Eric Walenta
/
Austria
FOLLOW ME
www.becgange.com
Date of birth:
1989.10.13
Hometown:
Mildura, Australia
Sponsors:
Jetpilot,
Supra,
Liquid Force,
Mildura Health,
Club Marine,
Top End Training,
Hobbies:
Wakeboarding, dancing, hanging with friends and family
Favourite athletes:
Ben Greenwood, Keith Lyman
BIO
I was born and raised in Mildura, Australia. I loved sports, I played basketball, netball, danced and horse riding but I didn’t try skiing till the age of 11 and loved it, I only ever got on a wakeboard when I was about 13 but didn’t start competing till I was 15. I came 10th at my first Australian Nationals and then won the next 8.
I finished year 12 at school and wanted to travel to Orlando, Florida to wakeboard there and have the endless summer. I continued to go there for 3 years and then I moved to the Gold Coast, I had no money to return to America and I injured my ankle, that put me out for a couple of months. I then moved back home to pursue my wakeboarding career. I went back to America to do the Pro Tour, my first contest I placed 3rd and won Female trick of the year with a whirlybird 540, the first female to ever land it. I started off my season really strong and then by the end I let the pressure get to me and didn’t perform like I wanted.
I came back to Australia for the summer picked myself up and went back to America the following season more prepared. I podiumed 5 contests out of 8 and have won the WWA World Wakeboarding Championships.
I have achieved a lot of my dreams, I have my own signature range with Jetpilot and I get to travel the world doing something I love.
INTERVIEW
What are you looking for to accomplish?
To inspire other people to either follow their own dreams or to help grow the sport of wakeboarding. Everyone has a goal but most have never followed it, I hope to encourage people from my experiences to chase their passion.
What would be your greatest achievement?
Greatest achievement is to be crowned 2014 WWA World Champion and win 2013 Indmar Female trick of the year, to be the first female to land a Whirlybird 540.
What kind of difficulties does your sport’s performance involve?
It’s still a very new sport so we don’t have the income or the support like larger sports do. It’s hard to balance work and training.
What makes you feel satisfied when performing your sport?
Just being out on the water with friends and family and landing my tricks or doing a new trick that I have been trying for a long time.
Also performing your best at a contest, even if you don’t win, I am excited if I have a stand up pass.
Where do you practice your techniques when being alone?
You’re never alone when wakeboarding behind the boat haha. I always have someone that I go out with, either family or friends that help me with my wakeboarding.
What do you do during your training which is key to your success?
Practice tricks over and over again till they’re consistent and off the water I go to the gym and do yoga to keep my flexibility and strength up. I have also worked with a sports psychiatrist to help with mental issues that come with sports.
What are you most nervous about when competing?
That I don’t ride my best. I won’t land a trick and fall. I’m always trying to push myself and women wakeboarding, so I’m just nervous about riding away from all my tricks.
Who would you say is your biggest fan and why?
Haha I don’t know, maybe my parents :)
What is the best piece of advice you have been ever given?
Well I have two that stick with me! Pressure is a privilege and if you don’t get butterflies you don’t want to be there.
What are your future plans?
To keep competing and pushing myself to learn new tricks until I can’t do it anymore. I would also like to open up my own wakeboarding school.
What are your tips for those who begin now?
Have fun and always get back up and try again. You will fall hard but it’s the way you pick yourself up, this will make you successful and achieve your goals. Will allows you to grow and learn.
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