Words: Justine Griffin; Photo: billdoster.com
1. How did you become pro?
I guess it had something to do with growing up in Orlando. I had so many opportunities to ride here and I was lucky to grow up in the atmosphere. I just hung out with the right group of people and everything fell into place.
2. What was your favorite trick when you first turned pro, and what’s your
favorite now?
I’ve always been a fan of spinning and rails. Whether it’s a small or big rail, it’s fun. That hasn’t changed much. It was my favorite back then and it’s still my favorite now.
3. Who is your favorite rider and why?
Parks Bonifay. He’s always been one of the major names in the sport. I’ve gotten to know him pretty well. I really looked up to him when I was just getting started. I’ve had the chance to hang out and ride with him and he’s just a cool guy and an awesome wakeboarder.
4. What is the hardest thing about being a professional wakeboarder?
It’s probably all the traveling we have to do. It’s not that it’s a bad thing, but it is kind of hard not being home and being on the road for weeks at time.
5. What would you be doing if you weren’t a pro wakeboarder?
Oh gosh, I don’t know. That’s a tough question. I’ve always been into sports, so I’d probably be into snowboarding or skateboarding.
6. What is your biggest goal to accomplish this year?
I definitely want to do better on the Pro Tour than I did last year. It is going to be tough though. There are a lot of new, young guys coming up in the sport now, like Jimmy LaRiche and Harley Clifford. I’m just going to try to stay up there and hold my own.
7. What are you most proud of in your career so far?
I’d have to say winning rookie of the year. You only get one shot at it, and it means a lot to me.
8. What’s one thing you couldn’t live without on a daily basis?
That’s another tough one. I’d have to say my friends and family, and jt being around people I know. Being stuck alone somewhere wouldn’t be the greatest time.
9. Any pets?
I have two lab puppies, Bailey and Baxter.
10. Who are your sponsors?
Red Bull, Ronix, Fox, Tige boats, Nike 6.0, Performance Ski & Surf and Orlando Watersports Complex.
11. How did you get injured?
I had a minor knee surgery back in Jan. It was just a cartilage clean out, most likely from the years of pounding on my knee. It wasn’t one specific, sole injury that caused it. A couple years ago I fractured my back too. Kind of the same thing though, just from landing wrong and the years of pounding from the sport.
12. What’s it like having Red Bull as a sponsor?
It’s awesome. They seriously look after their athletes so well. I have a great relationship with them. They’re awesome because they really listen to you, no matter how crazy of an idea you have; and they try to make it happen. Red Bull does a great job of pushing their athletes and the sport to the next level.
13. How much do you ride cable these days?
I’d say I’m on that thing quite a bit. I only live 10 minutes away from it at my home in Orlando, and OWC is a place that I’ve always gone to. It’s great to just head out there and have fun when there’s nothing else really going on. I’d say I’m out there about three to four times a week.
14. How are you going to take down Phil Soven on Tour this year?
Phil is obviously one of the most talented wakeboarders out there right now. He’s known for being super consistent and having a huge bag of tricks. You just have to stand up to him. You can’t fall against him cause you know he won’t fall, and just throw up some hard tricks.
15. Where is the next place you’re traveling to?
I’m going to the Masters Waterski and Wakeboard tournament in Callaway Gardens, Georgia
next month. It’s one of the most highly respected wakeboard and skiing contests out there. It’s also one of the first big contests of the season. So I’ll be up there for the weekend.
16. What’s going to be new and exciting for your Tour run this year?
I just learned how to do a switch S bend, which is something different for me. We’ll see how that works out.
17. Any new tricks we should know about? Can they sneak into your Tour run?
Besides the new switch S bend, I’ve been working on some spins. Hopefully I can try to land a 1080 in a contest this season. Someone has to, whether it’s me, or Rusty, or Rathy, it’s going to go down. Other than that I’m just trying to stay solid on the rails and keep up on the spins.
18. What’s going to be your moneymaker trick for double-ups on Tour this
year?
Hopefully the 1080. But that’s not likely to happen at every event. It will happen this year though at some point, so watch out for that.
19. What’s your favorite part about being on Tour?
It’s the whole package: traveling, competing and the experience. It’s great to be hanging out with the whole industry, and meeting new people, too. The best part is I get to travel the world.
20. Let’s make this an even 20: what’s your favorite board company?
Ronix.
ll be up there for the weekend.
16. What’s going to be new and exciting for your Tour run this year?
I just learned how to do a switch S bend, which is something different for me. We’ll see how that works out.
17. Any new tricks we should know about? Can they sneak into your Tour run?
Besides the new switch S bend, I’ve been working on some spins. Hopefully I can try to land a 1080 in a contest this season. Someone has to, whether it’s me, or Rusty, or Rathy, it’s going to go down. Other than that I’m just trying to stay solid on the rails and keep up on the spins.
18. What’s going to be your moneymaker trick for double-ups on Tour this
year?
Hopefully the 1080. But that’s not likely to happen at every event. It will happen this year though at some point, so watch out for that.
19. What’s your favorite part about being on Tour?
It’s the whole package: traveling, competing and the experience. It’s great to be hanging out with the whole industry, and meeting new people, too. The best part is I get to travel the world.
20. Let’s make this an even 20: what’s your favorite board company?
Ronix.
