WW: Okay, let's start with your name, age and location.
BT: Bonnie Tuman, 21, Chapel Hill, North Carolina for two more months.

WW: Then off to where?
BT: Hopefully Sacramento, California.

WW: You're in NC now, where were you from before NC?
BT: Southern Oregon.

WW: So what brought you to NC?
BT: I am a senior in college majoring in Vascular Technology (dealing with veins and arteries). I am spending my senior year out here doing an internship.

WW: How long have you been riding?
BT: I learned how to board eight years ago, but did not really get into it until five years ago.

WW: What made you really get into it?
BT: My family went on a houseboat on Lake Shasta (we used to do that every year) the summer I graduated from high school and that is when I learned how to jump wake to wake. After that I was excited to keep doing it and getting better.

WW: So you're a Westside rider stuck in the Eastside, huh?
BT: YES!

WW: So how would you compare the two? West vs. East? Sorry to have put it that way.
BT: (laughs) No problem. Okay, I noticed out here that everybody flips. I have ridden with some awesome wakeboarders, but they just do flip after flip after flip. On the westside you see much more grabbing and spinning. To me, a big poked out spin is more stylish than a backroll. I am not doggin' inverts though.

WW: Good save! Who do you ride with out there and where? Describe the scene out there.
BT: I ride mostly on Jordan Lake in Chapel Hill. During the colder months we rode at Hyco Lake since it is heated.

I lucked out big time when I moved here. The first person I went boarding with was the car salesman I bought my car from! In this general area wakeboarding is still small, but it is growing. Each time we go out we see more people riding and more boats with towers. I have my choice of boats to ride behind, from Malibus to Tiges to X-Stars to Nautiques. My friends and I out here have sort of dubbed ourselves the "NC Crew." There are at least 10 of us and we keep adding more and more.

WW: What do you like most about wakeboarding?
BT: Hanging out on the boat all day long with friends, sticking new tricks and having a boat full of people cheering you on

WW: I met you at an INT tourney. How'd you get started in that?
BT: My family and I were at Lake Shasta on a houseboat (again) and we stopped by Jon Steiner's Ski School to have a look around in the shop. We saw a flyer about the INT and got to talking with the guy who was working there. Later on, we sent an e-mail out, got all the info we needed, and joined the INT league.

WW: Was that in '99?
BT: Yep, in '99

WW: What division were you in and how'd you do?
BT: Women's Intermediate. My first tourney I was soooooooo nervous and did horrible! I pulled through in the end though and took first place overall that year.

WW: Did you make it to Nationals?
BT: Yep, I went to Charleston.

WW: How'd you do there?
BT: I took second overall at Nationals.

WW: Describe your Nationals experience.
BT: It was awesome. I was up against nine other girls, I think, and really did not expect to do that well. There were two days of competing before the championships. After each day our scores were posted so we knew where we stood. The second day was pretty much the qualifying day. Only the first three riders would advance. I was really nervous again at first, and the first day of competition I had one fall in my pass. I still placed third that day. The second day I was more confident and just had fun with it. I stood up both of my passes and made the cut to the championships

WW: Okay, competing or free-riding?
BT: Most definitely free-riding.

WW: Are you going to do anymore tourneys?
BT: I hope to. I like to compete because I like the challenge. I would take a day of free-riding over a competition any day though.

WW: What's your current set up?
BT: 2000 DoubleUP Collin 137 with Collin bindings. Hopefully getting a 2001 Nelson 138 soon.

WW: Speaking of Double Up, I'm shocked that you haven't mentioned your brother. Tell us who your bro is.
BT: (laughs) My brother is Greg Tuman. He rips! He rides for DoubleUP. Did you know that (laughs)?

WW: Yeah, I've seen him ride at the tourneys. Style runs in the family!
BT: Thanks! I think I have picked up my style from him. When I was trying new things I was trying what he was doing.

WW: So then you're trying 7's?
BT: HA! Not on purpose (laughs). I haven't gotten that far yet. I am still working on getting my 360's consistent.

WW: What tricks are you working on?
BT: Well I am coming off of knee surgery, so I have been trying to build myself back up. The plan is to get either a TS front or a scarecrow this year

WW: We won't bring back bad memories and re-live your injury. I'm glad that you're back on the water, though.
BT: (laughs) Thanks...me too! I have never taken so much time off of the water

WW: It must've eating you up inside not being able to ride. How did you keep yourself motivated?
BT: It really got to me because I would still go out on the boat to pull people. I went nuts not being able to get in the water! I scored an Indo Board for Christmas from a great friend of mine, so I was on that quite a bit. Not only did it help with balance, it was great physical therapy for my knee. I would just pop in a wakeboarding video and hop on my Indo Board in front of the TV.

WW: Do you have any goals set for this season?
BT: I really want to get that scarecrow. I need to get going with it. I plan on trying this weekend. Also, I'd like to get my 360's consistent. I want to be an all-around rider, to be able to spin and go inverted.

WW: What are your thoughts on women in this sport?
BT: We rock! Any girl who is out there riding deserves credit, whether they are throwing inverts or just surfing the wake. We need more women involved and the support of the men to help out.

WW: My thoughts exactly! Hope I scored with the women there.
BT: (laughs) Oh, I am sure you did.

WW: So who are your sponsors?
BT: Extreme Boardshop, River Marine and Y2Kp Boardgear. Hopefully, a couple more soon. I am working on it!

WW: What advice would you give to someone, whether they're new or have been riding a while?
BT: This gets old because everybody says it, but I go by it. Just have fun with it. If you are having a bad day on the water, who cares? We are all, for the most part, in it for fun and because we love doing it.

WW: Good advice. Anyone you'd like to say thanks to before we go?
BT: First and foremost, my wonderful parents who are just as stoked on the sport as my brother and I are! Cannot wait to get home and ride behind the brand new Super Air. My entire NC Crew...you guys rock! John at Extreme Boardshop, Ed at Y2Kp...the hoochie is where it's at, the guys at River Marine and my Homie G Steve in SoCal.

 

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