Here it's October already and the season in winding down for a lot of us. Catching a few people before they pack it up, we talked a bit this month with Kathi Wire from the Seattle area, boarding on Lake Sammamish. She's still pretty new to the sport and one of those who just loves to ride! Here's how Kathi sees wakeboarding as a "great escape"...

WW: How did you get started in wakeboarding?
KW: Two years ago, I had some friends who always talked about wakeboarding. I knew about the sport and was dying to try it. I finally resorted to bribing one of them to take me wakeboarding, which he did. I fell in love with the sport right then and there. Unfortunately, it was another year until I had a chance to go out on a boat on Hood Canal. The boat owners only had water-skis, so I went out and bought the only wakeboard I could find. I spent the weekend teaching myself to wakeboard. One year and three wakeboards later, I am obsessed with the sport, and all I want to do is ride.

WW: What's your best trick to date?
KW: Other than some pretty spectacular face plants, none really. I'm still a beginner, so the only tricks I've landed are toeside and heelside 180s, and a couple of grabs. I need to find someone to teach me some tricks, because at this point I don't even know where to begin without ending up in the hospital.

WW: What do you think is the best part about the sport?
KW: There are two things about wakeboarding that have made it my favorite sport. First, is that it is a great escape. Life can pretty much suck at times, but if you can get out on the water, you forget about everything else. This past year, I went wakeboarding at some of the worst moments in my life ever. When I was out there riding, or watching my friends ride, I forgot about my problems. When I got back to shore, they were no longer "problems", but rather situations to deal with. Even when I've gotten hurt on the water, I still hobble away smiling. The other part of wakeboarding I like is the people in it. Since I began wakeboarding, I have made a lot of new friends- just because we had wakeboarding in common. All the wakeboarders I know really support one another, regardless of what level of riding they are at. Every wakeboarder I have met, even the pros, have been really cool and I respect that about them. Of course, maybe that's because I'm a girl, and all the riders I meet are guys. Seriously, though, the sport just seems to attract some great athletes who want to have a good time and watch the sport grow.

WW: So you tell us you work full time and attend law school in the evenings... when do you find time to ride??
KW: Finding time to ride is a little tricky with my schedule. The fact I don't have a boat, makes it even harder. Whenever possible, I'll jump on a friend's boat at the crack of dawn and ride before I go to the office. Otherwise, I have to wait until the weekend and hope to get on a boat. Admittedly, I also worked my class schedule this summer so I was done with school while it was still light out. That let me ride occasionally after class, at sunset. I basically just ride whenever I possibly can. My friends have learned that plans with me are contingent upon whether or not I can ride. It's not a good way to treat your friends, but they seem to understand.

WW: What would you tell someone just like you starting out in this sport?
KW: Hmmm. Good question. Ride hard and ride often. But, like any other sport worth doing, wakeboarding can be dangerous, so ride carefully. But, most important of all, HAVE FUN!! I would also recommend either taking lessons or riding with people who really know what they're doing. That way you don't end up like me - self-taught and having to unlearn some really bad habits. See ya on the water!

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