Tanner Thomas - Update Newsletter and PhotosStory & Photos: Tanner Thomas Times really flies when you're making things happen! It's been a while since you have heard from me but I have been fortunate in many ways. Since you heard from me last after the RPM "Best of The West" round in Parker AZ, I left my truck in an enclosed storage unit near Los Angeles California to fly back to Washington and get back to work for Dawson Construction. Also to have PRK laser eye surgery to correct my vision. This was a very unpleasant process. Similar to LASIK but with a much longer and more painful recovery process.Thankfully my loving girlfriend Kate was there to get me in a VERY dark room as soon as possible and help take care of me for almost 10 days until I was able to drive and live normally again. I have been on a mission this year to take care of many health improvements in my life. I am very pleased to be able to take care of them and already feel improvements in my daily life and my riding ability without tonsils or contacts! Not only do I not have to wear glasses or contact lenses, I also have 20-15 vision 😎 This will make working in the water much more enjoyable for me.After recovering from my eyes I was back to work in Bellingham Washington. I am very thankful for the company supporting my what feels like constant traveling. Without their support I would not be able to take advantage of all my opportunities.Back on the airplane I went last Friday headed for the city of angels. Upon arrival I picked up my truck and then had to confront the issue of a lost credit card of mine being picked up and swiped to the moon by some lucky jackass buying as much fuel as the card would let him. After that head ache was resolved as much as it could be I met up with my team mate Mark Gomez at his house in Fullerton California and we prepared for a weekend of Pro Freestyle at the RPM Racing "Best of The West" rounds 5&6 in Lake Perris California.My TC Freeride Rickter fired right up and reminded me why I ride jetskis again. This ski is so amazing to ride and feel the power. Everytime I get on it I feel I gain as a athlete. Having the best equipment really is 50% of this sport. The other 50% is the rider.After not much time to warm up it was time to get out in front of the crowd and lay down a clean 2 minute routine. 2 minutes does not seem like a big deal when we ride hours and hours in practice. But putting your best in 2 minutes can be difficult and that is what makes all of this experience pay come world finals time in October. I was pleased with my performance and ended up on top both Saturday and Sunday. Sunday I started off my routine with a solid 10 backflip "in a row" combination. I wish I had video for you guys but I do have some fantastic photos taken by Mark Gomez brother Phillip Gomez. Attached in the email gives you a beach view of the action. Thank you Phillip for the great shots!I am proudly leading the points for Pro Freestyle on the "Best of The West" series and hoping to continue on and claim the Pro Freestyle National title at the end of the season.Some of you may have seen on social media that I have my current competition ski for sale. That is because Rick Roy has his amazing team of composites masters making me my new Rickter XFS Competition Ninja that I will compete on for the Pro 1200 World Title on in October.It is very important financially that I sell my current Blue XFS in order to fund the next step in taking my riding to another new level. We plan on roughly a 15lb weight reduction with this new ski. My mechanic Hiro "Ninja" Ogino is also currently making magic with my Dasa 1200cc motor in Japan. His full time year round commitment puts a power package together that is very impressive and a big key to my success on my 900 engine last year. I am beyond excited for this level of 1200cc performance that Dasa Racing and Hiro "Ninja" make possible.This is also a crucial time where I am looking for new or extended sponsors that want to be a part of the final goal of a BIG statement at World Finals in October. With all the traveling, the time off work and the new project in full swing I am gladly willing to work with anyone who wants to see my vision continue to explode.Please enjoy the photos and I hope you also enjoy reading along with my adventures. I say it often to the folks around me, I am the luckiest man alive. I continue to learn everyday and work hard to improve all aspects of my life, there are many of them. I cannot thank my supporters of this season enough. I am proud of how everything has been going this year and hope to continue the climb to the top.--------------------------------------------------------2016 SponsorsBAM Tyler Rental Alaska Diesel Power TC Freeride Dasa Racing Skat-Trak Eichner and Eichner Sioeye Swinburnson Rickter Alaska Marine Lines Dawson Construction Sign Pro Jet Pilot Jet Lift KMG Racing Mystik Lubricants NinjaFor interest in sponsoring Tanner please contact tannerthetanman@live.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2016 Event ScheduleApril 9-10 Best of The West Rounds 1&2 - Lake Havasu AZ 1st Place April 16 USA Freestyle Championship - Lake Havasu AZ 4th Place May 14-15 Best of The West - Parker AZ 1st Place June 11-12 Best of The West - Lake Perris CA 1st PlaceAugust 13-14 Best of The West - Lake Perris CA TBD August 27 USA Freestyle Championships Fort Meyers FL TBD October 7-9 World Finals Lake Havasu AZ --------------------------------------------------------------------------Like, Tag & Share!