INSIDE STORY : SPORT

Catch the wave

Wake up to wakeboarding

Story and photographs by Kelly May

Tootsie rolls, fruit loops, worlie birds and fakies are just a few of the gravity defying tricks, jumps and stunts that you could be doing if you took up wakeboarding.

"It's more than a sport," admitted De De Anwar, Asian X-Games competitor. "It's a lifestyle for both my brothers and I. It's hard not to get addicted to the rush of doing new tricks. You can learn something new everyday and the great thing is that it doesn't take long to master the basics and go on to do impressive tricks."

De De was only 6 years old when he took to the cable-ski for the first time. "The cable-ski allows you to wakeboard and water-ski without the need for a boat. You basically grab a handle that's attached to a cable, which then pulls you around the lake in a huge square. The aim is to stay on your board and make it all the way around the lake without falling off into the water," De De said.

Easier said than done for most beginners, as one wakeboarding wannabe, Rattapol Thanalertvisut, confessed. "My first attempt was a disaster. I grabbed the handle and was simply pulled forward straight off of my board, headfirst into the water. Undeterred, I tried it again and held on tightly. It was only after my fourth try that I managed to stay on for about 10 metres. It took me about three weeks to get all the way around the lake," Rattapol admitted.

Practise makes perfect

"Once beginners have mastered the starting position and managed to stay upright as the cable pulls away, the next hardest thing to master is the corners," De De explained. "As the cable goes around the corner, it becomes slack. The wake boarder will find that they slow down almost to a complete stop. Then suddenly, as the cable becomes tight, they will be yanked forward, usually off their board and into the water. It's just technique and practise that allows you to progress on the water-skis, wakeboard and kneeboard. If people don't give up after the first few failed attempts they'll find they improve rapidly once they can make it all the way around the lake," De De commented.

Getting started

Many beginners start off on a kneeboard to familiarise themselves with the cable-ski. A person will kneel on the board and get strapped in. They will have to keep their arms straight and keep down as low as possible once they are on the lake. "Once people have mastered knee boarding, they can progress onto the standing position on a wakeboard," De De said.

Endless possibilities

According to Rattapol wakeboarding is exhilarating. "It takes time to adjust to the standing position but it doesn't take long to improve. That's why people enjoy this sport. I have started to try and do some mini jumps and hope one day to be able to do a complete 360 degree spin."

Advanced wakeboarders are able to do Superman style tricks around corners as they jump up in the air and get pulled along by the cable. Letting go of the handle and passing it around the back allowing the wake boarder to spin around is another popular trick.

"Wakeboarding isn't dangerous as long as you know your limits. People shouldn't try any trick without feeling confident about doing it. Most of my friends and I have all been injured in some way. It's hard on the knees and the more complicated the trick the more likely you are to hurt yourself," De De advised.

Try it out

Those interested in cable-ski water sports can find many places to try it out. There is Lake Taco just outside Bangkok, Lake Land in Pattaya, Lake Point in Ratchaburi and another in Phuket all offering cable water sports for all levels. It can cost up to 300 baht for two hours, including lifejacket and board, or 500 baht for an all day pass with unlimited use.

"Anyone interested should just go to their nearest cable-ski and try knee boarding to get used to the pull of the cable. If you can't do knee boarding, try something else like wakeboarding or water-skiing. There really is something for everyone and all levels. The most important thing is not to give up if you aren't successful after your first few times on the cable-ski," De De stressed.

Staff at cable-ski parks are on hand to offer instructions and advice. "Cable-ski water sports are very informal and the atmosphere is always really relaxed. Everyone is happy to help and advise beginners or people wanting to try new tricks," Rattapol commented.

According to De De, wakeboarding is an expensive hobby. "A complete new wakeboarding kit will cost you a minimum of 20,000 baht including board, boots and gloves."  

But you don't need to spend this kind of money to enjoy the sport - sitting by the lake and watching everyone else fall off is completely free and extremely entertaining!

Vocabulary

wake (n): track that a boat or ship leaves behind on the surface of the water
defying (adj: impossible or almost impossible to believe, explain, describe, etc.
addicted (adj): spending all your free time doing something because you are so interested in it
grab (v): take or hold somebody/something with your hand suddenly, firmly or roughly
wannabe (n): person that would like to be something or someone else
undeterred (adj): if somebody is undeterred by something, they do not allow it to stop them from doing something
yank (v): pull somebody/something hard, quickly and suddenly
exhilarating (adj): very exciting and enjoyable
informal (adj): relaxed and friendly; not following strict rules of how to behave or do something