This week we sat down with Paige Galecki, a senior fashion merchandising major from Sylvania, OH, who loves to wakeboard.
Her Campus: When did you first start wakeboarding?
Paige Galecki: When I was about nine years old. It definitely wasn’t a popular sport of choice for girls my age, but I was an edgy child.
HC: For those land-dwellers out there, could you give us a description of what wakeboarding is?
PG: It’s essentially snowboarding on water. You’re towed behind a boat in its wake while your feet are in boots strapped onto a board.
HC: How did you get into it at first?
PG: There were a couple of cute boys across the lake who wakeboarded so I asked my dad for a board and then I realized that I was actually pretty good at it. So, yeah, trying to impress college boys at nine years old is how I got into it, but soon I forgot about the boys and focused on boarding instead.
HC: The rest of your family does watersports too, correct?
PG: Yep, it’s basically a family affair. My brother and I wakeboard, my mom slalom-skis (one ski) and my dad sticks to regular old waterskiing.
HC: What’s your board like?
PG: It’s black with blue flowers and pink boots. I believe it’s an accurate representation of my complex, yet vibrant personality.
HC: What is the coolest trick you can do?
PG: I can jump the wake! Some people are suprised that I can completely clear the wake because of my height so I’m pretty proud of that skill. Also, I’m currently working on doing a backflip over the wake. And on a slightly less impressive note, my brother and I will often board together while simultaneously arm wrestling.
HC: What’s your worst wakeboarding memory?
PG: I didn’t practice enough before trying a new trick and I ended up wiping out. My boots popped off my feet and then my board came up and hit me in the head. It wasn’t pretty to say the least.
HC: So, what is your overall favorite thing about wakeboarding?
PG: Honestly, I just like being on the water and teaching other people a new skill. It’s great getting to see others learn and enjoy wakeboarding, too. It’s awesome to be part of that exhilarating experience for someone else.
HC: And the worst part of wakeboarding?
PG: Well, the board often will fly off and hit you in the face or the butt, which is never a ton of fun, but it’s a small price to pay.
HC: How long do you see yourself wakeboarding for?
PG: Until I keel over from old age or bad choices.