wakesurfing
18-year-old finds best friends through She has a passion for anything to do with a board
By Celeste Edenloff When she was just 8 years old, Ella Sorensen and her older brother, Cole, joined a snowboarding program called Foundation 725 that is run by Gary Anderson. Through this, the now 18-yearold was also exposed to the summer program, Wake n Up, which was all about wakesurfing. “As a lover of anything to do with a board, I was ecstatic for a new challenge,” said Sorensen. “Both my brother and I learned to wakesurf with Foundation 725. My parents saw that the excitement and passion for the sport came immediately with learning and eventually, we were fortunate enough to get a wakesurf boat of our own. We’ve been hooked ever since.” Sorensen, who lives on Lake Miltona with her family, including her parents, Marc and Jeni, is an online student who is set to graduate this spring. Being an online student, she said, allows her the flexibility to travel for her passions, such as snowboarding and wakeboarding. She plans to attend the University of Utah this fall. A COMPETITIVE SPORT When she was about 11 years old, Sorensen said, she began competing in wakesurfing and continued to compete for about four years. “Competing in wakesurfing was an amazing opportunity to travel the U.S. and meet new friends from all over,” she said. “I’ve met some of my best friends from wakesurfing!”
6 AUTHENTIC You Summer 2023
During the summer, Sorensen, along with her mom and older brother, would spend many weekends on the road for contests. She said they spent quite a bit of time in Utah and Arizona, but also traveled to Washington and Florida, too, as well as all around Minnesota. “It wasn’t a bad way to spend summer vacation,” she said. Then, about three years ago, she decided to step away from competitive wakesurfing and now thinks of it more as a Ella Sorenson and her dog Crocker pose with her board. hobby. Contributed photo “Now I am able to enjoy wakesurfing as “Each person tends to have their own a passion without the pressure of compepreferences when it comes to the speciftition,” she said. She isn’t done with competing alto- ics,” she said. Her favorite boards come from Brigade gether, however. Sorensen said she is a competitive snowboarder and travels Wakesurfing. She said each board is across the country in the wintertime handcrafted in Idaho and that they are a lot lighter in weight than other boards by competing in that sport. other manufacturers. “For life vests, I love my Glidesoul jackFOR THE LOVE OF THE SPORT Since she began wakesurfing, Sorensen et. They are flattering, comfortable and said her favorite aspect of it has always come in great colors as well,” she said. “And for swimwear, Roxy makes an awebeen the time she spends in the sun. “I love being outdoors and wakesurf- some variety of bathing suits.” ing has been a great way to enjoy the THANKFUL sun and the water,” she said. “The social No matter if she was competing or just element has been huge for me, as well. Wakesurfing is so universal. It’s been wakesurfing for the fun of it, Sorensen amazing to share the sport with my family said she is so thankful to her parents for their support. She said they have always and friends.” For those thinking about trying wake- supported her love and her passion for surfing, Sorensen said nothing beats just the sport. “Whether it was driving the boat for time spent doing it. She suggests just trying it out and seeing what works. She hours of practice or taking the time to said to get the basics down first, but to travel for contests, they always had my back and were in for the ride,” she said, make sure you have fun doing it. Another suggestion she said was to adding that she is also thankful for her explore different types of waves and brother for pushing her in progression and helping her navigate through comboards to find what suits you the best. petitive wakesurfing.