My Story.

May 20th, 2008 | Articles

How I got involved in the competitive wakeboard scene…

Age: eighteen

I’ve been around water my entire life. Growing up, my summers consisted of me living at my cottage up north. My snowboard and waterski experience allowed me to have no problem getting up on a wakeboard for the first time. Out of all of the luggage we had to take to our cottage, I had to beg my dad to make room for the wakeboard in the back of the mini van. The next summer, for my 14th birthday, I got to do a day clinic with the Muskoka Militia getting instructed by Kyle Rattray. This was my first time ever riding behind an actual wakeboard boat. I was taught proper riding techniques like where I should be holding the handle, where I should be looking, and how I should be approaching the wake. The clinic helped me so much and gave me the confidence to go BIGGER.

I’ve been riding with friends in the Kawarthas on local lakes such as Rice lake, Pigeon lake and the Otonabee River. I was then convinced that I should enter in the 2005 Kawartha Lakes Wakeboard Open in Bridgenorth Ontario. I embarassed myself by falling right away after my first jump, then again after my second. I wasn’t too upset about loosing the beginner girls division because I knew I would just have to get better for the next year. When the 2006 KLWO came along, I was happy to place second in the intermediate girls division. I have competed in the KLWO for the past 3 years and my standings keep getting better. When I was asked to be a member of the Kawartha Lakes Wakeboard Company Team, I didn’t think twice about joining the team. Last year I prepped myself for competing in Wakestock, where I really had to throw it down. I was stoked when I ended up on the podium with a second place standing.

Although I still classify myself as a beginner to this sport I’ve had so many positive experiences, met so many new people, and have gotten a chance to ride with such great riders; I have so much more to learn that I could never even dream of quitting.