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AW: You seem to be the type of rider that gets something stuck in his head and isn’t happy until it’s perfect. Do you think that is good or bad sometimes?
AR: It can be good and bad. It’s great if you’re trying to progress your riding, but it’s also how you get burned out or even hurt. If you get too obsessed and keep trying a trick for hours, even if your body is telling you to stop, you don’t really pay attention to that because in your mind you just have to land it. That can be dangerous. I’ve been there for sure. It’s like I’ll need to land it; like a battle that I have to conquer. If I don’t land it I just feel like my board has beat me. That’s how it’s always been for me. I hate losing those battles. What’s funny is I thought I was the only one like that – where I’d get into a battle with a trick and stay there – but since I’ve been behind the camera filming more now, I see it with other riders. Rusty (Malinoski) can be the same way. It’s funny because then I can see what I can be like at times. I’m definitely better at picking my battles now though and knowing when to say when. I’m better at feeling when it’s close or not close. I used to just go for it no matter what, but now I feel things out more and only go for it when I can feel it happening.

AW: Where are you pushing yourself now these days?
AR: I want to push myself with winching a lot more. I think that’s the next door that needs to be opened for me and my riding. The idea of just building some crazy rail is cool, but building it is what sucks. I really like the idea of finding something that’s already there, whether it’s a rail next to some water or a big ledge to hit or drop. Sometimes the big rails we build can look really unnatural, so I’m really intrigued by finding things that are already there, kind of like in skateboarding. I’ve done a fair amount of winching, and I did a lot when I wakeskated, too, so I know how much work it is. There is a lot to be done out there with it. I think there are some boat riders that have so much talent and board control that if they put some time into winching they could really progress the sport.

AW: You mentioned your video project with Rusty. People at Surf Expo got to see it, and it’s really, really good. What brought that about and where does doing video work come into play for you?
AR: I really enjoy filming and editing because I like the idea of creating something. I’m shit with drawing or painting, but when I’m editing a video I feel like it’s art when it’s done. I get a lot of satisfaction from starting on a project and seeing it through. I grew up watching wakeboard and other action sport movies and I love them, but I don’t know if I’ll take them seriously enough to try to make money off of it. I like doing it on my own because there aren’t deadlines or anything, it can be a passion project. But when money gets involved there are deadlines and other people’s expectations and I feel like that would take some of the passion out of it for me. I think that’s true with any aspect of life, money can ruin it. Right now video work is my creative outlet, it’s like a bonus for me, and it actually keeps my own riding fresh.

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AW: What brought about the video part with Rusty?
AR: I can’t speak for him, but I felt like he felt like he had something to prove after his Real Wake part. Those guys put all their eggs in one basket with a crazy night shoot that would have looked insane, but some things didn’t go according to plan and Rusty wasn’t able to get tricks he wanted to showcase his best riding. I think he wanted some redemption. He knew he could release a banger edit. He actually hit me up and asked me to film something with him. I was into the idea so we did as much as we could – I think we filmed 12 times – and I was able to get a solid piece edited by the Friday of Surf Expo so we could show it off at the Alliance booth.

AW: What has you stoked about wakeboarding right now and going into the future?
AR: I think there’s a lot to look forward to. I think Real Wake was insane for our sport and hopefully it’s back next year. I think more people are really appreciating and seeing the value in big video sections, like Raph’s stuff in the past or Massi’s piece this year. That has me stoked and hopefully companies continue to see the value in it and invest in them to help riders make them really good. There’s a lot of good young talent coming up wakeboarding right now and they all seem to have a solid focus on making their riding unique.

AW: What advice would the Rathy of today offer the Rathy from 10 Years ago?
AR: (laughing) The butterfly effect, man. Honestly, I wouldn’t change too much. I like where I am and what I am as a wakeboarder and I realize that everything I’ve done and gone through in the past has helped me get to this point. I appreciate the process I’ve gone through to learn and develop the riding I have. Maybe a couple years were way too intense and maybe a couple years were way too mellow and I was hurt a lot, but I love the way that I ride now and I think all those things play a part.

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