What Does The Future of Wakeboarding Look Like? | Kellan Rudnicki - Ep. 61

[@CamdenVaughan]

I have to speak a little bit about college wakeboarding and knights wake. As someone who always took wakeboarding way too seriously growing up, I didn’t have much interest in college wakeboarding. Luckily I gave it a try and Shawn Rysak quickly pulled me in and got me hooked on the club. Almost all of my best friends and my favorite wakeboard memories are from that club and those trips. It is how I started to really enjoy wakeboarding again. It was an unforgettable experience that I wish I could relive. Becoming president and working with Kellan was incredible. I will always brag on how much of a success the spring classic was. Everything from the crowd, the level of riding, the prizes and the trophies were unmatched. I wish so badly we could have done version 2 in 2020. We already had 16 teams confirmed and doubled the sponsors from the first event. It would have been incredible and I’m sad I’m not part of the future growth, but I’m happy knowing Kellan will always be there working harder than anyone for collegiate wakeboarding.

[@toddxallen]

Thanks for being the best Pres when I was at UCF, Camden, some of the best years with Knights Wake!

[@CamdenVaughan]

@@toddxallenis the pres that got away

[@toddxallen]

@@CamdenVaughan blame Covid and VWC haha

[@KellanRudnicki]

So much truth here, beyond thankful for you my friend!

[@LifetimeShred]

These cable industry episodes get me juiced. Super interesting hearing all the details and insights.

[@KellanRudnicki]

So glad you liked it! It's always great to give some inside information so I was really happy to be on here!

[@LifetimeShred]

@@KellanRudnicki Yeah, I think these episodes are inspirational and informational for people to open more parks. Would love to see it.

[@KellanRudnicki]

Thanks so much for having me on it was a blast and what you are doing here is amazing!

[@grabmatters]

🙏🙏

[@collin9085]

do you have any insight into the financials of european cable parks? I understand that there are vastly more cable parks per the population in a place like germany. But do you honestly think that most of the parks in europe are vastly more profitable than OWC? I assume that most parks in europe are also just making ends meat financially.

[@ReachFilms]

Thanks for the Shout Out Kellan, haven't thought about Reach in quite some time but it reminds me about a great time in my life :) I wish I still had the love of wakeboarding but it just became financially unviable to continue doing what I was in terms of making wakeboarding videos and promoting the sport. But I do look back on my almost 10 years in the industry with mostly fond memories. Wakeboarding started me out on my career and I will never forget that.

[@brandonharris13]

we need more kellans in the game.

[@grabmatters]

💯💯

[@CosmicSpherez]

Keep the amazing podcasts coming! :)

[@nicklasdorfer]

❤

[@JohnHaile]

Kellan is a Legend! Great work Hunter on another awesome podcast! ❤🙌 Before it was mentioned I was literally thinking how awesome a Shop Talk with Dan and Kellan would be. Make it happen and make it 10 hours long cause I will gladly listen to all of it 😂

[@LifetimeShred]

On the note about ski resorts opening cable parks, Roseland in NY is owned by the local ski resort Bristol Mtn. I feel like they don’t seize on the cross season opportunity much in their marketing though and it’s not the same name

[@KellanRudnicki]

So very true, but someone needs to take the risk first!

[@RLEubanks]

Here's to the Second Renaissance! 💪

[@grabmatters]

lets get it!

[@himura9031]

Awesome to hear more insight of cable business! one thing though ive heard more often in these podcast i never understood all this weird views on "wake" being the odd one out or looked down on by other board sports that you guys mention. Call me oblivious, or maybe its just west coast culture (CA/OR/WA) but wake was always up there with snow, skate and surf. I rode boat in college with the team/club and most the crew I rode with would go surf or do snow trips and wake was just another extension of having a good time on the water. It was never, " i can land a 3 on snow, i like snow better since i can do that easier or i'm better at it, but more of how can i make this translate to wake and how to work through the process of learning it. Always stoked for your next episodes!!

[@KellanRudnicki]

So in my opinion on the core rider level (which again if we think of the masses is a very basic level and again the most important part) will have fun on all types of boards. I find the "weird" element only exists with those at the higher levels of being pro. However, again it's more of a protective mentality from them to secure the most respect for their sport thus the more success. Now not the case for all pros but it's what I tend to see.

[@2004sjb]

Very cool chat!! I love hearing about the business aspects of operating successful park. My self and two mates set up a 2.0 years ago with goal of building a full size park, even bought a full size system. But when life, family’s and real jobs got in the way the park has put in hiatus. Might be time to look back at business plan or at least open up the storage containers and take a look at the systems with a cold beer , keep the pod casts coming!

[@grabmatters]

would love to see it!

[@graydons8864]

Knights Wake gang gang

[@grabmatters]

💪🏻💪🏻

[@KellanRudnicki]

Knights wake for life

[@collin9085]

I think you guys have a huge oversight when it comes to comparing snowboarding's financial success with wakeboarding. Snowboarding relies on families doing a one time vacation each year. People spend thousands of dollars per person for their one time ski trip each year. It's basically like a Disney world experience. This is never going to happen for a cable park. These are just two completely different animals.

[@grabmatters]

That is almost exactly what Kellan said in this podcast. I would say our main "argument" is that there is a ton of room for growth when it comes to building cables in America, and while the industries are vastly different, comparisons can be made. I would encourage you to look at the European cable park scene, as that could help provide a blueprint for growth of cable wakeboarding in America. Area 47 and Wasserski Langenfeld to name a couple, these are closer to the "ski resort" model than most cables are in the states.

[@collin9085]

@@grabmatters I don't think you understand my comment. My point is that the appeal of snow skiing is not even the activity of snowboarding for most families. Just like roller coasters are not really the appeal of Disney World. The roller coasters at Disney are mostly underwhelming actually and people who go to Disney for excitement will be VERY disappointed. A place like area 47 will not scratch that same itch. I think if you built a place like that in america it would still not be crazy profitable. Furthermore, I think the reason europe has more popularity for wake parks is due to population density and the knock on effects of density. I don't think wakeboarding will ever die, but I don't think the sport will ever blow up to anything similar to the "golden age" of action sports.

[@frankadkins9147]

Bruh does Andy have the ECP cable

[@KellanRudnicki]

I can confirm that is not the case...

[@frankadkins9147]

@@KellanRudnickiDamn I wish I still thought Andy had it😂😂

[@collin9085]

I disagree that the main reason "action sports" are declining is because of a decline of marketing dollars. I believe popularity collapsed first, which then reduced marketing dollars. I believe there are several contributing factors for the decline in action sports. But I think the main reason for this collapse I think is that childhood looks a lot different now for most kids. So many more people are just soft now. "Extreme sports" as they were called, had that name because they took a lot of guts to progress in. The subconscious appeal is that they are scary. They are an adrenaline rush. They give you since of real accomplishment by conquering your fears. This is what made them cool in the first place. I honestly believe that there are fewer people who have an appetite for risk anymore. This is the exact reason why wake surfing has exploded. Millions of people would be happy to try wake surfing if it wasn't so prohibitive to to do the sport.

[@StephenNeSmith]

Another great podcast conversation, but I disagreed with some of the assessments and assumptions (regarding the decline of watersports engagement) voiced in this episode. As is the case in many industries, I think you guys may be too close to the sport. You use examples like Pickleball to describe what watersports could be, but miss the obvious contrast in that example. As a longtime watersports enthusiast (that grew up in FL during its heyday), I believe that the barrier-to-entry today is MUCH higher than it once was. Since I'm an avid PB player, I will continue with that comparison: I can attest that the community aspect merely accelerates Pickleball engagement among those involved...the core reason people decide to enter and adopt Pickleball (by the millions annually) is super simple -- because of the low barrier-to-entry. Pickleball is EASY in every way...not expensive, not complicated, not exhausting, doesn't require great skill,,, and the list goes on. But at the top of said list is 'not expensive.' Due, in part, to the super high cost of boating, watersports is viewed by many now as a 'country club sport' like golf. The perception is that watersports take a lot of money and skill to enjoy. The boating industry has pushed out the largest market - the middle class, heck, even the upper middle class! I know a lot of old guys like myself who want to pass down their love of watersports to their kids but JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT. Most of the men/dads I talk to (we all make six-figure incomes, btw) cannot stomach the price of boats and what it costs these days to get their families out on the water.

[@grabmatters]

As with most of this podcast, we were primarily referring to cable parks, as they have the lowest barrier to entry, and can be compared to snowboarding/skiing. The pickleball correlation was to prompt a discussion about the community aspect, and the welcoming attitude certain activities have to beginners. It's obvious that sports and activities with incredibly low barriers to entry will always be the biggest sports. But, parallels can be drawn to any activities, and you can learn and apply what these other sports do and bring it to anything.