When Spencer, the 2022 WWA Boys Beginner World Champion from Edmond, Oklahoma, decided to make the trip to Fort Myers, Florida, for winter training with me, it was an exciting opportunity to help him refine his riding and prepare for the next stages of his competitive career. Spencer has already accomplished so much, moving up to the Boys Anything Goes division last year and now setting his sights on competing in the Junior Men’s division in 2025.
As a coach, one of my strengths is identifying the overlooked areas in a rider’s foundation that, when addressed, unlock greater potential. Spencer has an impressive bag of tricks, including the Tootsie Roll (a toeside front roll with a handle-pass backside 180) and the Moby Dick (a heelside tantrum with a handle-pass backside 360). These tricks require years of preparation, and it’s exciting to see how Spencer’s dedication is leading to significant breakthroughs.
During our time together, we focused not just on fine-tuning his big tricks but also on foundational elements that will lead to even bigger accomplishments.
Building Intensity in Riding
One area we addressed was adding more intensity to Spencer’s riding. For example, his toeside tricks often started with a wide, slow approach and the rope held high. To generate more power, I worked with him to lower the handle and engage more tension on the line as he turned. This adjustment helped him initiate a stronger edge and gain the momentum needed for bigger and more dynamic tricks.
Improving Blind Landings
Another focus was Spencer’s technique for landing blind. At the beginning of the week, he tended to land with straight legs and his head and shoulders dropped. We spent time before each session using the practice rope on land to perfect backside 180s with proper posture with his head and chest up, hips pushed toward the handle, and knees bent. This foundation helped him unlock new tricks, including a nose grab toeside frontside 360 landing blind on both his regular and switch sides. This breakthrough led to his first switch toeside frontside 540 with a nose grab, a step toward the coveted toeside frontside 720.
Mastering the Switch Stance Scarecrow
One highlight of the week was working on Spencer’s switch stance scarecrow. He had only landed it twice before and had yet to tackle the switch stance toeside front roll which is a challenging and unnatural trick in wakeboarding. Drawing from my own experience learning this trick under Chad Brown in Orlando, I guided Spencer through the process. By his final session, he landed his first switch stance toeside front roll, a milestone that will enhance his ability to execute higher-level tricks in the future.
Landing “Funny Wrapped”
We also worked on landing “funny wrapped,” a skill that adds style to simple tricks and creates a foundation for advanced maneuvers. Spencer learned to land his switch heelside frontside 360 and regular toeside backside 180 funny wrapped within minutes, thanks to my firsthand experience and guidance. This skill will play a key role in tricks like the switch heelside frontside 720 and toeside backside 540, helping him stand out in competitions.
The Importance of Wakesurfing
Even with Spencer’s high level of wakeboarding expertise, I had him spend a few minutes wakesurfing at the end of his sessions. If he aspires to become a professional wakeboarder, having a solid understanding of wakesurfing will help him connect with a broader audience and market himself as a well-rounded watersports athlete and coach in the future.
Mental Toughness and Determination
What impressed me most about Spencer is his mental toughness. While Florida is warmer than most of the country in winter, we experienced some chilly conditions, with some sessions in the 50s. Despite the cold, Spencer maintained a positive attitude and accomplished a tremendous amount.
We’re incredibly proud of the progress Spencer made during his training week and can’t wait to see what he achieves in the upcoming 2025 competition season. His dedication, work ethic, and passion for the sport make him a true inspiration, and we’re honored to be part of his journey.
Stay tuned for more updates on Spencer and other riders training at Kirby’s School of Wake!