Just don't let go" was the last thing I heard as I adjusted my Sumo suit and the Regal 2000 sped off with me in tow.
As I launched over wake after wake, caroming into a 360-degree spin on each landing, I thought, "Who in the world comes up with this stuff?!?"
Leroy Peterson does. He's the founder of SportsStuff, a water-sports company that continues to reinvent the squeal.
"When I create a ride, I'm always thinking about what I can tweak to make the ride do something totally fun and unexpected," says Leroy with his trademark cigar locked squarely in jaw. "That's the secret. You can always make something more fun."
Jay Jolly, Vice President of Boater's World, one of the nation's largest retailers of marine equipment, agrees.
"Leroy's proactive about making rides that are faster and bouncier and that will spin more. He knows how to excite boaters," Jolly said.
As one of SportsStuff's biggest partners, Jolly knows a little bit about creatively keeping boaters excited. They stock over 65,000 toys and gadgets.
FRANTIC
Looking a bit like the huge smile it elicits, the Frantic can sometimes fly when it's whipped along on an outside turn. To help you hold on, Leroy included 14 double-webbing foam handles with soft knuckle pads and a triple-strip neoprene top, so you stay nice and comfy. Keyword: FRANTIC, $299.99
Frantic Grips (see photo 2 in gallery)
Your buddies have up to 14 grips to grab, three soft neoprene strips for you to lie on and four heavy-duty nylon strips to hold onto. Whether you can is up to you.
Tubing has become increasingly popular in the past few years, and we think Leroy is partly to blame. First, there's no easier way to enjoy the thrill of towed water sports. Second, if you do practice on Leroy's water toys, you'll find more ways to get a thrill from them. Third, the science behind all those interesting shapes becomes immediately apparent — like SportsStuff's patented speed safety valve that helps you inflate your toys to get to the fun quicker — and deflates them just as quickly so you can stow 'em and get home by dark. Or their neoprene pads around grab handles: they're there to spare your white knuckles from being scraped pink while you're hanging on for dear life.
BIG BERTHA
Sure, Bertha's big. But she's also beautiful and has plenty of personality, including 68 inches of bulging diameter for you and three of your closest friends; a P.U. fabric coating so no matter how many wakes you rip through, Bertha will be there intact on the other side; and an-air cushioned inflatable floor so you have someplace to stick your tootsies. Keyword: BERTHA, $99.99
Speed Safety Valve on Bertha (see photo 4 in gallery)
This valve can be used with a variety of pumps, including shop vacs, leaf blowers and standard electric pumps for instant inflation/deflation.
SPEED ZONE 2
Remember those carnival bumper cars you loved as a kid? Well, the Speed Zone 2 will make you happily forget them as you and a friend bbbbounce your way over the water, flying to and fro like a huge inflatable hockey puck. And while your jaw may hurt afterward from laughing, your backside won't, thanks to the Speed Zone's air-cushioned inflatable floor and recessed cockpits with backrests. Keyword: SPEEDZONE, $274.95
Ergonomic Backrest on Speed Zone (see photo 6 in gallery)
The cockpit gives a Daytona 500 feel, but the inflatable cushions pamper you like you're in a Lexus.
SUMO
Slide into this inflatable body suit, and "don't let go!" as you fly over the water, blast off the wake and spin 360 degrees just for fun. When the boat stops, dive into the nearest beach break and body surf with so much style the dolphins will get jealous. Keyword: SUMO, $99.99
Custom Fit on Sumo (see photo 8 in gallery)
Leroy designed the Sumo to fit like an inflatable apron with large armholes, so you don't chafe your guns. And if some fool calls you a wuss? Tell him to grab a suit and challenge him to a match — it's good for that, too.
GYRO
Climb inside this rocket-shaped inflatable and hold on as one turn of the boat sends the Gyro's patented swivel system into about 5,400 degrees worth of spins. The heavy-gauge transparent body construction ensures that while your buddies won't hear you scream, they'll see you. Includes 2k-tow rope. Keyword: GYRO, $119.99
Boaters find that tubes expand their "real estate" on the water and use them for floats when they are just hanging out at anchor. That's lead to a whole new division of SportsStuff toys.
You want the fun of a floating lounge but not the bounce of a thrilling ride? SportsStuff's innovative lounge products like the Feel Good and the Cabana Lounge have never made lazy so darn acceptable. These floating resorts feature everything from a massaging headrest and cupholders to umbrella-type shade that travels with you.
"Whether you're flying through the wake in the Sumo or just relaxing in the Feel Good, I live for that exploding grin," says Leroy. "That's the greatest reward for me."
CABANA ISLAND
Most water toys are glorified air mattresses, but the Cabana Island is a veritable all-inclusive resort. With its cushy but durable PVC construction, detachable wind-resistant cabana top and inflatable 16-quart floating cooler with cup holders and zippered lid, the only things that are missing are the steel drums and jerk chicken. Keyword: CABANA, $299.99
Cabana Watering Hole (see photo 12 in gallery)
To cool off just slip in and out of the Cabana's built-in watering hole. But please, no cannonballs.
POOL-N-BEACH
Whether on land or water, this inflatable lounge for two has you covered -- literally. The reclined-contoured design with a soft polyurethane fabric-coating top offers instant relaxation, and the cushioned, ribbed backrest pillows your head for your pleasure. Keyword: POOL, $199.99
Portable Shade (see photo 14 in gallery)
You can remove this windproof nylon canopy for a complete body tan, or set the variable adjustment points if you just want to touch up your farmer's ankles.
FEEL GOOD
Become the instant envy of every pool party ever with this Lexus of inflatable lounges. The contoured mesh seating cradles your body like hammock, and the built-in massager in the adjustable ergonomic foam pillow will knead you into nirvana. And if you feel like blasting some real Nirvana, use the splash-resistant CD player side pockets with water-resistant grommets for your headphones. Ah, so many ways to relax, so little time. Keyword: FEEL, $99.99
Adjustable EVA Massage Pillow (see photo 16 in gallery)
After a day of holding on for dear life, this built-in battery-powered massager combined with the warm sun proved to be such a relaxing intoxicant that our tester may still be asleep on the lake.
60-Quart Cooler
Remember when Dad used to tell those stories about how in his day he had to swim two miles through the blistering wake just to get a warm soda? Well, that's history. This inflatable refreshment caddy keeps your drinks ice-cold for hours, and the color-coded cupholders let you sip instead of chug your drinks. Keyword: FLOATINGCOOLER, $24.99
2.5 PSI Pump
With its powerful airflow, dual settings for instant inflation and deflation and a variety of nozzle adapters, this is one blowhard you'll want at every one of your leisure outings. Its small size means it takes up very little space.
For more SportsStuff product information, go to boatersworld.com or call 800-826-BOAT.
