Date: 7/11/02
Author: Dallas Friday

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When Every Day is Friday: The Dallas Friday Interview

Dallas Friday (Pic: Richmond Gibbs)

Dallas Friday here in Kelowna, British Columbia. I am here because I have a week-long photo shoot with Bare Wetsuits. I just signed with Bare this year and have never met any of the Bare people in person. I was really excited to have a week to get to know them and have them get to know me. How nice they all are. I love their product. I always had trouble with a vest fitting me right but when I signed with Bare and started wearing their vest it was so nice to ride in something that fits snug and is so comfortable.

Bare Wetsuits rented a house on a lake in Kelowna and we have just finished half of the week of the photo shoot. I am here with the rest of the Bare team, Gerry Nunn and Chris Law. Yes, I know a girl among all the men, but I am used to it because I am always around my brothers and have lived with them all my life.

Some people get nervous meeting new sponsors but I have never been like that. I am always excited to get to know the people who have put their faith in me to represent their product. I take this responsibility seriously and always want to make my sponsors proud.

Kelowna is a pretty place. This weekend in Kelowna is a pro tour stop for men only. I had signed up for this tournament the week before I broke my back to challenge the men. I have not made up my mind if I am going to ride in it yet because I have only been back on the water for a week now and am slightly rusty, so I will probably decide not to. You have to be in training for months to compete against the men. They are good. I am trying to decide and will let you know what happens. The guys in the sport encourage me and always tell me how I am pushing the sport of wakeboarding for women. We all get along so well. They are like brothers to me and we joke around all the time. They are competitors against one another but like the girls they hope each person does their best in competition. Wakeboarding is one of the only sports that I know is like this. If someone throws a new trick or has a great run we all go crazy, because we all like to see each other pushing the limits on the rather new, and still developing, sport of wakeboarding.

I can't wait to get back to Orlando to get in my regular training routine with my coach out at Mike's Place. Mike Ferraro is a world-reknowned wakeboard coach and he has taught all the greats like Darin Shapiro and Shaun Murray. I go to him each day for instruction and he helps me to discipline myself and get my mind ready for competition. I am looking so forward to training for the Gravity Games when I return to Orlando.

~Dallas

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