Wakeboarding

It could have never happen if frugality kicked in first to my mind when I got invited by some friends to Camarines Sur. I know this could be expensive but I was thinking of the adventure and fun that I would be missing if I would not join them. It promised nature trip and most of all the challenge that I would be facing when I would get my feet on a wakeboard.

We arrived at CWC nearly noon. It was a Monday so we were expecting that the complex would not be crowding with people because if otherwise, there would be a longer queue. Fortunately, the queue was manageable, I thought. We buy our tickets and we were told to wait for our turn at 1 o’clock in the afternoon. That sucks but that’s the rule. With nothing else to do, we took our seats near the wakeboarding area.

We watch the wakeboarders. Aside from two or three people who kept on falling from their boards, the rest of them were really good. Some could even do tricks with the ramps that were placed as obstacles on the water. We thought they could be professionals. (We found out the following day that they really are professionals because we saw their faces on the billboards and streamers hung around the CWC compound and on the highway.) The question now would be, “Can we at least make one round without falling in the water?” That was the challenge we made to ourselves. I f we can make at least one round, we would say that we accomplish the challenge of the sport.

When our time was about to come, we went to where the boards were stacked. We have already changed to the right gear, helmets and vests. Since this would be our first time, we asked the operator what we must do. They said if we want to try with our knees on the board, we can proceed immediately. On the other hand, if we want to stand on our feet, then we must go to the practice area. I thought that I must try the kneeboard first. Some of our companions agreed but some wanted to get on to their feet already, so they head to the practice area.

Kneeboarding was easy for me. I made only three attempts before I completed one round. I could have done it in my first attempt but on the final turn I was heading onto a ramp. I thought I could avoid it if I would keep in mind what the attendant told me. “Lean your body to the right and pull your left hand to the left.” That’s what he said. But when I thought I would really hit that ramp, I released the handle and fell on the water. My second attempt was just as similar with the first. The attendant asked me if I stayed inside the yellow buoys. I said no. So he said, “Keep inside the yellow marks and you would be good.” I kept that instruction in my head on my third attempt, and I made it. It took me fifteen minutes to learn that. It is time for the real challenge, I thought. I waited for my companion to accomplish his task. After he did, we proceeded to the practice area.

The area was small. It was almost the size of an Olympic-sized pool. I grinned when I saw the people who were on the queue. As the main wakeboard area is crawling with foreigners, the practice area was occupied by the locals and I would be among them. The area was muddy and I looked at the water. It was murky and grey. I could imagine myself swallowing the water and it was really possible, but the challenge was right on my face and I have no plans of backing out.

Standing, squatting, or sitting on the wakeboard is easy but staying on it for fifty meters and back was almost impossible. I kept on falling no matter how the instructors told me what I must do. I did not count how many attempts I did for the remaining time we were on the practice area because I failed. I was not even able to cross the pool. I could see one or two who have made it and that drove me more to go on. If they could make it, why can’t I?

We regroup on the main area. We asked those who attempted the wakeboard on foot after they have practiced if they have accomplished one round. No one did. I must. “We must get another ticket.” I told them. Some said that they wanted to try the other activity area so they can’t make another session of the wakeboarding. There were four who wanted to try again, however. We were scheduled at 5 o’clock in the afternoon.

Five o’clock came and we were already at the practice area. The instructor recognized us and told me that I could make it this time. Indeed, it was already dark when I was able to squat and stand on the board. There were only a few minutes left but we managed to continue for another hour because the instructors did not notice it. After all, we were the ones who inspired the new batch who went to the practice area. I was able to cross the pool and even made it back without releasing the board and handle. I was also able to drink water from the man-made pool. (Yuck) Unfortunately, three of our companions did not pass the test. When we thought we were ready, we proceeded to the main wakeboarding area.

Our other companions were already planning to leave. They still wanted to go to the city. Together with the lone companion who made it in the trial area, we decided to stay. We thought we don’t need to pay for another ticket because it was already late. It was me who tried first. I fell on the take off. My second try suffered the same fate only that I was almost able to reach the first mark, which was only a few meters from the start off. On the third attempt, I was able to stay on the board. I passed the first mark and when I saw the first ramp, I tried to avoid it. Unfortunately, I felt I am going to suffer the same mistake on the knee board and there was an urge to let go. The fighting spirit in me told me that this could be my last chance so I hold on. Although it was imminent that I would be going through the ramp, I still tried to force myself to evade it. Perhaps little damage would happen if at least I would not reach the peak of the ramp. Fortunately, I passed on the edge of the ramp and fell on the water before reaching the peak. I was ecstatic that I was still on the board. Another ramp was approaching and I kept on bending so that I could avoid it. Acknowledging that I couldn’t, I just kept on my technique the first time I encountered a ramp, and I made it again. One more obstacle and I would be completing the task. The turn.

Like in the kneeboard, I followed the instruction of keeping inside the marks. When I did it, I was so confident that I tried to stand but when I did it, my knees trembled. I tried again but I felt my knees would give in. It must be the ramps. What I did was to squat until I completed the loop. I could try another round if only the operator did not release my string from the cable. I was ecstatic when I relayed the story to my companion, that I did not only accomplish the round but also I was able to overcome the ramps. I urged him to make his try. He made several attempts too before making it, the sitting way.

November 29, 2010. This is the exact date that I was able to conquer another challenge of my life. Although I did not make it with style (I squatted on board.), the next time I would be on that board again, I would be standing and perhaps flying too.