SOULSPORTS Profiles - dan wakeham - The Action Sports Agency - Snowboard, Ski, Surf, MTB, BMX, Skateboard

Profile... dan wakeham

Age:

28 years

Birthday

12 November, 1981

Height / Weight:

185 cm / 80 kg
(6ft. 0in. / 12st. 8lbs.)

Hometown:

Plymouth

Occupation:

Snowboarder and Distribution

Surfer Questionnaire

How old where you when you first began surfing?

I don\'t really know what age i started. Growing up in the coastal city of Plymouth we were always only a stone throw away from beaches with decent waves so as far back as i remember we were at the beach skimming about on body boards. I got my first real stand up board when i was about 10.

What do you love about Surfing?

I love the speed of surfing, not just how fast you travel but how fast you have to make decisions. I guess it is all about reading the wave, where as in snowboarding the ground stands still.

What aspect of Surfing gives you the most satisfaction?

I like a head high wave with an easy paddle out. I don\'t surf as much as i used to so i get tired quickly.

Snowboarder Questionnaire

How old where you when you first began riding?

i started riding at the age of 15 at plymouth dryslope. we would go to the slope on monday nights and get the ramp out. after a year or so i started to travel around the country competing on the dryslope circuit, i found my first sponsor (santa cruz) and i started to move on to snow.

What/Who got you into it?

i live near to plymouth dryslope so could go there regularly, i met the locals and we started to get a scene going. i got a job there as a snowboard instructor and worked there for a few years, but the management wouldnt allow any rails or anything different to the ramp they had built. we started to build different obstacles and use them when it was quiet then hide them in the trees, but our stash of metal and plastic got found and i got the sack.

What sort of board do you ride?

I ride a Head Force I 159

What length board do you ride?

either a 159 or a 162

Do you ride Regular or Goofy?

Regular

Stance width?

As wide as the board will allow as I have long legs!

From dan's Lifestyle & Portrait Gallery.

Stance angles (front and back)?

something like +18 and -15

Favourite resort?

havent really got one, i like the states for park and pipe and europe for freeride

How many seasons have you done?

I have had ten consecutive winter seasons on snow.

Where and when did you do your seasons?

1999/2000 - Flaine,France. 2000/2001-Breckenridge,Colorado USA. 2001/2002-Whistler,Canada. 2002/2003-Mammoth,California USA. 2003/2004-this season i turned pro so i have a budget to travel and dont really have a base, but i spent most of my time in europe with a trip to japan and china. i spent 3 months of the summer in france, austria and switzerland. 2004/2005-the states, canada, italy, france,switzerland. traveling competing in world cup events. 2005/2006- everywhere! including the olympics 2006/2007- no real base just continuas movement followin various compition circuits 2007/2008- World cup tour. 2008/2009- Olympic qualification was proving hard with financial struggles. at the end of the season i retired from Olympic Snowboarding 2009/2010 Season base in Morzine. working for Head. the breath of fresh air gave me a new buzz for riding. my competition results were great!

What was your favourite trip and why?

there have been so many but i guess the one that sticks out is the Document snowboard trip in 2003, we traveled across the States. it was my first real road trip and we stayed in some really nice places and got to ride in some areas that i hadn\'t been to before. Park City Utah was my favorite part of the trip because we got to ride the Olympic halfpipe. I guess this trip stand out because it was my first taste of being a real pro snowboarder.

What do you love about snowboarding?

Coming from England you have to leave the country and unlike a rider that is brought up in a resort you get to see new places around the world. I love the lifestyle and i like to meet and ride with new people it pushes you to ride harder. its good how you can meet people from all over the world with different cultures and still have something in common.

What's your goal within snowboarding?

I have over exceeded any of the goals that i had for snowboarding so each new feat is a bonus.

What aspect of snowboarding gives you the most satisfaction (powder, kickers, halfpipe, competitions, big air, cliff drops, etc.)?

My passion is in the halfpipe. I am at home while riding transitions. I love competing as not only do you get to ride the worlds best halfpipes but I never push myself as hard as I do when I am at a comp. The buzz that you get is a hard feeling to describe, it’s a little bit like when you have a fight but different. When you land a good run you feel like you are so hard that you could take on a gang of the hardest men on the globe, like you could punch the head off a concrete statue with out hurting your hand. Well thats the feeling that I get, it may differ between other snowboarders maybe I am a secret nutter.

What style of snowboarding best describes your riding (include a couple if you want)?

tweaker!

corked 7
From dan's Action Gallery.

What's your favourite trick?

ali oop 360 tail grab in the pipe, i feels smooth. im not so much in to the tech stuff, i am more in to floaty styley tricks, less is more!

What are your top safety tips when riding?

when i try a new trick i have to visualize myself doing it and go through the motions in my head, if i cant see myself doing it its not wise to try it. although some times when i try the trick something totally different happens, that\'s always good, it can open new windows to new tricks.

What advice have you got?

don\'t try to progress to quick, if your having a bad day take a step back or just go home. If you hurt yourself then you will be gutted!

General Questionnaire

What are your other interests?

my intrests include skateboarding,surfing and traveling.

Where would you like to see yourself in the future?

I would like to be working in the industry but still getting a good amount of time on snow. I have done so many back to back 720s in the pipe in my life that i don't think i will ever forget the motions, i think i will still be able to do them when i am 50 years old, that's If my body hasn't fallen apart that is.

What music are you into?

My music taste changes by the week. I download a new album a week and subscribe to many podcasts. I like to have new tunes while i snowboard

What's your favourite book?

the internet

What's your favourite film?

the buisines, sean of the dead, football factory, snatch stuff like that. i like british stuff!

Best cocktail, shot or drink?

well being a brit its got to be beer really