SGTOP10 Interview Series – 10 Mins with an IVP Wakeboarder

In this interview, we will be talking to an IVP WakeBoarder. He will tell us more about this sport and perhaps we might be able to know why this sport is gaining popularity among Singaporeans.

SgTop10 :: Hi, Can you give everyone an introduction about yourself?

SgTop10 :: What made you pick up Wakeboarding?
I’m an outdoor person and loves the sun, sand and sea. Wakeboarding is exactly what fits me despite the long distance to travel. Love the company of the whole NTU wakeboard club during training and our chill out sessions on and off the boat. With great company and booze (most of the time), the sessions always turn out to be very enjoyable.

SgTop10 :: Where do you usually conduct your training sessions?
Plenty of location for wakeboarding. Raffles marina located at TUAS (Maxout Hydrosport). Punggol Marina located at PUNGGOL. Got a variety of operators, namely Waketime, Punggol Sea Sports Association (PSSA), Launch Wakeboard School, Substance, Ryders, Hakuba, Absolute.. etc. Other areas also include SAF Yacht Club (Wakepirates) and Bedok Reservoir.
Personally I prefer to go waketime at punggol due to their cheap rates and valuable services. Plenty of great amiable instructors.

SgTop10 :: How much budget does one need if he decides to pick up wakeboarding?
As students, we have our student rates. For weekdays, we are charged by sets. Each set constitute about 20 min water time. Most operators charge about 40bucks per set. Most of us do 2 sets each during each training, to maximize our travelling time and also make the training worth while. So roughly have to pay about 80 bucks.
For non-student wakeboarders, they have to pay according to the hourly rate. Most boat charges about 100-130 per hour, depending on the boat type and size of boats. The bigger the boat, the more they charge.

SgTop10 :: Have you suffered any injuries during your practice? Care to share the most serious experience?
Most serious injury sustained up to date should be my dislocated shoulder. Didn’t happen during wakeboarding, but at batam cable skii. Was my first time there and didn’t really know how to play. Managed to balance my self up to the first corner but clashed into a fren. Fell badly and my shoulder dislocated. Lucky for the life vest, I was able to float and managed some how to push my shoulder back into position. Ever since then, my shoulder would get injured very often. Other injuries sustained include sprained knee, due to bad landing while trying new trick.

SgTop10 :: What is one moment in your sporting hobby that is more memorable?
When I managed to land a new trick? Every new trick is memorable. Hahah

SgTop10 :: What is the next big thing on your sporting calendar?
No big event coming up

SgTop10 :: What are the common misconceptions about the sport?
People always relate wakeboarding to cable skii. They are similar sports with same equipments but the concept is totally different. One is pulled by cable, the other is by boat.

SgTop10 :: Where do you see yourself in WakeBoarding in another 3-5 years?
Hopefully competing in the open men’s category for all national sporting event related to wakeboarding

SgTop10 :: Since this is a SGTOP10 interview, tell our readers 10 things you like about Wakeboarding?

1. Booze
2. Sun
3. The “Airy” Feeling when u jump up to do a trick
4. NTU Wakeboard Club khakis
5. The cool feeling of carring your board on public transport and tons of eyes staring at you, wondering what is that.
6. It’s still considered a new sport and not many people does the sport. So can be considered the younger generation pioneers.
7. The nice arms and abs you will get if u do the sport hardcore.
8. The constant nice tan
9. The LADIES! Definitely…
10. The friends you will meet during the wakeboard sessions and the chill out sessions at jiak kim street