Teen wakeboarder Raimi Merritt finished second only to Dallas Friday in the first pro tournament of her career. Meet this remarkable girl and find out what makes her Pretty Tough.My dad was a professional barefoot water skier and had a ski school where he taught water skiing. He would take us out on weekends as a family to go water skiing. I was four when he first tried to teach me how to ski, but it never quite clicked for me. I was nine when my dad helped me try wakeboarding for the first time. I thought it was a lot easier and a lot more fun.
How old are you? Birthday?
I’m 14 and my birthday is April 12.
Other sports/hobbies?
Racquetball, trampoline, just kickin it.
Fave subject?
Recess
Typical training regimen?
I train every day, alternating between jumping on a trampoline, and riding behind a cable and boat.
What’s the most important skill needed for wakeboarding?
The ability to have fun!
Fave movies/tv shows?
High School Musical
Most listened to songs on your iPod?
Everything
Heroes/Role Models?
My parents and my sisters
Fave Trick?
Toeside backroll
Fave place in the world to ride?
OWC (Orlando Watersports Complex)
Most memorable competitive moment?
Winning the girls’ division WWA World Championships in Texas in ’06.
Goals?
Win the World Championships and World Cup in the pro women’s divsion.
Anyone you’d like to give a shout out to?
My family. They’ve done everything for me and supported me along the way.
Also Liquid Force wakeboards, Girls4Sport clothing, Fly High wakeboard gear, and Mona-vie.
Thanks Raimi.
LANTANA, FL -September 24, 2007]-Watch out, Dallas Friday. In the first pro tournament of her career, 14-year-old Raimi Merritt gave Friday a run for her money at the invitation-only Wakeboard World Cup 2007 in Singapore, snagging second place behind Friday-the most decorated female in wakeboarding’s history. Merritt was one of only ten female riders in the world invited to compete at the event, which ran September 22-23 at the Bedok Reservoir in Singapore and attracted a crowd of 20,000 people. She was also the youngest, but age was no matter for Merritt, who won both of her heats before advancing to the finals.
“I rode well both days,” said Merritt. “I stuck my pass perfectly in the semi finals, then I was a little sketchy in the finals, but I still stuck everything. It was really exciting to ride pro for the first time and have the chance to compete against Dallas Friday. I’m really happy with my finish.”
Merritt’s impressive finish at the Wakeboard World Cup in Singapore comes on the tail of an equally impressive season in which she’s racked up six first-place victories so far, including winning the WWA Girls’ World Wakeboard Championship title for the second year in a row.
October 19-21, Merritt heads to Cancun, Mexico for the Tige Pro-Am Wakeboard Championships. Then October 30- November 2, Merritt is off to the ISWF World Championships in Doha, Qatar where she will ride as a member of the USA Wakeboard Team and try to capture her second individual world championship title for the season.
For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com.
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