The season dates have finally been released, and that means one thing for Charles — it’s time to start working on his comp run! With competitions on the horizon, training now shifts from general practice to fine-tuning. Each session is about building confidence, refining tricks, and making sure his run flows smoothly under pressure. With seven new tricks learned whilst at Scotty’s, Charles needs to decide which tricks to include in his run.

His comp run is made up of two passes. Each pass should include four different tricks. He needs to choose the tricks that will flow from one side of the wake to the other (heel side, toe side) so that he can demonstrate the flow of his run and good trick selection. I often describe his pass like gymnastics – the floor routine. The gymnast needs to travel from point a to point b using a combination of tricks to get them there. Wakeboarding is similar. Charles will complete a combination of four tricks in one pass, heading in one direction, the boat will turn around and Charles will complete his second pass, another combination of four tricks. Ideally, you want to land all your tricks, not repeat any tricks and rate highly for intensity (how big you go) and style (any grabs or flair that attracts interest from the judges).

For us as a family, the release of season dates also means we can get organised. We can start booking in travel, planning for weekends at the lake, and locking in those extra training sessions over East. Having a clear calendar makes it easier to balance everything — school, work, and of course, making the most of summer.

It is also a great time to keep an eye on updates from other states. Often, the national competition dates are added in their posts, and that information helps us stay one step ahead. Knowing the bigger picture means we can plan more strategically and make sure Charles is in peak form when it matters most. Being in WA, the earlier we can get in to book flights, the better.

Need help putting together a comp run? Reach out and Charles will be able to give you some good advice.

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