By Suzanne Schmidt
Every year children come from throughout the area to learn wakeboarding tricks like jumping the wake and doing 180s.
Land O’ Lakes Marine has hosted the wakeboarding camp for more than 10 years. Ben Hipps has helped to instruct the class in the past but this year he is the main instructor. Hipps is getting help to teach the class from Jake Nelson. Both have been wakeboarding for eight years.
“We are teaching them how to do tricks,” Nelson said. “It feels good to see them do a trick.”
Ben Hipps said when he sees the kids learn a new trick it helps him realize he is doing a good job.
“It is a big relief when I see it,” Hipps said. “They are so happy when they get it right and so am I. This is what the camp is all about.”
Some children attending the camp already knew some skills like 13-year-old Lutz resident Austin Yeloushan. He has been wakeboarding for a year-and-a-half.
“I like it,” Yeloushan said. “I like that I am learning new tricks like how to do a 180. I think it is really fun to get in the water. Being able to jump the waves is really fun.”
Others attended the camp to fine-tune the tricks they already know while learning new ones like Land O’ Lakes resident Tyler Minnick, 14. He has been wakeboarding since he was 10.
“I wanted to take the camp because I want to learn how to flip,” Minnick said. “I am learning to do a 180 but it is hard. I know how to jump a good distance now.”
Minnick said he has learned a lot.
“I learned that sometimes I don’t do a jump right,” Minnick said. “I think I am getting better at it though. It is nice to work with someone who knows what they are doing. It is nice to have someone who can teach me even when it gets to be frustrating.”
Jessica Minnick, Tyler’s stepmother, said she loves that Tyler gets to go to a wakeboarding camp to learn since he wants to be a professional wake boarder one day.
“He is so excited about the camp,” Minnick said. “He is learning new tricks. It is really good for his self-esteem and it is also a great overall body workout. I love that the camp is building his self-confidence.”
Savannah Fondrk, 10, came all the way from Clearwater to participate in the camp.
“I think it is really, really fun,” Fondrk said. “If I had to pick another summer camp, I would do this again. I have been wakeboarding four years and I can jump and do a surface 180. I am working on doing a 180 in the air and grabbing the board in the air.”
Land O’ Lakes Marine, 3208 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., will offer more camps in June and July. For more information, visit www.landolakesmarine.com or call (813) 909-9200.
