WW: What is your full name, age and birthday?
JL: Well, my name is John Paul Layman. I am 16 years old. I was born December 15th, 1983.

WW: Where are you from and how long have you been riding?
JL: I live in Grove, Oklahoma, which is near Tulsa. I have been riding for about two years.

WW: What is the Oklahoma riding scene like?
JL: Uhh! (laughing) It is not too bad. It is getting bigger each year. I am beginning to see more riders on the lake and riders throwing better tricks. There is certainly a lot of talent in our state, but it just takes time to catch on.

WW: Who got you into riding?
JL: Hmmm. This is kind of weird, but I got tired of trying to jump a set of combo skis from wake to wake. I got my first board when I went into a local ski shop to get a better set of skis and I ended up coming out with a new wakeboard instead.

WW: Who do you look up to and why?
JL: That is a really tough question with there being so many sick riders out there today. If I had to pick one, it would have to be Shaun Murray. I think he is one of the sickest riders out there on the water today. I also like the fact that he represents our sport so well. He is just an all around good person.

WW: What sort of tricks are you throwing right now?
JL: I have all the basics down. I like doing grabs and stuff. As far as things like inverts and spins, I am doing 3's, Scarecrows, Tantrums, fronts, heelside rolls, toeside rolls and an occasional Mobe or two. I'm not consistent on my Mobes right now. That is one thing I am going to be working on this season.

WW: What goals do you have set for this season?
JL: I am really trying to make my riding more fluid. I am also working on making it a lot more technical. I would also like to be a contender at the stops I attend this year. I am not trying to win the world. Well, not yet at least.

WW: Being only a freshman in high school, where would you like to see yourself by the time you graduate?
JL: I still have four years of school left, so hopefully I can accomplish a lot before then. I would like to become a major contender on the Pro Tour. I would also like to stay free of injuries.

WW: What do you see wakeboarding like in five years?
JL: Totally insane. It is amazing how fast it is growing and spreading around the world. I think it is crazy with some of the sliders they are building now. But who knows what the future will hold for wakeboarding. I just hope I am a part of it.

WW: What do you think of rails on the tour this year?
JL: It is a really cool idea, but I don't think that there will be as many pros into it as they had hoped for. I also see a lot of people getting hurt since they are in competition now and that means people will up the difficulty on them.

WW: What board do you ride and why?
JL: I ride the Mission 125 and the Abyss. I like them because they are really quick and they get great pop off of the wake.

WW: Any shout-outs?
JL: Oh yeah, definitely my parents for supporting me.
 

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