Lessons with Kim

Because I've been MIA for the past weeks, there hasn't been a whole lot of wakeboarding going on, but I'm glad to say I'm back on the water. A few days ago I got to go out with one of my favorite students, Kim, who I've been working with for just over a year now.

It's been a while since we've ridden together, so I went over the basics to getting up which was a breeze.

I even got Hannah to take a set!

She had a great time whether she'll admit it or not.

All in all it was a beautiful day with some beautiful ladiesssssssssss

New Orleans

As you may know, the past two weeks I've been MIA in the world of wakeboarding. I've been studying architecture at Tulane, and if you are anything like me you've been itching to get back on the water. Well, to compensate for this desire I frequently visit a few sites to keep myself up to date with the current wakeboarding world (and watch lots of videos), and I was thinking a few of my readers might appreciate a link to some of these sites.

thewakeplace.com - Killer. All videos.

wakeworld.com - a good site to keep up to date with competitive wakeboarding.

http://chadsharpe.blogspot.com/ - Chad Sharpe's personal blog. Always funny, sometimes painful.

In the midst of the storm

Yesterday Cal, Paul, Paul's wife, Harrison, Hannah, and I all made a quick run out to steal some sets before the storm started back. Cal put a couple grabs, surface 180s, butter slides, and toeside indy grabs in his bag of tricks, and we have officially started going down the invert road! Paul got cut short a run but his toeside edge made a ton of progress.

Check out this toeside edge. One thing I make sure to do when coaching is to teach correct form before I let my riders "go huge." Cal loves going huge, but I'm proud to say if you check his stream he didn't make a wide edge, his eyes are up, and his hips and shoulders over his board. He could turn that front shoulder down a little to align it with his board more, but we've only been together for two sets!

Cal learning indy grabs.

Watching the rider

it was super foggy yesterday

paul laying back for a killer healside wake to wake jump.

Paul had great form with his healside edge, and his toeside make a ton

of progress in the short amount of time we got to spend together.

I'll be out of town for the next five weeks for a bike trip and

to study architecture, but email me at mitchellconnell@gmail.com

if you want to schedule lessons for July 3rd and after.

Boat boat boat

Just picked up my Malibu 23 LSV from the shop, and it looks great. I'm going out on Friday with some friends; I'll post some photos.

TNT Watersports

Getting my boat from the shop tomorrow. So ready.

A little about myself

I admittedly dislike talking about myself, but it seems appropriate.

This will be my 11th season on the water and my 4th season coaching. I've been sponsored at one point or another by CWB Wakeboards, Malibu Boats, TNT Watersports, Hyperlite Wakeboards, Newt juice binding slime, Ful backpacks, Watersports Warehouse, and Mastercraft Boats all of which were and still are excellent, and I can comfortably say that every company I've ridden for has treated me far above my expectation.

I now don't compete wakeboarding on a national or inter-national level, but for four or five years it was my life. Now I spend my time on the water doing clinics and coaching trying to share the sport I love to as many people as I can.

Now for Connell Wakeboard Lessons:

I started this company with the assistance of my brother, Spencer, last year, but I must sadly say that he now has found a job more suiting for his career, but there's a good chance that he'll be there when you come out. He's awesome (and he rocks the short-shorts). I charge $45 dollars a set (which will run between 20-30 minutes) and $100 for a day (3 sets). Compared to other coaches this is really cheap, and I wish it could be cheaper but gas is expensive!

I have all the gear you'll need when you come out regardless of your size or ability, so all you'll need to bring is a bathing suit. All in all I love what I do, and I hope I get to see you out there soon!

That's me there up top with my

buddy Robert. He doesn't like

the water that much, but he

loves climbing!

I forgot. If you ride with me frequently, we'll talk about adding you to my student list (this is free) It includes:

• work out routine
• trampoline training
• posting you on the blog!
• finding a way to fit bicycling into your life!

Flier Shoot

Hello There,

Welcome to the Connell Wakeboard Lessons blog! This is where I'll keep track of upcoming lessons, new tricks photographed, bios about myself and my students, and other wakeboard-oriented information... but enough of that. I just found some pictures from a quick photo-shoot last year, and I'm going to use them for some fliers and cards that I'm going to post up around Nashville.

Here're a few of my favorites: