A Simple Approach Wins Board Up Miami 2009

© rumbum.com, Thaddeus Foote

Adam Fields at Board Up Miami

“Everything in Wakeboarding can be learned in a simple, straightforward, this is how you do it kind of way”, says Adam Fields, Board Up Miami’s 2009 winner.  As would a seasoned professional in any sport, Adam makes it look easy.  To those of us born without wings, a Vulcan, Whirlybird 540° or a Moby Dick might appear, well... impossible.  To Adam, it’s just another day at work.

“I concentrate a lot when I ride” says the 27 year old.  “I’ll have 10 or 15 things going through my mind.”  Adam explains that preceding a crowd-pleasing trick, his mind runs a slew of thoughts including wind direction for launch, water color contrasting with sky color for mid-flight and water texture for landing.  He ponders his competition’s recent success and failures so he may appropriately choose from his bag o’ tricks.  He flips through his memory cards to the days of trampoline sessions and months of water time so his body will instinctively do what his brain commands.  He focuses on technique and maintains confidence.

One might ask, “what does a professional wakeboarder like Adam Fields do when he’s not intensively training or competing?”  He wakeboards of course.  Nine years ago, Adam founded and continues to manage Adam Fields’ Wakeboard School on Lake Gaston, NC (www.adamswakeboardschool.com).  Adam’s passion for carving and launching over wakes clearly translates itself into his teaching.  As he does with his wakeboarding craft, Adam approaches his teaching with a “simple, straightforward” style.  He just wants to “make people have a good time.”  Adam expects to teach 2000 students this season at his school and hopes his educational creation will expand into a full-time gig someday.

Whether competing in an international competition or coaching tomorrow’s champions, Adam embodies a polished approach to life which is truly intriguing.  He figured out how to make something as seemingly complex as a Whirlybird 540° and something as loaded as life’s decisions... simple.  He does what he loves and he loves what he does.