Fitting in Fitness with Wakeboarding

Wakeboarding is one of the fastest growing water sports in the world, combining water skiing and surfing skills into one. Wakeboarders are pulled behind a motorboat using a board that is slightly smaller than a snowboard, which travels on top of the water at speeds of around 20 miles per hour. Professional wakeboarders perform aerial tricks and flips using the edge of the board and various ramps in the waterway.

The World Wakeboard Association host amateur and professional wakeboard events with rules that were developed by riders for riders. Out of those events, these three professionals have made a name for themselves in the sport, with some even gaining endorsements through wakeboard supplies.

Raphael Derome

Raphael Derome was born in 1992 In Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec, and is a wakeboarding champion. In addition to wakeboarding, Derome also snowboards and skateboards. He learned to water ski at 18 months old as his father was a national champion water ski jumper. His older brother taught him to wakeboard when Derome was only 9 years old.

Harley Clifford

Harley Clifford, the Australian two-time King of Wake Series Champion, is only 20 years old, but has already begun making a name for himself in the sport. He began competing professionally at the age of 14 and has won more than 25 major pro events. He hopes to teach the sport to as many people as possible and to develop new tricks.

Steel Lafferty

Steel Lafferty was also born in 1992 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and says his special talent is spinning on a wakeboard. Insiders say that Lafferty embodies all the characteristics you would expect in a wakeboarder with a larger-than-life personality. Lafferty was the first wakeboarder to land a wake-to-wake 1080 as well as a toe-side, backside 900 off a double-up.

The sport of wakeboarding is growing in popularity and with the addition of the sport to the Olympic Games in 2020, viewers should expect to see more wakeboard racks on cars and wakeboard stars fighting for medals at the games.