Date: 5/5/03
Author: Anne-Michelle Paris
Video/Production: Arun "Poonjab" Frances

Related Items:
A Day In The Life Of...Chris Williams (Windows Media, 7.4 mb)

Chris Williams - click image to play video

"A Day in the Life Of...", a new series created and produced by Arun "Poonjab" Frances, documents a day in the life of an up-and-coming professional wakeboarder. With handfuls of new riders appearing on the horizon every day, wakeboard enthusiasts have demonstrated an increasing interest to discover what living like a pro really means.

Arun and I began our pilot in this series by traveling to Newbury Park in Southern California, where the family of pro rider Chris Williams invited us to film and create the first video in this new series of documentaries. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by Chris and his mother, Vicky, who welcomed us into their home and allowed us to get situated and comfortable in the environment we would be hanging out in for a couple of days.

This was the second time I had met Chris, but his presence caught me by surprise once again. Standing at over 6'2", my first thought was, "There is no way this guy can be a pro wakeboarder!" His overwhelmingly tall, stocky frame and burly build screamed that he was a linebacker, so how could he possibly possess the equivalent style, flow and skill that most shorter, leaner pro riders are naturally born with? Needless to say, I could barely wait to see him hit the water.

Our adventure began at the crack of dawn on Saturday morning when we abruptly awoke to Chris' knock on the door. Within minutes, we were brushing teeth, changing clothes and getting prepared for what the day had in store. The morning began as Chris gave Arun a tour of his daily routine, which included the occasional pillow fight with his younger brother, Mike, checking the morning surf report, jumping on the trampoline, cruising 50's through his neighborhood or towing them to his buddy's grandfather's house. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to see the massive dirt track that's been built, but after hearing stories of pro 50 riders who do insane jumps and back flips (yes, I said back flips!), it was not difficult to convince us to return!

Since the surf report was less than average that particular Saturday morning and the weather was looking better than ever, we headed out to Lake Castaic, the closest lake to Chris' house, which is over an hour away.

While the boys were playing outside and preparing the Suburban and Malibu for departure, I sat down with Chris' mother and had a long, informative talk about his future plans. She expressed her frustration with the Pro Tour and explained that Chris is at a true disadvantage because he lives quite a distance from the nearest local lake. Luckily, with eight years of wakeboarding under his belt, Chris has had the opportunity to progress and practice at a very intense rate.

After breakfast, we bid farewell to the family and loaded into the Suburban to pick up two of Chris' closest buddies, Blake Baron and Jason Callen. We made a quick dash for the store, where we picked up food and refreshments for the day, then got on the road for our drive to Lake Castaic. Within an hour, we made no less than 50 phone calls to random females from the infamous "phone book," and I can't even count how many stories I heard about each and every one of them! Unfortunately, none of the girls were available, so the five of us loaded the boat into the water and headed out to the designated wakeboarding area. Arun focused his attention on filming footage of Chris from different angles and locations, so I relaxed on the dock and began soaking up the sun.

Chris surrounded by the WakeWorld Girls

Once the Malibu was ready to roll out with Chris in tow, I could hardly believe my eyes. Chris threw down the craziest tricks! From an off-axis 540, KGB, roll to blind, OHH and my all time favorite blind 180 with a handle pass between the legs, Chris enacted some of the craziest tricks I've ever seen performed in person. For a 20-year-old college student who lives over an hour away from the nearest lake, which has less than ideal riding conditions year round, his riding was truly impressive. And to top it off, he's huge, but still able to land, roll, flip and spin with the best pros around.

A great deal of Chris' success can be attributed to his supportive and generous parents, his technique and coaching abilities that are easily relayed to eager students, his affiliation with the California State University, Northridge (CSUN) Water Ski & Wakeboard Club and his relentless passion for water sports. As a result, his dedication and drive to pursue his dream has come easier than one may expect. Chris' experience is quite significant because it inspires athletes who know they have the skill, talent and ability that it takes to turn pro, but are discouraged because the distance they live from the water is unrealistic to ultimately progress to a professional level. This story attests that if you have the heart, determination and motivation to succeed, then there is nothing that will hold you back in your journey.

Aside from wakeboarding, surfing, motocross, coaching and the Pro Tour, Chris also attends CSUN, where he is currently completing his undergraduate coursework. Although maintaining his pro status in wakeboarding is his number one priority, he focuses on his education with as much dedication as any other hobby in his life.

Chris would like to send a special thanks to his mother, father, and brother, Mike, and to all of his family and friends who offer their endless support and continue to believe in his ability to succeed. He would also like to thank his sponsors: Hyperlite, Spy, Innovations Audio, 3-thirteen Clothing, Rockstar Energy Drinks, Nvert Board Racks, Sports Ltd Board Shop, CSUN Aquatic Center, Tilly's Marine and Malibu Boats.

 Return To WakeWorld Articles