This month (May '98), we're talking to Susan Moore from Tennessee. Susan and Chris (her husband-to-be) run a pro shop/boat dealer as well as organize local tournaments in their area. In fact, they are currently pulling together and hosting the Memphis Mayday this month - May 9th.

WW: How long have you been wakeboarding?
SM: I first tried wakeboarding in Summer 1995, but really got interested in Summer '96. I started riding on Chris's BAFF 142, but that board was way too big for me. I finally bought my first board the Spring of '97. It was a FullTilt Supermodel fusion. I still have it and will probably keep it, but I'd also like to demo a few of the newer models this summer.

WW: How did you get started?
SM: Chris and his best friend Andy Strawn introduced me to wakeboarding at Tablerock Lake in Missouri. They have both been riding since the '80s. But what really got me going was watching videos like Gravity Sucks, Spray, and Hit It! And seeing women riders in those videos made me realize this wasn't just a sport for the guys.

WW: What do you like most about wakeboarding?
SM: I like that no matter how good you get, there's always something else you can try. There's so much variety, as compared to skiing and other such watersports. You can take it easy or go hard. And at the end of the day, you always seem to want more.

I also really like the culture. When you meet someone who rides, you have an instant bond. It's really exciting. And it goes way beyond being pulled riding a board. It's the music, the clothes, trampolines, skateboards, snowboards, videos, and on and on... I don't think it's a fad, I think it's here to stay.

WW: We hear you and your husband-to-be are planning your honeymoon at a wakeboard camp. Is this true? How did you come about deciding that's what you wanted to do?
SM: Yeah, we'll be getting married May 16th, but we'll wait 'til after his busy season to honeymoon (probably in September). We just decided to do something we both would enjoy. We've wanted to go to camp for awhile and well, a honeymoon seems like a good excuse to spend the money. We're really excited about it.

WW: Tell us about the wakeboarding scene in Tennessee. Is the old Miss a popular waterway to ride? What other poppular lakes are in that area?
SM: Well, the Mississippi River isn't usually enjoyed by watersports because of the current and the debris. You can ride on it, but it's usually a last resort.

My dad has a houseboat at Cuba Landing on the Tennessee River. We like it there because it's a wildlife reserve and there aren't many cabins, thus not alot of boat traffic and always good smooth water. Plus, it's a free place to stay and it's really cool to cruise out on the houseboat, drop anchor and ride around it. Makes it easy to break for lunch and swap out riders.

We also spend some time at Pickwick Lake, Sardis and Enid in Mississippi, as well as Horseshoe Lake in Arkansas. They also say Greers Ferry/Heber Springs Arkansas is well worth the 3 hour drive, and we'll probably visit there this summer.

WW: Do you follow any of the pro women riders?
SM: I watch all the pro women riders, no one in particular. I guess the old standby's tend to stand out -- Andrea, Sarah, Sonja, Farrah, Dana and Donna. But I get excited to see new women get signed with sponsors and even to see new women placing in amateur tournaments.

WW: ...and what do you think about how they're making a difference for the sport.
SM: I think it's cool that women have made a name for themselves in wakeboarding, and it seems like the guys are very receptive to women in the sport -- training them, encouraging them, promoting them, etc. I think the biggest difference the pro women make is evidenced by how I got interested -- they get other girls to want to try wakeboarding and to want to excel.

The only thing I don't understand is why tournament events don't have the same categories for women as for men. I feel sure they will soon, but I imagine it is dependent on how many women participate.

WW: Do you compete?
SM: I haven't gotten up the nerve to compete so far, but I might try later.

WW: What would you tell someone new to wakeboarding?
SM: That you can have alot of fun with the sport no matter how much you know, how athletic you are, etc. You don't have to tell a newcomer much -- after one pull, they're hooked!

WW: Anything you'd like to see changed with the sport?
SM: Only the wakeboard/skiboard controversy. But I guess there's controversy anytime more than one person has an interest, so it could be worse. You may say it keeps us from getting bored, but I doubt I'd ever get bored with wakeboarding.

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