Team Malibu ads two Gold Medalists

(Merced, CA) - Ever wonder what Olympic snowboard champions like Kelly Clark and Ross Powers do during the summer? The answer, they practice. This year Clark and Powers are spending their summer training behind a pair of Malibus. Malibu Boats in cooperation with Octagon, a sports marketing firm, have struck a sponsorship deal to keep these gold medal Olympians throwing big air even in warm weather.

Snowboarding and wakeboarding have always been two sports joined at the hip. Many of Malibu's top riders snowboard during the winter. Team Malibu rider Chad Sharpe is an avid slope shredder. So it makes perfect sense that the reverse is true.

Clark and Powers love to wakeboard. When the snow has melted and it is too hot for all that gear, they ride wakes. What better boats to ride behind than the professionals' choice, Malibu.

When asked about his new sponsor, Power had this to say, "I am really excited to be working with Malibu. Their product is great and is going to be a huge asset for my off-snow practice and training."

Each living near or on a lake in Vermont, one might assume that Clark and Powers wakeboard together. Well that may have happened in the past, but not anymore. Clark is convinced that her 2003 Wakesetter 21 XTi is the best boat to ride behind, while Powers swears by his 2003 Wakesetter VLX. While Clark is shreddin' behind her Malibu, Powers is launching behind his. Neither one of them are giving an inch.

Clark, the 2002 Olympic Snowboarding Gold Medalist in Women's Halfpipe, is a great fit for Malibu. This 19-year old youngster has made it to the top of her game, yet she is still pushing for improvement. Just like number-one selling Malibu Boats, Clark looks beyond limits and expands her horizons every chance she gets. She did it in Salt Lake City with a gold medal winning performance that stunned viewers. As she prepares for the 2003 season she is looking to step-up her act once again. According to a recent ESPN Magazine interview, Clark is attempting to raise the bar to another level by being the first women to land a frontside nine in competition. (900° -- 2 1/2 twists -- of revolution).

"I am stoked to be working with Malibu. They have the best boats in the business, and I am psyched to be part of the team!" Clark raved.

Powers, a sponsored rider since the age of nine, got his start in professional snowboarding with the backing of, industry legend, Burton. Now 23, Powers has racked-up two Olympic medals not to mention all of the successful seasons he has seen along the way. After a bronze at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, Powers went back to being one of the World's most dominant pipe riders. Then in 2002 he revisited the Winter Olympics, this time in Salt Lake, and brought home the gold.

Both of these phenomenal riders share the characteristic that Malibu searches for in professional athletes. While their discipline happens to be outside the water sports realm, their integrity and determined athleticism make them obvious additions to the Malibu team and Malibu Boats is very excited to have them.

"We are thrilled to have two more top-notch athlete joins our ranks!" exclaims Lani Farmer, Malibu Boats Event and Team Director. "The fact that Kelly and Ross are snowboarders makes the relationship even more fun. Their presence on the team will pave the way for some exciting cross-boardsport events in the future."

Octagon - http://www.octagon.com
Kelly Clark's Bio - http://expn.go.com/athletes/bios/CLARK_KELLY.html
Ross Powers' Bio - http://expn.go.com/athletes/bios/POWERS_ROSS.html