Bronzed backs, new tricks, fast boats; ASU has a new sport to offer its students. Wakeboarding is no longer just a fun pastime at the lake with a few beers and some good friends.
John Panhuise, president of ASU WakeDevils and a real estate freshman, has elevated the sport of wakeboarding into a competitive and collaborative effort with ASU's athletic department.
The ASU WakeDevils, currently made up of 13 riders of varying abilities, have just stepped into their first season of competitive wakeboarding.
An Arizona native, Panhuise began his idea for forming an ASU wakeboarding team in his last few years of high school. "I have been riding for a little over four years, and I thought that a sport such as wakeboarding with so many possibilities should be brought to a collegiate level," Panhuise says.
Most members spend their free time at Bartlett Lake, riding the wake behind the sponsored ASU Wakeboarding Boat and trying to utilize the time when wind is at a minimum.
Supraboats of Surfside Boat Center donated a Supra Launch SSV demo wakeboarding boat for the team to use for the year. Surfside supplies many of the WakeDevil riders with generous discounts on boards and wake apparel. The team is also sponsored by Reef Clothing and Edikit clothing.
Style and form are important to the WakeDevils on and off the lake.
"Riders need to challenge themselves and have fun while doing it," Panhuise says. "A rider that is constantly willing to improve, will eventually learn new tricks and better his or her overall performance."
In order to qualify for the men's B team, riders must illustrate at least two consistent inverts, at least two types of 360's or a mix of both. To qualify for the A team, riders must be able to cover all basics and illustrate quality riding and excelling ability throughout the course of the season.
Women interested in riding for the WakeDevils must be able to ride comfortably with a drive to learn, excel in personal riding skills and show an obvious progression of skills during the season.
Currently, the team has not developed concrete men's A and B divisions, but they are diligently working with their riders to form secured positions by the beginning of the upcoming season.
The ASU WakeDevils recently competed in the World Wakeboard Association Collegiate Challenge in Panama City Beach, Fla., placing fourth in the wakeboarding competition and first in the wakeskating competition. The competitors were excited to step up to the challenge and hope to do even better in upcoming events.
There will be a summer program, set up by a member of PV Grind Board Shop on 40th Street and Bell Road along with Dan Lee from Surfside. Both hope to increase interest for the sport of wakeboarding and initiate a growing team for the ASU WakeDevils.
The two shops will issue one free wakeboarding lesson under the instruction of WakeDevils members if customers purchase of a wakeboard and bindings setup.
Think about it: a day at the lake enjoying the Arizona sunshine, watching ASU WakeDevils spin 360's and Scarecrow tricks while teaching you how to improve your skills. Not too shabby.
Jon Quinn, a business freshman, says, "This is an opportunity for students to be involved in an expanding community at ASU - a new development for interested wakeboarders."
"Although the WakeDevils are a young team, we have the dedication and drive to help us expand and bring us to high levels very quickly," Panhuise says.
Reach the reporter at christina.chomut@asu.edu.
