Wakeboard SD | Wakeboarding | San Diego | Places to ride

Youth Can Sure Ride the Wake

I think it has something to do with the fact youth is invincible. Without mortality looking you in the face backside 180’s on a double-up are simple. Hell let’s get basic: switch stances, blind passes, basic toe jumps are all run of the mill for the 12 to 16 year olds we bring on the boats to humor and keep out of trouble. While we hurt our knees, do face plants, and injure our egos, kids are fearless.

I was at Wakesports Unlimited the day after the Byerly exhibition at San V. Geoff, told us he’d seen Jacob Valdez do a 900. He said something to the effect of “why do I bother…” and it’s true. Look we’re old. I don’t have the cojones to even think in my dreams I could do stunts like that.

Reading an online article about young Jacob Valdez his mom said “The Pro tour implemented what is called the ‘Jacob Rule’ so that Jacob could ride against his peers and not just his age bracket.” But I wonder, if you are 14 and don’t have two brothers who’ve already won all the competitions but just go out on your lake every day, while no one knows your name and you don’t have a “rule” you’re still kicking my butt all over the water.

Dylan, our nephew, started riding a couple years ago. He didn’t have the advantages of being guided in his wakeboarding. Pretty much his dad who owned a boat got a deal on a Hyperlight board, threw it at him and said here figure this out. At 16 he is cocky but not quite as good as say “Jacob”. He’s smooth jumping the wakes but I’m catching up to him. See he’s getting older as you read this. Soon he’ll have to pay for gas when he rides and he’ll need a job for that. The curve of his invincible youth is turning. I’m sure with a few hours on the wake every day I’m bound to catch up.