Michael Ratti Professional Freestyle

Next on the agenda (literally TWO days later), was a quick 3-day trip, with no time to spare, to California for the annual ASR (Action Sports Retailers) convention in downtown San Diego. Joining up with the Sacred G team, I got an awesome sneak peak at all the new action, gear, clothing, and more for many companies for the upcoming 2009 year. I was able to meet and hang with some of the coolest companies in the action sports industry such as DC Shoes, the Metal Mulisha, and Skin Industries just to name a few. Later on I was also treated to a small private concert by the rapper Too $hort, courtesy of Famous Stars and Straps Clothing. Finally I packed up and headed back home for a few days of much needed rest.

On August 31, there was no more time to wait as the 2008 Pro Freestyle National Championship competition had arrived at Lake Percy Priest in Nashville TN. I had just arrived from traveling the night before from doing a show in Knoxville on a drastically different ski, and was still recovering from a ruptured eardrum. The routine had to be carefully planned to please the judge's criteria and keep my main ski functioning as it was threatening every moment to stall without the chance of being restarted due to semi-serious motor problems . In practice, I had to re-learn several tricks and even be towed in. Overall, the time, effort, and sacrifice paid off as I was able to capture the 2008 title. Time spent after was solely dedicated to relaxation. Much thanks goes out to my supporters, family, friends, and sanctioning bodies who have made this all possible and running smoothly!

 Following a dramatic and stressfull week of ski maintainence and riding only two sessions in one day to re-learn my big tricks after FINALLY recovering from my ear injury, a last minute show opportunity was arranged through my sponsor Mountain Motorsports (previously known as Mountain Adventures). The show was a solo freestyle show that  I performed in a tiny pond located behind the Wild Wing Cafe riddled with freestyle obstacles for the riders inbetween heats during a pro-wakeboarding rail-jam competition. The show was for an event for Wild Wings Cafe and the KnoxWake company in Knoxville (http://www.knoxvillewake.proboards70.com/index.cgi?board=wakeboardingdiscussion&action=display&thread=695). The kicker, it was the DAY before the biggest event for me of the year (August 30), the 2008 APBA Pro Freestyle National championships (August 31).

To add to the tension of the weekend, my pro boat had been suffering what we still believe to be timing issues and threatened not to work, or even start for that matter, so my father and I decided to save it only for when I had to compete on Sunday. As any rider or athlete knows, switching from one setup to a drastically different one will throw off performance, timing, etc. However, each 15 minute routine amazed the local Knoxville crowd (filled with many beautiful ladies) as I performed every show-style trick and topped them off with pro-level arials just when they thought it was over! It was great excersise, and a nice way to ride in a non-competative environment. Nothing though, could prepare us for the events to follow the next day...

Several weeks following the Orange Beach competition I had been training intensively on my new 1000cc Carbon Hull pro-ski setup. Every trick was 10-times bigger than anything ever performed on flatwater or even in some surf competitions! My favorite trick to practice and perform during these training sessions were HUGE flatwater backflips and variations of the sort, of course in addition to barrel rolls, flares, etc. That comming weekend my promoter Mike Young, founder of Surf & Turf Promotions, had arranged for me to do a show August 11 for the Emerald Coast Childrens Charity Poker Run located at Scully's on the Bayou resturant in Ft. Walton Beach. I would be performing with fellow rider Jeff Lutker and Geno Yauchler, a highly decorated air-chair athlete whos been featured on the television program Stunt Junkies. Illustrating on my tight schedule I decided to have one more practice session the day before leaving for the show. On a backflip attempt early in the session, I came up short, from what seemed to be 10 feet in the air, and burst my eardrum upon impact.

To top off the stress, my show ski wasnt functioning at all as its condition worsened after the Orange Beach event, and I had to leave for the show in less than 24 hours! To answer my prayers and get me to the show, my father stayed up all night replacing the starting system to repair my ski, as my mom prepared the vehicle that we would be taking to the event while I lay in bed medicated on my first day of three weeks toward recovery. WHEW!

With great appreciation, my mother and I drove to the show the MORNING of the event and met up with Mike Young and the rest of the crew. The show went flawlessly as I was riding my freshly repaired show ski and was joined by equally spectacular athletes. It lasted about an hour and afterwards there was an autograph session held for the local children and families for the event. It was amazing to ride for a charity that is supportive of children and I can't wait to see everyone again next year!



 

It was solo traveling for me to the Hydroturf APBA National Tour stop located in Orange Beach Alabama, but met up with my good racer friend Claude Clayton and company for a memorable weekend. The Perdido Beach Resort was more than hospitable to the tour by providing its hotel and services for our host of hospitality. Nevertheless it was a busy weekend of hardcore racing and freestyle action as the approaching weather was turning huge swells in this usually calm gulf environment.  Announcing the play-by-play action from our 3-story tower of power was exhilarating.  Exciting riders to have watched all weekend were racing legends Dustin Farthing, Chris MacClugage, and Hurricane Bill Haig.

Freestyle was equally exciting as thousands of spectators lined the beach to see myself and riders such as Josh "The Bomber" Lustic, and 2nd time rider Jared Adis take to the air with explosive and exciting arial manuevers. Unfortunaltly due to some mechanical issues with my ski, I placed 3rd both days but gave the people of Orange Beach someone to remember! Special thanks to Claude Clayton, Mike Young, Surf & Turf Promotions and all others for such a great event!

Hello everyone, as many know, I am always under high pressure and stress to perform, maintain, and travel during my career. The team has been quite busy until now so I will be posting summaries of all events!