Dallas Friday (Pic: Lloyd Murray)
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WW: You had a huge year in 2000, including a first place at the America's Cup and a silver medal at the X Games. What are your goals for 2001?
DF: I did have a wonderful year. I felt great about my first year. My goals for next year are to step up women's wakeboarding, to learn some new tricks, stay top three in every tournament, win a couple of events and just have fun.
WW: Tell me about your wakeboarding setup (i.e. board, binding, vest, rope length, boat, boat speed, etc.).
DF: I ride for O'Brien. I ride the Custom 135, I wear a Rip Curl vest, I use Rainbow Fins, the Cobe 1.75, my rope length is 70 feet, I ride behind a Malibu Wakesetter and my boat speed is 22.
WW: What about bindings?
DF: O'Brien is working on a new binding for me. They're called O'Brien System bindings.
WW: What are your favorite tricks to do?
DF: My favorite tricks are any type of Raley tricks and Tantrum to Blind.
WW: What new stuff are you working on?
DF: I am working on an OHH, off-axis toe side five, crow mobe and a roll to blind.
WW: What kind of tricks do you think you'll be throwing in 2001 that haven't been thrown before by women in competition?
DF: OHH will probably be in my pass, probably my opening trick if I can get that down nice and smooth. I think a heel side mobe should be in there and maybe a toe side mobe, or like a tootsie roll. I'm hoping for that because I'm working on tootsies right now and I'm actually getting real close. And hopefully maybe an off-axis spin. Those will be the new tricks.
Editor's Note: Dallas landed several tootsie rolls the week after she did this interview.
Dallas Friday (Pic: Richmond Gibbs)
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I also want to try some more doubles like double back rolls off the double up. I'd like to do that for next season because you see the women riding and do like a grab or a back roll off the double up. I just want to make that different and do something you barely even see the guys throw.
WW: What do you think we'll see from the other women in 2001? Any surprises?
DF: I think there will be a couple surprises from all of the women's side. I think there will be a lot of new stuff thrown.
WW: How about injuries? You haven't been boarding for long, but have you had any?
DF: No. I do get sore, but I've never really sprained, twisted or broken anything. So I'm lucky.
WW: Who are your role models both on and off the water?
DF: My role models in wakeboarding would be Darin Shapiro and Shaun Murray because they both are awesome riders. Darin just can go so big and do every trick so smooth. Shaun because he just has a good attitude towards everything and always looks like he's having a great time riding.
WW: How about off the water?
DF: Well, off the water, Tony Hawk. I think he's awesome and he took skateboarding to a new level, which is really neat to see. That's what I wanna do with wakeboarding.
WW: What do you see in the future for Dallas Friday?
DF: What I see in the future for myself, hopefully, is to be the number one girl rider, healthy, still having fun and enjoying life.
Dallas Friday (Pic: Lloyd Murray)
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WW: You have a couple sponsors that I haven't heard of before. What is WithItGirl?
DF: WithItGirl is an internet company for extreme girl athletes. They're a newer company just starting to get set up and everything. They're sponsoring some snow boarders, skaters, surfers and they just asked me to ride for them, so I've been riding for them.
WW: How about Harbor Branch?
DF: (laughing) That's my dad's company. Its called Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. It's a huge company and they're making me my own sticker to put on my board and everything. But it's my dad's company, that's why you probably haven't heard of that one.
WW: Who are your sponsors?
DF: My sponsors are O'Brien, Malibu Boats, Titan Wakeboarding Accessories, Rip Curl, Smith Optics, Performance Ski and Surf, Mike's Place, Orlando Watersports Complex, Rainbow Fins, Withitgirl and Harbor Branch.
WW: Is there anyone else you'd like to thank?
DF: My parents. They're like my number one sponsor. From the beginning, they've paid for everything. I'd also like to thank God and the best coach in the world, Mike Ferraro.
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