Date: 6/25/02
Author: Dallas Friday

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Dallas Friday (Pic: Lloyd Murray)

Dallas Friday, checking in from the great state of Minnesota (Minneapolis to be exact).

I am usually not one to gripe, but my nightmare trip all started Friday afternoon when my mom booked me on a one-way ticket from my hometown of Orlando, Florida to Minneapolis. My flight was with an "off brand" airline and I should have known that it was not going to be a good flight. To make a long story short, my flight was delayed and I arrived at my destination 3 hours later than I was suppose to. Because my mom makes all my travel arrangements, I learned from so much travel early on to have her order me vegetarian food on a plane, even though I am not a vegetarian. Of course, this trip she forgot and I was served a cheeseburger on the flight that I could not even eat. I was so hungry because of the delay that when I got to Minneapolis I found myself eating dinner at 10:30 p.m. that evening. A helpful hint here: if you do not like airline food as I do not, always order a vegetarian meal. It is always good and you usually get a cookie with it :)

The trip quickly got better Saturday morning when I awoke. I was going to an event called the Malibu Just Ride Series. This is a wakeboard event where there is no pressure. You just go out there and free ride. You have to vie for a spot in the tournament on Saturday, and if you make it in, you are guaranteed a certain amount of money and get to ride for the fans on Sunday. It was a clear, hot day and there was a large turnout of fans. Riders are encouraged to go out and throw crazy tricks as you are not penalized for your falls. (One of the few tournaments that is like this.)

Malibu Boats put on the Just Ride tournaments about 2 or 3 a year. I am sponsored by Malibu so even though I couldn't ride because of my broken back, I went to meet the fans and watch my fellow wakeboarders ride.

It was also good seeing the folks from Malibu that sponsor me and give me their awesome boat each year to train with. They are a great group of people and always so much fun to be around. It is always so nice as a professional athlete to have a sponsor made up of really good people that really become not only active in your professional life but really care about you personally. And Malibu is one of those types of sponsors.

The day had a fun, relaxed atmosphere because we were there to interact with the fans who are always great and so stoked on wakeboarding. After the event I went to dinner with fellow wakeboarders. I then went to a place that I could only dream of going, THE MALL OF AMERICA. Of course at 15 it is every girl's favorite place to be. I had my credit card and it was a very dangerous situation for me...HA.

I must say that I would trade the Mall of America and anything I pretty much have to have been able to wakeboard today. It is so hard for me to go to these events and just watch. I guess if you have played any sport, you know how it is to be injured and have to sit on the sidelines. It is not a good thing. The fans this weekend, however, have been so great that they make you feel great riding or not, though I would rather be riding!

~Dallas

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