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Shaun Murray (pic: David Williams)

Just prior to heading out on the road for his third year of the Back Yard Tour. Shaun Murray took some time to give us the lowdown on what he'll be doing this year. The hardest-working man in the wakeboard business has got a lot of new stuff happening for both the Back Yard Tour and himself.

WW: This will be a very different year for you now that you're not competing on the Pro Tour, you've opened a new wakeboarding school (The Boarding School) and you're married. How will that affect the BYT?
SM: The school will have an affect on the BYT, but not the marriage. The only real difference this year is that I am focusing on giving people a chance to experience The Boarding School on the road with more of a focused clinic. This year we are charging for the clinics so we can continue to do these tours in the future. At the end of the day, around 5, if you don't have a spot in one of the boats, you can come for some posters, stickers and autographs.

Boardstock 2003 (pic: Arun Frances)

WW: How are you enjoying your "comp-free" year? Andrew Adkison said he's never seen you ride this well.
SM: What a difference in my attitude towards riding! Usually, this time of year I am stressed out to learn something new for my contest run and then start to get it consistent. Now I'm just tryin' stuff whenever I feel like it, which is pretty much every time I ride, and also trying to do everything big, which has been fun.

WW: What do you think about the new tour format? Do you think wakeboarding is headed in the right direction?
SM: I haven't really thought about it. One of the benefits of not competing I guess. It's been nice to step away from it and realize that the Pro Tour is not the center of wakeboarding, just a way that the public sees it. But I do still realize how important it is to have it out there.

Kicking off BYT 2004 (pic: Lloyd Murray)

WW: What kind of new moves will somebody see if they do happen to catch you riding this year?
SM: Big ones.

WW: How is The Boarding School going?
SM: Travis and I have a great time at work and laugh all day with the students. We are booked until the fall, so things are going well.

WW: How is your video game, Wakeboarding Unleashed, doing? Will there be a sequel?
SM: Haven't talked to Activision lately, but heard a while ago it was doing pretty good, but not killing it. I doubt a sequel since they went way over budget and release date. Businesses don't like that.

2003 World Champ (pic: Bill Jamison)

WW: What can we look for in your 2005 boards? Will the Temet name live on?
SM: Not too many people got the whole Temet thing. Most people ask me, "So which board do you ride?" So I tell 'em that I designed the Temet. Next year it's gonna be called The Murray.

No shape change for '05 'cause I am super stoked on how well this board rides. So many people think that continuous rocker makes for small riding. I beg to differ. If you think about it, the more of a flat spot and kicked up ends the board has, the less it fits into the shape of the wake, thus it slows down at the wake, hence the bucked feeling. I raised the very center of the board to disperse water not only to the tip and tail, but also side to side for smooth landings. Similar to a spoon hitting the water rather than a piece of ply wood.

I am starting to work on some new shape stuff for '06, but I look for stuff that works, no gimmicks. Wait'll you see my new boots! Holy moly!

Orlando 2004 (pic: Bill Jamison)

WW: I hear you're going to update the Detention videos. Can you tell me about that?
SM: Its been an ongoing process for about 3 years now and, with my schedule being so full, it is super hard to finish the thing. Now that I have been in the boat everyday for a year coaching, there are some new things I've learned that I want to somehow put in Vol. 1, which is done already. I'm just starting Vol. 2 now.

I'm doing some new vids just so they come up to date and have a better quality. The first ones did better than we thought they would and when I watched them a few years ago I thought, I need to make these better quality.

WW: Will there be any other surprises from Shaun Murray this year?
SM: Hopefully I don't break any bones this year!

2003 Charity Golf Classic (pic: Bill Jamison)

WW: Who will be joining you on the BYT for 2004?
SM: Gerry Nunn will be at some stops, but doing mostly the Just Ride Series with Malibu. My brother Paul will be along for most of the ride and some other riders and photographers are being talked to now.

WW: Will you be keeping folks updated while you're on the road?
SM: Only depends if I can get my cell phone hook up working with my laptop.

WW: Who are the tour sponsors?
SM: Hyperlite, Correct Craft, Fox Racing, The Boarding School, Lx Eyewear, WakeWorld and Quality Coach Service

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