Phase 5 Blog

Drew Danielo and Sean Silveria are two of the most established and recognizable names in wakesurfing. With multiple championships under each of their belts and more hours on a board than most, we felt they were the right people to talk to about the State of Surfing. See what they had to say about it now!

The P5 Regatta has become a staple on the event calendar for the team and now in its 4th year, it just keeps getting better with more riders and family members attending! What started as an extended hangout after our team photoshoots has taken on its own life as a full-fledged event meant to bring the team closer together.

Cade Lybeck may not get much surfing in during the winter due to living in Minnesota, but when the season is on, it’s on! With a solid 2025 season in his rearview and his eyes set squarely on 2026, we caught up with him to chat about what’s going on. Check it out now.

Beyond The Prop" is back with episode 2 featuring Jodi Grassman! Jodi has just returned to the Phase 5 team after a few year hiatus and we are stoked to have her back. The four time Women's World Champ has been killing it behind the boat for years. Starting off wakeboarding to follow in her sister's footsteps early on, she found more fun and success with wakesurfing and took to the sport with ease. Dive into Jodi's background this episode as she discusses her surf beginnings, the highs and lows that come with being a professional athlete, traveling the world to compete, and more! Enjoy!

Even though she was absent from the actual Regatta event to accept her award, Bailey Rush was named the International Rider of the Year by her fellow Phase 5 teammates! Bailey had an amazing season so this award is very well deserved. A huge highlight of her year was traveling to China to compete in the 2025 World Games where she took home the gold! Along with many other top podium finishes, Bailey’s year was filled with travel, awesome riding, coaching and more stoke for the sport than most! Congratulations again on an awesome year, Bailey!

A legend in every sense of the word, Caro Villeneuve has logged more hours on a board and in the boat than most. Originally from Canada, she has been with Phase 5 for years and she truly embodies what Phase 5 is all about! She may have taken a step back from competition over the last few years but she is still very involved with the sport. She runs a wakesurfing school – H20 School LTD – on Lake Koocanusa BC Canada every season and gives back as much to the wakesurf community as she can! Congrats again, Caro! You’re a legend!

Every year at the Phase 5 Regatta, we hold a special Athlete’s Awards Dinner where we can highlight the achievements of the team over the last season. With such a stacked team, there is no shortage of “congratulations” to go around! Outside of the competition highlights and introducing newly added team members are the Phase 5 Awards. These special five awards – Inspirational, Legend, Rookie of the Year, International ROTY, and ROTY – are given to the riders who truly embody the Phase 5 spirit and show it day in and day out, on and off the water.

Once a year, we invite as many members of the Phase 5 team that we can to attend the annual Phase 5 Regatta in Sebring, FL. This is a chance for riders from all over the country, and the world, to get together to bond, shred, and have fun together. Most of these riders don’t see each other outside of the events so we think it’s an awesome opportunity for them to get to know each other on a more personal level. Between the riding and the games, we also took time to have our annual “Awards Dinner” where we honor the teams accomplishments. We will post more from that evening over the coming weeks to give the riders some extra love but in the meantime, check out the images from the event and keep your eyes peeled for a full recap video coming soon!

Jillian Albright comes to us from Prior Lake, Minnesota. Her smooth style and positive attitude really caught our attention so we knew we had to bring her on! With a few World titles under her belt in Amateur and Semi-Pro divisions, she has stepped up to the pro ranks and is looking to throw down this season! We caught up with her to welcome her to the team and get to know her better. Check it out now!

Introducing a brand new podcast series from Phase 5: “Beyond The Prop”. In these episodes, we’ll be talking about all things surf with our athletes and influential people across the surfing scene. We’ll be taking deep dives into our athlete’s past, breaking down their most memorable moments in their surfing career, discussing what’s going on now and what they have planned for the future. We’ll also be talking tech and discussing the finer points of their pro models, and other boards in the line, so you can know all about Phase 5! So get stoked and enjoy “Beyond The Prop”! First up, John Akerman!

Luke Hutcherson is a tech skim style rider who comes to us from Stillwater, OK. He recently flipped the switch in 2025 and started to compete in the professional ranks. This decision paid off for him when he took his first pro win and we couldn’t be more stoked for him. Get to know him a bit better below!

Team rider Mo Hamoui is based in the Pacific Northwest. Washington to be specific. Where the scenery is lush and green during the summer and cold and harsh during the winter. That doesn’t tarnish Mo’s enthusiasm for surfing though. He’s one of those riders that makes the most out of every season. He rides as often as he can when the weather is good and is known to get out even on snowy days during the winter to keep his skills sharp. We chatted with him about how life is out there compared to the riders in warmer places.

Hi, everyone! And happy Friday! Today, we’re throwing it back to this gem of a video that gives some pretty solid tips and tricks when it comes to getting your kids behind the boat. The name of the game is PATIENCE when teaching, especially young kids, and team rider Stacia Bank knows the game better than most! Stacia has long been known for her coaching prowess and having three kids herself, she has plenty of experience when it comes to teaching kids. Check out the video now and use some of these helpful tips to get your kid shredding this season!

Music is what gets the people going! And when you're out on the boat, you want everyone to be having a good time. In this series, we'll catch up with our pro riders to see what tunes they've been bumping out on the water. First up, Parker Payne!

The age old question in wakesurfing – “Should I ride a surf or skim style board?” Well, team riders and surf legends John Akerman and Drew Danielo are here to help you decide. Surf and skim style boards look and feel very different while riding and if you understand those differences, you can choose the right type of board for you and really maximize your time on the water!

The latest addition to the Phase 5 team is a local Florida boy and longtime P5 fan – Todd Chapdelaine. Todd can be found riding around the Orlando area, always with a huge smile on his face. He’s been known to catch sets with team riders like John Akerman and Sean Silveira over the years so you know a bit of their talent rubbed off on him. Get to know him a little better and congrats again, Todd!

Finley Jones from Anderson, SC has been rising the ranks in the junior divisions over the past few seasons and we have taken notice! You can always find him with a smile on his face, a good attitude, and a big bag of technical skim tricks! Whether he's on the ever-popular Key or the Mindset, Finley can shred it with ease. Get to know him a bit better now and welcome him to team P5!

Boat show season is here again. If you’re in the market for a new boat this season or a new board set up, now is the time! We’ve compiled a list below of all the boat shows we could find and which Phase 5 riders are planning on being there so you can catch up with your favorite riders! 

Next up for our new team riders in 2026 is Jenna Leseburg. Jenna hails from Antioch, CA and even though she hasn’t been riding for very long, she’s already made a solid impact on the scene and we’re super stoked to have her representing Phase 5! So join us in welcoming Jenna Leseburg to P5 and find out more about her now!

Phase 5 is always on the lookout for riders who are stoked to be on the water, ride well, and love to share the sport of wakesurfing with anyone and everyone. We’ve made a few additions to the team for 2026 with that criteria in mind. Over the month of January, we’ll be announcing our new team riders and first on the list is Sam Wahnish from Clermont, FL. Sam has been around the water all his life and has really progressed his technical skimming over the last few seasons. RIding and getting coached by Sean Silveira has definitely helped! Join us in welcoming Sam and learn a bit more about him now!

With boat waves getting bigger and bigger every year, John Akerman saw the need for a board specifically designed for these man-made swells. With that in mind, he came up with the 2026 Sensei. This brand new design is pretty different from his other pro model, the Ahi, so we caught up with the man himself to see how it all came to fruition. 

Bailey Rush stays busy during the season. With travel, coaching and trying to ride as much as possible, Bailey stays on the go. With the season over, we figured we could catch up with her. Check it out now!

Operation Wakesurf is an amazing organization that specializes in providing unforgettable and unique on-water experiences for first responder and military personnel. Hosting events all through the season, Operation Wakesurf gets hundreds of men and women who keep our communities safe on the water. We caught up with the Founder and President, Robby Maschhaupt, this Veteran’s Day to dig into Operation Wakesurf, how it got started, and what his plans are for the future. Check it out now.

Ashley Inloes is always on the move. Constantly traveling all over the world for contests, photoshoots, lessons, and anything else in between! We caught up with her to see what she is up to THIS VERY SECOND! By the time you read this, she’ll be long gone…so check it out, quick!

Jett Lambert had himself another year in 2025. Winning almost every contest he entered, traveling the globe, pumping out solid content all season, and enjoying every bit of it along the way, Jett is living the life. We caught up with him to see what he thought of his 2025 and which moments really stood out!

Everybody has their preferences. For the “This or That” series, we catch up with riders to see what they prefer on some pretty wide topics. How do your answers line up with Parker’s? Check it out now!

The 2025 season is winding down and just like year’s past, Whitley Stewarts season was a whirl wind! Filled with traveling, competitions, victories, new tricks, and even getting engaged, Whitley has stayed busy all year long. We caught up with her to see what some of her highlights of the year were!

This past week, Parker Payne and I traveled out to the beautiful state of Utah to do some photo and video work with the crew at Boardco. We were met with mid 70 degree weather and sunny skies. First stop was to Boardco headquarters to meet up with everyone and see the operation.

The Neal family from Texas has become a staple shred fam over here at Phase 5 over the last couple of years. Mark and Bree Neal, along with their daughters Collins and Heidi, are fully in on the lake life and are all about sharing it with others and getting as many people as they can on Phase 5 boards. And with Collins and Heidi taking to surfing like fish in water – eventually at least – the Neals traded in their old run around boat and went all in on surfing! We caught up with Bree to chat a little bit about how they got their start, how they keep it fun, and how they manage to keep Collins and Heidi under control!

Team rider Allison Hansen’s podcast, “Sorry for the Wake”, sits down with riders in their natural habitat – on the water! For the latest episode, she connects with fellow team rider Robert McClelland for some shreds and good conversation. Check it out now!

Check out this awesome review of the Key “Jett Shreds” model by Board Co! This super-progressive shape is made to push the boundaries of what’s possible on the water.

Another rider hailing from the Great White North of Canada, Yann Roy has been repping Phase 5 above the border for years. A talented all-around water guy, Yann picked up wakesurfing back in 2008 and hasn’t looked back since. We caught up with him to ask him a few questions and see what he’s been up to lately. Check it out now!

The Mindset by Ashley Inloes took the wakesurfing world by storm with its introduction into the Phase 5 line last year. But what makes it so special? Well, we caught up with designer and pro team rider Ashley Inloes to pick her brain and get more of an idea of her “Mindset” when she’s off and on the water.

Hey everyone, Sammy G here. My schedule has been packed recently, so I wanted to share a little update on what I’ve been up to!

Next up in our "currently" series is Whitley Stewart. Whitley has been focusing a bit more on life outside of wakesurfing and that's totally cool! Check out what she's been up to now!

After an offseason that didn’t exactly go how I planned, I’m beyond stoked to be back in the mix and kicking off the 2025 season strong. I’ve already hit two WWA stops and just wrapped the first stop of the Pro Tour in Ft. Worth—one of my favorite series. The format there pushes you to the limit, that isn’t always easy. It can be anyone's day!

When two legends meet, you know the content is going to be amazing! I’m speaking of course of Sean Silveira and wakeboarder Shaun Murray. Shaun Murray has been on the water for longer than most and with his infectious personality and amazing talent, it’s not hard to see why.

MacCallum’s Boathouse in Epsom, NH is an awesome spot in the New England area where you can get all of your Phase 5 needs. Originally started in 1949, MacCallum’s Boathouse not only offers wake surf items but also sells boats, offers storage, mechanical services, and more! They’re a one stop shop for all things lake life. We caught up with the president, Peter MacCallum, to see how the business came about and why they carry Phase 5.

Bailey Rush has her eyes set on 2025. 2024 was an unreal season for her winning multiple championships and being named the 2024 WSWC Wakesurfer of the Year! How can you top all of that? Well, Bailey’s got some ideas…check out what she has in store for 2025 now!

The Phase 5 Key by Sean Silveira has seen the top of the podium more times than any one can count at this point! This popular skim style board has been on the forefront of progression ever since its release. Since then, Sean has re-designed and tweaked it to fit his riding style and now with multiple iterations of the Key, there’s one for every rider!   

Texas has become a very popular spot for the sport of wakesurfing. The weather obviously plays a role in getting people out onto the water as well as the many awesome lakes throughout the state. South Austin Marine in Austin, TX has been killing it with getting people stoked on Phase 5 and riding behind the boat. And with Lake Travis located right outside of the city, there’s plenty of opportunity to ride. We chatted with Katie Cardarella, the South Austin Marine Wake Shop Manager, to hear a little background about South Austin Marine and their relationship with Phase 5. 

The UAE has become a hot spot for the sport of wakesurfing and we’re here for it! With tons of access to the water and plenty of different clubs to go choose from, it’s rather easy to get on the water and surf. As opposed to the states where the norm is to have your own boat, or a buddy with a boat, in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, they have “clubs” where you can call in to make a reservation to ride, with or without coaching. It takes the stress out of taking care of your own boat so all you have to do is show up and shred! Sounds pretty good, right?!

We at Phase 5 are always looking for companies that share our values to partner with. That’s why we’re so excited about our partnership with Coastal Wake! Started by Michael Williams out of Winter Park, FL, Coastal Wake prides themselves on their “White Glove Service” to keep you and your crew stoked the entire time you’re out on the water! Serving the entire state of Florida, Coastal Wake comes to you and makes sure you have the experience of a lifetime. We caught up with Michael to chat about Coastal Wake and what this partnership means to him.

The Phantom by Parker Payne has been updated to be the ultimate surfer for 2025. This high-performance quad fin set up has been fine tuned to keep up with Parker’s high-intensity surfing! With its concave deck, you get much more board feel and it really helps out with the maneuverability of the board on the water. Hard slayshes, huge airs, tech tricks…this board is made for it all!

The fins that you pair with your Phase 5 surf board play a crucial part on how the board reacts in the water. Drive, speed, pop, carving…they’re all affected by the size and shape of the fins that you have installed on your board!

Sutton Smith is the latest addition to team Phase 5. Sutton is a ripper straight out of Tennessee and we’re stoked to have him on board for 2025. He’s only been riding for 3 years but has already shown some awesome potential and some solid technical skills. We’re looking forward to seeing what he can do this season as he competes and shreds all year long! Congrats, Sutton!

Fresh off his 2024 World Championship, surf style shredder Sam “Sammy G” Gonclaves has made the switch to Phase 5! Not only are we stoked to bring on someone with so much talent, he brings fresh ideas and concepts to the table which helps us bring even better boards to you! We’ve already started work on a pro model for him so make sure to keep your eyes peeled for that…but in the meantime, help us welcome Sammy G to team Phase 5!

If you’re into the ocean surfing world, you know that Tatianna Weston-Webb is a big deal. She recently got together with Phase 5 team rider Parker Payne to see what surfing behind the boat is all about! Check out the video above now!