9. Have you recently added any new riders to the DoubleUP team?
GN: Yeah, you'll be seeing a lot Josh Storrer in the new films and stuff.
Josh is a great guy from the Delta and I love riding with him, he's very
smooth and fluid with all of his tricks. I know he can do all of the inverts
too, he just never does when I'm around. I think he thinks I don't like
them. We also added a Canadian, Jamie Rizzuto, or Rizzo, to the team and
Zucky, an ex-pro freestyle skateboarder from Japan. I'm stoked on the
international flavor our Team has. I also picked up Jake Huso, a ripper
living in Chuleota, he rides out at the Projects a lot. Jake is tight with
the Hardline crew, that's how I hooked up with him. AS DoubleUP grows, I
want to be able to hook more riders up with product. There are a lot of
rippers out there and I'd be stoked to support more of them, I just have to
do it slowly.
10. Yeah, there are a ton of good riders out there. DoubleUP has always managed to have a strong team of guys who usually don't compete much. For example,
BlueTorch Magazine recently came out with their Top 20 riders list, and there were three members of the DoubleUP team, and they were pretty
much the only guys in the Top 20 list you never see competing. Do you specifically look for these type of riders? Or is it
just something that's naturally happened?
GN: I guess I've naturally just enjoyed the freeriders more. Tournaments
hinder progression, you have to ride the way the judges want to see you ride.
I think at the Worlds most of the pros had either scarecrows or raleys in
their run. Where's the progression? It's 2000 for crying out loud.
Also, I can't afford to send anyone to a comp and it doesn't do DoubleUP any
good anyway. If each event cost DU $1000, I can think of 20 better ways to
spend that cash and have more fun with the team. I won't sign anyone who's
focus is the tour. I'd rather support those athletes who simply love to ride
for themselves. That works better for DU anyway, the riders have more time
to get in front of the camera, visit our accounts and progress and innovate
in their own direction. Wakeboarding isn't that tough, there are a shit load
of good riders out there, but good people are few and far between and that is
who I look for.
11. Speaking of the DoubleUP team, a while back you guys and Igor Reoutt split ways, and we've heard that was an "interesting"
split. What's the story there?
GN: DoubleUP hasn't really talked about that so I don't know where you're
hearing stuff. In Igor's case, DoubleUP supported him 120%, giving him ads,
posters, sponsoring him into films, etc. Igor chose to ride for Concrete,
which bummed DU out because we sell bindings too, but we lived with it. A
DoubleUP trip to Japan was being organized and Igor didn't get to go, he had
recently been to Europe, including Amsterdam, and we took Sam and Rich, two
riders who definitely deserved the call, I think Igor was bummed at DU for
that. Combine that, with a personal issue Igor had stemming from the first
year's Experience, and there is no way we were going working together again.
DoubleUP hasn't looked back once.
12. DoubleUP was the first rider owned and operated board company, and now there are quite a few companies of
this type in the works such as Cobe and Bisch starting Clutch, Weddington and Origin, and Shannon Best and Best Wakeboards. Do you think
these companies will succeed in the tough board industry? What advice do you have for these guys?
GN: I don't know if Mike owns Origin or what and Shannon hasn't got anything
going yet. I know that DU has helped Cobe and Bisch with general info such as
costs and realistic forcasts and stuff to help them with their planning.
You're right however, the wake industry is tough. I would love nothing more
than to go to a trade show and see the companies you've just mentioned
kicking ass rather than seeing ones like Neptune or CWB hanging in there.
Riders such as Cobe, Mike, Bisch and Shannon have all helped our sport
develop to where it is today and the industry would be healthier if these
guys had a piece of the pie. If Clutch doesn't happen I'd love to hire to
Cobe, but I have to respect his dreams and I know if anyone can make a
Wakeboard company succeed, Cobe is that guy. Thanks Micker for all of the
support and coverage you've given DU.
13. Yeah, that was cool to see Cobe riding DU boards all summer when he's not on the DU team.
So what are your long-term plans for DoubleUP?
GN: I never planned for DoubleUP to be where it is today, so it's tough to
say. If DoubleUP can stick to its roots, which it always will, and still
grow a little every year then I'll be happy. I really want to support the
riders who have supported DU so well, like Collin, Sam, Rich, etc. and
support even more riders after that. I'm really getting into this private
lake deal too, and forsee a West Coast DoubleUP FreeRide Park one of these
days.
14. That would be very cool. What are you long-term plans for yourself?
GN: Man, I realize 100% that I'm living the dream, so I'm going to continue
doing exactly that. I got a house in Truckee, one minute from DoubleUP, and
about ten minutes from a few different snowboard mountains and there is a
golf course across the street. Spending time at home is in the plans and
hopefully having a family. I really want to pass on all that I've learned to
a son, but that is way off at this point.
15. Anything else you want to throw in?
GN: Just to say thanks to all of our supporters, including my family, the
riders obviously, the staff at DoubleUP, Holy Cow, and the industry. I must
say that the wakeboard industry has been good to DU, we haven't tried to piss
anyone off and I think that helps.
I've watched this whole sport evolve and go from Skurfing to where we are
today. It's great to see that the sport of Wakeboarding is a lifestyle for
so many, including entire families. It's definitely been a treat and I'm
stoked to be a part of it.
Thanks Greg.
GN: My Pleasure.
Wakeboarder.com would like to thank Greg Nelson for everything he's done for wakeboarding, and for participating
in this interview.
9. Have you recently added any new riders to the DoubleUP team?
