Gerry Nunn (Pic: Joey Meddock)
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WW: How much weight would you put on wakeboarding talent vs. being able to represent a company, as far as what they look for?
GN: There are some people out there that represent themselves so well that it's almost like they're just out there representing themselves and they don't even have to ride. It's amazing, but I think your missing out on some of the fun if that's all that's going on.
WW: For example, Shaun Moore doesn't ride on the Pro Tour, but I can't think of a better guy I'd want to represent my company.
GN: Exactly. I mean, when it comes down to it, sponsorship is about being able to sell the products that you're getting promoted with or by. You've got to have a good attitude when you're competing and when you're off the water. You've got to be positive. They're getting you because people are looking at you and you're going to be working with people so you gotta be a people person.
WW: What is your most memorable moment as a pro?
GN: Oh man. I gotta go through my list of memories with Shaun. We're laughing all the time.
WW: How about Hawaii when you won that double up contest?
GN: Yeah, that was pretty mind boggling. I never hit so many double back rolls in a row. But it's not so much the competitive, you know. I don't remember doing good in competitions and stuff. That's fun and you're happy when that happens, but I think more or less just hanging out at Shaun's house and the different things that we do, whether it's out on the water or if it's just messing around because we got a little extra time on our hands.
WW: I heard you guys never have extra time on your hands? (laughter)
GN: I know. Not too much.
WW: For 1999 did you set some goals for the season?
GN: Yeah, I wanted to do at least as well or better on the tour and that didn't take place, but I did well on the World Cup. I did well overall as far as in all the contests I did even if it weren't for points on the tour or World Cup. I won the double up contest in Hawaii. I placed third there. I placed fourth in Phoenix. I placed third at the US Open, so I had some good finishes last year. Over the winter it was probably the best thing because I got a lot of coverage on videos and in the mags some pictures are coming out. Media is sometimes a bigger plus than winning a contest or something because a lot of people see what you're doing then.
Gerry Nunn (Pic: Joey Meddock)
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WW: What kind of goals did you set for yourself this year?
GN: There's always the desire to want to do well and win a contests so that's definitely one of my goals and hopefully maybe (laughs) to get a cover with Wake Board magazine. I think they're reachable goals, but I just want to continue to have fun and enjoy it while I can.
WW: How much longer do you think you'll be doing this?
GN: At least a couple more years.
WW: What do you see yourself doing after you're done with wakeboarding?
GN: After that? I don't know, maybe something in the industry or just maybe back to where I left off. Teaching or roofing, start a family, get some kids on the way.
WW: Your one of the only married guys on the tour, does that mean anything or make your lifestyle any different?
GN: Yeah it makes it a little different. The nice thing with being married and the tour is my wife has a job with the tour so she is there every weekend and we don't have to be away from each other. So it's not like being on the road is going to affect our relationship or anything like that. She works in the tour store. I love being married and I encourage it for anybody that's thinking about it.
WW: What moves are you working on now that aren't actually in your tournament routine, but are the biggest moves you can pull off?
GN: I have to work on just about everything I do, but some moves I'm working on that, hopefully, I'll be able to throw into my pass are bats wings, continuously working the double back roll off the double up, some off axis spins, sevens and stuff like that off the wake which seem to be a big part of the competition right now.
Gerry Nunn (Pic: Joey Meddock)
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WW: You're one of only a few riders that are doing double inverts in competitions. What motivated you to work on that so much and get consistent at it?
GN: I don't know. Just one day Shaun and I were riding and I'm like, "I'm going to try a double." Getting around was real easy, but figuring out how to get consistent on it is what was tough.
WW: That darned landing?
GN: Yeah, but Parks has pretty much got the double rolls dialed in so he gave me a few pointers and it helped, so now I'm making one out of every two or three.
WW: How come we don't see more riders doing doubles?
GN: I don't know. I think they're scared.
WW: Is it pretty punishing if you don't make it?
GN: No, not really. I've seen Shaun try em', but there are a lot of riders that try tricks that I'm scared to do. It's different for each rider.
WW: Is Shaun landing any?
GN: He's getting around and I know if he'd keep trying he'd be hitting it.
WW: Shannon Best cut his hair and is still just as good a wakeboarder. Now that you're the lone long hair on the tour, will you be cutting your hair anytime soon?
GN: (laughs) It'll definitely come off one of these times, but right now it sets me apart from all the other people. When you see the hair flying in a contest you know it's me. But one of these days I'll be like everybody else and cut it. (laughs)
WW: Tell us about the injury that kept you out of the first tour stop this year?
GN: On the wakeskate we hit the ramps and the sliders at home and I was doing that, having fun and said, "Hey Shaun, why don't you give me a whip? I'm gonna do a stunt." Usually we just try to make each other crack up, so he whipped me around at about 50 mph and I jumped off and just went crash (Gerry actually did a much better sound effect than 'crash'). Then, before I knew it, my ribs were hurting and I wasn't laughing.
WW: So you didn't hit the board, just the water going too fast?
GN: Too fast, but it wasn't any different than anything else. It happened to be just my time for that one.
Gerry Nunn (Pic: Joey Meddock)
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WW: You just barely missed the cut at the Orlando X-Games qualifier. Did that injury effect your riding at all?
GN: No, not really. Actually, it was probably a good thing because it made me tone some of my tricks down, which helped me become a little more consistent on them. So it probably helped me out some. Other than that it's still hard for me to do some tricks but it makes me think more when I'm out there riding.
WW: I see you in the Solo ads what's that thing all about?
GN: It's pretty cool. I'd like to get one at the house just to hit the sliders and stuff with. It's a lot of fun and just something different.
WW: Weren't you doing inverts behind it?
GN: Yeah, you can do air tricks but they're working on like a wedge or something like a device to cause a little wake to be bigger back there. It's cool, a little novelty.
WW: Who do you credit with helping your career the most?
GN: Well, there's a bunch of people, but definitely Shaun, Scott Byerly, Darin has always helped me out and my wife's always supported me. There is just a bunch of people. I got a bunch of friends back home that used to take me out or let me borrow their boats whenever I wanted to.
WW: Anybody else you'd like to thank?
GN: I'd definitely like to thank the rest of my sponsors. Malibu and Jobe, I've already mentioned them and they're awesome, but also Smith Sunglasses, Sky Jac, Mysterioso, Intensity Wetsuits, Freestyle Watches and Fox Clothing.
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