For years, I’ve tried wakeboarding because one of my best friends, Camille, was really good at it. For 2 years, I kept dragging behind the boat and trying to get up. Swallowing water from both ends.

I sat on the boat and watched as her son, Damon, went from not being able to wakeboard to getting really good at it. The many times we have gone out and watched Damon do his thing was awesome but at the same time a little bothering. It really was because he barely weighed anything and without us even really having to go forward, he could stand.

When I started dating Jaime, she, of course, starting going to the lake with us. She was able to get up and wakeboard like it was nothing! I was very proud of her and happy. Again though, a little resentment inside. I used to be a ninja for crying out loud! I have great balance, I could jump crazy heights, I could backflip! Why can’t I get up on a board?!?

Finally, I thought about renting a larger board. I went to Ski Pro in Chandler, they let me rent the largest board they had and gave me a few pointers. The board is a Hyperlite Era 147(cm).

The next weekend I was able to stand up! I went right back to that Ski Pro and bought the board. The pointer they gave me was to imagine someone helping me up off the floor. Simple as that. So for all you wannabe wakeboarders, just keep that in mind!

I do feel a little torn between the boats we ride behind. Camille’s is a small boat with a wakeboard tower, but I often feel that I’m too heavy to pull. As quick as I try to ease up and glide, the few seconds that it takes to actually pull me out of the water, I see the boat align with me instead of me aligning with the boat. Then there is Rob’s boat, which is very powerful, but lacks a wakeboard tower. I’m almost scared that I’ll rip the metal tow connector off the boat. The boat is very strong, but it pulls me forward and not up. I used to think this was a pretty big deal, but its not really. I’ve wakeboarded just fine behind Rob’s boat on those few times where we decided that was the boat we should be behind, or when Camille can’t come out with us all. That hasn’t happened in a few years though. We all try to stick together.

When I go to the gym, there are some things that I do so that I can maximize my wakeboarding experience. No… I’m not trying to lose weight, though that would probably help. I practice grip strength, deadlifts, and cardio.

Visit my wakestore!