The History Behind Cable Wakeboarding's Largest Operation | Benjamin Suess - Ep. 97

Benni Suess has done more for the sport of cable wakeboaridng in Germany than just about any one individual. Benni and his family opened up one of the first cable parks in Germany, and they have continued to expand their operations since the parks inception in 1976. While Benni got his start at 4 years old on a pair of skis, and did pursue competitive waterskiing, it was when wakeboarding came around that he felt at home. With both contest results and video parts under his belt as a rider, Benni has just about seen it all when it comes to cable wakeboarding. First time skiing, the early days of Langenfeld, boycotting a contest, partying the night before a comp, early days of features, 11 cables within an hour drive, Langenfeld Open, US vs. German cable scene, GOAT, hot takes, and the biggest cable mishaps Langenfeld has seen. Hear all this and much more in Episode 97 of the Grab Matters Podcast with Benjamin Suess! Follow Benni: https://www.instagram.com/benjaminsuess/ Follow Wasserski Langenfeld: https://www.instagram.com/wasserski_langenfeld/ Thank you to this shows sponsors! Liquid Force: https://www.liquidforce.com/ Slingshot: https://slingshotsports.com/ Chapters: 00:00 - 1:30 intro 1:45 Favorite grab 2:50 First time getting on the water 5:40 Early days of Langenfeld 9:00 Wakeboarding enters the picture 17:50 European Cable Wakeboard Tour 20:50 Euro vs. American scene 24:30 First sponsors 30:40 Guest Question: Nico Von Lerchenfeld 37:00 Partying on contest weekends? 41:00 Movies 44:00 Are current riders students of the game? 47:30 LF’n Wheel of Questions 49:20 Setup 54:00 First features at parks 55:30 Liability in German cables 1:00:30 Langenfeld operations 1:08:00 Is Langenfeld too corporate? 1:09:00 Why waterskis? 1:16:10 Future expansion at Langenfeld 1:20:00 Competition in cables 1:23:15 Slingshot Silhouette Challenge 1:25:00 Langenfeld Open 1:32:00 Guest Question: Nicklas Dorfer 1:36:00 LF Germany Team 1:38:10 USA vs. German cable scene 1:46:30 Currently with Benni 1:40:00 GOAT 1:51:00 Hot Take 1:53:00 The perfect cable ever 1:56:40 What keeps wakeboarding fresh? 1:58:00 Guest Question: Daniel Jarrett 2:03:00 Relationship with Unit 2:07:50 Biggest cable mishaps Thank you for the guest questions! Nico Von Lerchenfeld: https://www.instagram.com/nicovonlerchenfeld/ Nicklas Dorfer: https://www.instagram.com/nicklasdorfer/ Daniel Jarrett: https://www.instagram.com/danielstorzjarrett/ Links: Big Time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmTxXk29eG0&list=RDMmTxXk29eG0&start_radio=1