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Mike and Nick Ennen
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WW: Why do you ride?
ME:
I ride because I love being on the water and in the outdoors. This is what I grew up doing in the summers day to day. Its not just because I enjoy time on the water, the progression of the sport is what keeps me going year after year. There are so many things you can do on a board. If wakeboarding wasn't created I definitely wouldn't be out skiing everyday.
WW: Where do you ride and with whom do you ride?
ME:
I ride all over the northwest, but when I'm in town I ride at my lake house on Big Lake and at Lake Samish. I mainly ride with my brother Nick, but we have tight crew of friends who we ride with year round (NWR); Brent Starr, Sean Kilgus, Bret V, GY, Danny Bergman and Rob Hyatt.
WW: Who do you like to watch ride?
ME:
I have looked up to a lot of riders throughout my life and have been influenced and inspired by many. Lately I have been finding inspiration from snowboarding.
Mike Ennen
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WW: How would you describe your style?
ME:
Snowboarding/wakeboarding
WW: What is your favorite trick to do?
ME:
Spinning any way with a grab.
WW: How do you decide which you want to learn next and how do you go about learning them?
ME:
It's all about progressing. Start with a 180 and then move on to a 360, or with flips start with a tantrum and then once you have landed that try it to fakie. I don't like to see kids trying 360's before they can land a consistent front side 180. About trying to learn the trick, just try it over and over until it feel comfortable.
WW: You live and ride in Washington. Did you and your brother ever consider moving to Florida. If so, why did you decide not to do it?
ME:
When I was a kid I wanted to move to Orlando so I could wakeboard all year round (comfortably). Instead I invested in a trampoline. As I grew up and started to go down to Florida, I realized I didn't really like Florida. Yeah, it was fun to wakeboard and a little easier to learn tricks in water that is warmer than my piss, but there is more in my life than wakeboarding. For one, there are no mountains in Florida. Actually there isn't even hills in Florida. There is nothing like a Mt. Baker powder day or, for that matter, a Mt. Baker powder season. I couldn't leave snow skiing and snowboarding for wakeboarding in Florida. I think it is rad that we have seasons up here in the Northwest. It helps me to not get burnt out on wakeboarding or snowboarding.
I also thought, "Why do you have to move to Orlando to be a wakeboarder?" The sport will never grow if it doesn't leave Orlando.
Mike Ennen
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WW: Do you enjoy competing on the Pro Tour?
ME:
Yes and No. It's fun to travel around with your friends and meet new people and see new places. I'm not really into competitions. They don't let you express the true way you enjoy to ride. You have to do certain tricks to make it through on to the next heats. Contests are necessary for the sport and they are slowly evolving in a good way.
WW: What tips would you give to those just starting to get into competitions?
ME:
Just do what you like to do on your board and try to add all aspects of the sport into your run. Have fun and don't take them too seriously.
WW: What local comps do you ride at?
ME:
I ride at most of the Northwest Sessions and Active Water Sports local tournaments. To wakeboaders in all areas, get out there and check out your local comps. You can meet a lot of cool people that are interested in the same things. That's how I meet a lot of my friends.
WW: Do you get a chance to hit sliders and other obstacles where you ride?
ME:
Yes, we have built some at my lake house on Big Lake and we have a badass lake a couple hours away called Koppert Lake owned and run by Active Water Sports. It has about eight rails varying from flat bars to "A" frames.
Mike Ennen
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WW: What is the wakeboard scene like in Washington?
ME:
The wakeboard scene is very chill. Everyone is friends and we spend a lot of time filming and riding together. We always encourage new people to come out and ride. If you are from Washington or the Northwest, come check out some of the local tournaments we put on like Northwest Sessions and AWS Free Riders Ball.
WW: How often do you get to ride throughout the year?
ME:
May to October.
WW: What other hobbies do you indulge in?
ME:
Skateboard, Fish, Create Art, Snowboard.
WW: What set up are you on these days?
ME:
The Liquid Force 136 Substance with liquid Force Ultras.
WW: Do you have a boat?
ME:
Yes, Malibu Wakesetter VLX. Best boat ever made.
WW: Where are your favorite riding spots?
ME:
Top secret
Casa de Ennen
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WW: Do you wakesurf or wakeskate?
ME:
Is the atomic weight of Cobalt 58.9?
WW: Would you like to thank anyone?
ME:
I'd like to start out by thanking my parents (Patti and Dave Ennen) for supporting me all these years and especially this year with all the traveling I have done. I would also like to thank my grandparents and Aunt and Uncle for giving us a place where we can hang out and ride. Thank you for the gas too. Thanks to Don Wallace at Liquid Force for supplying me with the best wakeboards ever built. Thanks to Active Water Sports for all the pulls at Koppert Lake. Thanks to Bill at Bakes Marine. A huge thanks to Lonny and Mark Gibbs from Malibu boats, thanks for the boat and all the support you guys have given to the northwest. Thanks to Jack Blodgett (Backyard Films). Thanks to Chad at NFA for my new wardrobe. Thanks to Joey Meddock for giving us a home in Orlando and shooting all the photos. Thanks to Patrick and Scott from Titan. Last, but not least ,thanks to Sean Kilgus of BFY productions for putting us in the limelight.
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