Happy Christmas
Everyone at The Forest Lab would like to wish you a very happy Christmas!
TYLER KILLINGSWORTH
I first met Tyler Killingsworth through a mutual friend, who is also sponsored by slingshot wakeboards, in the summer of ‘09 during a nice winch session at a friends pond. Tyler also became my co-worker a few months back, and I knew I needed to get him on TheForestLab.com. Some discussion took place, we finalized everything over 20 some odd yards of vinyl, a cutter buzzing in the background, standing in his garage while making a fresh run of TFL#! stickers.
As you’re about to find out, Tyler Killingsworth is a down to earth, easy going, likeable kind of guy. Big things are in store this upcoming summer season in the wakeboard world from this 23 year old riverside native reppin’ TFL#! tees with a unique riding style a swag that only a Killingsworth can dish out.
The Forest Lab: How did you first start wake’n?
Tyler Killingsworth: When I was 15 my dad rented a wakeboard and a houseboat on Lake Mohave and it took me 12 tries to get up. Ha, but I was the most determined out of 5 brothers and haven’t stopped since.
TFL: What pros did you look up to as a kid?
TK: I have always looked up to and respected Ricky Gonzalez and Randall Harris… The two westside OG’s, you know.. haha.
TFL: How old were you at your first competition?
TK: I was 15 yrs old in Lake Arrowhead. Old schoool
TFL: How have you kept an edge on other riders in the industry?
TK: Haha, I just try and keep to myself and have my own style. I am heavily influenced by snowboarding and skateboarding. I love that $hit
TFL: Where is your favorite place to wake?
TK: I like to ride in canyon lake but the dopest lake I’ve ever ridden on was in Minnesota. Can’t tell you what lake though, haha… It’s a secret
TFL: Who are your sponsers?
TK: I ride for Slingshot Wakeboards, Fresh-Tip Designs out of Minnesota and now y’all.. The Forest Lab!
TFL: What’s the toughest trick you’ve thrown down?
TK: Next, haha
TFL: If you could call another pro rider your best friend, who would it be?
TK: Ricky G has brought me up since I was 17 yrs old so he has been a big help and has taught me a lot. On the water and with the ladies. Haha, but nobody gets more chicks than that homie right there. He’s engaged with a kid now but trust, back in the day… Haha, I’ll stop right there.
TFL: Where would you like to see wakeboarding go?
TK: I would like for it to be more accessible to people that can’t afford a boat. Like the cable parks, or the winch. Those two have helped the sport grow to places the boating industry can’t even touch. We need a cable park in Cali. It would be over, haha!
TFL: How has the sport changed since you’ve started?
TK: Well the economy hasn’t helped at all, but what’s new. Wakeboarding is just an expensive sport, so it’s tough for people to get into. It’s not like a skateboard where you can just go in the street and be satisfied, it takes a lot. Everyone used to have boats and you could just ride whenever you wanted. Now days you have to take what you can get, whether it’s a small wake or a windy a$$ lake. Beggars can’t be choosers.
Written By: Josh Mezin
Firehouse Subs
There are no doubt many activities to occupy your time while visiting Las Vegas. I’m not gonna get into the details but you know what Im talking about. For some, food isn’t one of those activities that makes it high on the priority/to-do list. But hypothetically speaking, if you were to block off some time during your next soiree in Sin City for food let me make a suggestion.
A few miles east of the strip off the 215 is a little sandwich shop called Firehouse Subs. This place takes your average gourmet sub sandwich and sets it on fire (lame pun, I know)! Seriously though, without hypin’ it up too much I’d say it’s well worth the 15-20 minute drive from Planet Hollywood’s Pleasure Pit. Hell, just bring the girls with you. And, when you get there be sure to try the Smokehouse Beef & Cheddar Brisket with plenty of firehouse sauce (it’s spicy).
Im just rollin’ into Vegas as I type this and you can be sure that come tomorrow afternoon a Firehouse Sub will be hittin’ the spot.
Oh yeah, and if you post a picture of yourself at Firehouse Subs mid-bite on our Facebook page there might be something in it for you. Im just sayin’ – we do own and operate a clothing company after all.
Also, follow Firehouse Subs on twitter or become a fan on Facebook. You’ll be glad you did.
TFL#! out.
STAR WARS + ADIDAS
In June the good people over at LucasFilm announced a partnership with adidas Originals to produce a line Star Wars inspired/branded shoes and street wear. This news, while epic, was just a bit unfair. As you found out a few weeks ago, we are HUGE quasi-nerdy Star Wars fans. And, coincidently, I am also a huge adidas fan (I wear them exclusively). So while the announcement was nice and all what I really wanted to see was pictures. Adidas has a somewhat sketchy history of taking good ideas and making them less than stellar so I was initially kinda worried that these two great things would somehow suck when combined and subsequently ruining my childhood memories. But, all we could do was wait and see.
Then, finally, in the last few weeks pictures started to pop up around the internet of what these things look like. I must say, so far, I like what I see. Below are pictures I stole from other websites.
The Star Wars inspired adidas Originals line in due to hit shelves in January.
Photo credits belong to: Star Wars, adidas, hypebeast.com & highsnobiety.com
Fall/Winter Line-up & MORE!
We like you. We really do! And, just to prove to you how much we like you there’s a few things we wanted to let you in on. First and foremost is the release of the Fall/Winter Line-up of new TFL#! shirts. The new stuff features the same hand drawn quality art as our original line but it’s NEW, and we think you’ll dig it. The four brand new shirts include Charlie Chaplin, Outer Space, Edward Scissorhands & Wendy (pictured below). Ironically, the new designs are available to purchase NOW – just in time for the holidays.
ABOUT SHIPPING
Speaking of the holidays, it might be the Christmas spirit thats’s getting to us but we’ve lowered the price of shipping. Now you can order all you want and pay the low price of $3.99 to get it delivered right to your house. How convenient. Additionally, when you spend $35 or more you can get FREE SHIPPING when you use the code: “SHIP“ before checking out.
ABOUT NEW LOWER PRICES
But wait! We’re not even close to being done (this next one is good so pay attention). We’ve lowered the prices on all our shirts! Starting right now you can get any “Bear” (Yellow, Red, Grey, Gold, Bronze) or “Heart, Mind, Soul” (coming soon!) shirt for only $9.99 each. Original shirts are now priced at $14.99 each and the NEW Fall/Winter line is just $18.99 each.
Also, most shirts are now available in 2XL for all you fat guys teddy bears and giants. And, just for giggles we will be adding some new art work to the Gallery so don’t forget to check that out too. Hope you’re feeling the love. Now spread the word.
Don’t forget to follow up on twitter.
And check-out our NEW fan page on Facebook.
