The Little Things

Words: Assorted contributors

When it comes to making a part, posting on social media, or just showcasing who you are as a person and a rider, the little things add up, and they matter. Here's a few of those "little things" we compiled from riders and industry heads around the world.

Events, specifically where you get to ride with your idols.

As a fully grown adult it can get lost on you just how big of an impact you can have on a grom/fan when you meet them in person. Simply taking a doubles lap with them or watching them ride in person and highlighting something that they do that's unique has the capability of sticking with someone forever. Don't discount how big of an impact you can make, especially on those who look up to you. 

Trick selection

Pretty self explanatory, but some riders seem to struggle with how important this can be. If you're building a part and you dont have a certain level of variety, watching you ride will likely get stale. What you do can be just as important as how you do it.

Kit choice

When you walk out of the house, do you look in the mirror before you leave? Do you pick out what you're going to wear for the day? As kooky as it sounds to say out loud, fashion is one of the largest industry's in the world (4th according to google 🤓), it didn't get to be that way by happenstance. What you look like matters. 

Keep your bad day off the dock

No one cares. 

Ollie over safeties

If you're reading this, then those safeties aren't there for you. 

Crisp board noises

An edit without natural audio from the riding, including the sounds your board produces when it makes contact with things, is a miss. It doesn't feel real.

Not adding a 270 out

Front 2 pretz 2, no one needs to see that.

Wash your damn towel

I mean I don't, but you should. 

Using the original songs, not the censored version

You listen to that original version in your car, on the boat, or when you're riding, why do the artist the injustice of butchering their song by using a censored version? People these days can scroll on Instagram and go from seeing a thirst trap to someone dying all in the matter of seconds. I highly doubt you using a song with the word "fuck" in it is going to make a difference, and everyone is just going to wish you used the version they know and love.

Soggy clips

In your lifetime you have an allotted amount of soggy clips you can post before people start to think you aren't worth a watch. Year after year that allotment goes down. 

Being real

There is nothing worse than someone being inauthentic or "fake" just for the sake of putting on a persona which they think will be perceived as favorable. I assure you we all see right through it. 

Inspiration outside of wakeboarding

There are plenty of other sports we can take inspiration from rather than just each other. Imitation is fine but a lot of riding looks similar because we naturally emulate those around us. Try some different cuisine.

Doing your own thing

Listening to your own music and removing your self from conversations with crew / dock hands / people in the line takes away from the culture it doesn’t add to it… by all means do your thing but remember to give back.

Be involved

Turn up to events, show your face, support the grass roots stuff / dealer days / premiers / retail shops / new video releases / and fellow riders content. The more we all work together better it is for us all.