Forward Wakeboard Magazine Edition 5 | Page 39

LT: Style is something that people get bashed for a lot, but ask most wakeboarders in NZ who has the best style, and your name always crops up at or very near the top. Is that something you focused on, worked on, or did it just happen? DS: I suppose for me I was never that interested in learning tricks to beat other people or to score higher at comps. It’s just not in me or part of my psyche. I’m not super competitive like that, I usually set certain goals for myself and try and achieve them my own way. So I suppose that spurred learning tricks that feel or look good to me. There are a few tricks that I have learnt - and never really done again, because they feel like you have been thrown in the middle of a washing machine, or I don’t think I could make them look any good. I think you have to figure out what your strengths are and play to them. LT: What Tricks are you pulling out alot at the moment? Everybody has a favourite. DS: I learnt a Pete Rose this season which I have always wanted to learn, so was pretty pumped on that.Def got a few first pumps going! LT: It sounds like you’ve spent a while doing a ‘real job’, time to come back and play? DS: Wakeboarding has never been my No 1 priority in life, and have always had a job. But it has always kept me sane and kept me busy, and given me lots of cool opportunities I probably would have never had if it wasn’t for wakeboarding. So I “play” then I work too. gotta have that balance, saying that I always see myself doing it just to different degrees. There’s still more...