This month (April '98), we're talking to Chris Foye from San Jose, CA. He rides a Hyperlite Lavelle Honeycomb board behind his Sport Nautique with a handmade pylon. Chris rides on the Delta and on Anderson and Callero in San Jose. I'm sure if you ask nice and chip in for gas, he'd take you for a pull if you're ever in the area.

WW: What got you fully addicted to wakeboarding?
CF: It would have to be how much fun it is. I like how the learning curve isn't like skiing... every time you go out skiing you only marginally get better, whereas wakeboarding you can get better much faster. Also there is more stuff to do, not just cross the wake with the ski on edge. I have just about retired my ski. I do occasionally break it out just for a refresher but... my wakeboard is always on the boat!

WW: Who do you ride with?
CF: My riding partners include; my wife (driver/wakeboarder/financer), Scott Dickens (cameraman/commentator/fellow wake lister), Matt Kehoe (cameraman/driver/commentator), Nick Duell (wakelister/cold water braveheart). Various friends during summer months.

WW: What's your favorite trick to watch?
CF: Favorite trick to watch has got to be Byerly's Pete Rose, very sick. My favorite trick that I do has got to be the stiffy, (pic shown above).

WW: How do you learn new tricks?
CF: Trial and error with many falls/faceplants/eyelid peelers and encouragement from the boat. Most of my learning is from watching videos, getting stoked about riding and then hitting the water. I'm also learning by riding with people who are better than me and watching closely.

WW: Where's your favorite place to ride and what do you like about it?
CF: By far one of the best places to ride is the San Juanquin Delta in central California. The water quality leaves a lot to be desired but, as anybody who has ridden the Delta can contest, it is by far the best conditions anybody can ask for. The channels are fairly narrow which dissipate wakes to nothing after 30 seconds of a boat passing. This makes for glassy water! When I do get to wakeboard in a lake, I frequent New Melones, Lake Comanche, and Lake McClure. I marvel at how I can see my board underwater.

WW: Where do you see wakeboarding in 5 to 10 years from now?
CF: Wakeboarding over the next 5 to 10 years is going to continue to grow. We'll see current guys starting to retire to form new companies or become consultants for companies. This will promote the sport to new heights in terms of technologies and innovations. Then upcoming guys will be creating tricks which are more sick than those being done today. I also think there will be continued competition in the marketplace which will drive prices down. One thing I do fear is the big company's stepping in and producing boards and products. I really don't want to see Nike wakeboards- this would totally destroy the wakeboarding scene. We'll also see more improvements in boats, with new wake defining technologies, board storage, and stereo enhancements.

WW: What would you tell someone who's just starting out in the sport of wakeboarding?
CF: Learn from others, be patient, have gas money, respect others with you, be consistent, have fun, and go big.

WW: What do you like most about wakeboarding?
CF: I wouldn't say it was only wakeboarding that I enjoy- I would have to say it's the whole picture. I really enjoy being on the water, driving the boat, being in the sun, challenging myself, seeing others ride, and being with close friends.

WW: What would you like to see changed with regards to the sport?
CF: Not much. I really don't like this "new crew" stuff. It's a "don't care". We're all out to have fun and that's what it's all about.

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