Greg Nelson Interview
Greg Nelson has long been one of the biggest contributors to the sport of wakeboarding. As one of the first pro wakeboarders,
he pushed the spinning and grabbing aspect of the sport more then anyone else, and it's questionable whether anyone can
ride as smooth as Nelly. He didn't rest there, and has continued to influence and push the sport by running his own board company,
DoubleUP Wakeboards. Wakeboarder.com recently talked to Nelson about the past, his riding, and the future of DoubleUP Wakeboards.
1. Greg, you recently finished up on another season of the DoubleUP Experience. How did this year's Experience go?
GN: Except for losing Corey and going through the worst week of my life, the
Experience went pretty darn well. You have to find the good in those situations
and in this case having Collin and his girlfriend Jen hop on board to help
out was very cool. I had a blast with Rich, Luke, Collin and Jen, and the
team is a lot closer now too. I have a bunch of good memories to help out
with such a loss, Corey would have been pissed if we had not finished that
tour in the fashion we did.
2. The DoubleUP Experience was the first nationwide tour/clinic/demo done by any board company, and now almost
every board company has a similar traveling tour. What do you think about that?
GN: I think that's sweet. It is a great way for wakeboarders to promote the
sport and their sponsors and it keeps us on the water. In the past, a pro
has had to spend time and money travelling to compete, which isn't all that
fun. The RV lifestyle is relaxing and it's the best way to see the country,
going from lake to river to private lake. I'm looking forward to next summer
already.
3. Do you end up getting to ride much yourself while on the Experience?
GN: Yeah, I get to ride a lot, but it's that kind of demo or show off riding
as opposed to learning a trick and taking ten crashes to get it. Knowing
that, we definitely take advantage of those off days and try and pack in the
learning then. As long as I'm riding I'm OK.
4. Speaking of riding, how much do you still ride? I know a lot of people who
wish you were still appearing in more videos because they love watching you ride.
GN: I still ride a bunch. After three years of the tour however, my mind set has
changed for next summer. The past three years have been focused on doing a
good tour and working hard for my sponsors. My mind set is now back to
kicking ass and learning a bunch of new stuff. I'm getting a Super Sport
next summer and the work load has been reduced, giving myself and the team
more time to ride together and push each other. Simply riding with Luke and
Collin should help anyone, but I'm stoked on my mind set going into next
spring.
Oh yeah, We are releasing a DoubleUP Experience Movie in November, so you can
see me ride in that.
5. Very nice. Are you still trying to progress and learn new tricks? If so, what have you been working on or recently learned?
GN: Of course, near the end of the summer, Corey beamed down into me and I
finally figured out the whole off-axis thing. I got pretty consistent with
the 720 and I can do it off the wake too. It sucks, the off axis 7s are way
more consistent then on-axis ones. I have a bunch of ideas for new tricks
for next summer.
6. What's in store for the 2001 DoubleUP product line and DoubleUP Experience?
GN: I'm really excited about my new boards, the 138 & 141 and the Pure Ride
Finless 139. These boards are the next in progression for the DoubleUP
shapes and I'm super stoked on the way they ride. Also we have a new base
plate, fiberglass injection molded, like a snowboard biding. It is stiffer,
lighter and cooler because we can do crazy colors and have logos embossed in
the plate. The new foot-bed is super cush. I can't wait to pull my stuff
for next summer.
The DoubleUP Experience is changing a little for 2001. It will be more of a
DoubleUP Appreciation tour, stoking out our best customers instead of towing
the public all day long. The Experience is going to be a way for the
DoubleUP Team to ride together, film, take photos, etc. Correct Craft is
our biggest supporter and I have to say thanks to them for allowing us to do
The Experience.
7. Do you usually just ride your model board of the same size all the time, or do you jump from shape to shape and size to size?
GN: Right now I'm riding my 138 mostly. I'm looking forward to the Pure Ride
139 too. In the past I've enjoyed jumping from Collin's 143 to my 140 and
then occasionally to Collin's 137. It's cool to be able to do that.
8. In the last year DoubleUP has moved forward on a couple of business fronts by acquiring Hardline Ropes and Handles. What were the reasons for making those moves?
GN: The reason behind that move was to increase DoubleUP's product
line, but more importantly to bring hard working, good people into our
company. Both Mike and
Markham are great guys and they bring a strong work ethic to DoubleUP. Both
have also spent more time in Florida then me and bring a following from down
there that DoubleUP has never had before. Markham is heading up DUs customer
service and Mike is in charge of the Hardline production as well as DUs
Product Line. I can get ropes and handles pretty easily now too. Sweet.
