We’d like to congratulate Ricky on teaming up with HH! Below is the press release from hart and huntington or you can read it here on the HH website: Click Here

Mar 15, 2011 : Irvine

Ricky Gonzalez has hooked up plans for 2011. Not only does he have 20 major events on the schedule but he has big plans to smash it and will have Hart and Huntington backing him up all the way.

There are few in the industry that get the big picture and are willing to go out, work hard, and take what is theirs. Ricky G. learned that lesson early on in life and has never stopped since. For 15 years, Gonzalez has inspired, pushed, pulled, and developed wakeboard progression to where it has landed today.

Hart and Huntington recognized these characteristics back in the day and have now aligned with Ricky to rock the watersport world and represent. “Ricky has been a good friend of mine for a long time,” explained Carey Hart. “His longstanding influence in the wakeboard industry has made a huge impact to the sports bottom line. He is the real deal and gets what we’re all about over here at Hart and Huntington. He is Ink Rock Moto and just keeps rolling after that. I admire his dedication to the sport, We are stoked to officially bring Ricky into the family.”

Whether Ricky is pulling a huge “Indy Pete Rose” signature, creeping the fresh candy apple red 65 or ripping up the hills on a free ride session; you can expect Gonzalez to be keeping it real holding down his OG style. “It’s funny how things come around in a full circle,” Ricky commented on his new affiliation. “Carey and I became good friends a long time ago when we were team mates on another brand. He is doing big things and now I’m going to ride or die representing Hart and Huntington. I swear I’m his long lost brother because I’ve been called Carey so many times when I rock the black hair. Must be that and the tattoos.”

Follow his regularly updated twitter @itzrickyg or catch him on his personal website itzrickyg.com cause Ricky G will always have the lowdown on what is legit. Right now it’s the Hart and Huntington 2011Spring Collection that has him looking tricked out and ready for the summer.

I apologize to those of you how have been looking for updates, It’s been way too long since the last post…the last few months have been one hell of a ride for us and that’s putting it gently…. So here’s the scoop…..

Back in late July we were so STOKED after about 6 months of designing and testing we received a mini production run of boards! We were on top of the world! Then a few days later CRASH! After closer inspection they just weren’t up to our quality Standards….they rode great and to most people they look good, but to us they had issues….We set high quality standard for our products, we don’t want to put out inferior boards, produce only the best. The boards just had too many small problems with them. So many problems that added up to one major problem….they were missing the high-end craftsmanship that we wanted….We have all worked at various other wake brands and this is a new start a time to do things they way we want…. Basically we don’t want to come out of that gate like this……A emergency meeting with all the crew was called….Summary; A whole lot of money and time was spent developing these boards, now what? Take more time and cash to make the factory give us what we want? Surf Expo is right around the corner, this was going to be our public launch date! Easy decision, we’re not going to go to Expo and show these boards. They do not reflect our brand the way we want. Now what? What do we do about future boards? Do we stay with our current factory, or move on to a proven factory? We need GOOD boards fast…It was decided to move to a established and proven factory, they’ve made tens of thousands of boards over the years. So we proceeded with them, everything seemed to be going smoothly then things started taking way too long to happen. Communication started to deteriorate….About 3 months in, out of nowhere, they dropped us! Can you believe that? Something about too much snowboard production they didn’t have time for us….I thought it’s the nail in the coffin, we’re done before we even got going……this sucks……myself and the rest of the crew were down in the dumps….Now what? I’ve already explored other factories, both USA and Overseas, no one seemed to be interested in making product for us…..urghhhhh…….then on day, my phone rings….On the other end of the phone was THE FACTORY…the one I would have liked to been at since day one! They just threw us the life line we so desperately needed! They are not only willing to bring us in, they are actually pretty amped to do it! Just like that we went from we’re done to hell ya we’re gonna kick some ass!
The factory; I’ve worked with them in the past and designed some awesome boards with them. I was on cloud nine….Phalanx was back on the right track….We’re going to get the top notch quality we want! The willingness to innovate, the passion for craftsmanship, it’s all there! I think at this point all of us felt revived, we’re like finally, it’s going to happen, no more getting kneecapped, we’re moving forward….this all happened right before thanksgiving, I think we all had a great holiday. I know I did…..I flew out to the factory right after Thanksgiving, worked on an 2 new families of boards besides the current CW & TW, the ideas were flowing, I got more done in 2 days then I had in the last 6 months. i honestly can’t wait to get these boards out to you guys….

So, here we sit the middle of jan, things slowed down a bit with the holidays, but everything is progressing right along…Raw board materials were ordered and are being shipped to the factory, we helped the factory just purchase some new equipment that will take some of my design ideas and have them come to fruition. It’ll also increase production times…which will be good because spring will be here soon and we need to get some boards out to you riders! In the mean time, I’ll be working on graphics for the 2 new board families, I’m shooting product in our studio, finalizing tee designs, printing up tees for stock and working with the web guy on getting the website finalized. Positive things are all happening for Phalanx right now…

So keep checking back there’s now that things are back on track updates will be posted often…thanks for you patience…we’ll be worth the wait!

Ray

Just off the plane from BroStock with only a days rest to regroup, RickyG and I were headed to the biggest little city in the world, Reno NV, for the Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships presented by Rockstar Energy Drinks. Still recovering from a shoulder injury, Ricky was not going to miss out on being at an event were every division in the sport will ride, as well to defend his own title in the Pro Vets division that Ricky and I pushed to get started just a year or so ago. Arriving in Reno at the Nugget it didn’t take long to run into other athletes and friends of the sport that all had open arms. After being in the sport for so many years, the best events are the ones with all divisions are riding because you get to see everyone out of your area and you can spend time catching up. One other aspect of having an event in Reno is that you can take time out and try your luck at the casinos and other crazy attractions around town.

Back to the event!  Thursday was the qualifying day for the Pro Vets division. When we showed up at the site the friends and fans were nothing but excited to see Ricky and what we were about to pull out of his board bag. For the rest of the country, this was to be the first time to see one of our boards in person not to mention the first time that a PHALANX wakeboard would be ridden in a WWA sanctioned event. With open arms again, shop owner Nick from Nick’s Boat Dock in Tennessee was super stoked as well as a lot of other fans and friends. Ricky was really bummed that his shoulder was not right still and said that at least he would just run a basic down and back pass for the fans. So my stress level was maxed thinking that Ricky was going to do like a parade lap and just wave to the crowd. Unfortunately for the future of the Professional Veteran athletes division, for some reason most of them still haven’t stepped up, and the only other Pro Vet to sign up was Dean Lavelle. This division was formed for the legends of the sport after they have grown older and have reached a level of heroism, for them to continue in the sport and to ride for the fans and for the history of the sport. So Dean hit the water and threw down in highly old school contest fashion, and in his run he threw a double hand wrapped Slurpie. After that qualifying run from Dean, Ricky decided he was not going to disappoint the fans and was not going to lose his title as Pro vets National champ. So with this in mind, Ricky did just that and threw down a flawless qualifying run to give him a first for the round. So stoked! The next day (Friday) of the event was the finals for many divisions including Pro Vets. So with Ricky winning the heat the day before, he was to ride last in his final and gave him the advantage to watch what Dean was going to throw down.

After dean rode a solid final and a legit double up, the pressure was on for Ricky to perform like no other Legend in the sport. And so he did with another flawless run and the biggest hoochie glide ever on his double up. The crowd was pumped and even the judges said after words that they never see a double up thrown in a contest that big. With the stress level over and the thought in my mind that PHALANX just won for the first time in a sanctioned event, I was stoked. The great thing is that we were in Reno and what a perfect place to celebrate a victory. In complete professional form after the trophy presentation and a few words to the fans in a Fuel TV interview, we did just that and enjoyed some food and few congratulatory drinks with a lot of our good friends at the Nugget. For Ricky it was even better after his fiance, Chene, his daughter, JayLee, and good friend, Little G, showed up to Reno late Friday night. Saturday was like the biggest family day of the event as well as qualifying rounds for Pro Men, Junior pro men, Pro women, and pro wakeskate. With a lot of the top athletes in the sport starting their families, it was a great place for the next generation of professional athletes to meet and greet. Also with all the vendors and industry sponsors booths, it was a great event for the fans to meet athletes and get their autographs on some sweet swag, pick up product, or get a good deal on decks or apparel. One of Ricky’s sponsors is Rockstar Energy Drinks and the autograph session there was no joke. As well, the staff from Rockstar are always the best to just kick it with. I want to send out a huge thank you shout out to Craig Davis, Jameson, and Jay from Rockstar and Rockstar Hart and Huntington for the hospitality and support. Also, special thanks goes out to Nick McBride for always having our back.

Now that the 2010 Nationals is in the books, we are off to work more on the soon-to-be-released product line. Ricky will be getting ready for world championships and to defend his world title in Pro Men Vets. Hopefully all the international pro vet athletes will step up for the younger generation to see the evolution of the sport, and compete at worlds so that next season more legend athletes will get involved and this division will survive and thrive for the next generation of pro vets to move on to for the history of the sport.

I want to thank all the fans and families that are following us and helping in our conquest to be “UNITED for a COMMON CAUSE” and will help the growth of our sport for the generations to come.

TF

Here are a few photos from the 2010 National Championships in Reno, NV.

With the past few years of competing and placing in BroStock at Lake Powell, it was good to hear from Don Wallace of Liquid Force that once again RickyG was invited to compete at the first ever BroStock Lake Bull Shoals, Arkansas. After some really crazy traveling to get to Arkansas and a 3hr mountain road drive from the nearest airport Little Rock, Ricky and I finally arrived at Bell Arco Resort at Lake Bull Shoals. The next morning (Friday) we were awakened at about 6am to rain that was more than I think Cali gets all year, but by 11 the sky opened up and the people started showing up from all over the central part of the country. Friday was the day for everyone to show up and after cruising around town we were really amazed on the hospitality of the community and everyone that was coming in from somewhere else to see this event. That night was the official meet and greet as well as the rider meeting and the instructions to the riders on the format of the contest. At that meeting, the heats of the contest were picked and we found out that the riders that placed in previous BroStocks were seated, and that Ricky was going to be last off the dock in the first heat;  he also drew the riders that would be in his heat. After the meeting, the official results of the heats were announced and the riders all came up to welcome the crowd, announced by the always on point Jeff Barton on the stage at the kickoff party. Let me tell you the fans there were the best, nothing but good old down-to-earth people, and they were super welcoming. The amount of feed back we got from them about PHALANX was awesome. Thank you to all the fans for the warm welcome.

Saturday was a early one, since Ricky was in the first heat. We were up at 7am to meet the boat at the marina and took a 10min pontoon ride down, out, and around an island to find houseboat row and everyone else that had stayed on the lake the previous night in this big cove where the contest was to be held. Now by about 10am the crowd had really started to show up and the contest was starting. The turnout was huge.  A good example of the attendance  would be : If you were to have a relapse in time and remember what BOARDSTOCK 1998 was like at Lake Shasta, CA this was just that about 20 house boats and maybe a couple hundred wakeboard boats. Later that day the marina guys were saying this was the biggest event that this lake had ever seen. Ok so back to the contest…So that everyone knows how important attending events are to us for the fans, Ricky is about 9weeks off of full reconstructive shoulder surgery. Now with his heart looking out for the fans best interest, Ricky was not going to let them down. Although a hard task, Ricky still went big for his fans on his first two double ups. On his third dub he went huge and stomped a nose grab Pete Rose and for sure did not let the crowd down.

After Ricky’s heat and finding out the judges had picked a standard hs bs 540 over the Pete, we knew that he wasn’t going to be in contention for the win this year. After the day ran out and watching some of the other bangers throw down, including Danny Harf stomping the second ever 1080 in a contest during his head to head round, it was time for the closing party at Bell Arco Resort where the awards were announced and a band played for hours. The party was great and the people once again showed us all how AR gets down.

Sunday morning Ricky And I packed it up and gave our good byes to the town of Bull Shoals and headed back WEST, until next year were i’m sure he will be ready to show the fans what cali style is all about.

keep watching for more blog updates as we go to Nationals in Reno, NV next

Thank you Again Lake Bull Shoals

TF

It’s been super productive here at Phalanx the last few weeks. If you’ve seen our tweets, then you know we issued a PO for some of our boards, we’ve received a few pre-production samples since then and they looked amazing….So, I’ve given them the green light! I talked to our factory yesterday we’re a short 2 weeks away from having CW salesman samples in hand! So you shop guys and distributors you better blow us up now cuz they are going to go fast!

The TWs are right behind them gotta few tweeks in CAD, we played around with fin placement and finally got the perfect spot for em’…After I approve CAD we’ll start cutting tools for them. In other TW new, I recently got back the latest approved TW 435 sample from Ricky and I took it out for a ride yesterday, it was sooo much fun…I normally like Continuous rocker boards but the TW was real consistent made for a fun time on an extremely hot day…

Overall, things are looking good right now, a lot of excitement and movement happening, Ricky is conquering Russia right now, I’ve recently designed up some board bags, handles and ropes, and I’ve designed and printed a ton of Apparel. I have a grip of hats samples going on as well… Speaking of hats, I received pics a couple days ago of a custom Phalanx hat sample from Flat Fitty…looks real nice, great job FF can’t wait to get the sample in hand!

Tomorrow I’ll be heading down to So Cal, for pretty much all of July. I’ll be staying in Long Beach, so if you see the yellow Phalanx Tige’ out at marine Stadium, that’s us hit us up and take one of our boards for a ride, you won’t be disappointed.

Have a fun and safe Independence day! Go USA!

>>RC

It’s been a long R&D process for us, but we finally got our boards just the way we like em…With our seal of approval now official, We placed a PO for some CW & TW boards and I got word from the factory, they received the deposit today, Stoked! Waiting to here back from the factory on the build schedule….can’t wait to get these boards out to you guys! –RC

I got word last night that our very own Ricky Gonzalez will be heading out to Russia at the end of the month. He’ll be in Moscow June 24th-28th for a Contest sponsored by Wakeworld Russia and Centurion Boats…So if you have nothing to do that weekend book your ticket and show some support! Go USA!!!! He’s also got a magazine interview in Wakeworld Russia to coincide with the trip, We Don’t know what it says but I’m sure it’s all good!… Good luck Rick! “Bang bang, say da da da!”–RC

The west coasts season kickoff event was a blast. PHALANX wake was for sure UNITED for a Common Cause in event form. First off we showed up to the event in about 7 or 8 vehicles and 2 boats. Ricky, Chene and all the Bakersfield crew were in full attendance as well as Kevin with his boy’s from LBC, Ray and Family from Idaho and Troy, Seth with their girls from the Central Coast. We diffidently showed a big presents with representing our support for the West Coast. We set up our first event booth and a lot of banners to show our support. The proto type showcase of boards we had was a hit and everyone that came by the booth was really stoked on our progression this far. We had a lot of people buy shirts and we handed out a lot of stickers. The tug a war contest was awesome, With Ricky’s crew we were a force to reckon with. The crowd was outstanding with the boat slips full of top of the line wake boats all loaded with thousands of dollars in the best dance party stereo equipment and bikini dancers. The double-up and big air contest was truly awesome with some of the top pros and local riders all throwing down for the big prize. The awards party on Saturday night was big, loud, and went on all night. By the end of the contest wherever you looked there was someone wearing Phalanx either a hat or shirt or both. That felt like a great accomplishment. So after all that we packed up the Crew and headed out to a great Sunday mothers day breakfast and as well where very thankful for everyone’s true support for a great event. Can’t wait for the next one.

Special thanks goes out to the CIE crew for your dedication for a great event. And to KEITH, MIKE G, CHUCK, BIG G, LITTLE G, SETH and all their ladies and everyone else if I missed you for all your help in support for our CAUSE here at PHALANX wakeboards.

It’s been awhile since the last Blog…i apologize for not keeping everyone up to date….there’s been a lot going on these days….We hit a snafu about a month ago, our factory got a big order from another customer so we got pushed to the end of the line…because we were still in R&D mode we just stalled out….the bummer was we we’re super close to giving the CW boards the official seal of approval but sometimes these things happen….Anyway, we do have a couple pre-production samples that we’ll be showing off and will be available for Demo at CIE Springride, at Bass Lake , CA. This weekend. All the Phalanx crew will be assembling at the event. Were gonna have a booth loaded with giveaways as well as boards on hand. Ricky will be there signing autographs as well. It’s bound to be a great time so come on out!
Ray

So, here’s the latest news on our progress….

Graphics are for two (CW & TW) series of boards are 100% printed and looking so sweet. I talked with the vendor yesterday and he had just finished packing them up for shipping out to the factory. I did have some aired over to the factory and they’ve pressed a couple of the CW-425s. The samples should be arriving to me any day for my final approval! I can’t wait to see em’, so, so stoked! We’ve also received the 3D stickers that will be going on the boards and they came out so sic!

Late last week i got our fin samples and they fit the rockers of the boards so nice. I approved them issued out a PO and there going into production! Our fins are a high grade of fiberglass, that are hand shaped to our specs. No flimsy plastic or composite fins for our boards, we’re only using legit components on our boards.

The latest TW series protos look so sick! Ricky did have a chance to jump on there earlier this week and said they rode so nice! I sent him some fins to test with, so hopefully we’ll have some more feedback soon. i want to get the final tooling for these cut a.s.a.p. We can’t do that til Rick gives his seal of approval…..A few days ago, Rick also rode out at a System 2.0 system that’s been set up near Fresno. It’s so great seeing stuff like this happening on the west coast. We’re developing boards for specific use in parks/rails so it’s great to see this aspect of our sport growing. Keep it up America!
>>RC