The name Hunter Bentley should be a well known name in the wakeskate scene around the Rogersville/Elgin area. The Times Daily newspaper just did a full page write up on him and the wake scene in the north central part of Alabama. From our understanding, wakeskating makes him giggle?.. I'm only going by what the paper said.

So, Mr. Bentley came to the Spring 2 Summer tournament to take first place in the advanced wakeskate division. Well, what's so cool about that?... Let me fill you in: Hunter's occupation at the moment is turtle farmer. Thats right, turtle farmer, and he bootlegs fruit on the side or something like that. Although the job sounds funny, he works long hard hours everyday for two months, then takes off the rest of the year... yeah, who's laughing now? He has been skateboarding and roller blading for the last several years but picked up his first wakeskate just a year ago. You can see by his riding, he doesn't slack when it comes to pushing himself. For someone to pick up the wakeskate, go out one year later to place first in the advanced division, is a huge accomplishment. Not only that, but Hunter and I just got back from a trip to Orlando. What i witness was very impressive. From never riding at a cable, to shuv-its and 180's off the picnic table and the 2 kickers, plus a lot more.. North Alabama won't be the only place you hear his name.

I had 20 hours of travel time to learn about this "turtle farmer" from Elgin, Alabama and the adventure was about as full circle as a road trip can be. From running tolls, 20 hours of progressive riding in 3 days, countless wrong turns into the ghetto, 4th of July parties, and the friends we made, you couldn't ask for a better way to learn about or interview someone. Especially our first WakeFactory sponsored rider.

Name: Jonathon Hunter Bentley

Age: 19

Height/Weight: 6' 0" 150 pounds (without my grill and chains)

Hometown: Elgin, Alabama, maybe 40 miles west of Huntsville.

How long you been riding? One year this month, (july 2008) I never went wakeboarding when I was young. I've been roller blading and skateboarding for 6 years.

1 year? How did you get started? I got a wave-runner when I was 18 and bought a wakeskate and a wakeboard. I didn't use the skate until i spent a month on the wakeboard. Wakeboarding beginning in May 07 and the skating came in July 07.

I think you made a good choice going with the wakeskate. What skates have you tried? Byerly Legacy (39" and 42"), Brian Grubb Catalyst, the green one, Liquid Force SST Bi-Level 42", Aaron Reed Liquid Force Bi-Level 42", My first skate was a 06 Liquid Force anthem 43 or something.

What are you riding now? Liquid Force SST bi-level, with dem stripes. Hopefully getting a Byerly Legacy 42" from WAKEFACTORY, and possibly a new liquid force concave.

I heard you like to push the limits of the body, any injuries? RIght now, I have a corner of my growth plate in my 4th metacarpal broken off in my left hand, 2 weeks in a brace without moving it, it got stuck in a crack on a slider. Perforated ear drum, last summer, body variels, ear plugs and antibiotics fairly often.

When you are out on the water, what do you ride behind? Now I have a 2007 Sea Doo wake edition, 215HP supercharged. Its got some mad pull and features that are convenient to wakeskating. I have 2 friends that have Supras and 2 that have Moomba's.

Where and who do you ride with? WakeFactory/Dustin Middlebrooks, Casey Ball, Chase Parks, Jessie Shedd, Jacob Barringer, Chason (Little Man, Man)Team ROMP, Joe Jones. Elk River, 2nd Creek, a few Spring Creek's, out back when I get the pond finished. A lot off people here and there that I've failed to mention by accident.

Recently you took a break from the local scene. How was your trip to Orlando? You have trouble with the toll booths? Uhh, man the basket you shoot the quarters in, well I don't have game when it comes to that, 1 out of 2. SO I grab another, shoot it in, score! We start rolling... then it makes a loud buzzing sound and apparently it was like 75 cent instead of 50 cents, so we takes off and well that didn't do anything, so, oh well. I think in that trip I ran at least three toll booths by accident. Then someone said out of state drivers don't have to pay tolls... I need a book for that one, man...IDK. Anyways, we rode 8 or 9 hours out of the 10 we spent at OWC each day of thursday and friday, and spent probably 4 hours trying to get motivated the next. It was July 4th and I couldn't ride because I was so sore. That night we went to some parties. Had a good time with fireworks and what not. It was crazy fun down in Orlando. They definitely are all about some riding and partying. I progressed a lot down there and the people are a blast. I spent prolly 20 hours at OWC in 3 days. I was sore 3 days after I got home. Damn good trip!!

What have you done and what are your plans for pushing the sport in our area? Keep pushing others and teaching others about wakeskating. I learn more everyday about wakeskating, so its kind of important to answer questions and ask questions as well. Im building a kicker/slider pond and in the process of ordering a winch. Soon we'll be throwing down out back, ALL WINTER.

I would like to say welcome to the WakeFactory Team. You have any closing words to wrap this up? I would like to give a definite thanks to my parents, my friends and fellow riders, Dustin Middlebrooks with WAKEFACTORY for hooking me up with crazy good opportunities and having a super gnar Spring 2 Summer Comp in Guntersville, AL. Joe and Dustin and everyone that was a part of the rail jam it was cool to see such a variation. The water was choppy but the boat pulls went fairly well. It was a lot of fun to be a part of that comp, $500 and a first place trophy felt pretty legit too. Thanks to everybody that has hooked me up with a pull or contributed to progression. Play hard and have fun riding