Wake Magazine Profile: Daniel Pyne

Date: Wake Magazine, Volume 6, Issue 1
Author: Wake Magazine
Photos: Stanley

Daniel Pyne's way of living reflects the classic wakeboarder lifestyle. A cruiser who tackles life at his own speed and doesn't seem too concerned about competing with the next guy. Or with being better than anyone else. I'll do it my own way and you can take it or leave it. Is very much his style.

His central cruise mode lifestyle also reflects the sunshine coast living he has enjoyed all his life. He grew up where he still lives now, just minutes from the Bli Bli Cable Park.

Back in his early days he rode bodyboards. Travelling the country on his lid, he went to the top of bodyboarding in Australia, once placing third at the Aussie Titles. In 1999 he made the switch to wakeboarding through a buddy who worked at the Ski n Surf Cable Park.

On a wakeboard Daniel Pyne is a ripper. He charges as hard as anyone else in the country, but is still relatively unknown. Why? Because he doesn't care too much for being outspoken or making a ruckus about himself. But in the last six months Daniel's wakeboarding talent has spoken louder than just about anyone else in the country.

In the past year Daniel has progressed through the ranks of competition riding with solid results, but things haven't always gone to plan. At this year's Australian Wakeboard Nationals in SA he was absolutely robbed of winning the Men's 1 Division after a judging mix up. A lot of people would've thrown a massive protest and carried on. But the ultimate proof of being "the biggest cruiser in wakeboarding" was displayed when he grabbed a beer, sat back with his buddies and accepted his result. He knew within himself that he was the Australian Champion, and never requested any accolades.

For the next few months Pyney would ride hard with the intention of putting in a solid ride at the Cable Worlds in Germany. Good things come to those who wait, and Daniel became the highest ranked Australian male after finishing sixth at the event.

We bailed him up the day he returned. Sure enough, he couldn't take care of an interview due to a party he wanted to attend, and who were we to say "change your lifestyle"! When we finally got some answers we found that Pyney is happier to talk about others who have performed well and supported him than to talk up himself.

Wake: Who got you into wakeboarding?

DP: I have David O'Meara to thank for getting me into it. A couple of days after Schoolies Week I went to see Dave at Ski n Surf and he told me to have a go, I loved it.

Wake: You were pretty full on into bodyboarding before you started wakeboarding?

DP: Yeah, well bodyboarding was my life as I used to surf everyday before and after school. I travelled all over Australia doing competitions and free surfing. My best result was third at the Australian Titles at Newcastle in 1997. Surf Action sponsored me. It was hard to get sponsored being so young, but Rheopaipo Bodyboards helped me out heaps. Thanks to my idol Adam Keegan.

Wake: How often do you ride now? Where and who with?

DP: I'm pretty lucky as I have a choice of boat and cable. I ride a lot as the cable is only 10 minutes from my house, and I hang out with Justin "Sosso" Abbott all the time. Sosso and I ride together, which is a big influence on my wakeboarding. I love the cable as all my buddies are there ripping it up. Wade from Surf Action has a Tige so we ride most weekends with Susso, Luke Wulf, Luke Egan and all the Bli Bli boys.

Wake: A lot of guys are getting into kiteboarding up on the sunny coast. Have you been giving it a go?

DP: I've only used a kite on the beach. It was fun doing little airs and sliding down the beach. Wakeboarding is what gets me out of bed every morning.

Wake: So tell me more about the Aussie Nationals this year. You were stomping all the way through the qualifying, going into the finals as top qualifier, and some guy who fell twice beat you after you nailed everything. What's up with that?

DP: Ah, the Aussies! I qualified highest in every heat, didn't fall once, which I was stoked with. They were the hardest conditions I have ever had to wakeboard in. There was a two foot chop coming down the river. In the final I stomped 2 X 6 trick passes. I was last off the dock in the finals, everyone had crashed, I stood up and came in so stoked. Everyone was saying "you've won". At the presentation they called me up in third place and I was shattered. After the pressos I went up to the judges to check the sheets. The scores had been around the wrong way, but shit happens, have a beer and forget all about it.

Wake: I haven't actually seen you hit kickers before, but we just got some pics in from when Brett Stanley was on the Sunny Coast and you were doing some phat tricks coming off the kicker. Have you been hitting them long?

DP: No, I hit the one at the Goldie once and built the one at Bli Bli with mates and only got to ride it one day. It's sick. In Germany every park has a kicker and slider. The kickers are switch for me in Germany which is better as you can hit them on your frontside as well as heelside. I competed in three kicker events and finished top five in each event and was stoked.

Wake: What is your favourite trick off a kicker?

DP: It's a tie between a bat wing and and a switch slob 540.

Wake: What about sliders and rails? Have you been getting into the jibbing side?

DP: For an event in Germany we made a 15m slider, five pipes wide. You hit a 2m high ski jump and jump a gap onto the slider, crazy shit. Rode a pipe dragon slider and heaps of rainbows. I'm going to build a big ass slider for our cable park.

Wake: You have just become the highest ranked Australian male rider on cable in the world after competing at the worlds a couple of weeks ago. You must be stoked?

DP: I'm so happy! Cable in Germany is huge. There are thousands of spectators around the whole lake. I wasn't nervous at all. I was just stoked to be there. You take off from the dock and everybody just screams. I rode in Open Division and I expected to get knocked out in the qualifying, but before I knew it I was in the final. With 11 other riders, competition rules "you fall, you're out". I was competing with the best in the world and I felt honored to be a part of it. I thought Justin Abbot and Bernard Hintenburger would be battling out for first and second, but unfortunately Justin crashed first pass.

I felt like crap for him and knew it was up to me. Bernard came first. I came sixth, for my wild card I did a frontside roll to blind which no one has done yet. I was stoked.

Wake: At the Nationals in Australia the feeling is pretty intense. It must have been crazy over there?

DP: It is. The biggest adrenaline rush was taking off from the dock and everyone screaming at you the whole way around the lake. The first comp was the European King of Board. I placed fourth and every Australia made the final.

The crowds are massive, there are thousands of people at every comp cheering you on anf heaps of media always in your face. The riders were awesome, so friendly, they will do anything for you. Sixteen countries competed at the Worlds with Australia, Germany and USA the standouts.

Wake: You actually did a few tour stops right?

DP: Yeah, about five. Two European and three German tour stops, every event just as big as the last. The people, beer and level of wakeboarding and the prize money. I liked them all! Touring, you get to meet different people all the time.

Wake: The party scene must have been insane?

DP: The parties are insane; bands, free beer, chicks and every bloody person in Germany. I would have to say the Aussies and the Germans went the hardest. We got drunk everyday. A beer is cheaper than a can of Coke so you just drink alcohol. We went clubbing a few times. One place in Munich has 30 clubs in it. One was called Room 8. In the first 20 minutes me, Sosso and the boys were magoot from free teuila shots and spirits. The clubs are crazy, you can't even move in them and the chicks are drop dead gorgeous - you only have to be 16 to drink to go out in Germany. Me, Justin, Spud, Reuben and Sheryl and the German riders did a goodbye, see ya next year 60m bungy jump at the last tour stop.

Wake: Who were you travelling with?

DP: Justin Abbot, Liam Brown, Reuben Buchanan and his wife Sheryl. We were there for five weeks and met up with other Australian team members about three weeks into the trip. That was cool, we trained every morning together as a team. Me, Justin, Liam, Reuben, Chris Matterson, Spud Phillips, Brad Craddock, Kirsten Lewis, Sally Grice, Matt and Krystal Wilkings, Sam Collins, Jeremy, Angus Embrey, Cory Peach.

Unfortunately Liam Brown couldn't compete in the worlds due to a dislocated shoulder. I would like to say it was a pleasure spending five weeks with Justin, Liam, Reuben and Sheryl.

Wake: You're planning to go back next year right?

DP: Yeah. Christian from SiseTel offered me a job at his cable park and in the factory for next year. I'm planning on going back in May with my girl - Eve - and do the Euro and German Wakeboard Tour for the season.

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