Grab Matters Podcast

Grab Matters is a watersports podcast with an emphasis on wakeboarding. Featuring open and honest conversations with professional athletes (both current and former), industry icons, and those who carry a passion for all things wakeboarding. New Episodes every Tuesday! More at www.grabmatters.com

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Grab Matters Podcast

Steel Lafferty | The Grab Matters Podcast - Episode 95

August 19, 2025 • Hunter Thane / Steel Lafferty • Episode 95

0:00 | 2:30:47

While we might all know Steel from his social media presence over the better part of the last decade, many might not know how he got to where he is today in terms of sponsor support, social following, and riding resume. Steel started riding at the age of 9, and only a few years after signed his first paying contract with the biggest brand to ever be involved in wakeboarding, Nike. A hole in one at the ACC, the triple flip, navigating sponsorships, getting on MasterCraft, Red Bull negotiations, events that move the needle, athletes and how to build them into “stars”, golf, and X Games Real Wake 2016, 2017, and 2018. Hear all that and much more in Episode 95 of the Grab Matters Podcast with Steel Lafferty!

Follow Steel: https://www.instagram.com/steellafferty/

Thank you to this shows sponsors!
Liquid Force: https://www.liquidforce.com/
Slingshot: https://slingshotsports.com/

Chapters:
00:00 - 1:00 Intro
1:20 ACC Hole in one
3:50 Favorite grab
5:40 The Triple Flip
25:00 Florida roots
31:50 Signing with Nike
41:00 Big companies in action sports
44:00 Patreon Question: Navigating sponsors
50:00 LF’n Wheel of Questions
59:00 Patreon Question: Favorite wakeboard ever
1:00:10 First double flip
1:08:45 Getting a boat sponsor
1:13:00 Boat shows
1:16:00 Building superstars
1:21:00 Offer from Slingshot?
1:22:30 Slingshot Silhouette Challenge
1:24:00 Real Wake cont.
1:27:00 Thomas Herman interrupts
1:43:40 Red Bull sponsorship
1:48:00 Social media
2:01:00 Setup
2:08:00 Boat vs. cable
2:10:40 Guest Question: Rusty Malinoski
2:16:00 Events that move the needle
2:26:00 Golf

Links:
Real Wake Triple: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlB3lt0pBwI
Day in the life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDSncf37tAE
All in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mSBtxI4E9A&list=RD2mSBtxI4E9A&start_radio=1
Wakecation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-oS9DOwGzg

Shoot us a text!

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GrabMattersPodcast
Website: https://www.grabmatters.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@grabmatters/videos
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grabmatters/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grabmatterspodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grabmatters

Hunter Thane

Host