Multiple sources have reported that both Liquid Force and O'brien have been shut down due to financial difficulties by their parent company, Earth and Ocean Sports.
While the details are mostly various rumors at this point, it is clear that these companies have closed their doors, at least temporarily if not for good.
Employees have been told to look for other work, dealers have been notified, and rumor has it that one or both companies are for sale.
This is a sad day for the wakeboarding industry, as both companies had large teams of pro riders and contributed many product innovations to the sport. We hope that one or both companies find their way out of these financial troubles and resurface stronger than ever. We'll report more as more news surfaces.