Tigé News

TIGÉ PRO-AM MADE WAVES IN FLORIDA KEYS

ABILENE, TX – November 6, 2006 – For the second year in a row, the Tigé Pro–Am Wakeboard Championships had another fan–filled event in Marathon, Florida Keys this past weekend. Over 4,000 spectators filled Sombrero Beach to partake in the festivities and watch the top performers in the industry compete.

The event featured eight divisions of water sports: Pro Men, Pro Woman, Junior Men, Pro Wakeskate, Amateur Wakeskate, Amateur Boys, Amateur Women, Open Men’s division and a skins format for the Pro Men division. Tigé included the first ever “skins competition” during the 2005 Pro–Am. This popular tradition continued into this year as well. In addition to cash prizes awarded to overall contest winners, the skins format allows riders in the Pro Men’s division to win more money for finishing first in every heat.

Tigé fans and water enthusiasts braved the strong Florida wind and rain for much of the event. For most, seeing their favorite athletes riding behind a brand–new 2006 24 Vé was enough of a draw. “The newly redesigned 2006 24Vé is a beautiful machine,” spectator Darren Stanch said. “Talented riders like Erik Ruck held their own in the rough water and the way that boat handled through the tough water chop and winds was unbelievable.”

To cap off the event, Tigé team rider Tino Santori won the “King of Wake” crown and the $10,000 bonus it brings. Santori finished the season with an amazing 1,340 points and is now considered the number one rider for the 2006 season.

Tigé manufactures eight direct drive and sport V inboard models ranging from 20 to 24 feet in length. Each boat features the patented Tigé ConvexV hull and TAPS2 technology. All are backed by the Tigé LifePlus Lifetime Replacement Warranty, the only replacement warranty in the industry. Tigé has more than 80 dealers in 12 countries.

TIGÉ PRESENCE DOMINATES INT CHAMPIONSHIPS

Bakersfield, California – October 19, 2005 – TeamTigé skiers Jamie Beauchesne and Chris Rossi dominated the 9th annual INT National Championships this past weekend at Ski West Lakes in Bakersfield, California.   

Beauchesne captured the first place victory of the tournament.  The co-world record holder set the water on fire in the men’s pro slalom with a full pass at 41 off 36 miles per hour.  Fellow TeamTigé skier Rossi finished a close second with a score of 5 at 41 off.

In addition to the strong Tigé presence on the water, Tigé was also awarded the prestigious “Best Booth Award”.  The theme this year for the Championship was “Hollywood”.  Tigé decided to spin off the success of the hit movie “Pirates of the Caribbean.”  The booth featured a dunking booth that allowed fans and spectators to dunk their favorite watersport athlete or INT supporters.  Participants like TeamTigé members Jamie Beauchense, Chris Bischoff, INT Marketing Director Jaclyn Stocks and even INT Director Harold Stocks all took a walk down the plank.

“Though the competition was fierce, Tigé’s proved to be ahead of the competition once again.  The whole team representing Tigé worked really hard to make it the most interactive and fun,” Mark Gibbs, South East Sales Manager said.  “The families had a blast at our booth and the whole weekend.   INT is obviously a positive driving force is the watersport community.”

The INT League is a non-profit organization that hosts amateur waterski, wakeboard, kneeboard and wake skate tournaments nationwide.  For more information please see the INT website at www.intleague.com.

Tigé currently manufactures seven multi-sport inboard models ranging from 20 to 24 feet. Tigé innovations include the patented Tigé ConvexV hull and TAPS2 technology that have dramatically expanded inboard performance, multi-sport versatility and user convenience. All Tigé models are backed by the Tigé LifePlus Lifetime Replacement Warranty, the only replacement warranty in the industry. Tigé has more than 80 dealers in 11 countries.

TIGÉ TAPS CALLED AN INNOVATIVE “TIPPING POINT” BY BOATING MAGAZINE

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in its October 2006 issue, Boating Magazine singled out the patented Tigé Adjustable Performance System — TAPS — as a milestone in the last half century of boating innovation.

TAPS was among an elite list of significant innovations that Boating called “Tipping Points” in the development of modern boating. A tipping point is popularly defined as an important idea or development that “tips” to cause a wide-scale cultural or attitude shift.

Listed in the Tipping Points 50-year timeline, Boating noted that in the year 1995 “Tigé’s TAPS allows drivers to adjust a boat’s wake for either skiing or wakeboarding.” Tigé shocked the industry in 1995 when it introduced TAPS and the world’s first variable hull inboard towboats. All other boats used a hooked hull design that created a fixed bow-down running attitude. Tigé removed the hook in its hull and replaced it with adjustable TAPS technology that allowed trimming of the hull and dramatically expanded inboard versatility. The development was so revolutionary that Tigé was granted a U.S. patent for TAPS in 1996.
Shortly after the introduction of TAPS, Tigé began introducing wider, longer inboards that offered more user comfort, a better rough-water ride and the versatility of quickly changing wake characteristics to fit both skiers and wakeboarders.

“Tipping point is a good description of TAPS,” said Tigé CEO Charlie Pigeon. “It was regarded as radical when we introduced it in 1995 but now many consider it as significant in changing the way people use inboards boats. I’m confident that TAPS played a big role in helping broaden the inboard market.”

Tigé went on to refine TAPS and develop other innovations, most significantly its ConvexV hull that curves up at the stern in a rocker shape like a wakeboard or slalom ski. Once again Tigé uses the latest version of push-button TAPS technology — TAPS2 — to control hull running attitude and wake characteristics. At wakeboarding speed with TAPS2 in the up position, the bow rises and the ConvexV hull settles naturally, creating tremendous water displacement and huge world–class wakes without ballast or drag hardware. Tige received two U.S. Patents for the ConvexV hull design.

The Boating Magazine recognition is the latest TAPS accolade. In the late 1990s, Waterski Magazine named TAPS “Innovation of the Decade”.