Standerd Slides

Subject: Darin Shapiro, Team Malibu
Photo: Joey Meddock
TSQ Location: Book 2.1, Back Cover, Ad by Malibu Boats

Find this spot for yourself at Acapulco Getaways in Mexico. They have the most insane riding conditions…surf too! Me and Matt from the camp went exploring for a photo-opp when I found this tree leaning way over the water.

It caught my eye each time we zoomed by on the Sea Doo, so I figured I’d tell Darin what I was thinking for this shot. Matt and I went back in, grabbed the Malibu and chase boat, told Darin what we were up to, then posted up against the lily pads.

Darin is a bit “known” for making this shot one of the staple wakeboarding photos. He’s the originator of it, I believe. That’s kind of what I had in mind anyway. So, I told him to give me a huge spray and really try and “lay it down.” We tried it about eight times I think.

Between each attempt we waited about 10 minutes to let the water calm down. You could really see the board bounce if the water wasn’t perfectly still. It also effected the pattern of the spray that is shooting off the bottom of the board.

I didn’t want it to look to bouncy, so it was important that we waited the full 10 minutes so it was perfectly calm and the effect would look best. This shot came from the very last attempt we did.

It took us about 30-45 minutes of doing this over and over again. This is all he did the whole set…just for this shot.

It’s a good feeling when that last attempt is the best one. I was confident wh had a good one the very second he did it. I tapped my head, “Let’s go in, that was the one!”

- Meddock