Hands down the best rookie in all of wakeboarding this year is James Windsor. He’s a 17-year-old Australian rider that has taken the world of wakeboarding by storm. Windsor has been jet-setting all over the place this year, riding in all 6 stops of the WWA Wake Park World Series including the Monster Energy Triple Crown stops, Wake the Line in Germany, and the Grand Opening at Repub1c Wake Park in Manila, Philippines.
James’ mindset is that he’s got long hair and doesn’t care, if he needs a massive backside 900 1st trick off the dock… no problem. Every rider in the field will try to put the pressure on Windsor, but what they don’t know is that Windsor will step up to the challenge and knock them down every time. Windsor won two WWA Wake Park World Series stops back-to-back in Features only and had several other podium finishes in 2012, and the biggest contest of the year is still to come.
- Nickname: Windsor
- Date of Birth: October 20, 1995
- Division(s): Pro Men’s, Pro Features
- Years Pro: 7 months
- Current Ranking (Wake Park World Series): 3rd
- 2011 Wake Park World Championships Placement: 1st place Junior Men’s
- Home riding spot: Go Wake Bli Bli
- Other Notable awards or wins:
- 1st Pro Features – 2012 Protest Cable Call
- 1st Pro Features – 2012 Monster Energy WWA Wake Park Triple Crown stop 3
- 2012 Australian National Junior Cable Champion
- 2012 Australian National Junior Boat Champion
- 3rd Pro Features – 2012Wakestock UK
- 3rd Pro Men’s – Monster Energy WWA Wake Park Triple Crown Series Overall
- 2012 Wake the Line Qualifier
WWA: Tell us about yourself.
James Windsor: I’m 16, and live on the Sunshine Coast in Australia. I finished school last year so I could concentrate on riding full time. I’ve had 6 months overseas this year and it has been the most amazing experience. I’m just having a great time meeting so many people in the industry and seeing a lot of the world. The whole experience of the WWA Wake Park Pro Tour just pushes your riding to another level.
WWA: How did you get into the sport?
Windsor: Wakeboarding started 3 and half years ago for me when I was 13. I had been into Motocross in a big way. I got my first motorbike when I was 3, and raced for the next 9 years. I was having a bit of a break from MX after an injury and went with some friends to the Go Wake cable park, and virtually never left there.
WWA: Who has been most influential in your development of wakeboarding?
Windsor: I would say Kirk Langford, the director of my home cable Go Wake. He must have seen something in me when I first started, he would spend hours helping me out with my riding. Opening the cable during winter for me to practice, and has taught me how important it is to keep your life balanced with sport, family, friends and fun. Sharing the same home park as Mitch Langfield helps too. His rail riding is so unique. Mitch is so technical and has taught me to focus on every little detail, he breaks down a trick to perfection.
WWA: How has the 2012 season been so far?
Windsor: Awesome, this is my first year competing in the WWA Wake Park World Series and I am loving every minute of it. Lining up on the dock against the best riders in the world has been an amazing experience. Riding at so many cables, the different layouts and the diversity of the obstacles has been great to experience.
WWA: What has been your favorite trip this year and why?
Windsor: Road tripping with Manu Rupp everywhere was a heap of fun, especially Croatia. Wake the line would be up there with one of my best experiences to date, the audience level was huge; it is definitely something I was to experience again. But I think the highlight of the year was going to Nuvali in the Philippines to ride at Republic. Such an awesome set up.
WWA: What is your mindset coming into the 2012 Wake Park World Championships?
Windsor: I’m definitely not just there to make the numbers up. Competing is what drives me.
WWA: Al Forsan has a plethora of new features including rails and kickers; how will they play a role in this year’s championships compared to the 2011 contest?
Windsor: Having new features will really push all the riders to there limit throughout the comp, and I think everyone will be raising there game.
WWA: This year’s contest is on the opposite cable from last year (Clockwise cable); how will you adapt your riding to accommodate to this cable?
Windsor: I’ve been training at Penrith in Australia on the clockwise cable and summer has just started here in Australia, so its perfect weather for riding.
WWA: What rider will you be most prepared to compete against?
Windsor: I’m not going to underestimate anyone, everyone will all be there to win, the riding is going to be insane.
WWA: Who will be the top 3 finishers in your division?
Windsor: I think in Abu Dhabi anyone in the top 12 rankings could take out the World Title. There is just so much amazing talent at the moment. As for the overall…… Me, Tom and Daniel.
WWA: Any particular person that you’ll have your eyes set on to beat in the karting race?
Windsor: Daniel Grant, of course.
WWA: What about in the paintball arena? Who do you want to shoot?
Windsor: I’m going to shoot anyone who stands still.
WWA: Who would you like to thank?
Windsor: Liquid Force, Go Wake, Loose Kid Industries, Follow, the WWA, Republic, Manu Rupp, Colton Geer, Dec Clifford, Nico von Lerchenfeld and Mitch Langfield for all they have done for me on tour this year… And my awesome family.
- Facebook.com/JamesWindsor
- Instagram: @windsor47
Coastin’ with James Windsor from Wakepress on Vimeo.
About Wake Park Worlds
The 2012 WWA Wake Park World Championships hosted by Al Forsan International Sports Resort (wakeparkworlds.com) is the final stop of the 2012 WWA Wake Park World Series season. Wake Park Worlds is open to all ages and abilities; for registration visit wakeparkworlds.com/registration. Make sure to stay up-to-date and interactive by following us on our Wake Park Worlds specific sites at:
About the WWA
The WWA is the world’s premier provider of amateur and professional wakeboard events, sanctioning and rules, developed by riders, for riders. www.thewwa.com
About Al Forsan
The Al Forsan International Sports resort aspires to be an internationally-recognized and top-rated world-class resort by leisure professionals, as well as companies and families. By consistently providing first-rate service and state-of-the-art facilities, it will establish itself as the major sports hub for regional events, setting new standards for international sports and leisure experiences. www.alforsan.com