Date: 6/20/02
Author: Dallas Friday

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When Every Day is Friday: The Dallas Friday Interview

Dallas Friday (Pic: O'Brien)

Dallas Friday here ... well at least 80% here. What I mean by that is I broke the L3 vertabrae in my back 5 weeks ago and have 2 more weeks of rest before I can start wakeboarding again. Injury is the one thing athletes dread in any sport. I wanted to ride and keep training even with a broken back, but the spine/back specialist said no way.

Some background on me: I was the Gravity Games Champion last year when I took home the Gold in 2001. That was so rewarding for me because I worked hard to achieve that goal. It felt so great to be on the podium in the No. 1 spot. At the end of my second pro season last year I won the World Cup and the No. 1 ranking in the world for women's wakeboarding at the age of 15.

I will write a diary for you about my road to the Gravity Games. I am going to check in twice a week, mostly from the road. I am excited for the Games this year. I think the Gravity Games has the best TV coverage of extreme sports. It puts together one of the best sports shows ever produced for television. They play the best music and do great interviews with the athletes and show the "thrills and spills."

Of course, it would be better if you could come in person to Cleveland and view the action first hand. The fans are screaming and shouting from excitement. It gets all the athletes pumped up to go out there and do their best. I am looking forward to going to Cleveland. This is one place I have never been to.

People everywhere are stoked on wakeboarding. It is the fastest growing water/board sport in the world.

I travel for the next 3 weeks and will be checking in from the different states that I am traveling to, all in the name of wakeboarding. I am looking forward to starting a diary on what is happening on my road to the best in extreme fun ... The Gravity Games.

~Dallas

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