The Bonifay family - Shane, Dad, Parks, Mom (Betty) - Photo: David Williams

As far back as most of us can remember, the Bonifay name has been associated with all forms of water sports. In everything from show skiing to wakeboarding, the Bonifay’s have done it and done it well. In the world of wakeboarding, the names Parks and Shane Bonifay are synonymous with winning. And when it comes time for one of them to take it to the water at any given tournament, you can always hear a loud cheer from the side lines as wakeboarding's most famous mom, Betty Bonifay, cheers on her boys.

Betty is one of the most dedicated mothers I have ever seen. She is always there, standing beside her boys through thick and thin. She has also become like a mom to many other riders on the pro tour. She loves the sport of wakeboarding and lets it show. WakeWorld recently got a chance to speak with Betty on what it is like raising two of wakeboardings most respected and feared riders.

WW: How did you get involved in wakeboarding?
BB: I have been involved in water sports most of my life. I began working at Cypress Gardens in 1976. I fell in love with it and knew that it was what I wanted to do. I love to teach and I love to ski. So this way I get the best of both worlds.

WW: How did Parks and Shane get involved in wakeboarding?
BB: We were all originally three event skiers. Parks got the chance to try a wakeboard and liked it. He continued doing the three event tournaments while started riding his wakeboard more and more. After about six months or so Shane began to enjoy the wakeboard and so they progressed up from there.

WW: How long do Parks and Shane train a day?
BB: I can’t really say. They are always involved in something that will help them in their wakeboarding, whether it is snowboarding, surfing or whatever. As far as wakeboarding is concerned, they ride a lot. I have had a driver here on staff since Parks was about 7 so that they could pull them. There is only so much driving I could do each day.

WW: You run a ski school in Florida. What is that like?
BB: I love the ski school. Mainly because I love to teach. I have been teaching skiing for all their lives. The ski school goes well. It has provided me with the means to be able to send Parks and Shane out to all these tournaments and events.

Parks Bonifay in Sacramento - Photo: David Williams

WW: Does Parks or Shane ever coach at the school?
BB: (laughing) No, not really. That is one of the most common questions I get from students though. They all want to know if they can have Shane or Parks to be their coach. I tell them that they would probably rather have our other coach, Nick, teach them. Parks and Shane are great riders, but they are not the coaching type. I will allow students to go out in the boat and watch Parks or Shane ride. That, to me, is a better lesson than having Parks or Shane actually teach them. This way they can see how they do their tricks and then we can go out and help them.

WW: Lets talk about Parks for a moment. He has a very aggressive riding style and is known for going bigger than anybody else. Why do you think that is?
BB: I don’t really know. Maybe the fact that it took 25 hours to deliver Parks at the hospital. Parks has been a part of the water since day one. He feels more at home on the water than he does walking around on the ground. I also believe that the three event skiing that Parks and Shane grew up doing helps them out a lot today. I think you can attribute Parks powerful cut to the background in slalom skiing that he has. Also, the ability to keep his focus while he is in the air, I think, came from his back ground in trick skiing.

WW: Shane has got his own form of riding, nothing like Parks. What is it and where do you think it came from?
BB: Shane has always been a more fluid rider than Parks. I believe Shane gets a lot of that from his background in three event skiing also. Shane is also a lot more into riding roller blades and skateboards unlike Parks. I think those sports are what help give Shane his smoothness.

WW: How do you see Parks and Shane doing on the tour this year?
BB: I feel that both Parks and Shane will contend very strongly. They both feed off of the crowd when they are riding. They Love to perform and it shows in their performance. That is what they grew up doing. Parks and Shane both grew up performing at Cypress Gardens so they love the crowds. I also feel the addition of sliders and ramps will help them out. They have both been sliding and jumping since it became popular. So overall I see them both consistently placing in the top ten.

WW: How do you feel about the whole Free Motion deal and Parks? Who do see Parks signing with for 2000?
BB: I feel that they let Parks go in the wrong way. If they would have given him two months or so it would be different. The way they just released him was not well thought out on their part. As far as who Parks will be signing with, I have no clue. I do know that Level 10 printed that he signed with Hyperlite. That is false. Parks has not signed with anybody as of this moment. I do see him signing with somebody in the near future.

WW: What do you see Parks and Shane doing in the future after they are done competing?
BB: I see them both staying in the industry. I don’t really know what Parks will be doing. He may go into designing or selling boards, but I am pretty sure it will be in watersports. As far as Shane goes, he says he would like to be involved in the media side of it. He is already playing around with video editing and shooting. He also likes to design things. Such as clothes and things.

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