out, and it was just a perfect mix of the things I like to do. MP: What was your first ski? RC: Well I think the actual first ski was a 1993 Kawasaki 440. But I really only rode that a few times. Then we had a 94 FX1. That was the boat I rode. MP: Really I ride an FX1….. RC: I love that boat, but the problem, well I think there is two problems, If you wanted to go somewhere and do something you would have to get out a Superjet, ‘cause no one wants to force someone to ride a FX1.
guys. They were doing rolls, there really weren’t back-flips back then, but they were doing all this crazy stuff. And then there is a guy in Daytona, Nick Foederer. He was like the only guy on the east coast that was doing back-flips and things like that in the surf. I got to ride with him for a couple of years ‘til I moved to California and then I got to ride with guys like Joe Kenney and Mike Serlin. You know, I always had these guys to look to that were way better than I was, and you learn from them and sort of catch up to them.
MP: Well you gotta get the big pump conversion from Blowsion, my ski has one.
When I first moved to California, I rode Ocean -side. I rode with the o-side crew, Derek Jones, and we all used to ride three or four times a week and push each other real hard. Joe would come ride with us once in a while, you kinda see what you can do. You know, we would just push each other really hard, and most of those guys are still here.
RC: Yeah well if that had been around back then, maybe I would still ride one.
MP: So what about injuries, have you had any bad injuries?
MP: Who were your freestyle influences?
RC: I’ve been really fortunate, I have trained really hard, and I try to keep myself in shape to avoid it as much as possible, and I have done pretty good. I mean I have little things, I have knee issues, and ankle issues, but I’ve been fortunate I have never had anything big. It’s really sad not having Joe around anymore. He is such a happy-go-lucky guy. Everybody that knew Joe loved them. He was just always happy with his situation and just in his place. I think he and his
RC: You know I was really really fortunate all the way along in my riding. When I first decided I really wanted to do this...you know...learn how, I started riding in a lake by my house. It just so happened it was in Melboune, Florida. Guys like Josh Lustic, Eric Malone, Brad Lustic, they all rode in this lake. You know I really didn’t know much about jet skis, but I was riding with these
wife are going to get a boat and sail now. MP: What is your most memorable jet skiing experience? RC: Wow, most memorable experience...I’d say it was during the European leg of the World Tour in 2008. Normally the contest would go France, Spain, then Portugal. I was with Pierre and we were trying to figure out what we’re going to do. At the last minute, he said “Well why don’t we go to Morocco?” And I said “Well, um, let’s go to Morocco!” We loaded up Guido and Jullian, and I think we drove something like 30 hours straight. And it’s a long story to get there, but the most memorable time was me, Roman and Pierre. We were riding across this bay, and they had killer whales out there...warm water, super clear, and there were no other jet skis around. It was just a really really cool experience, spending time down there with those guys. And certainly once-in-alifetime, to say the least. It was really cool. But this event, I mean Blowsion, they do so much for me, and for so many of the guys here. They do more than you can imagine. And most of the boats here are Blowsion boats. Between them and Jet Pilot keeps me in gear, and Steve Webster of Kommander Industries does a great job building my motors, and UMI with the handpole. And of course Hydro Tuft, they do a great job. Our energy drink sponsor is Go Fast. MP: Great thank you, have a great time.
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