeah so far I have had about 14 summers back to back. This year I came home to NZ in early
September so I caught the tail end of the winter so it wasnt too bad.. Unfortunately I didn’t
make it down to the snow either so I guess I didn’t really make the most of it.
Your getting pretty involved with online wakeboard content and videos, what’s the deal with
iWake.com ?
iwake.com is one of my new sponsors, it is a web site that started in the Dallas area of Texas.
Basically it is like a social networking site for wakeboarders. You can share photos, videos,
blogs etc, and it also allows you to find other riders in your area. The site is getting a full
update in the next few months and will have many cool features such as.. you will be able to
load and locate Winching and Riding spots around the world through Google maps, You will
be able to create and join clubs and groups, create your own video trick list and many more
cool features.
What’s on the cards when you’re healed up and back on the water?
I will be heading back over to the US at the end of May and I will be working on mainly just
getting back to full riding fitness and working on photo shoots. I believe we will also be starting on a Ronix Team Video sometime soon too so keep an eye out for that.
We’ll keep an eye on that... any more step-ups planned?
I am definitely keen to do another step up.. I have been looking for other spots to do it but
there don’t seem to be any as perfect as the one I found in Tokoroa... I might go back there
and just get a little more gnarly with it.
I am constantly looking for something different to do on my wakeboard.. things that have
never been done before.. so keep an eye out for my next big stunt.
Awesome, thanks Brad. Any Sponsors you want to thanks?
Yeah I would like to thank all of my sponsors who continue to support me even through this
downtime, Big up’s to:
Ronix Wakeboards
Mountain Dew NZ
iwake.com
Skull Candy
Ballistics.co.nz
CTi Knee Braces
Capix Helmets
And my Mum and Dad who have been my biggest supporters since day 1.
For more info on Brad Smeele or any of his sponsor’s check his website out on
www.BradSmeele.com or via the ‘Friends’ page on our website.
Thanks to Ronix Wakeboards for all the images.