Thanks to the VW emissions scandal that happened last year, I’ve recently been on the search for a new car. Instead of looking for something brand new, I’ve been looking for an 80’s Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60. It’s been a process of searching eBay, Craigslist and every forum possible every couple of hours to try and find the perfect FJ out there. I know you are probably thinking what does this have to do with wakeboarding at all? Is this guy just trying to brag about a car? The reason I’m telling you this is because we seem to live in a culture of people always craving newer, better, bigger and more out of everything. It would be easy for me to go down to the dealership and pick out a new car and call it a day. But I’m searching for an old car to slow things down. It’s about simplifying and reducing all the unneeded things society and culture tell us we need to have. The whole process of searching for the right FJ is the exact reason I want one. It isn’t about a sprint to get to things as fast as possible; it’s about enjoying things as they come and being grateful for what you have in front of you.
You most likely remember when you first got introduced to wakeboarding or wakeskating. It was probably behind your friend’s two-stroke PWC, smoking and plowing down half the lake trying to get you out of the water. Maybe it was a fishing boat with that Airhead or World Industries wakeboard from Walmart with a four-inch “skeg.” For some of you, your first experience was at the cable with those sandal straps and yellow or red Liquid Force rental board that weighs 20 pounds. Remember the smile on your face when you stopped fighting the rope and finally turned the board and pointed it straight for the first time? Do you remember how bad your gear was at the time but how happy it made you to be riding? That’s what this is all about, making the most out of what’s in front of you.
Society has instilled this newer, bigger, better, more idea in our heads and it is affecting everything we do, and people don’t even notice it. We are seeing people who need the biggest and best boat out there because it’s the newest and hottest thing. What happened to people riding behind a 2000 ski boat with a pylon extension and sand-filled Rubbermaid bins to make that wake juiced? There used to be a time that your driver had to drive 23.2 and didn’t have a computer to do it. Some of the most innovative tricks ever landed were without a computer driving the boat. It even happens on social media that people don’t feel gratified with landing a new trick without a preconceived number of likes and comments it should get. My point here is that society has forced everyone’s perspectives into thinking that if we don’t have the newer, better, bigger or more of anything than you can’t do anything. Make the most of what whatever situation you are in and stay positive. There is always a way to turn the situation or environment you are in into something that will benefit you.
This issue features an interview with Alex Graydon who didn’t grow up in the "Mecca of Wake." He grew up in Equality, Alabama, which has a total of zero traffic lights and gas stations that only take cash. I can say from first-hand experience of going there that iPhones are still a thing from another planet to most. Alex made the most of not growing up with a regular crew to push him. He made the most of where he came from and shared his love of the sport with everyone on his lake. He teaches lessons when he is home and travels the world during the winter months. You can even say he’s become Australian at this point. Alex didn’t have the biggest, newest and best boat but he made the most of his situation and circumstances surrounding him. He worked on creating quality edits rather than pumping out the same thing every week. When no one was there to film or shoot photos he bought a camera and taught whoever he could how to use it.
Tom Fooshee, Jimmy Lariche, Rocker Steiner and Cole Vanthof packed in an RV and traveled from Texas to Orlando riding as many cables, boats and winch spots along the way. From the backyard compounds to winching to boat riding the boys made the most of every situation. They even broke down at one point and attempted to make the most of the situation by hazing young Rocker, which ended up completely backfiring. You can read more about this on page ____ though.
So obviously, my point here is to make the most out of YOUR situation. If you don’t have the biggest boat, how can you make the biggest wake with the one you have? If you don’t have the latest board, how can you fix up the side rail of the one you have, and push it to the limits of what it can do? No matter what it is, stop worrying about having more things. Use what’s in front of you and enjoy it! Unless it’s a Volkswagen, damn thing is an emissions nightmare.