Plastic Playground made a spectacular return in 2025 at Liquid Leisure Watersports Center, just outside London, bringing back all the energy, style, and technical prowess that has made it one of the most respected contests in the world of wakeboarding.

Gavin Stuckey and Rivers Hendrik rise above the competition to claim top honors. Clad in tie-dye shirts and armed with a fearless approach, the duo delivered a masterclass in creativity, control, and raw power. Their runs were packed with strong tricks, unexpected lines, and just enough wild slams to keep the crowd on edge.

The international wakeboarding scene was out in full force, with top riders representing the USA, England, and Australia—bringing together styles and influences from across the globe. The level of riding throughout the event was nothing short of explosive, reaffirming Plastic Playground’s reputation as a cult event that pushes the boundaries of park riding.

Couldn’t be there in person? Catch all the action and relive the electric atmosphere by watching the replay of the final here.

PLASTIC PLAYGROUND 2025

Check out the recap of the Bali Wake Park’s stop of the #PPWorldSeries2019 on #unleashedwakemag

Plastic Playground was created 8 years ago By a bunch of rider tired of international  wakeboard competitions held by the IWWF and WWA , they want to create their own format , more fair and friendly , who show the right level of this sport . Stuart Marson the Liquid leisure owner say , “Lets go ” and it was the first to host the first Contest in 2015 at Liquid Leisure London , the Full Plastic Obstacles place. Year after year the contest grow and 3 years after the first edition they decide to made a Worldwide tour with 3 stops, One in Thailand , one in Uk  and the final one in Bali Indonesia. Mr Parks Bonifay Still the Goodfather of this contest and the World tour also…

WEBSITE

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Thomas Herman : Progression stands out as arguably the most crucial element in the realm of wakeboarding. It manifests through the accomplishment of new tricks or the infusion of a distinctive flair into existing maneuvers. Both avenues hold the potential to unlock a cascade of ideas and developments that evolve over time. Occasionally, there are those extraordinary, monumental leaps in progression that etch themselves into the wakeboarding history books, creating moments indelibly etched in the minds of wakeboarding enthusiasts.

In a contest format dedicated to pushing the boundaries of wakeboarding possibilities, a groundbreaking chapter was written at the Red Bull Double or Nothing on a lake in downtown Orlando.

During the early days of wakeboarding, the double up served to provide riders with extended airtime, allowing for additional 180-degree spins or the incorporation of grabs into tricks that were otherwise hurried off the small wakes generated by boats at that time. Inboard competition boats, originally designed as slalom ski boats to create minimal wakes for speeds exceeding 30 mph, offered wakeboarders and trick skiers lift at slower speeds of 18 to 20 mph. As the pioneers of wakeboarding realized the potential of timing a roller created while turning around to coincide with the boat wake, the sport witnessed an influx of new tricks.

Boats continued to grow in size and weight, with engines, transmissions, and propellers pushing more weight, displacing more water, and causing wakes to consistently enlarge. Eventually, the double up ceased to be a necessity for progression. In fact, many riders began avoiding regular double up attempts since the wakes had become substantial enough to learn new tricks without it, mitigating the looming fear of injury. It’s a safe assumption that the majority of injuries at the professional level over the last three decades occurred during double up attempts.

Thomas Herman make the History 

While the wake directly behind the boat offers a predictable and consistent pop, the double up introduces a high level of unpredictability, relying heavily on the driver to create a stable set-roller and approach at an optimal angle. What makes the double up even more unique is that each rider tends to prefer something a little different. Some riders like the angle “T-ed up” or prefer a closer-to-90-degree approach, while others lean towards a more “open” or easier pocket to enter. Even in ideal conditions, the double up remains a volatile element, producing a stunt-like kick that is challenging to control.

Regarded as the GOAT (Greatest of All Time), Parks Bonifay utilized the double up to elevate himself to legendary status throughout his illustrious career. It’s fitting that this event was conceived by Parks and Red Bull, providing riders with the motivation to refocus on the double up and push the boundaries of progression in a winner-takes-all format. The inaugural event took place in 2004 and was an instant success. Although the event took a hiatus for a few years, it has maintained its exclusivity by only including riders that Parks deems worthy, with the added opportunity for riders to earn a wildcard. This year, rookies Jamie Huser and snowboard cross-over athlete Fynn Bullock seized that chance.

More About Ronix  #unleashedwakemag

Thomas Herman Triple Effect

The breaking of the triple flip barrier has propelled the upcoming Double or Nothing into the limelight, guaranteeing unprecedented attention. Speculation is rife on the types of tricks that will be attempted in the coming year.

The post Thomas Herman Triple Effect | Ronix Wakeboards appeared first on Unleashed Wake Mag.

Save the date: Sept  16th

Top pro wakeboarders from around the world return to compete in Orlando on Sept. 16, free admission for all spectators at Gaston Edwards Park 

Red Bull Double or Nothing powered by Mastercraft brings the top wakeboarders in the world to Orlando in a winner-take-all, best trick competition behind the legendary MasterCraft XStar S. The competition pushes the sport’s best athletes to redefine what’s possible on a wakeboard.

Parks Bonifay is the creator of Red Bull Double or Nothing and a certified legend in the sport. He’s recruited the best of the best from around the world to compete on Saturday, September 16. Every year the world’s top wakeboarder’s attempt huge, never-done-before, history-making tricks at Red Bull Double or Nothing, and this year will be no exception.

The event gets its name from the “double-up”, which is the moment when two wakes combine into one, growing more than three times the size of a usual wake. This allows the pros to get massive air, allowing for huge tricks, and risking huge crashes.

Parks, an Orlando resident, is stoked to bring the world’s best back to his hometown crowd to compete; “Red Bull Double or Nothing is the most progressive wakeboard contest to date. As a rider in the event, one of the things I’m super pumped about is having a packed shore line full of people cheering and pushing us to land a trick that’s possibly never been done before. With $10,000 on the line, who knows, we might see the first ever triple flip! Gonna be a wild day, come down to Lake Ivanhoe and join the vibe!”

For the first time in the event’s history, two of the best women in the sport will be participating in a double-up exhibition on Saturday afternoon. Meagan Ethell is a 7 time World Champion living in Orlando. Jamie Lopino is also a World Champion and former Rider of the Year. Each will showcase their world-class talent and get in on the action, going bigger than either ever have ever before and  attempting their own double-ups.

Australia’s Sam Brown won last year’s event by nailing a Switch Double Moab (double backflip with a full 360), earning him the winner-take-all $10,000 prize. Sam will be returning this year and has plans to land that first ever triple flip.  Other stars of the sport that will be vying for that prize purse include Cory Teunissen, Steel Lafferty, Shota Tezuka and Luca Kidd.  Judges include 2020 winner Guenther Oka and veteran pro Jimmy LaRiche.

Last year the event introduced two wild card spots, saved for boarders in the general public who submit a video for a chance to be selected by Parks to compete. This proved to be a massive success, with twin Argentinian brothers Ulf and Kai Distch securing those spots, and then absolutely crushing it at the competition. They will both return as invited riders this year, with two new wildcard spots open. The submission phase is open as of August 18th and will close on September 1st. Tag @parxxx on Instagram with hashtag #doubleornothingwildcard before then send in your submission!

To see Parks and company send it on Lake Ivanhoe in person, head to Gaston Edwards Park on Saturday, Sept. 16^th from 9am-5pm. The day will be complete with food trucks, family-friendly games, and an open area for some of the best views of the lake to see a spectacle unlike any other in wakeboarding.

For anyone that can’t attend, all the action will be streamed live. Tune in to Send It Official’s YouTube Page on the 16th!

Red Bull Double or Nothing Athlete Roster

Parks Bonifay

Cory Teunissen

Shota Tezuka

Steel Lafferty

Danny Harf

Sam Brown

Luca Kidd

Tyler Higham

Rusty Malinoski 

Thomas Herman

Kai Distch

Ulf Distch

Wild Card 1

Wild Card 2

Follow redbull.com/us-en/events/double-or-nothing to stay updated about this year’s event!

More about #RED BULL EVENT on Unleashed Wake Mag

The place ToBe , all the wakeboard spots on #SPOTYRIDE

Find all wake spots in the world on

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Alliance MultiMedia through the eyes of Bill  McCaffray explores why Orlando is the epicenter of professional wakeboarding. Told through interviews with the biggest icons in the sport both past and present, explore the history of the sports’ global migration to Florida and why all of the biggest riders and events happen here.

This short includes coverage of the season finale and biggest event of the year: Parks’ Double or Nothing event, presented by Red Bull.

Read the full article on #alliancemultimedia

About Alliance Multimedia :

About Teton Gravity Research

It all began with a dream and a little cash scrapped together from fishing in Alaska. In 1995, Steve Jones, Todd Jones, and Dirk Collins pooled money they had earned as commercial fishermen and heli-ski guides to purchase camera equipment. Joined by longtime friend Corey Gavitt, they banded together to document the progression taking place in action sports. Yet rather than simply capturing this progression on film, they soon became instrumental in fueling it.

With a commitment to showcasing the world’s top athletes—and creating a company driven by their input—the group founded Teton Gravity Research. From its headquarters in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, TGR began producing premier ski, snowboard, and surf films. Eighteen years and thirty-two films later, the company continues to evolve. Transcending film, TGR has emerged as a media force in action sports culture.

The Legend Grows

While continuing to produce award-winning films, TGR now connects with fans across the world through its film tours, television series, merchandise, and website, which serves as a leading destination and community for action sports content. Through its evolution, TGR has remained committed to its roots as an athlete- driven company. The brand partners with many of the world’s top athletes—such as Jeremy Jones, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Ian Walsh, and Angel Collinson — to push boundaries and reimagine what is possible.

TGR™ Giving Back

And despite pushing boundaries, TGR also aims to tread lightly. Since its inception, the company has been committed to minimizing its impact on the environment and supporting a range of environmental initiatives, including Protect Our Winters, One Percent for the Planet, BICEP, and the Surfrider Foundation. Progression, after all, takes many forms.

More About Parks Bonifay on Unleashed Wake Mag 

Find all wake spots in the world on

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 The birge dirge Floatchilla is  about an insane story about the idea to grab the whole  Spacemob crew , MP Cunningham of the legendary show Aqua Donkeys ,  an the legendary Park Bonifay

and put all those guys  on a trip for an insane shooting under the direction of one of the biggest wakeboard photographer on earth , i named Mr Golden Bear  (Brian Soderlind)

Enjoy the 24 mn video report of this trip  this is high !” 👽

The Dirge Birge highlights ….

For 5 days in late October an all time crew floated, winched, towed, celebrated, spelunked, knee’d, foot’d, laughed and bonded all while covering 58 miles of the historic suwannee river.

Huge thanks to the crew of MP Cunningham, Parks Bonifay, Quinn Silvernale, Constanza Scaglia, Daryl Znebel, Crosse Bearden, and Wesley Mark Jacobsen (and Chopstix for his special appearance). Everyone came ready for an unknown adventure and helped create one of those most memorable trips of a lifetime. Footage featured shot by the whole team.

Edit: Mike Marshall

Vessels: Dirge Birge Pontoon, Sea-Doo Wake Pro, Sea-Doo Spark

More Video about the SPACE MOB Crew

MORE ABOUT THE SPACE MOB Crew …

The Space Mob is a group of like minded individuals pushing the limits of what can be done on a wakeboard.  Our popularity in wakeboarding has come from producing two full length “street” style movies along with countless web edits pushing style and creativity.  We spend most of our time at the most progressive wake park in the world, Valdosta Wake Compound.  But we also travel around the world to different wake spots and spread the Mob love.

 Visit Their Website #SPACEMOBTV

More about The “Golden Bear”

Bryan Soderlind enjoys all things Sunshine State as he was born in Pensacola, FL and currently resides in Orlando, FL.  He picked up a camera when he was twenty and loves capturing people, places, and action on film. His friends refer to him as the “Golden Bear” as he bears a strong resemblance to retired pro golfer, Jack Nicklaus. Please visit www.bryansoderlind.com

 Visit his Instagram #thegoldenbear

The Dirge Birge Floatchilla

Find all wake spots in the world on

The post The Dirge Birge Floatchilla | Bear, SpaceMob & Friends appeared first on Unleashed Wake Mag.

Made By :Film & Edit: Steffen Vollert & Patrick Catford

Producer: Peter-Pascal Schmidt

Aerials: Dave_AV Additional Aerials: Tropicdrone

Sounddesign: Smartmusic – Martin Linka Speaker: Alan Watts

Behind the scenes !

The requirements were clear. We needed a wakepark, a winch, waves and a good time.

And we wanted a film with some story that is fun to watch, entertaining and showcases some hand selected tricks of Felix Georgii, Dom Hernler, Parks Bonifay, Dylan Miller, James Windsor, Joe Battleday, Brenton Priestley, Cameron Graham & Tobias Michell.

Frankly, our trip wasn’t about throwing the hardest tricks at all times. It was also about enjoying ourselves and each other so that everyone could do what he loved most. Isn’t it interesting tho how different board sports influence different riding styles?

Well anyway, enjoy this wakeboard edit that comes with a little twist. With the help of Alan Watts this is our poem to watersports and the element of water itself. It’s about this unique sensation you get no matter if in, under or above the water. Enjoy life, enjoy watersports, try different stuff – we never stop learning. Get outside your head sometimes and be kind to each other.

#highonlife

On the Words of Dylan Miller : ‘I don’t believe in the concept of heaven but i think i found it.“

Check out Wakeboarding Philippines  Unleashed !

Siargao Wakepark, Philippines

“Located in General Luna, Surigao Del Norte, Siargao Wakepark provides wakeboarding in the surfing capital of the Philippines. It is the newest boardsport on the vibrant island of Siargao. Next to surfing, island hopping, kitesurfing and Stand-up-paddling, it is one of the stand out activities which can be practiced on a hidden lake in between the palmtrees.”

The post HIGH ON LIFE | Wakeboarding Siargo appeared first on Unleashed Wake Mag.

Double Set

Cette vidéo a été faite par Wise Mitch lors d’une session avec Massi, Lucas Kidd et Sam Brown.

The post Maxime Roux | Double Set à Orlando appeared first on Unleashed Wake Mag.

What is Adventure IO ?

Adventure IO offers Next Level experiences with Professional Athletes and Local experts through its proprietary mobile platform. Whether it’s mountain biking with a RedBull Rampage athlete, wakeboarding with a legendary pro rider, going to surf at a private point break with limited accessibility and much, much more, users are able to easily book guided adventures with their favorite athletes, brands, retailers and hotels. The Adventure IO app is currently available for iOS in the App Store. The Android version will be released in August 2019.

Who are the top riders ?

The roster of athletes and guides is rapidly expanding, with Adventures currently being led by some
of the most elite-level competitors in their respective disciplines, including:

● Parks Bonifay, Wakeboarding – Clermont, Florida : Multi-time X Games Gold Medalist and Pro Tour Champion Waterski and Wake Sports Hall of Fame Member
● Elliot Sloan, Skateboarding – Vista, California : Multi-time X Games Big Air Gold Medalist
● Darren Berrecloth – Mountain Bike – Parksville, British Columbia : Redbull Rampage Medalist and Freeride Pioneer
● Shaun Murray, Wakeboarding – Orlando, Florida : Pro Tour, National, and World Champion; American Ninja Warrior Competitor
● Sam Light, Kiteboarding – United Kingdom : 2x KPL Champion and 4x Triple-S winner
● Michal Kollbek, Mountain Biking – Santa Monica, California : 3x Polish National Downhill Champion
● Brian Grubb, Foil Boarding/Wakeskating/Wakesurfing – Orlando, Florida : Multi-time Wakeskate Pro Tour Champion and Red Bull Professional Athlete

A partnership with the WSIA

AIO has joined the Water Sports Industry Association (WSIA) in efforts to support the wake industry and its athletes.With deeply established roots in the wake industry, the AIO team recently decided to create a new strategic partnership with the Water Sports Industry Association (WSIA). In efforts to increase interest in water sports, AIO will provide current athletes with unique opportunities to boost their brand recognition and bring new eyes towards the industry. Elite athletes like, Waterski and Wake Sports Foundation Hall of Fame member, Parks Bonifay are already teamed up with AIO, offering users once-in-a-lifetime adventures, and forming new life-long fans in the process.

What they think

“The crew behind Adventure IO are a virtual dream team of industry professionals who understand how to deliver a first-class experience for wake sports enthusiasts and more,” said Kevin Michael, Executive Director, Water Sports Industry Association. “They reached out to WSIA to see how they could support the industry because they truly care about the sport and understand the influence pro athletes provide. With Adventure IO’s tight network amongst the sport’s most interesting athletes, the experiences are very enticing, even to a life long industry vet like myself. Truth be told, I just downloaded the app and am considering booking an experience for a friend’s birthday this summer!”

“We believe great companies are responsible for pushing their industry forward while providing consumers with the best product possible,” said Billy McKee, AIO Founder and Chairman. “By teaming up with the WSIA and a lineup of elite water sport athletes, we are not only exposing the wake industry to new eyes but also offering our users once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to experience
the outdoors with the world’s best professional guides.”

E Foil with Brian Grubb

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Winners interviews

Guenther Oka

How do you feel after winning Wakefest’s 50k Shotoout?

It’s unreal. With this being my first professional boat win, it feels so crazy to have done it in this fashion. Winning the biggest prize purse on boat this year means so much and gives me tons of fuel to keep on pushing.

What made your run better than the others ?

I’m not sure considering I didn’t get to see half of the other boys ride haha. But I stood up all 4 tricks I had in mind and put down the grabs I was looking for as well.

What do you think of the public here at Wakefest ? Are you coming back next year ?

Without a doubt. This was the equivalent to the super bowl of boat wakeboarding. Literally riding through the arena of boats and people made the contest so exciting. Everyone, including the fans, put their heart and soul into coming out and cheering us on.

What is the next stop for you and what are your goals for the next of the 2019 season ?

I’m off to Washington for boat nationals and then right off to Portugal for the Tomar Pro. The year is far from over but I’m happy to keep the party going and end it on a high note.

Have you got a video project ? With other riders ?

Always working on something! I don’t want to give anything away but it’ll be going back to what I do best and working with my homie Taylor Hanley.

 Can you talk a bit about “Passing the Handle?”

For sure. Pass the Handle is an amazing day for the entire wakeboard community. It encourages pros and amateurs alike to go out and spread the sport of wakeboarding. We dedicate that day to go and get a first timer up on board and show them the love we all have seen for wake. It is a global movement that keeps the sport fresh and spreads it far and wide.

Anything else to add?

I want to give a massive shoutout to the crew at TNT watersports in Tennessee for hosting this insane event. They pull it together every year and it something that will keep this sport going for years to come. Also Red Bull, O’Neill, and Liquid Force Wake for their continued support.

Meagan Ethell

 How do you feel after winning Wakefest?

– Overall, my Wake Fest weekend was one to remember. Winning the contest was a nice bonus on top of the good times I had with everyone there. Also, being able to showcase our sport in front of such a large audience was one to remember.

What made your run better than the others?

– The conditions at Wakefest were challenging, and all the girls threw down despite those factors. I think what put me in advantage was being able to stay strong through it all. I was able to lace up some technical and stylish tricks, and I think that helped put the top spot in my favor.

What do you think of the public here at Wake Fest? Are you coming back next year?

The number of people that were at this event was mind-blowing. Depending on my schedule for next were, I would definitely like to come back. Hopefully, we can push for a better prize purse so more females want to attend the event. Also, it would be insane to create a female Shoot Out to give the pro women that sort of opportunity.

What is the next stop for you and what are your goals for the next of the 2019 season?

On Thursday, I leave to Seattle for Nationals. It’s a pretty busy season at the moment with constantly being on the move. For the rest of the season, I’m wanting to focus on my riding and pushing myself to do harder/different tricks.

Have you got a video project? With other riders?

I have not started creating a video project because I’ve been focused on my riding and progressing it, but that is something that I want to do in the near future. I’m hoping to do a Red Bull project soon and with that, I would release a video.

Can you talk a bit about “Passing the Handle?”

– Our Pass the Handle Day in TN was great. We got a few people out on the water and gave them a really great experience. It is always pretty rewarding to pass the handle to someone new and expose them to our amazing sport.

Results

Wakefest 2019 Shootout Winner
Guenther Oka – 50,000$

Pro Men Winners
1st Cory Teunissen – 7,500$
2nd Nic Rapa – 4,000$
3rd Mike Dowdy – 2,000$

Pro Women Winners
1st Meagan Ethell – 3,000$
2nd Tarah Mikacich – 2,500$
3rd Charli Shore – 2,000$

Outlaw Winners
1st Parker Swope
2nd Ben Brown
3rd Nic Brown

Advanced Winners 
1st Barrett Swope
2nd
3rd Tanner Ledford

Intermediate Winners 
1st Frank Adkins
2nd Condrey Hunt
3rd Spencer Sullivan

Women Winners 
1st Wolfe Jordan
2nd Brantley Mullins
3rd Natalie Miller

Jr Division 
1st River Mayo
2nd Gabe James
3rd Clayton Moriarity

Beginner Winners 
1st Colt Reid
2nd Carter James
3rd Cole Moriarty

-wakefest 2019-
-wakefest 2019-

The post Wakefest 2019 | Winners Interviews | Guenther Oka & Meagan Ethell appeared first on Unleashed Wake Mag.

Register now, discover the categories of the competition :

• Pro Men 
• Pro Women
• Junior Boys
• Mixed 35+
• Junior Girls

PLASTIC PLAYGROUND LONDON 2019

Check out the recap of the Bali Wake Park’s stop of the #PPWorldSeries2019 on #unleashedwakemag

Plastic Playground was created 4 years ago By a bunch of rider tired of international  wakeboard competitions held by the IWWF and WWA , they want to create their own format , more fair and friendly , who show the right level of this sport . Stuart Marson the Liquid leisure owner say , “Lets go ” and it was the first to host the first Contest in 2015 at Liquid Leisure London , the Full Plastic Obstacles place. Year after year the contest grow and 3 years after the first edition they decide to made a Worldwide tour with 3 stops, One in Thailand , one in Uk  and the final one in Bali Indonesia. Mr Parks Bonifay Still the Goodfather of this contest and the World tour also…

WEBSITE

The post PLASTIC PLAYGROUND LONDON 2019 appeared first on Unleashed Wake Mag.