Fall and Winter are here

As you've seen, it's been a busy fall. We have had some rising water and our team worked hard with neighbors and our wonderful slip rental customers to keep their and our boats safe and moored correctly. Some new breaking news is that we are in the process of opening a restaurant at our marina. Geared toward families with reasonable pricing and an informal atmosphere, we want everyone to enjoy the atmosphere for reasonable prices. Keep an eye on the website for more details. Magnum's The Boathouse will serve your needs in the future.

Winterizations have kicked in and we are on the water every day getting your crafts ready for the season. It is important you consider the idea of not winterizing very seriously. In our experience, we've had several customers who have not winterized and they lost their engines and had multiple problems. The problem is, when your engines break due to cold, other issues are also broken they may not reveal themselves until after fixing the engine. We've seen it over and over again that what starts as an engine repair ends up discovering other problems associated with the damage to engine that surface later and add up quickly. We suggest that you get our certified technicians to completely winterize your boat and save yourself in the long run. It's not worth the risk to have your boat destroyed because of winter's chilling fingers.

Wakeboard Pics

Photos Courtesy of R. Ries Originals Photographic Art rriesoriginals@aol.com
Great shots of the entire day!

The Big Boys are GETTING Ready to Ride

Here come the open riders and they are awesome. Fifteen minutes of Fame is underway...the final showdown for riders before the BIG Boys get on the scene. Check out the video here.

Getting Ready for Amateur, Pro and Over 40...WHERE ARE YOU?

If you come...come by water.....................

If you aren't here, or coming, you are missing a cool event. These riders are cool and nice to work with. I mean it. They are just nice, friendly People packed lunch and Vierias is serving hamburgers for $5.00 and 2 hotdogs for $5. It's crazy. My dumb camera is still not charged and it's really bad. This place is packed. I'm going to get some images as soon as possible.

Shoutouts go out to the photographers and videographers. Everything is a photo opp!!!

Great stuff to watch and people to see.

2nd Annual 15 MINUTES of Fame Wakeboard Contest

Here we go again!!! Once more, I'm seeing the crowds merge and riders appear. This time we have a bigger event and a larger crowd. Young riders taking the stand from 10-15 years old just out there shredding it! Magnum Boating and Blackwater Boating Company are present to support the riders. It's fun and crazy all at the same time. People everywhere--newspaper reporters and people starting to gather. I hear there are supposed to be a lot more coming, but I also understand that Saturday morning riders understand that they don't ride until late day so they are catching up on the sleep they lost last evening. Cameras with wide angle lens dominate as young kids shred the wakes and not fearful of anything.

Bruce's voice beams across the water as he calls for slow rolls of every boat to protect the rides of the young kids. He just called out to a fishing boat to slow and told them that "all the wakeboard people here love you." Tunes are rocking and poeple are jumping off the back of boats to keep cool. Mother Nature is doing her part, keeping it warma nd humid.

Thirty riders signed up and a pro from New Zealand are here and ready to rock! I think the lady riders are next.
CRUD...my camera battery just died, so I'll post some pics of the kid riders as soon as the battery is charged...

Lee Waggonner and Chris Pedinger

Riding hot and fast were the two first riders. Amazing doesn't really cut it. FEARLESS is what I'd say. Maybe it's my age, but 12-15 ft. in the air and wide oppen is not my idea of fun, but it is my idea of really cool. Double up runs and devil back rolls seem to be the sayings of the day. They are a little far away, but hopefully you can see the video of some awesome moves. Here are some shots and video to wet your whistle. It's unexplainable the friendly and BIG Mike just belly flopped from the top row. COURAGE beyond belief. Go, Big Mike.

MacKenzie here....I'm the GM's of Magnum's wife to be, so you will be hearing from me too, here. I don't know what to say except it's so cool to get everybody together. Watching the dancing and Big Mike...very awesome and fearless. Caroline writes, "What did I see out there?

"The third rider really tore it up, and the announcer is AWESOME," I think. For one thing, he pulled all four double ups...You know when they circle and the wake builds and then they crest and blow through the wake into the air like a gymnast. He didn't bust out and pulled all four." Amazinnnnnnnnnnnnnng...

(CJ back)Pretty great we've been so busy that I haven't had time to blog...but I'm back. You know, I'm not as young as these guys out here and the lack of fear is pretty awesome. It's more than a few moments for them: it's a lifestyle. These guys were some of the nicest, most respectful --teacher alert ocurring-- that I've had the pleasure to meet. As the guys break down the banners, I just sit here wondering what it's like to be that fearless.

I don't know who won or anything yet, but I do know that it's a crazy amount of fun but the business is why we are all here. It's funny but everyone wants to have a good time but work still has to be done. Guess I better get to it!!

Double Up Dinero

Don't know what to expect! It's my first wakeboard contest. All ready and everybody is here and we are ready to start the day. Humidity up with the temperatures fosters an environment of just wanting to jump in the water. So far, few riders, but it's the first one and everybody is learning. What's so cool is to look around and see the riders and hear what they are saying. This crew is nice, and I MEAN nice to everyone and very laid back. They talk about weight in the boats: too much....too little........crazy waves...don't say flip, Caroline, and make sure the flip video is charged. Our friends from The Coast Guard are here to manage the event and make sure everyone is safe, and that makes me breathe easier. I just asked the crazy question if wakeboard was one word or two. Pretty bad, huh? But I can learn. :) Let's see what you can see from the first flip video...

Where did April Go...and Now May

Can't believe April is gone and May is waving to us as she flits out of the calendar!!!!! We have been super blessed and busy, and I just haven't had the time to blog. Our Magnum family has been super busy with season startups, boat sales, and events all over our system. In fact, take a look at the events we have planned for the summer!

Events: See below. The video here is from the 2009 Poker Run Magnum Boating sponsored with other dealerships and services. We were a card stop, and I cannot tell you the fun that was had. Great people who are so positive and supportive stopped by to get the Poker Run Hot Dog Special or just to pick up a card and partcipate in the event. It was awesome!!!! We made some new friends and conversed with customers all across the lake!

Check out the Poker Run Video at http://www.magnumboating.com/pokerrun09.wmv

May 23rd SML Demo Day: 10:00AM-4:00 PM @ our marina. 2031 Morewood Road, Hardy VA 24101

• Magnum demos Moomba and Supra
• Bridgeside Marine: Mastercraft
• FULL Access Demos on all products: Boats will be in water for Test Drives and Wakeboard pulls.
  Magnum Team Rider, Eric Carter on site.

June 27-Blackwater Boat Co & Magnum Boating Ctr - "Double Up for Dinero"-Smith Mtn Lake, VA

• Double up contest: 2 double ups: BEST trick wins!!!
• $500 minimum cash prize for First Place
• Top 3 riders advance to dudden death final
• Sponsored by Magnum Boating @Indian Pointe and Bridgeside Marine
• 1 Division: Riders will be judged on Best Trick
  

July 11-Blackwater Boat Co & Magnum Boating Ctr - "Inboard Boat Only Poker Run"-Smith Mtn Lake, VA

Aug 1-Blackwater Boat Co & Magnum Boating Ctr - "Double Up for Dinero"-Smith Mtn Lake, VA

• Double up contest: 2 double ups: BEST trick wins!!!
  
• $500 minimum cash prize for First Place
  Top 3 riders advance to dudden death final
  
• Sponsored by Magnum Boating @Indian Pointe and Bridgeside Marine
  1 Division: Riders will be judged on Best Trick

Coming soon our new family members who purchased boats in the months of April and May! We have been so blessed and we welcome the newest members to our boating family!

Beautiful Days Ahead

I'm setting here watching the sunset and I'm just so moved to write. The whisps of clouds dance in a pink and blue ballroom in the sky reflected in the jewel of the south's beautiful green face. No greater Artist!!!!!! Finally, the weather has broken and we are nudging toward the 70's. WOOOO HOOO!!!! Today we met and were able to serve two very special people. They purchased a pre-owned boat from us and they were the best as all our customers are. I just so enjoyed meeting them and chatting with them about honesty, the economy, the young people and values. What a joy! I LOVE to meet people.

We also were able to serve another sweet couple who took advantage of the unbelievable WOWNOW deals from Chaparral on a new '08 model...looking forward to seeing them again as well. I know you hear it, but this is THE BEST TIME TO buy a boat. The 2008 models we have are priced very low and I would put them on the website if Chaparral would allow, but they don't so dealers have fair chances to sell product at their price. If you want a Chaparral, you need to call and ask about the pricing: as our rep said, "there will never be a time that boats are this discounted. I hope people take advantage of the Chaparral Stimulus Plan." You may think that sounds corny, but it's true...we sell and they want to help us so we can reload in the fall.

I see glimmers of hope today all around the lake. People smiling with the sun shining. It's more than uplifting. I feel like the good news of the DOW and the glints of turnaround are lifting people. I always remind myself, though, people all around need to be lifted. Hopefully, here at Magnum, we do just that. It's not just about selling or profit, but about making and creating new relationships! We just want to truly serve you. Good to see Mr. K and son today. Thanks for all the support of all! See you in the sun and fun of the season: COME SEE US!

Magnum Boating family

Cold weather stops some boaters, but not this family that loves the Duke Blue Devils! We first met Team "O" on a warmer day as they looked at their "Blue Devil" Chaparral on the lot. Never fearing a cool day, their orientation took place in frozen weather with then dressed for their water sleigh ride! Welcome to the family, "Team O!"

Just the other day "Team O" came in for some bumpers and other supplies. It was a genuine pleasure to see them decked out and ready for spring as much as we are--eventhough Winter was holding on that day too. I couldn't remember if I'd asked them to post on our web, so...now that I have it....MEET team O!

Go Blue Devils!!!!!! They'll come back next year!!! (Sorry the posting took so long: misplaced the images). :) Thanks for the mascot, too: Karl and I love to see him perched above the copier! :)

Our Video

Moving to Indian Pointe Marina in Hardy, VA Smith Mountain Lake has afforded us the opportunity to serve all our customers with more services and a full dealership/marina experience. From slip rentals, to the finest boat lines of Chaparral, Moomba/Supra, and JC Pontoon, to the 24 hour gas and 7 day a week technician, we have it all... for you!!!

Thank goodness for sunny weather

It's almost spring and we are ready to serve you! Get your boat ready before Memorial Day and just shine, shine, shine. I think this economy gives all of us even more reason to be thankful for each other, our wonderful customers, our employees, our advisors, and all the people who work so hard to support us. Tim and I have been quite moved with the outpouring of love and kindness we've seen from many people who are just as love the lake at heart as we are. It's such a loving community. I look around at the water the other day that looks inviting (but I'm not as brave as our wakeboarding friends in wet suits) but is very chilly and I see such beauty and grace in all that surrounds us. I love it here. I want to sell boats and just be a part of the lake community. As mother nature breathes life back into the leafless trees and the Bradford pears bud white and the birds come back, I'm once again so thankful for the beginning of a new season.

I was looking the other day at the inventory, and we have some 2008 boats in stock. We need to move them, and that is going to benefit our customers. Plus, we really have a great inventory of pre-owned that can fit your needs. We've discounted them ALL for you. We have boats and want them to be where they should be....at your dock or in a slip from us. Call us for a test ride and ask for the great incentives we are offering!!! We want to serve you!

This weekend is going to be beautiful: you need a boat...so come by and see our selection and we can talk about your needs and what we can do to serve you.

Out of the Snow Drifts

WOWWWWWWWWWW...not 3 inches, not 5 inches, but a WHOPPING 8 inches of snow for Franklin County? We still have snow on the ground, but it is melting bigtime finally. The boats are slowly coming back to the lake as all of the dealers got caught by Winter's angry white blanket. It wasn't enough that the snow was drifting, but the wind and the BITTER cold bit me all the way through. Yep, I've got the sniffles and a scratchy throat. Much better now since we finally got some rest.

As the boats head back to Indian Pointe and Tim and I start talking about our busy summer schedule, we start to see some life of spring coming back to the lake. I can't tell you how much I love it on the lake. I just do. It's the way life comes at you so hard and then you look at the lake and peace fills you up. I mean look at that picture. Mid snow and the lake is STILL, ALWAYS, Beautiful. My husband loves it even more than I and I really have such great joy just being around the water.

The show was a success. Everyone is saying it was and we are so glad that we all had a good show. What a shot in the arm for the upcoming season. While we did close some deals, we would love to have more, but when you are in business for yourself, who wouldn't. :)) We met a fantastic couple on Sunday who loves the Chaparral 236 Crystal Series (one of my ALL TIME favorite boats...well, besides the Chaparral 284 and 244 Xtreme). They will be down to the marina soon.

BIG BREAKING NEWS: I forgot to introduce our new staff: Dave Kendrick and Walter (Junior) Gould. Terrific additions to our team. Dave has been in the marine industry for 15 years and Walter has been since he was a child. We are so proud to have them in team Magnum. What a joy!!!!!

Slip Updates as Promised: We have slips available. We have 10 wet slips and 5 covered slips available. Call as they are going fast. Start date 4/1/09-3/31/10. Call 540-537-5515 and reserve them before they are gone. Get your name on the waiting list!

Can't believe it's Snowing

OK...so I love a white Christmas and all the beauty of snow, but snow at the boat show? UNBELIEVABLE. All the school students are jumping wtih glee at the prospect of a closed school system, and to read that we might bet 3-5 inches????????????? Unbelievable. It was 60 on Wednesday, snowing on Sunday, and to read the forecast, it will be 50 on Thursday again. Woowwwwwweeeeee......

Remember, CJ, it's still FEBRUARY and the groundhog spotted his shadow for sure! Much to blog about from last night's show. Great deals and new customers and I can't tell you how great Rob was from Skier's Choice. His wisdom and way with children and customers was so easy going and comforting. I won't forget the directions he gave me. Thanks for all that you did Rob!!

All our reps were yesterday helping and our favorite boat show helper came with his dad to help. Before I knew it, time flew and I was starved for anything quick. Tim was not hungry, so I ran to McDonald's and grabbed some burgers (weightwatchers points were over the limit in a BIG way yesterday). WE had so much traffic that you really wouldn't believe it. I was even surprised but you could tell when it started snowing about 5:00 when people started talking about trekking to the g-store to get the bread and milk! I know my friends North used to laugh at how excited I got in college about the 2 inches...They thought I was so freaky about snow. They never reacted until there was atleast a foot!!!! It's beautiful and blanketing like a warm, wooly, comforting wrap until the sneaky ice is added. Fortunately, I don't see that in this midnight forecast. :)

I hope to see you all today, Sunday, the final day of the 2009 boat show!

Saturday Crowds are Fabulous

It's busy and we have had so many of our customers come by to wish us luck and fall in love with the Double Ice Xtreme and the black, sleek World's Supra. What was super cool was the small worlds we all work in. Mr. Altieri... came by to wish us well and wanted me to be sure and blog about how "...great Tim is to deal with." Very small world to see that his son-in-law was one of my favorites that I taught as a high school teacher! Even smaller world is that Mr. Altieri's wife is one of my favorite business teachers in Roanoke County! WOWEE!!!

Ofcoure it was super to see my vets coming through to ask about our babies and finding out they are indeed JC fans. I also got to see a certain Salem football coach and star in the civic center with his gorgeous mom! We had some wonderful family support and met some super new customers. Bob and Mona and all the people who stopped by to meet us and discuss the 256 SSI. LOVED her shoes!!! I know...get back to the boats, but I really did love her shoes.

I'm really saddened to find out that the 2500 mailers to our customers I sent out last fall didn't reach some customers. What a blessing to see them here at the show and realize I need a different mailing company. :) We also heard that our "we've grown and moved" sign on Route 40 is missing from the Magnum sign, so if you see the sign, remember that we are at Indian Pointe Marina! Established in 1986 and around after 2086: 540-719-2427.

I also can's say enough about the emails and calls of support and interest since the "Tim is now famous" article ran and I'm just so proud of him and our guys here. You wouldn't believe the peace of having these associates working with us! Mike is here from Chaparral with boat show ONLY extra deals for buyers, Ray is here from JC and Rob is here from Skier's Choice. It's cool to have our manufacturer's backing us with so much help and incentives.

To be honest this is the best time to buy a boat. Our manufacturers support their dealers and that means the world to us. They want to help and coming to the show to work with us is humoungous. The 2008 deals are by far the best offerings on the market and we are here to serve you. Please come by the booth and take a look at what we have to offer. We will EARN your business!!!!

Wow...It's here again!!

Kicking off the season in 2009 is the Roanoke Boat Show from today, February 27-March 1 at the Roanoke Civic Center. It's exciting and nerve wracking! There is so much to do and so many things to make sure you've done. The winter was cold but we made some new friends and we've tried to catch up on everything to be totally organized for the new season. While we've taken over the dock store, we really haven't opened up anything except the gas. We have been organizing, winterizing, and getting ready for the February show. We had a great article written about all our Internet efforts in the Lake Weekly on page 6 Friday, February 27th edition. What a blessing that all that hard work paid off and someone noticed...

The show is different this year. People are trying to be outside the box and inside the new scope of 2009. We keep trying to do new things to let people know where we are and how much we want to serve them. We sent out over 2500 mailings in the fall to our customers only to find out that a lot didn't receive them...so if you see someone and they ask about Magnum...tell them where we are!!!

Our booth is up and we have worked extremely hard on getting it right for our customers. I cannot tell you how much it meant this morning to get a call from one of our previous customers (we are selling his boat for him) this morning to wish us luck and talk about the article in the paper. Mr. L...thanks so much for the call. We appreciate you!!!!!!!!! Another customer and friend stated he was praying for us...E, we appreciate your thoughts and help. You've been tremendous! Your boat is here! :)

Another thing about the show that I just love. Everybody talks and cheers for everyone. Our friends at the Automatic Boat Covers are the best as one brought the article in the Laker Weekly for Tim to autograph! :) All the dealers say hi and how are you and hope you have a good show. It's a comforting situation. Everyone is doing what they can to work hard and serve customers. Take last night for instance...we were here until 10:30 and there was no one else in the building. Tim and I took one last pass with the vacuum cleaner that now roars like an earthquake, but cleans and Jr. and Karl were jamming to the new Supra Worlds boat remarking on the enormous amount of storage...and we just thanked God for all the blessings we have from our customers who are calling and coming by the show, to the new customers we've added to two new wonder workers that came to us by The Grace. It's not easy being a boat dealership, but nothing worth anything ever was... Come by our booth and see us! We can't wait to serve you!

Chaparral Xtreme Videos

WOWEeee! We are in show get ready mode, and I'm making the Youtube video for the dealership and I find all this footage thats been added by our manufacturers.

Mr. K's Story

It was late in the afternoon and the sun had poked it's lazy head out when one of our wonderful customers came in. He shared a story with me that struck my heart. He was telling the story of how he got the perfect boat that he owns today. Here's Mr. K's story.... About a year ago, I called Tim and said, I want a yellow boat, SSI 22 ft. and I really want it to be in great shape and it must be a Chaparral. It was end of the season, so Tim and I talked about his checking other dealerships and when that came up null, he and I discussed ordering a new boat. We had pretty much worked out the details and I was getting ready to finalize the deal. In fact, I was supposed to come and finalize it. Tim and I had spent hours on the phone and he had looked for more hours on off hours. I remember the phone call when Tim called and said, Scott, you are not going to believe this..."Your boat is in my lot." I remember thinking, he ordered the boat and got it here that fast???? Tim quickly added, "I'm serious; YOUR boat is in my lot. Come by and get it." When we finally started conversing about how he'd taken a boat on trade that day for a new boat and immediately thought of me, I couldn't believe the story. I kept asking him...does it have this like I wanted, and Tim would say, yes, man, this is YOUR boat. I bet I asked him about all the options twice that I wanted, and he patiently would say, "yes, Scott, man, this is YOUR boat." "It's yellow, too?" I gasped in amazement...and with that said, "I'm on my way." I'll never forget how I got my boat. I love it. It's perfect just like you said, Tim. Tim answered..."Yes, Scott, I knew it was your boat." His story struck me because it's the perfect example of what our dealership believes in: finding the boat that is perfect and what our customer wants. The customer was excited and happy and still is a year and 1/2 later and that's PRICELESS. And that's Mr. K's story...