Years ago, like 2011, I was able to make my first west coast reunion, loading up the 99' 2100i my 8 year old boy, a smelly pitbull mix aptly named Rose and my 3 employees and driving off to Temple Bar from Southern California at who knows what time with my younger cousin, his kids and their boat...some kind of not Tige' contraption with an outdrive. John Coleman was leading us into the new era of reunion with a new venue after Echo Bay pulled the plug and the online community decided Lake Mohave wasn't gonna work. We had been part of the planning online but always were away on our houseboat trip since the reunion's inception and damn if that wasn't ironic. IIRC, there weren't a lot of Tige boats, including ours; Larry (Tall Tige Guy who literally dwarfs my height which was unnerving), John Coleman, Black Widow (Jack, Cheryl and Will and their damn black boat), forever The Captain, legendary James Linden and his family, Mike Allen's talented family crew and Dave and Pam with the 2200i. 7 boats maybe... Mike Campbell, I can't remember if I met you then or the following year, it's all really a blur of Captain, Fireball, Jack Daniels, gallons of tequila and being on the marina dock with everyone until all hours of the night...swimming in the 85* water, an introduction to underwater lights, dogs on swim steps, the beginning of wake surfing, friends, beers, dumb dares, pissing contests and bikinis...and my young son making solid decisions to go to sleep in the room instead...at least the first year we went.
There are incredible memories here hopefully for more than just my family. The reunion happened to be on Beck's 12th birthday one year and the crew threw him a surprise birthday party when we arrived at 10pm complete with cake and ice cream!!! At Temple BAR!!! Every year I would pay for my employees to attend as an end of season thank you and they all still talk about those times. IIRC, Dave and Pam's first year organizing I smoked pulled pork for everyone for dinner and that was also our introduction to sponsorship with Germaine Marine and a first look at the greatness in the years to follow. The next year (we now affectionately call it the crock pot year) Pam and Dave did the same with crockpots in every room. Then we all figured out donations and sponsorship was the way to go so nobody missed time on the water with friends and family, windy or not.
At 13, Beck learned to surf behind Dave and Pam's boat and went wireless his first time up. At 18, he possibly had his first taste of Fireball like maybe 5 tastes actually and relaxed on the grass by the pool with Brad and Jenn, Jason and myself bestowing the knowledge of life only Fireball can induce and then waking the next morning ready to hit the water without a problem at 6 mother f-ing am while the rest of us pondered the slow death we were warding off using mediocre coffee. Brad, Jenn, Jack and Cheryl...sitting outside the rooms at temple just bullsh*tting the evening away, building memories, planning futures. Weddings, Catalina trips, Mammoth with Devin, exploding kittens at the Hodge Lodge Lodge, marriage proposals at the top of the world, birthdays, my divorce, employment, disagreements and fireworks...always explosives and fireworks...those crazy guys who only had reverse and decided to shoot skeet in the middle of the National Recreation area in the middle of the night...a cracked muffler leading to vessel assist and working bilge pumps, campfires until dawn, inflatable unicorn, fist bumps on I 15, engine alarms and thousands upon thousands of miles driven to be with these people who had become such incredible friends through the brand. It has always been the Tige` brand has a community of welcome where I see other brands have snobs with labels, sparkly handbags and fanny packs. Maybe there are other groups like ours but I don't really care, this one helped change my life and forge intense memories stemming from a conversation I had in 2001 which has now brought about 22 years of ownership and devotion to this community. I bought my first Tige 10 January 2003 and Beck was born 9 months later so this brand has had an incredible influence on our lives. Beck is 22 next week and was unable to attend this year as he was at training camp for UCI men's volleyball and their upcoming season but he wanted to say hello and a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone with whom he made and shared so many memories.
At its peak this year, this 20th year of the west coast reunion, we are watching the changing of the guard with owners both new and experienced welcomed into the Tige` community's fold. Yougins, you have your work cut out for you with Dave and Pam's departure but the community has always been different and positive and always been happy to help so reach out when you need it.
Dave and Pam, THANK YOU SO MUCH for everything you've done over the last decade. I remember the scare of your son's accident and to see him as a parent now, and you being grandparents is amazing!!! Congratulations on your unbridled success and may it continue in all your future ventures!!! The growth of the community and especially the reunion and its venue have been amazing to watch. Our family appreciates everything you do and have done to promote this event. Thank you again!!! We love you and hope to visit you in Texas soon!!!!
-The Weber/Rabbitt family and friends
There are incredible memories here hopefully for more than just my family. The reunion happened to be on Beck's 12th birthday one year and the crew threw him a surprise birthday party when we arrived at 10pm complete with cake and ice cream!!! At Temple BAR!!! Every year I would pay for my employees to attend as an end of season thank you and they all still talk about those times. IIRC, Dave and Pam's first year organizing I smoked pulled pork for everyone for dinner and that was also our introduction to sponsorship with Germaine Marine and a first look at the greatness in the years to follow. The next year (we now affectionately call it the crock pot year) Pam and Dave did the same with crockpots in every room. Then we all figured out donations and sponsorship was the way to go so nobody missed time on the water with friends and family, windy or not.
At 13, Beck learned to surf behind Dave and Pam's boat and went wireless his first time up. At 18, he possibly had his first taste of Fireball like maybe 5 tastes actually and relaxed on the grass by the pool with Brad and Jenn, Jason and myself bestowing the knowledge of life only Fireball can induce and then waking the next morning ready to hit the water without a problem at 6 mother f-ing am while the rest of us pondered the slow death we were warding off using mediocre coffee. Brad, Jenn, Jack and Cheryl...sitting outside the rooms at temple just bullsh*tting the evening away, building memories, planning futures. Weddings, Catalina trips, Mammoth with Devin, exploding kittens at the Hodge Lodge Lodge, marriage proposals at the top of the world, birthdays, my divorce, employment, disagreements and fireworks...always explosives and fireworks...those crazy guys who only had reverse and decided to shoot skeet in the middle of the National Recreation area in the middle of the night...a cracked muffler leading to vessel assist and working bilge pumps, campfires until dawn, inflatable unicorn, fist bumps on I 15, engine alarms and thousands upon thousands of miles driven to be with these people who had become such incredible friends through the brand. It has always been the Tige` brand has a community of welcome where I see other brands have snobs with labels, sparkly handbags and fanny packs. Maybe there are other groups like ours but I don't really care, this one helped change my life and forge intense memories stemming from a conversation I had in 2001 which has now brought about 22 years of ownership and devotion to this community. I bought my first Tige 10 January 2003 and Beck was born 9 months later so this brand has had an incredible influence on our lives. Beck is 22 next week and was unable to attend this year as he was at training camp for UCI men's volleyball and their upcoming season but he wanted to say hello and a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone with whom he made and shared so many memories.
At its peak this year, this 20th year of the west coast reunion, we are watching the changing of the guard with owners both new and experienced welcomed into the Tige` community's fold. Yougins, you have your work cut out for you with Dave and Pam's departure but the community has always been different and positive and always been happy to help so reach out when you need it.
Dave and Pam, THANK YOU SO MUCH for everything you've done over the last decade. I remember the scare of your son's accident and to see him as a parent now, and you being grandparents is amazing!!! Congratulations on your unbridled success and may it continue in all your future ventures!!! The growth of the community and especially the reunion and its venue have been amazing to watch. Our family appreciates everything you do and have done to promote this event. Thank you again!!! We love you and hope to visit you in Texas soon!!!!
-The Weber/Rabbitt family and friends