Summer 2013

  

  Let me tell you that it has been a heck of a crazy year so far!  Early this year I decided to pull out of competing indefinitely to focus on getting fit and learning a few new tricks (for me at least).  After 11 years of a successful competition career internationally I noticed that my riding has gotten stronger on the tricks I could already do however I have not been able to add to my quiver.  I found mostly that this was due to lack of motivation and lack of physical health.   Since January I have been able to slowly but consistently gain strength, flexibility and mobility. 

  An awesome side effect of these changes and commitments have been a new found passion for wakeboarding!  My mind is full of new ideas for tricks and stunts.  I plan to spend some real time trying and filming these new maneuvers throughout my summer travels!

  Another thing I have really dived in to is coaching.  I have been backing up Ryan Jones at the Tramp Place in Orlando, FL as well as organizing a few clinics along my travels.  I haven't coached since the early days of my career where I developed this skill sitting in the boat for Mike Ferraro and doing work myself in the early days of the Projects.  I was able to really hone my skill by growing my knowledge of the bio mechanics applied to our sport by shadowing and working with Ryan for the past 4 plus years.

  Something this coaching has taught me is that a lot of these kids are super competitive and focused on learning big tricks before fundamentals.  It is my goal to stay involved with these parents and organizations to help remind these families that our sport is about so much more than contest riding.  It is a lifestyle and to avoid injury and burn outs with wakeboarding kids need to have fun and learn at a more manageable pace.  Spending time on the basics while also progressing on bigger tricks.  Beware of any coach who isn't getting your kid to ride switch or learn grabs, results shouldn't be measured in the amount of tricks any person can do but how well he or she can do each trick!

June 20, 2013  Hamburg, Germany

Introducing Me

Well for my first post I will be short and sweet...I am not sure about this whole blogging deal.  Let's see if I can figure it out.  Stay tuned...