History
How it all started
Many old school jet skiers know well the name Randy Jungwirth. Being part of the legendary PJS Racing organization back in the 80’s Randy went on to open up Watercraft Connection (now known as WatCon). This killer performance center grew to be known as watercraft mecca in the Northwest part of the US for all of us young punk wannabe performance addicts and our clapped out Kawi JS 440’s and 550’s.
At this time Randy started the annual Watercraft Connection Hangover Ride on New Years Day every cold January 1st on the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. Pretending we were all having fun in this frigid weather was a mask for what that sly Randy pointed out “off the record” to me later was a way to get all of us hibernated winter folks out and breaking parts. Not a bad early season sales approach to get the skis out of the garage.
A few years into this annual icicle gathering Randy and I joined forces for splitting the costs of this annual New Years party (the price of a case of beer) and together made the suggestion to our flock of winter faithful riders “what do you think about moving this to the surf instead of this lame river?” After surviving a few gale force winter storm years riding off the beach at the treacherous Cape Kiwanda Dory Launch on New Years Day with nary a dry log to burn for firewood, let alone having a chance at a clean wave set, Randy and I looked at each other and thought more importantly? “There’s not much chance of a bikini shot out here today is there?”
With this crucial goal in mind, the painful and many-years-past-due transition from a cold winter shiver-fest to a summer beach party was born. Knowing that our favorite Freeride gathering spot at Cape Kiwanda could be overrun with non-locals (Quimby’s) who may or may not respect the other ocean users and beachcombers in this “becoming” ever more popular spot, we made a conscious decision at that time (circa 1996-97) to steer any of our fellow surf riders and customers to stay clear of the Cape area in Pacific City. This tradition continues today. Launching and riding jet skis in the waves at the Cape was just going to cause problems even with respectful riders. The Cape area is just too popular and crowded. Though cleaner more consistent wave sets are to be had at the Cape than at Tierra Del Mar beach just over the hill North 1 mile, it is just too politically charged and crowded of an area now for PWC. The Dory Boat Fisherman and Surfers are now in a power struggle of which most feel will not be a happy ending. Perhaps Barney Frank can step in and settle this?
Back to the history……aahhhhh….. August Blowsion Beach Party’s at Tierra Del Mar. Very smart move. Bikinis came out, handlepoles were broken, kegs were shared, ribs were cooked, and even a couch was freeridden (is that a word?). Getting an invite was an exclusive. Not because of any pompous attitude; this was simply just a word of mouth gathering to let it hang out for a weekend. To have to “plan” something detailed and in advance was not on the Blowsion or local rider agenda. Using what little planning energy could be squeezed out and amassed, the last few Blowsion Beach Party’s have been passing the hat for local charities and have proudly raised many thousands of dollars for each. The South Tillamook County Good Neighbors Program, the Doernbechers Children’s Hospital (little guy Devin Michael Hoffmeister is doing great now) and our favorite little charger Wyatt Brown (who suffers from autism) have all felt the generosity of the freeride community.
Last year in 2008 one of our dearest and closest friends Pro Freerider Zach Waddle and his fiancé Libby Minium were struck and killed by a drunk driver on the outskirts of Pacific City on the eve of the annual summer gathering. With this crushing and outright devastating news a decision was made amongst the core that the only way to go on was to do it in honor of Zach and Libby. With their now 2 year old orphaned son Mason Waddle in mind (MasonsFuture.org), please come and enjoy this September 2009 weekend of competition and beach fun. Being held publicly for the first time, please help to make it a fitting salute to one of our most cherished friends and talented Freeriders, Zachary Arthur Waddle.
John Dady
Blowsion
Zach and Libby in Pacific City, 2008
Cold Fusion
For me it at all began on the beach in Hawaii in 1984 where my cousin took me surf riding on a beater 440.
Came home and instantly bought a beat up 550 and started thashing on it. Between surf riding at famed oil piers, and racing, it was quickly a pile, this lead to another ski and another and another ect.
After a few years I accepted the fact I pretty much sucked at chasing bouys, and would rather spend my time distroying skis in the surf, and building parts for them.
When the FX-1 came along we made replacements/ upgrades for almost everything on the ski, and been riding them ever since.
Over the years Ive had the opportunity to follow my passion of free riding to some of the best surf breaks around the world including, Jeffery's bay South Africa, Mozambique, Baja Mexico and Queensland Austraila – a favorite stop.
Being halfway to 90 now, I'm not as hard an my equipment as I used to be, but my equipment is hard on me.
To help pay for all this, I started Cold-Fusion in 1989 and focused on developing parts and accesories with cylinder heads being our primary product.
Throughout the hay day we mfg parts for other lables as well as our own and we poured huge efforts in our cylinder head designs, safe to say if you were a pro Kawasaki rider ,winning races in mid 90s, you were running our parts
As the industry and equipment has changed over the past 20 years, we find ourselfs once again focused back were my real passion lays, in providing high quality top shelf products for free riders unless theres a swell – then the parts can wait.
—Carl Gramberg, Cold Fusion