Oakley :: Wakeboard

The King of Wake Speaks: Harley Clifford Talks 2012, Trick Development and the Future

Chasen Marshall — May 13, 2013 10:00

Harley Clifford won King of Wake, but he’s also, as far as the contest scene, the king of wake. In 2012, the 19-year-old superstar of wakeboarding dominated the sport. World champion and trick of the year; pro tour champion and favorite of the fans in the readers’ poll. It was the year Harley had been aiming for ever since he turned pro in 2008.

Early in 2013, he’s off to a similar tear, with three consecutive wins to start the season. The thought is already on everyone’s mind: how long can the winning streak go?

We sat down with Clifford when he stopped by Oakley HQ during his annual wakeboard season migration from Australia to Florida and hit him with all the key questions.

"Sets In Motion": Game-Changing New Women's Wakeboard Series Aims to Progress and Promote the Sport

Chasen Marshall — March 25, 2013 11:15

Back in 2010, after she’d had a stunning season – which included becoming the first female to land a 900 – then-wakeboard team manager Matty Swanson posed the question, “What’s next?” Amber Wing wanted to do a film project. That conversation was the genesis of “Sets In Motion,” a new, game-changing women’s wakeboard series.

“Women in wakeboarding don’t get asked to film or aren’t included in any filming projects, and there’s maybe 3 or 4 guys ones every year, so I wanted to create a platform and a project for the girls that’s going to be timeless and online and for everyone to see forever,” explained Amber Wing, the reigning Queen of Wake who in January became the first female to land a double flip. “It gives the girls something to work towards, and not just be riding for contests, because its different riding for contests than free-riding. It was an idea, in a way, for me to push the girls and motivate them to progress their riding harder than what they’ve been doing or had to push towards in the past.”

Oakley Wake Wraps Up a Successful 2012 Season; Stunning Video Edit

Jack Blodgett — December 14, 2012 09:30

Our Wake team had yet another epic season in 2012. There were numerous contest victories, dozens of magazine covers, nationally televised TV features, Readers Poll Awards and award-winning new tricks landed throughout the year.

Oakley Wakeboard Team Introduces the New Blade Boardshort to the Southeast

Jack Blodgett — November 12, 2012 12:09

With a dominating 2012 season for the Oakley Wake program behind them, it was time to take advantage of the off-season and invite Florida’s top accounts to spend the afternoon with the team in Orlando, Fla. The Square O Sessions program began in early 2010 with a simple idea: we wanted to utilize our top accounts and give them some product knowledge and time on the water with our professional riders. It has evolved over the years and really grown into a both a fun and educational event.

Oakley Wake Ends the Season Salty

Danny Hampson — October 25, 2012 13:15

I read a quote the other day that some obviously deep and poetic girl had found on the Internet and put on Instagram that read, “The cure for anything is salt water; sweat, tears, or the ocean.” Of course I immediately double tapped my phone sending a like and sat back to consider the meaning of this prophetic post. While I can’t vouch for the first two salty things helping with anything, I can say that the ocean does have some type of calming effect.

Amber Wing and Harley Clifford Take Home Hardware at Transworld Wake Awards

Chasen Marshall — September 12, 2012 08:20

On a night that celebrates wakeboarding’s best, ss has become tradition at the annual Transworld Wake Awards, Oakley riders were among the celebrated. Amber Wing was confirmed as the best on the lady’s side of the sport, while Harley Clifford was celebrated for his innovation in wakeboarding and Yan Lecomte the same in wakeskating.

Harley’s House: Wakeboard Star Clifford Crowned King of Wake For Second Straight Year, World Title Clinched

Andrew De Lara — August 21, 2012 16:04

When it comes to Wakeboarding, this is Harley Clifford’s house.

Showing the Wake World just why he’s a legend in the making, Oakley’s young phenom underwent his second coronation in a row, claiming the King of Wake Title and the World Championship Title following a monster performance at the WWA Wakeboard Championships in Wisconsin.

“I’m really excited about winning King of Wake for the second season in a row,” Harley said, rocking his Oakley eyewear, apparel and gear in Pleasant Prarie. “It has for sure been the craziest season ever. The riding was ridiculous, everyone killed it. I couldn’t be happier to come out on top!”

Pro Wakeboard Champion: Harley Clifford Takes Second Tour Title After Knoxville Victory

Andrew De Lara — August 09, 2012 00:19

Harley Clifford did it again.

Oakley’s young Aussie ripper narrowly edged out rival Phil Soven at the Knoxville Pro Wakeboard Tour stop to seal the deal on his second series title.

The talented rider threw down a monster run to reemphasize his position as one of the greatest riders to grace the sport to date.

Britain: Wakeboard Women Amber Wing & Nicola Butler Dominate Wakestock UK

Andrew De Lara — July 27, 2012 04:25

Wales is probably one of the last places you’d think about when it comes to Wakeboarding.

But make no mistake, Wakestock UK was as big a Wake party as it gets. Dominated by Oakley stars Amber Wing and Nicola Butler, the rockin’ contest in Great Britain was nothing short of epic – with crowds of more than 10,000 fans lining the waters for the Finals.

Taking the top spot in the Pool Gap Challenge and the Boat Finals – Nicola capped Team Oakley’s badass weekend by sealing Best Trick behind a System 2.0 with a nosepress 270 over the A-frame.

Gunning For the Crown: Women’s Wakeboard Star Nicola Butler Smashes PWT Monroe

Andrew De Lara — July 11, 2012 17:58

The 2010 Queen of Wake is looking to retake the crown.

Oakley Wakeboard Star, Nicola Butler, powered back into title contention with a big victory at the Pro Wakeboard Tour stop in Monroe, Wash. – topping Melissa Marquardt with a 75.67 score in the Finals.

The British-born ripper owned the competitive Women’s Pro Division with a sparkling run, lined with big airs and precision rail riding, all the way to the win.

Next Generation: Young Wakeboard Stars Harley Clifford & Shota Tezuka Throw Down in New MasterCraft Edit

Andrew De Lara — June 06, 2012 17:26

The next generation of Wakeboard stars is here.

Leading the charge of young guns lined with pure steeze and the skills to push the envelope of the sport, the reigning King of Wake Harley Clifford, and the defending Pro Junior Division Champion Shota Tezuka have been throwing down all early season.

Our friends at MasterCraft just dropped a sick new edit – documenting our two young stars in action. Check it!

Texas Two-Step: Wakeboard Star Harley Clifford Takes Ft. Worth Stop, Nicola Butler Claims Women’s Division

Andrew De Lara — June 04, 2012 18:03

It was an all-too-familiar dance: Oakley’s Wakeboard Team sweeping the top podium spots while making more history.

Young star Harley Clifford pushed the sport’s envelope and smashed the record books yet again, throwing down the first-ever wake-to-wake double flip in-contest to triumph at the Pro Wakeboard Stop in Ft. Worth.

Killer Start: Wakeboard Phenom Harley Clifford Victorious at Pro Wakeboard Tour Stop-Acworth, Nicola Butler Takes Women’s Pro Division

Andrew De Lara — May 23, 2012 23:39

If Harley Clifford’s recent history making back-to-back, wake-to-wake 1080 in contest wasn’t an epic enough way to kick off a season, a resounding victory at the first Pro Tour Stop surely is.

The defending King of Wake tantalized a packed crowd in Acworth, Ga. this past weekend, throwing down a near perfect final run lined with massive airs and super tech rail maneuvers to triumph in the land of peaches.

Heavy charges and solid runs from the likes of Rusty Malinoski and Phil Soven kept the Finals closely contested. But Harley fended off every charge to hold on for the win – setting the stage for what will be an intense, envelope smashing battle to the end of the season.

Amber Wing: A Name You Should Know

John Ohail — April 30, 2012 21:49

If you don’t know who Amber Wing is yet, you should. Her innovative and trailblazing nature in the sport of women’s wakeboarding is monumental and people are starting to recognize that she’s kind of a big deal. To find out more about Amber and her insane wakeboarding skills, check out this video and story from ESPN W.

Waking History: Wakeboard Team Stars Harley Clifford & Oli Derome Throw Down Epic Expression Session at Wake Games

Andrew De Lara — April 20, 2012 15:00

It’s no secret. Oakley’s Wakeboard Team is the sickest collection of wake rippers on the Planet.

Making history, yet again, to push the progression of the sport, two of the team’s stars threw down one of the most epic expression sessions…ever…this past weekend at the Nautique Wake Games in Orlando – sticking a pair of back-to-back, wake-to-wake 1080’s in competition for the first time ever.

Young phenom Harley Clifford and Canadian super rail master Oli Derome tantalized a packed crowd at the Orlando Watersports Complex as they crashed through the envelope with their massive aerial display.