Holland Finley

December 22nd, 2009 | Profiles

Name: Holland Finley

Birthday: March 9, 1992

Seasons Competing: Coming up on 4

Cable or Boat or Both? Both

Sponsor shout out: Gator Boards, Helium, Cobian, Angel Eyewear

Hometown: Austin, Texas

Current residence: Austin, Texas

Board set up: Gator Board 2009 Haven 135 with Women’s Coupes

Where is your riding crew based out of? Austin, surrounding areas and Texas Ski Ranch

What is your favourite thing about wakeboarding? Feeling like I am flying, being able to use all of the strength in my body to pop, and the freedom of expression in moves through individual style.

Whats something unique about wakeboarding in your country? It is growing to be a collegiate sport broadening the industry and the future of the sport even more.

Where is your absolute favourite place to ride? The Perdenales River at sun set.

Places you have traveled to for wakeboarding: Florida, Wisconsin, California, Texas, Oklahoma, Nevada and London. In the future I hope to ride in Canada, Mexico, Australia, the Phillipines and Japan.

Favourite Rider: The Deromes, Nicola Butler, Andrew Adkison, Witt Finley, Mitch Bergsma and Tom Foshee

Favourite Animal: Zebras and Monkeys. They’re free and funky.

Favourite Trick: Nose grab heel 3’s, ralleys and ideally a pete rose.

Favourite Music: Alternative and rock.

What are some of your best results? 2nd place 2 years in a row in Jr. Women’s at WWA worlds, 2008 Cable Stock Cable Champion, WWA nationals podiums for the past 3 years

What are some of your thoughts on female wakeboarding at the pro level? Girls are killing it and pushing the level higher and higher. Yet for me, as a teenager still in high school, higher level riding must be balanced with education. As such, it’s difficult to be a full time professional at this time in my life.

What do we need to do to help the progression of women’s wakeboarding? Keep the passion of riding alive, and form riding crews that will keep pushing each other to new heights. It is also important to get the younger girl riders involved. On the pro level, the queen of wake is an important step in recognizing the women’s faction of our sport. By spreading the wakeboarding culture in general, both men and women of the sport will gain more recognition for their talents, and industry will grow to place wakeboarding more in the public eye.

Props to anyone? Of course! My brother Witt Finley is the best coach and supporter in the world. Endless support from Mom and Dad in anything and everything I do, all of the sponsors listed above, especially Gator Boards, Brian Jolin, and Texas Ski Ranch for fostering my riding development since my first year on the board. Also, a big shout out to Texas Wake at the University of Texas, and a dear friend who passed away in 2006 who was as influential and enthusiastic as my brother to me in this sport, James Carroll.

Author: Ally

Ally Boothroyd created TID back in 2007 to help girls get some much deserved media presence on the web. She coaches several TID All Girls Clinics across Ontario, Canada. If you'd like to contribute content, photos, video or rider profiles please get in touch with her!