Dream Job – but have you got the balls to go for it?

Matt Crowhurst

Imagine your dream job. Add to it an awesome lifestyle and plenty of cool parties while you travel the world? Sound tempting?

Discover how Matt Crowhurst, pro Wakeboarder and TV Presenter does just that. Hang on to your seat and come on a journey with us into the competitive, fast paced and dangerous world of Wakeboarding. Find out how to overcome fear, cope with set backs and get noticed in a cut throat industry. Matt will show you how to make your passion into your living and fully embrace your dream life.

In case you’ve not heard of Wakeboarding, think of it as water skiing on a snowboard with ramps and rails and skateboard tricks thrown in for good measure.

A lot of people try extreme sports, fall off, don’t see instant progress, then quit! What motivated you to master it?

I push myself in anything I take on. The simplest explanation is, anything that is going to give you more of a rush, more satisfaction and enjoyment, something that is really going to get that blood pumping is likely going to need some hard work to get you there. However much you put in, you get out.

Matt, why Wakeboarding in particular?

I left school at 19 and decided to make it my living. I was fairly natural at the sport so it felt right. But I blew my knee after only a month of winter training in Australia. So, I was out the game. So I wanted to get stuck into something else. I got a job as a researcher on an extreme sports TV show called Rad. I’ve actively involved myself in the media side of Wakeboarding and Freesports as well as continuing to Wakeboard myself. This has carved a niche for me in a world where it isn’t easy to make a living out of your sport.

Photo by Johnny Wiggla

So in a way, the knee injury opened up new possibilities and you began presenting on TV?

All the media stuff I’m involved with got going through that knee injury in 2000. It meant a year out of the sport. So I wanted to make sure I did something productive with that year. The job on Rad started it all. It was a lot of fun. Also, I started MC’ing at wakeboard events as I wasn’t riding and with this came the wakeboard orientated TV work. Wakestock festival was my first gig and since then I’ve always been heavily involved in whatever TV covers the sport.

For those people just starting out, what advice would you give them?

I’d say you have to have an angle, a passion. On TV a person without a passion is transparent.

Make the most of every opportunity and don’t let things slide. Be focused. Be driven. Don’t let up until you’ve got what you want. This applies to most things in life. As far as developing a style, I don’t try to be anyone else but myself on camera, on stage and out on the water.

There are some TV boxes you have to tick such as; being clear, to the point, being able to ad lib when it’s needed. So, just be aware of that and blend it in with your own style.

Were you encouraged by the people around you initially to follow this unusual career?

I definitely got inspiration from people around me. Guys I’d grown up with Waterskiing, Nick & Julz Heaney and Paul Price. They had jumped ship and seemed to be having the time of their lives. I gave wakeboarding a go and just took to it. There wasn’t really much resistance because there was nothing anyone could do.

Did you set yourself any specific targets?

When I first started there were no real plans, I just knew I loved wakeboarding. I was conscious of working my position in the sport to help me continue doing it. Things like coaching clinics, media work and trying to get sponsors on board to support me.

Did you experience any problems when you started out?

For sure, where I lived in Birmingham there was nowhere for me to go wakeboarding. So I would train around the country as much as I could and ride as and when I got the chance. Money is a tough one. Those youngens who live near cable ways have it best for sure. It’s far cheaper to get riding this way and you can get lots of time on the water.

Photo by Michael Wincott

How did you sell yourself and your talents in the early days?

I was always pretty good at putting my face about and just chatting to people. The guys I was hanging out with in the early days, the Heaney brothers, they are the kings of self promotion. As far as sponsorship goes, if you’re good at what you do that isn’t always enough for a sponsor to see worth in you.

Getting free kit is your payment for doing a job and if you don’t come up with the goods in terms of riding, self promotion and being a great ambassador for your sponsor then its going to be a short lived relationship.

Photo by Michael Wincott

One thing that tends to hold people back is fear of failure. Tell us about a time when things went wrong, either in a competition or presenting, how did you turn it around?

Oh, I’ve cocked up non stop in front of camera during interviews. Hell, when I was on stage at Wakestock festival, after the prize giving, I introduced Goldie Lookin Chain when it was actually Morcheeba! Making mistakes MC’ing in front of a big crowd can be nerve-wracking. I’ve got a terrible memory so remembering all that I have to say while making it look natural and unscripted has, on occasion, not quite happened.

‘But so what?’ is all I think at the end of the day. What’s the point in letting things bother you. Shit happens and you have to deal with it. If you are doing any kind of job that involves being in the public eye, be it a sport, musician, MC or presenter, you are going to have some embarrassing moments, that’s a given.

What advice would you give other extreme sports people who want to pursue this as a serious career?

Put yourself on the line in every way. If being able to ride means that you have to get a shitty job then get a shitty job. It’s not ideal of course but it is a means to an end. Play the game with sponsors, as that is the only way you’ll ride more and work less. Remember that to keep hold of sponsors you have a job to do.

For those people who want to get sponsorship, what is the best way for them to approach companies?

Always remember companies are out to sell, plain and simple. Sponsoring individuals is so that an association with that individual will help to sell more of the company’s product(s).

You have to offer something really special to get full product support and financial backing. It takes working as hard off the water as you do on, whatever you’re chosen field of play is.

Find the person in charge of marketing at which ever brand you’re pursuing. Get an email address. Drop them a line with your portfolio, good quality photos, video etc. Then follow up with a phone call.

As long as you are offering them a viable way of raising the brands profile to help them sell more, or can actually raise sales directly, there is a viable reason for them sponsoring you.

My motto has always been, “if you don’t ask you don’t get”. Make sure that you are always popping up on peoples radar as the person who’s attending all the events, helping out and are willing to get up early for photo shoots. Just generally being proactive about your career. People really DO notice this and it will come back to you in the end.

What did you do to impress your sponsors in the beginning?

Initially my riding ability and how I was doing at contests. To keep hold of them and offer them something more, I’ve always worked as hard off the water as I do on. By this I mean, putting together shoots, writing articles, hitting a good few events, getting on the mic, teaching across the country, doing demos here and there and generally putting my face about.

Artwork by Dan Spinks

Who are your hero’s, what have you learned from them?

Lots of people in wakeboarding and further a field. Certain riders I just love to watch like Keith Lyman, Randy Harris, Aaron Reed. They inspire me for sure. Any athlete who is at the top of their game and pushes themselves relentlessly has my total respect.

Extreme sports for a lot of people seem very scary, how often do you find yourself doing things that you’re afraid of?

The main thing that scares me is trying out new wakeboard tricks. It seems to just get harder and harder as well. You have to commit to something fully, have faith in your own abilities and go for it. Any half arsed attempts at anything in life aren’t going to turn out well.

Photo by Michael Wincott

Most people think that being an extreme sportsperson and traveling the world is a very glamorous and fun career. Tell us about the other side of it?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a very lucky boy and I lead an awesome life. As far as riding goes I don’t actually get much time on the water, which does really get to me.

I do end up between a rock and hard place on this front. Because I am so busy with events, demos, coaching clinics, media work and so on, that I’m never in one place or have any time to just ride. It’s just a case of finding balance between it all. Either way, I’m still living the good life.

How do you keep your energy levels up with all the demanding work required to make it in this competitive business?

You do have to eat properly whether you’re on the road all day or at an event. Also getting enough sleep wherever you can is super important. I’m actually trying to do more to look after myself now. My partner is great at making me eat well and I think doing exercise outside of wakeboarding will just mean you are in a much better position to recover quicker after riding.

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Matt signing autographs at Wakestock, photo by Michael Wincott

Have you had to make any sacrifices to follow this career path?

Living out of my van has been one and not being able to see friends regularly. In the past there has been worry over where the money’s coming from to make it through the next month. However, all very small prices to pay for the life I lead. Being on the road is fun as hell and although I don’t see the same friends all the time, I get to hang with loads of different groups of friends and the uncertainty of it all adds to the fun.

What advice could you offer people about the type of attitude it takes to be a success in this industry?

If sponsorship isn’t what you’re after, and you don’t care about events then hell, do whatever you like. I think the only issue really is just some people expect everything to land on their laps. Times are tight in this industry and across all Freesports so you have to be offering something different in order to stand out from the crowd.

Did you ever doubt yourself, and if so what kept you going?

There are always doubts, for sure, but I know what I want and doubting myself isn’t going to get me there.

What are the best things about of this type of life?

Ah man, that’s easy, getting to do what I love for a living! Along with the actual wakeboarding comes the lifestyle of course, traveling, partying and so on but it’s the time on the water that it all comes back to. If you don’t love the thing you’re trying to make a living out of then you aren’t going to do well at it.

Thanks Matt great advice, you’ve certainly given us an insight into the sport as well as valuable information that our ambitious readers can put into action in their own careers.

As well as talking to Matt, we hooked up with some of his team mates. These cream of the crop athletes in Wakeboarding gave us the lowdown on; how to rise to the top of your game in a competitive industry, plus how to overcome fear and demolish any barriers which might be holding you back. Here’s what they had to say…

Scotty Broome photo by Andrew Fawcett

What tips would you give other people who want to pursue an unusual career?

Sean O’Brien – The easy part is that it’s not really going to feel like work if it’s something that you absolutely love to do. You will wake up every morning loving life. The hard part comes with overcoming the uncertainty of an unusual career.

There are a lot of things that I don’t really have control of. What if I get injured? What if the economy gets worse and as a result I get dropped by my sponsors? Do your best to make sure you aren’t replaceable. I guess that really applies to everything in life. Be yourself and be unique. Surround yourself with people that understand you, have confidence in you, and support what you are trying to do. This makes everything so much easier.

Kathleen Moore – If you have a passion then live it. A big lesson I’ve learned is that you can live your passion and be successful by employing another aspect to support you. For me, my coaching is my source. For my partner its making wakeboard films. There are many aspects that support sporting communities and related associations. You just have to be confident and think outside the box.

Financially supporting yourself is one of the biggest hurdles aspiring extreme pro athletes and creative people in general, will encounter . Sponsors are amazing but we can’t always rely on them to fund our lives.

If your young enough to still have parents to support you then soak it up. But make your education a priority. Its no fun struggling to do the thing you love if you can’t pay for the resources you need. We have to support ourselves and think about the future. A good education and pursuing your business opportunities are just as important.

Photo by Ian Beattie

Brad Smeele – Learn everything there is to know about your chosen career. The best way to do this is through the people around you who have been through it.

Be open to any advice you can gain along the way. Your peers will be your best tool for learning the ropes and meeting the people you need to meet. But at the end of the day you need to look out for number 1 and work hard.

If you put 110% into everything, people will notice. They will be more likely to help you along the way if they can see that you are passionate about what you are doing.

Dan Nott – Never give up. It will always be tough to make a career out of something small or different but if you work hard anything is possible!

Photo by Luisa Montalbetti

James Young – Be dedicated and certain that is what you want to do. Don’t look back as that will just slow you down, the only steps are forward.

I have learned to never lose focus as it will leave you trailing.

Scotty Broome – To be successful in any career you have to be passionate, so if you really want to do it keep trying. You will always have to overcome some interesting highs and lows. If you love it then the fact you are there is pretty great.

Photo by Andrew Fawcett

Robbie Rendo – Always give your best to follow your dream and just do what makes you happy.

You face high risk situations every day being an extreme sportsperson. How do you deal with fear both in Wakeboarding and in your personal life?

Sean O’Brien – To make it through any high risk situation it is extremely important to understand what you are capable of and have confidence in your abilities. Without that assessment, a risky situation can quickly turn into a dangerous one. Don’t second guess yourself. Once you start doing that, its not going to happen. So do whatever you can to build your confidence and then come back to it.

Kathleen Moore – LIVE! Life is about taking risks. For me the thrill of taking a risk and coming out the other end successful, or at least knowing I’ve given it my best shot is what its about. It’s what drives me and why I’m so addicted to wakeboarding. I’m constantly being challenged mentally and physically. It’s the best feeling ever, pushing yourself outside that comfort zone and getting away with it. There is no place for fear in extreme sports. If you hesitate your chance of going down is rapidly increased. Fear has to be channeled into focus and I think this applies in everyday challenges.

Brad Smeele – The main fear in wakeboarding is attempting new tricks. It can be pretty intimidating attempting that first one. I find the key to working through it is breaking the trick down into smaller, simpler parts and taking it step by step. This can relate to everyday life situations too. For me one of my biggest fears, outside of wakeboarding, is the fear of not being able to afford to go to the next contest, or even to buy food next week. Same process, break the problem down… Don’t let the fear cloud your mind.

Dan Nott – Fear is one of the biggest obstacles in wakeboarding and to over come it you need to be 100% confident in what you are doing. When you are learning a new trick if you come at it thinking that you WILL land it most of the time you will atleast get close to it, but if you come at it scared and half hearted then you will never make it.

James Young – Wakeboarding has many high risks. I have been knocked out, had broken bones, black eyes, dislocations. The only thing that gets me through these injuries is looking forward to getting back on the water. It gives me a sense of freedom. Wakeboarding makes me happy, and gives me heaps of adrenaline, to make me feel good and want to push myself even more.

I deal with fear by thinking about the end result. If I learn a new trick that I’ve been trying over and over it’s such an immense feeling when I pull it off.

Scotty Broome – Fear of any kind will obviously hold you back from doing whatever goal you set. It can also do worse things such as; cause injury, and ultimately time away from what you love. The way I look at it these days; is that we’ve all only been given one life and we should appreciate it to the fullest in every situation. Whenever I go for a wakeboard, surf, skate or (occasionally) snowboard I want to go as hard as I can, challenge myself and have as much fun as possible. I think you can apply that on any level.

Robbie Rendo – In wakeboarding I beat fear by taking everything step by step. For example when I’m learning a new trick I will try it small and slow first then build it up from there. In life I try to put my fears aside and get on with it.

What has been the biggest hurdle you have had to overcome to be successful in Wakeboarding and how did you do it?

Sean O’Brien – The only real setback for my riding has been some injuries. It was my passion for riding as well as the support from my family and friends that has allowed me to overcome any obstacle that have gotten in my way.

Kathleen Moore – I think selling our boat and moving to the UK was a tough realization in my career. I had no idea of what wakeboarding was like in the UK, all I knew from previous visits was that it was cold, small and masses of water were minimal.

My first six months in the UK were tough, I was stressed out and always rushing to get as much in as I could. I had great support from my partner and coach. As we got to know the UK scene and how tight is was; I started to see the light.

This transition in my life taught me that to be successful in sport wasn’t all about competition results. There were other aspects of the sport that could reward me. The community support was overwhelming and the opportunity for me to coach presented itself. My barriers were just in my head and I learned to deal with whatever, life threw at me. My advice is to stay positive and remember the sole reason why you’re doing what you do.

Brad Smeele – Hurdles are put in front of you to test you. Once you overcome them they will only make you stronger. The biggest hurdle has been, and still is, injuries. Wakeboarding is a tough sport on the body. It’s pretty common to have a knee, shoulder or back injury. For my lower back injury I spent a lot of time doing ‘Pilates’ which is a method of core strengthening. I was fortunate enough to get sponsored by a Pilates studio.

Dan Nott – The hardest thing is getting enough time on the water to keep progressing. Once you reach a certain level you need to be on the water at least once a day but preferably 2-3 times. I managed to overcome this when I got my first boat 2 years ago. Another good way to get more time on the water is the recent explosion in the cable wakeboard scene. With the cable you can wakeboard for hours. You don’t have to rely on boat or a driver.

James Young – The biggest hurdle was to go from Junior men to the pro men divisions. Even though the levels of riding were close the experience the pro men have is a lot more. Getting the confidence to ride amongst the pros and keep my cool was my biggest hurdle.

When I compete against people more experienced than me, I just try to block them out of my mind, have a game plan and stick to it. The thing that drove me was having the support of my dad who told me ‘just do your best’ so I do and I see what I need to do to become better.

Scotty Broome – The biggest hurdles I’ve had have probably been; initially trying do tricks in a contest that you can do with your eyes closed at home and also injury as a result of doing this sport for about 12 years. Injury is ultimately a given at some point doing this, so you have to learn to look after yourself and prepare your body for whatever your going to put it through.

Robbie Rendo – For me to fulfill my dream of being a professional wakeboarder I have had to leave my family and country and learn to grow up on my own. It was hard for me when I was younger but now I’ve got used to it.

Thanks guys, wow their passion and dedication is so uplifting. Now your’re feeling fully pumped up and inspired, what are YOU going to do? what action can you take RIGHT NOW?

Interview by Angel Greenham

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