Posted by The Team on 29th Apr 2014
Tuesday Rider Spotlight - Chandler Higgins
After a week off, this week we got to sit down with wakeboarder and adrenaline junkie Chandler Higgins.
Ltd. Optics:
Tell us a little about how you got started into the boarding scene.
Chandler:
I went wake boarding for the first time when I was 14 in 2002 in Flaming Gorge, Utah. In 2006 I went out wake boarding with my cousin at Willard Bay in Ogden, Utah. As I was riding we noticed a few individuals kept trailing us in a boat that we only dreamt of. After my last crash this boat pulled up to us and the individual driving this boat happened to be a Utah Wakeboard rider and one of the best instructors; Shawn Goodlife. He offered me his line and said "I want you to do that exact trick you've been trying the past few hits. It has to be the first hit behind my boat though; that's all I ask if I pull you." I agreed and off we went. This was the first Roll-to-Revert I ever landed. I continued riding and doing the tricks I knew how to do then thought why not try another new flip, so I tried a toe side back-roll and crashed. After this crash he came around to pick me up and asked if he could begin teaching me every other day. I agreed and in that moment my life changed.
Ltd. Optics:
Wakeboarding is your main scene, tell us about the plan for this summer season.
Chandler:
The 2014 Summer is exciting for me. I will be breaking two Guinness World Records in the Wakeboard scene. The first one is the longest rail to ever be ridden and the second is the longest amount of time on a Wakeboard. Two more Wakeboard world records might be accomplished as well; they are under review.
Other 2014 goals are: Take at least 12 podiums on the WWA tour. Travel to over 24 states and four countries heavily competing. Design a new pro-model Wakeboard for HumanityBoards. Teach 14 Wakeboard clinics over the course of travel.
Ltd. Optics:
What recommendations would you make to those that are trying to get sponsored?
Chandler:
Being sponsored to me means you are working as hard as you can in every aspect of your life to be a better athlete than those that you are competing with as well as doing all that you possibly can to support the sponsors that support you. Be yourself, a genuine person, be responsible; be an individual that a company can hear about and say he rides for us and we support him in all he or she does and he has out APPROVED stamp.
The hardest things: You have a boat, a truck, the equipment, gas, and starting in the industry isn't easy because these things are so expensive. That was the hardest thing for me in the beginning. I would bum rides and only get out two or three times a Summer and never actually improved because I would have to start back at square one when I actually got out on the water.
These days the hardest thing for me is being comfortable feeling uncomfortable. The sport and the athletes involved in the sport push. You have to push too. You can't be afraid to crash harder than a crash you heard about; you can't fear and comfortable riding take over what you have to do to be successful.
Ltd. Optics:
What tricks are you working on right now?
Chandler:
At the moment I am working on a 313 5 which is a Heelside Raley with a frontside handle-pass 540 - Invented by Shaun Murray. As well as an S-mobe which is an S-bend with a frontside handle-pass 360 on the way down.
Ltd. Optics:
What would you be doing if you weren’t a pro wakeboarder?
Chandler:
I would be doing Marketing for a company and advertising a business plan that I have wanted to do the past few years.
Ltd. Optics:
What is one thing you couldn’t live without on a daily basis?
Chandler:
I have extremely sensitive eyes and couldn't live without my Sunglasses.
Ltd. Optics:
Anything else you want to tell our readers?
Chandler:
Living your dream and becoming a competitive athlete is never out of the question for anyone. Free Ride Motocross rider Ronnie Renner always said it starts with a dream and will only end when you let it. That's real to me. Push for what you want and push even harder after its in your grasp. You're going to get hurt, you're going to fail, and others will put you down because you are going and working for what they didn't have the courage to work for. Go and live your personal-legend.
THANK YOU LTDoptics, Maverik_inc, Thuggies, Watercraz, HumanityBoards, RebelliousStatusClothing, RedBull, Endevr, AdvancedHealthandPainCenter, RynoPower, AntelopePointMarina
Check out videos from Chandler at:
https://vimeo.com/user8892275/