Andy Nintzel - December's Rider Profile A Look At What's to Come 2007!

December's Rider Profile
A Look At What's to Come 2007!

TAKING IT BIG IN MINNESOTA

Author: MidwestRide.Com

MWR: Where do you reside?

AN: I currently reside in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. That's right I said Minnesota, you got a problem with that? I have been known to reside in Southern California in the off season from time to time as well.

MWR: So how many years have you been riding?

AN: I have been riding since the beginning. I think like 1992, maybe sooner. I grew up on Bald Eagle lake in White Bear. Me and all my buddies were total lake kids. We would spend everyday out on the water. My parents actually let me get my boaters license when I was like 10 or 11, we lied about my age so I could get it early. We were totally into kneeboarding and shreddin' the slalom course.

MWR. What was your first board and binding setup?

AN: My very first board was a H.O. Hyperlite Pro. It was rad. I saved for like a whole summer to get it. I rock it with sandals and 3 fins.

MWR: How about first towboat?

AN: My parents bought a Crownline, I/O deal when I was like 11 I think. That was the first "official" towboat with a big wake. My neighbor, John had a Sea Ray, his dad actually gave him a old alumacraft. Old School late 60s. We painted it white and named it cool river that was boat that we used most, cause we could use it without our parents. It had no wake but it was all ours.

MWR: What places do you usually ride?

AN: I spend most of my time riding at my parents' house, they live on Bald Eagle Lake in White Bear. We pretty much have the lake to ourselves. Just fisherman, which of course hate us. And a few ski boats. Not too much traffic, it rules. It turns this rad green color in August!

MWR: What's your favorite spot to ride?

AN: I guess that is my favorite spot to ride. It's the best. We throw some sliders out, play cat and mouse with the cops. We got busted red handed, two years ago building an 60 foot A-frame, after we had told the cops that the other three sliders we had put in weren't ours. They were so pissed.

MWR: What's your board and binding setup?

AN: I ride an O'brien Natural 144 with XL Radons. Its the best set-up I have ever shredded on, hands down the fastest board with full 3-stage rocker on the market. I wakeskate an O'brien Double D. Its a super a solid skate, it great to see O'brien coming up with new skates.

MWR: What's your towboat of choice?

AN: I am in love with X-Stars. The wake is the best, it's the boat I ride everyday and the definitely my ride of choice. Although, I must say the Malibu VLS puts out a might big wake too, huge double-ups.

MWR: How much weight do you usually ride with?

AN: We slam my boat to the ground. We rock an honest 4200lbs, thanks to the guys at Fly High. I put a 1000lb bow sack in, 2 400lbs V-Drive sacks in the "trunk," 2 Regular 750lbs Fat Sacs on the flood, 600 lbs of free lead weights, and the stock ballast. So we are around 4200lbs before people and gear. Its the biggest '02 X-Star wake you will ever ride.

MWR: What speed do you ride at?

AN: For wakeboarding I ride around 26.5-27mph. For skating I ride at 22.5mph.

MWR: How about your rope length?

AN: I ride at 85 feet for wakeboarding and 75 feet for skating. I like long lines. Makes it way less work to go big.

MWR:. Do you have any sponsors?

AN: Yeah! If it wasn't for them I could not afford this sport. The House Boardshop (www.the-house.com) has been hooking it up since the beginning. I ride for O'brien wakeboard, skates, and bindings. Helium, ropes, vests, and handles. Onewest hooks up fresh digs. Pro Tec keeps my head safe on jibbers. Barefoot International (Fly High) sinks the boat. Last but not least, LX Optics keeps my eyes safe in the sun.

MWR: So, what's the best thing about living in the Midwest?

AN: I live in Minnesota, if you throw a rock it will land in water here. That rules. There is freaking water everywhere. And everyone I hang out with has a wakeboard boat, that really makes it awesome!

MWR: How about the worst thing about living in the Midwest?

AN: This is an easy one, November, December, January, February, March, and half of April. Winter sucks so bad!! That's what SoCal is for.

MWR: What's the best thing about wakeboarding in the Midwest?

AN: The best thing about riding in the Midwest is the lack of riders. We are a tight bunch, most of us know each other through contests and what not. It makes it really fun to compete when it's all your boys out there with you.

MWR: What's the best thing about wakeboarding in general?

AN: I like in wakeboarding it's one at a time. I love watching my buddies learn new tricks, I get just as excited as they do when the land something new. With snowboarding it like we all get on the lift and talk about what we did, but with wakeboarding we all watch every single move. We get better together, by coaching each other. That's what I like best.

MWR: Since it's fairly tough to ride all year in the Midwest do you snowboard in the off season?

AN: Absolutely, I love snowboarding. Its super fun. Jibbing on a snowboard makes you way better at jibbing on a wakeboard.

MWR: Where do you ride at?

AN: Well, around the Twin Cities I ride at Spirit as much as possible, that park is super fun. Plus the whole Duluth, Damage Boardshop crew is sick. I try to hit Afton, Highland, all the local spots. When I am in SoCal I try to ride at Big Bear as much as possible, that place is like a snowboard dream land.

MWR: Nice, so do you compete at all in wakeboarding in the Midwest?

AN: I try to hit all the major comps. This year I am going to hit a ton more. Bring back the big clean style to comps.

MWR: Have you won any events?

AN: I have won a handful of INT events. But they don't really count.

MWR: What's your favorite move in your bag of tricks?

AN: I would have to say, I like to do Nuclear grabs to blind 180 as big as possible. Backside Indy poke frontside 180 or 3 out (like a shift grab rewind). I can huck the hell out of an elephant. I am in a odd place in wakeboarding where I am kinda' board with flips. I really like going super big and clean. That's what gets me stoke on wakeboarding.

MWR: What moves are looking forward to stomping this summer?

AN: Backside seven is my focus for now. That trick kicks my ass every time. I have been working on late blind landings too. Holding nuclears and methods for a scary long time, then cranking them to blind and the last minute. I love doing that.

MWR: Any words of advice for the up and coming Midwest riders out there?

AN: Just keep shredding, we are a select breed. Don't move away. If you do, come home in the summer. It's dope here. Florida is played out. Don't try to be a pro, just ride cause it makes you stoked. Remember to thank the driver, no matter how bad they drive. And always kick down for gas.

MWR: Any shot outs?

AN: For sure! First off, I have to thank Everyone at The House Boardshop. Sean (the Double up Master, my wakeboarding wing man), JC, Kyle, Kurtis, V-Sack, the whole crew. They have believed in me for ever. Jeff Thayer, from O'brien for hooking up fresh stylish wakeboards! Yeah Buddy! Spencer from Helium for the hook-up. Joe West at OneWest for the digs, beers and concert tickets every time I see him. Lisa at Pro Tech for covering my brain, when I am wakin', snowboarding, biking, whatever she's got me covered. I have to thank Coling Ryan (his hoochie to blind is the sickest thing in the Midwest) for pushing me! Kevin Kinney (our Grom), "No I wont buy you beer..."