Professional wakeskater and watersports icon Brian Grubb has seen his career span decades with seemingly greater success with each passing year. He’s accomplished more than he ever dreamed possible, and towing it all was a sequence of model-year after model-year of the best-selling towboat in history, the Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV.
Wakeskate Pioneer
With his solid foundation as of one of the world’s most notable professional wakeskaters, Brian Grubb helped pioneer the sport in the early days. “There’s no right or wrong way to do any of this stuff,” Grubb says. “We didn’t know how to do it or what we were doing when we started, but wakeskating was anything you wanted it to be.”
The Right Boat, the Right Wake
The just-right shape of the 23 LSV’s wakes made it the perfect choice for experimenting with the tricks that would eventually become the sport of wakeskating. Where other boats have a fickle side of the wake that likes to roll over at certain speeds or in chop, the 23 LSV’s hallmark is a symmetrical wake that stands up in just about any condition. Beyond that, the transitions are nothing short of perfection. Wakeskaters need a smooth ramp from start to finish or they’re as liable to boot out the front as they are to land a wake-to-wake shuv it. That’s why the 23 LSV’s ideal wake shape featuring just enough angle for both takeoffs and landings is the perfect platform.
“The wake is just super consistent and the transitions are perfect for wakeskating and for wakeboarding"
Brian Grubb//
Wakesurf Veteran
As versatile as his boat, Grubb does it all. And while wakeskating is still high on the list of Grubb’s passions, he’s broadened his horizons to include wakesurfing and foiling as well. When it comes to wakesurfing, the 23 LSV with Surf Gate is one of the all-time greatest duos. Grubb can use Surf Band to control the wave while he rides, which means adjusting Power Wedge III up or down to take the face of the wave toward a steeper or mellower angle, as well as transferring from side to side. The latter is one of Grubb’s specialties. He’s never one to color inside the lines, so staying on one side of the wave was not going to work. Grubb was on the bleeding edge of innovation again as he and other Malibu Pros learned new transfer tricks, taking the sport of wakesurfing to a whole new level.
“I just want to keep challenging myself all the time. You do that by doing new things and getting outside your comfort zone and just seeing how far you can take it. That’s kind of been the story of my life.”
Brian Grubb//
The Next Challenge
Wake foiling is another natural fit for the 23 LSV with its customizable wakes and waves. Foilers enjoy a more mellow wave since the sport requires so little push. On the 23 LSV, that transition can happen quickly and easily with Surf Band or the Malibu Command Center. The Malibu Command Center controls just about everything in the 23 LSV right from the captain’s chair, including wake and wave settings at the push of a button. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, this convenience meshed with customization is one of the hallmarks of a great watersports towboat. Grubb loves to challenge himself with this new sport.
“I mean, it was my dream to be a professional watersports athlete since I was five years old,” says Grubb. “To have done it at all is a huge accomplishment for me, and to do it as long as I have is a great feeling.”
To experience for yourself why Brian Grubb is such a big fan of the Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV, contact your local dealer for a day on the water.
