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...