Goin' All Out With The Neal Family

Mark and Bree Neal are no strangers to the thrill of action sports and the excitement of being in the great outdoors.

Growing up, both competed at a very high level in motocross - a discipline of dirt biking - leaving them with a lasting love for adrenaline sports and having fun in nature. Today, however, the pair have traded in their motorcycles for a new kind of adrenaline sport: Becoming parents and raising two beautiful daughters: Collins (9) and Heidi (7).

Several years ago, the family found wakesurfing and quickly became so passionate about it that now the four spend most of their free time on nearby lakes. We sat down with Mark and Bree to talk about surfing as a family, wakeboating, and about how they use their Axis.

Between Two Texan Lakes

The Neals run a tree service in North Texas where they live directly between two big lakes - Grapevine Lake and Lewisville Lake. Consequently, the family is spoiled for choice when deciding where to go wakesurfing. "We're about ten minutes from each, so we use both lakes regularly," said Mark. "We've become quite nerdy in how we decide which lake to use on a given day. We watch the wind and which direction it's blowing and pick our lake based on that! On weekends, though, we tend to use the bigger lake to get away from the crowd and have smoother water, if possible."

Collins and Heidi are homeschooled, ensuring that the family can spend the maximum possible time together enjoying their 2023 Axis T250. Their boat - currently without a name - is the family's second Axis boat. 

Buying Their First Boat

The couple bought their first wakeboat in 2020 after an experience on a friend's boat made the sheer fun offered by a wakeboat crystal clear to the family. "Our interest in wakesurfing began in 2019 when Collins, who was only five years old at the time, surfed with an adult behind our friend's boat. She loved the experience so much that she immediately demanded that we get into wakesurfing together as a family," said Mark, chuckling.

"We eventually saved up enough to buy one and at the end of 2020, we bought an Axis A22. Although we had boated a little before buying the A22, this was going to be our first wake boat ownership experience. We basically jumped head first into it and haven't really looked back!" he added.

Mark agreed. "Years prior, we would do one or two lake trips a year with our extended family, but we weren't big lake people. A lot of that was driven by us not really understanding boating or how easy and fun it could be. Plus, having a newborn made us anxious of being on the water with her. But as soon as we got the A22 wakeboat, everything changed. We suddenly realized how much we enjoyed surfing and being behind the wheel, even just doing sunset cruises."

Discovering the Axis Boats Philosophy

Within two years of buying their A22, the family was shopping for their next boat, and given their fantastic experience on their A22, another model from Axis Boats was the obvious choice.

Enhanced On-Water Performance Power Wedge® III

Ordering their T250 new from their authorized Axis Boats dealer meant that the couple had an opportunity to option the boat with whatever features they felt they wanted or needed in their next ride. Power Wedge® III was an easy choice, as well as optioning the larger bimini top. "The bigger bimini is great for extending our day on the water," Bree confirmed. Meanwhile, Power Wedge III ensures that the boat can comprehensively cater to the variety of riders typically using the boat, as she explained.

In addition to Power Wedge III, the couple particularly highlighted the ease with which Axis Boats' Surf Systems allow them to set up their T250 for different riders. "Axis boats allow you to simply push a button from one to six, to access different wave or rider profiles. It makes everyone's job easier and more convenient, and it's so user-friendly, especially for people like us who aren't long-time wakesurfers," said Mark. "That kind of accessibility and simple functionality is so important to us," Bree affirmed. "It's the first thing we mention when we talk to people about Axis Boats in general. On an Axis boat, the performance you need is all there and easily available. For example, you don't need someone to help you set it up."

Teaching Life Lessons

After spending so many days on the water on their Axis T250 learning to surf, Collins and Heidi are rapidly growing their repertoire of wakesurfing skills. "They really love it, so for us, getting to witness their joy and pushing them to try new things has been fantastic," Bree explained. "Heidi landed her first 360 the other night! Getting to experience those things closely together as a family, where we're no more than like ten feet apart, is priceless."

Finding Success

"And action sports teach kids a lot; surfing more so than even motocross," added Mark. "It teaches kids a different type of grit and resolve. The continuous failure before finding success molds kids to be ready for the real world. We always take the time to explain to them how real life can be the same way. It's a way to build their confidence as they grow up, by teaching them that failure is often the only way forward and that success is just about persistence."