Brad ' One Punch' PickettOllie Moore Wakeskating Genius
Ollie Moore – Wateskating genius
Words by Matt Walton. Photography by Rob Grist
Wakeskating is an adaptation to the common water sport known as wakeboarding.
The boards are similar to wakeboards, but with a major difference in that the board does not have any fixed bindings. This allows the riders feet to move freely across the board, more similar to skateboarding or surfing.
The top surface of the board is covered in griptape, similar to the skateboard or has a high-traction, foam covering. The rider generally wears special shoes aswell, to aid in gripping the board and to aid in the movement of the board for specific tricks
Some of the earliest riding to resemble wakeskating dates back to the late '70s and early '80s. This was in the form of freeboarding or wakesurfing, where riders would surf behind boats with long boards.
As time evolved, riders leaned towards shorted boards, which allowed riders to launch airs off the wake and even start to ollie. This was the beginning………..
Wakeskating tricks are inherently more technical than wakeboarding. The tricks are based firmly on skateboarding as opposed to snowboarding. Some of the fave tricks currently are wake to wake hs fs 360, indy bs 180, 3shuv, bs bigspin, fs bigspin, kickflip.
Spiked caught up with the Moore family who all have an incredible passion for water sports. The thing that really comes across when you meet them, is their support for each other and how they absolutely love being behind the boat.
Ollie Moore who is now widely known for his wakeskating skills, has spent years learning his trade on the skateboard before transitioning to the water. He is a perfect example of how you can transfer your skills from one discipline to another, have a sick time and be successful. It can’t be bad. I don’t think he ever has a bad day at the office.
Ollie has already racked up an impressive record including:
Boat Events:
· 2009 British National wakeskate champion, first wakeskate comp. at Quayside, on the 4 – 5th July.
· Open mens British Nationals 09 wakeboard 6th, at Quayside, on the 4 – 5th July.
· 2009 British Junior National wakeskate champion, at West Midlands waterski center, 1080, on the 18th July.
· British Junior Nationals 09 wakeboard 4th, at West Midlands waterski center.
· The overall winner of wakeboard and wakeskate of The Nautique riders league
Cable Events:
· TenFeetHigh wakeskate 2nd on Aug 15th. First cable comp.
We caught up with Ollie to get an incite into how he started in skateboarding and how he transitioned into wakeskating.
1. When did you first start skateboarding?
I’ve been skating since I was about 10 and it was because of my brother that got me into it as he skated with his mates.
2. What was your first trick?
I started like any other skater with the “Ollie”.
3. What tricks did you progress to?
I moved onto tricks such as frontside kickflips and switch kickflips.
4. What was your favorite skateboarding trick?
My favorite trick at the moment is a hardflip, stylish and technical.
5. We heard you did a bit of wakeboarding. Can you tell us a bit about that and how you transferred any of your skateboarding skills to wakeboarding?
As I am a skateboarder, I felt comfortable standing sideways on a board. So my balance helped a lot when I first tried wakeboarding and I felt good on the board right from the beginning.
6. What was the most difficult thing to get your head around, or was it all pretty easy?
When I first started out I was going for it and doing pretty good and when I saw people doing killer flips and spins I thought how the hell are they doing that? But when I stomped my first invert I realized that it just takes time on the water and commitment.
7. What was your favorite wakeboarding trick?
Well there are so many tricks that have come into play from last year and I’m sure there will be many more this year but the trick that stands out for me the most is the whirlybird.
8. Why did you choose to move into wakeskating?
I started wakeskating just for fun when I’m not wakeboarding and then I took it up quite quickly and advanced through as many tricks as I could by bringing them from my skateboarding.
9. Did you find it easier than wakeboarding?
Not really because it’s a lot more technical than wakeboarding but its different as you’re a lot freer on a wakeskate as you are not attached to the board.
10. Did you find it easier than skateboarding?
No because it takes a lot more balance and control to stay on top of the board and you are riding on water instead of a hard surface. It’s also more time consuming to learn tricks because if you fall you have to wait for the boat to pick you back up and when you’re on a skateboard you just get straight back on it.
11. Do you get any different levels of excitement from wakeskating than you did from the other sports?
Yea for sure. I was pretty excited that I could skateboard on water. It was the next step up for me.
12. What is your favorite wakeskating trick?
My favorite wakeskate trick would have to be backside bigspin and wake to wake 3s.
13. Are there any tricks you are determined to nail?
Absolutely, I really want to progress through the flip tricks this year.
14. Who are your inspirations?
That would have to be Andrew Pastura and the old doggs, Danny Hampson, Aaron Reed and Scott Byerly.
15. How do you motivate yourself to keep pushing your ability to the next level?
By watching videos and videos of shredders and trying new tricks by taking them from my skateboard to the wakeskating, really got to go for it.
16. Do you have any formal coaching or training?
Well at the moment Im riding at OWC with Cobe & Tarah Mikacich and the guys. This is really the first formal coaching I have ever had and I am looking forward to the next four weeks of none stop riding providing the weather improves as its -3 degrees here at the moment.
17. We know you have been training in the States. Can you describe a typical day?
The typical day would be get up, good breakfast, to the lake and shred, lunch then shred some more then dinner, play pool. If the weather is horrible we wouldn’t waist the day, we would go vans skatepark or gym.
18. Can you describe your ultimate ambition?
Get really good, know people and ride with the best to be the best.
19. Where do you see wakeskating going over the next 10 years?
Wakeskating is getting bigger and better each year. It will be just as popular if not more popular than wakeboarding. You never know.
20. If you had one thing to say to inspire people to get involved in wakeskating, what would it be?
Go to a cable park spend 20 quid and soak in the atmosphere.
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