David MacDonald talks with Extreme Boarders

EB:  How did you get into kneeboarding?

DM:  Well, I started out as a slalom skier then barefooted while at college.  I was doing deepwater starts & tumble turns.  Then the nearby ski shop on Lake Wiley was going out of business and had a huge sale.  I went in to look around and saw a kneeboard video.  I came out with a Hydroslide Magna.  It was pretty easy to learn the basic surface spins but I wanted to learn a flip.  So I tried the backroll/barrel roll.  We had no idea what we were doing.  We used a 75' slalom rope and really didn't know what speed to use.  It took me 2 weeks to learn a back somersault.  That was just the beginning!

EB:  How did you learn about the other tricks?

DM:  There was a kneeboard tournament being put on by the AKA (American Kneeboard Association) nearby.  This is where I learn about the rules of tournaments, rope lengths, speed and other tricks.

EB:  How old where you when you started to compete?

DM:  My first competition was while I was in college, about 19.  I didn't have my own boat.  After college, I took three years off from skiing in general.  Then the Pro Tour included kneeboarding.  Money is always an incentive to compete!  I practiced a bit and went to the Pro Tour stop closest to me at the time.  I placed 5th.

EB:  What about sponsors?  Do you have any?

DM:  After the 5th place at the Pro Tour, I picked up Hydroslide.  This was in 1992.  I was riding the Magna Pro XL.  I broke about 25 boards.  I finally gave up on these boards.  I then hooked up with O'Brien and rode the Vortex for a year.  After kneeboarding was taken off the Pro Tour, ski companies dropped many of their riders.  Then wakeboarding took kneeboarding to big wakes and big air.  I picked up Hydroslide again and also Ski Supreme.

EB:  What titles do you hold?

DM:  I am a 3 Time Mens I National Trick Champion.  This was from 1992 - 1995.  I was also the Overall Champion in 94-95.  There were about 20 competitors in Mens I.  (Mens I is an age group of 17-26 in the AKA).

EB:  Which one of Hydroslides boards do you ride now?

DM:  I was riding the Explosion.  The tool at the factory was worn out and they designed a new board to compete with other kneeboard companies.  I now ride the KAOS.  It is an extremely fast and aggressive board. 

EB:  What are your latest moves?

DM:  I am trying to even out my bad side a bit, so I'm doing reverse Layouts/Raleys and reverse Front Somersaults.  While doing an off-axis Front Roll, I almost did an Ole' 540.  I just let go of the handle.

EB:  An Ole' 540?

DM:  Basically it's a 540.  Instead of doing a handle pass, I keep the rope over my head and turn underneath it.  We use to do Ole' 360's after cutting out from the wake and creating a little slack in the rope.  This is taking it in the air with more twist. 

EB:  Where do you see kneeboarding going?

DM:  If you guys keep it up on the net, we might catch someone's attention.  We need real sponsors who are willing to put up bigger purses.  I've talked to several wakeboarders.  They would love to have a kneeboard/wakeboard challenge.  It would be a fun event for everyone!  I heard that Extreme Boarders was going to sponsor this event?

EB:  I think you're hearing voices!     Well, maybe.  If we can find a title sponsor, we could organize and host it!  You would have to come to New York City!

        Coming down from a huge Macosini!