A Good Feeling

knox · Kickflip Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 4693 City: Gainesville

This Summer, I worked at a summer camp in Maine. It was a beautiful camp with an incredible variety of activities, including a waterski program with two Mastercrafts and two Sea-Doos. I worked on ski beach everyday, driving the boats and the jet skis, checking kids in, fitting their equipment, jumping in the water with them when they were frightened/ it was their first time, ect. Just that in itself was an incredible experience, and I will never forget the times I spent on Crescent Lake with children who could not be more excited to get up on waterskis for the first time. I consider myself very lucky to have been able to see that kind of pure joy on a little guy or gals face almost everyday.

As a wakeskater, I definitely tried to get some of the kids motivated to try it out. Eventually, I had two guys who couldn't have been more pumped on wakeskating. Jack and Josh came down to ski beach everyday, and I definitely bent the rules to give them a little extra riding time (much to the dismay of my superiors). I'll never forget working with Jack for weeks to land his first shuv. I was on the jet ski when he landed his first one, and I have to tell you, I've probably never been so pumped on someone riding away from something. We got back to the dock and 12 year old Jack was grinning from ear to ear, gave me a high five and a huge hug. I was so happy to be a part of that stoke. By the end of the Summer these guys had surface 360's, back shuvs, and front shuvs.

A few days ago, a month and a half after camp has ended, I got some news that had me smiling way too big for way too long. They're still doing it! Josh found me on instagram Laughing

, and through his pics I saw that he has a board of his own, follows the wakeskate mag, and wakeskates a ton. I couldn't believe it, being a part of the spread of wakeskating is something that I strive to do, and now someone that had 0 contact with this amazing (for lack of a better word) sport, is completely pumped on it.

LET'S SPREAD WAKESKATING! Guys we have so much potential, this has been wakeskating's best year by far. We're growing, we're prospering, we've got a mag, we've got several companies that support wakeskating wholeheartedly, lets spread the love. Get a kid to ride, show your work buddy a wakeskate, get involved. I love wakeskating, and I know that there are people out there that would love it too if they found it. Lets help them find it guys.

POPTART · 360 flip Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Posts: 7621

The Kid,

Yeah dude! Im right there with you!

jdarr · Posted: Sep 24, 2012 1:22 pm Post subject:

Hell yeah! I had the chance to do the same thing in NC this summer and couldn't because of emergency back surgery. I was really excited to get youngsters on a skate for the first time. Now I cant wait!

On the co-worker note: I got 8 people from work to wakeskate regularly, and 4 of them bought their own skate this summer.
Very Happy

Gnarly Dancer 42 · 360 flip Joined: 21 May 2007 Posts: 5121 City: kalamazoo

that's awesome!

G.K.D. · Frontside 180 Joined: 31 Dec 2009 Posts: 404 City: Sydney

yeah The Kid!!! spreading the love!

-=AlexXx=- · Posted: Sep 28, 2012 9:47 am Post subject:

hell ya man, i had the same experience, working for mastercraft for a summer, i was just pulling kids on various models all summer long teaching kids to ski, knee board, wakeboard and wakeskate, had one 12 yr old kid really get pumped on wakeskating.... i brought him my NEW mini and after he finally got up we ended up riding doubles and it was so freakin amazing. kid was so happy... i would cut over and give him a high 5 while riding..... happiest kid ever. haha. teaching wakeskating/wakesports to kids is a great experience.... good times.