Brian Grubb
Residence: Orlando, Florida
Sponsors: Malibu Boats, Red Bull, Billabong, Hyperlite/Catalyst, Zeal Optics, Performance Ski & Surf
Number of years with Malibu: 13
Current boat: WAKESETTER 23 LSV
Boat speed: 23.6 m.p.h.
Line length: 75 feet
Power Wedge setting: All the way down
Best career moment: Winning “Best Wakeskater” at the Wake Awards in 2007
Favorite trick: Toeside wake-to-wake shove to indy because its a fun trick.
An ideal day in your Malibu consists of: Getting out on the water in the morning for some wakeskating with friends, then in the afternoon just going out and getting a surf with SURF GATEPlans for 2014: I want to do well in the contests next year and plan on riding all winter to keep progressing. I also want to help teach people how to wakeskate and get people that have never been behind a boat riding for their first time.
Fun fact that most people do not know about you: I’m a vegetarian.
Explain your recent trip for the Voyage movie: Voyage was an adventure trip that took 16 people on 3 boats from Knoxville, Tennessee to the Gulf of Mexico down the Tennessee and Tombigbee River. It took us three weeks and we covered almost 1000 miles. It was about putting the cell phones and technology away and just enjoying the surroundings and the other people on the trip. We camped every night and never really knew what was around the next bend. It was an amazing trip and the documentary will be a great film.
How would you explain the state of wakeskating today?Wakeskating is at a great place right now. The level of riding and consistency at the pro level is amazing to watch. The Wakeskate Tour is seeing lots of new riders every year from all over the world. People are building private winch parks that give people a training ground for learning new tricks and perfecting old ones. Wakeskating has always been directly connected to wakeboarding but I think it’s time for it to have its own identity and it has started to happen. I would also just hope that more people start doing it all over the world so the sport continues to grow and develop.
What does Malibu as a brand mean to you? The Malibu brand to me has always felt like a family. Even before I rode for Malibu, I loved riding behind the boats already. And when they brought me in, it was a dream come true. They give me the freedom and ability to ride behind the industry leading boat and take people out on the water to spread the Malibu lifestyle. The Malibu vibe has always been about family and spending time on the water. It really doesn’t get much better than that.
What is it like to be the official boat driver for the Red Bull Wake Open? Driving this event for the last two years has been an honor. I believe it's the best boat contest of the year because of the location, the format and obviously the wake. I think everyone that is lucky enough to be invited to ride would agree. The wake on the 22 MXZ is always maxed out and I get the best seat in the house to watch the world's best wakeboarders throw down.
What's the coolest thing you've ever done with Red Bull? That's a tough one because I have been lucky enough to do many amazing trips and projects with Red Bull. No idea is ever too big and I think you can see that in everything Red Bull does. I would have to say the best was the trip to the Kimberly's in Northwestern Australia. We were on a 90-foot boat for two weeks with a helicopter, wake boat, PWC’s and all the best filming equipment. We went to ride these tidal areas that have over 30-foot tide changes -- some of the biggest in the world. At high tide, we rode over a reef you couldn’t even see and at low tide the reef was out of the water and taller than the three-story boat! It was an amazing experience and would have never happened without Red Bull.
How do you like your 2014 WAKESETTER 23 LSV with the new SURF GATE®? Currently, I have been out of town for the last five weeks and only got to ride my new boat for two days before I left but it was amazing. During that time, I was on the Voyage trip and we had another brand new 23 LSV that I basically lived out of for three weeks. We put 150 hours on that boat in 21 days and I have to say it was super comfortable and ran flawlessly. The wakesurf wave on the 23 is my favorite and with the new alert system, the transfers are super consistent and easy for people to learn. I can’t wait to get some time off of traveling so I can start putting some hours on my 23 LSV at home!
