Surfing. Water skiing. Snowboarding.
Depending on the enthusiast, one can be difficult to choose over the other. All require a certain amount of endurance, physical ability, and patience to gain experience. And, depending on who you ask, you will likely receive varying answers as to which of the three reigns supreme. The simplest solution? Combine elements of all three into one sport.
Wakeboarders are usually towed by motorboats; however, winches and closed-course cable systems are also used. Boards are buoyant and usually comprised of foam, wood, or honeycomb and mixed with resin or fiberglass, and metal screws are used for the placement of fins or bindings.
Wakeboarding is fairly new to the world of water sports, but it is beginning to catch on in the southern United States, particularly in Georgia and Florida. While enthusiasts are growing in number in the Atlanta area, Valdosta has not seen such rapid growth. One young man, however, has taken quite a liking to the sport. And even more so, he has started to make a name for himself through competition.
Michael Weatherby is currently a junior at Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Georgia. On the surface, he comes across as your typical student-athlete: He is studious, performs well in the classroom (He maintains good grades while also taking Advanced Placement courses.), and maintains a focus that would put anyone over the top.
“Michael is such a cool kid,” says Luke Tilt, co-owner of the Valdosta Wake Compound. “He’s always willing to learn, he’s extremely humble, and he’s always listening. He always wants to find ways to advance out here.”
The Valdosta Wake Compound, located in Valdosta (off Exit 13 on Interstate 75), allows fans of the sport to hone their skills on the water. The compound is entering its first full season, but has been open in other locations for the last three years.
Although he hasn’t seen the water as much recently, it is almost an expectation to see Weatherby at the VWC on a daily basis. He enjoys the time spent on the water; he also thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to reach out and make new friends through the sport.
“There’s constant motivation out there,” Weatherby says. “Most of the guys out there are in their 20s. They’re pretty experienced. I like being able to watch them and learn from them. We all get along great. It’s just chill vibes out there.”
Weatherby is deeply motivated in his craft. Even after a debilitating injury, he came back stronger than ever.
“I remember he got hurt, away from the compound,” Tilt says. “I think he had broken his leg. Once he was cleared to get back out on the water, he went right to it. He had been thinking about a big trick he wanted to learn to land, and he just went right out there and nailed it. There was no leading up to with smaller tricks or getting used to the water. He just nailed it.”
Weatherby takes his skills to various locations, including Atlanta. He also competes on occasion; he placed third in his most recent contest.
“Valdosta’s got, by far, one of the best compounds around,” Weatherby says. “I go other places for the competition because a lot of people around here aren’t that familiar with, or interested in, the sport. But it’s a lot of fun. My hope is that more people will branch out and start giving it a try.”
The VWC will be hosting competitions and events of its own in the near future. Tilt anticipates three to four major events in 2016, including one that will be sponsored by Nike. In addition to running the compound, he has quite a bit of experience himself. He has been involved in the sport for almost 15 years. And, given his experience, it is all the more impressive that Tilt views Weatherby in such high regard.
“Not only is he dedicated to improving on the water, but he is a tremendous help around the complex,” Tilt says. “He’s incredibly focused and responsible. We actually hired him. He’s the only person under 20 that we’ve brought on up here. If he’s not out on the water, he’s somewhere around the complex, looking for things to fix. We really appreciate having him around.”
South Georgia / March 2016
Michael Weatherby
Lowndes High School
Valdosta, Ga.
Making Waves: Viking Junior Tackles the Wakeboard Circuit
By James Washington
