The Littlest Wakeboarder
"Knock knock. Who's there? Will you remember me in a second?"
"Knock knock. Who's there? Will you remember me in a month?"
"Knock knock. Who's there? Will you remember me in a year?"
This slightly confusing, yet spiritually profound "knock, knock" joke found it's way to my willing ears this afternoon. As the reggae music rolled down the beach and over the messenger and me, I strained to hear the punch line. I squinted as I stared into the shaded face under the wrinkled cowboy hat. She smiled back at me and said "then why do you keep saying 'who's there?'"
At nine years of age, Maite Gutierrez, whose name means "loved one" in Basque, is the youngest wakeboarder at Board Up Miami 2009. Although the competition remained at home this year and she rode alone in her heat, Maite inspired all. Strapped into her favorite pink and white board, she carved up the choppy water and jumped the wake with the enthusiasm of her professional counterparts.
One might confuse the half-pint rider as a beginner but make not the same mistake. Maite enjoys her fifth competitive year behind a boat this season and absolutely adores every minute. Born into a local wakeboarding family but representing her home country of Colombia, Maite embodies the pure appreciation and unfiltered admiration for the sport. She rides because she loves "feeling the air go past". This is a soulfully kinesthetic reason to spend every weekend riding a wake. As one wise man said, "that which touches the body, fuels the mind and strengthens the soul". Maite reminds us why we search for simple pleasures and peace - to "have fun or something like that". If the rest of us could apply this simple lesson to our every day lives and smile more, our neighborhoods might be friendlier, out city might run more smoothly and our world might be a better place. Thank you Maite, we will definitely remember you in a year.
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