Austin Pratt started turning some heads with not just his solid riding skills, but his uniquely creative lines at OWC. As one of the young guns on the Ronix team, Austin is now starting to take advantage of new opportunities with Lake Ronix – and in turn making sure people don’t forget his name. He finished the season off strong with a third place podium spot in the Pro Men Features division of the final Wake Park Triple Crown event in September. Here is Austin’s Coming Up interview from the September/October issue of Alliance.

austin pratt_wall ride - rutledge

Back lip to bomb drop at Valdosta.  Photo: Bradlee Rutledge

 

Name: Austin Pratt

Birthdate: 4/4/94

Wakeboarding since: 2008

Stance: Goofy

Preferred pull: System 2.0 or full size cables

Hometown: Brookville, Ohio

 

Alliance: How were you first introduced to wakeboarding?

AP: When I was 14 my parents bought a houseboat on Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. I remember always seeing an X-Star with this guy Tyler Vreeland doing a lot of flips and spins and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I had gone wakeboarding before but I had never seen it like that, and after one lesson with Tyler I was hooked.

 

A: Was it difficult for you to transition from riding boat to riding cable? How long have you been riding cable?

AP: Transitioning from boat to cable was pretty natural for me. Whenever boat became boring or I was struggling on new tricks, I would go to the cable. Cable for me has always been about having fun. This will be my second summer riding in the park.

 

A: What’s your favorite feature at OWC?

AP: The Silas pool gap

 

A: Do you plan to continue to develop your boat riding?

AP: Boat is how it all started and I definitely plan on progressing my riding behind the boat.

 

A: What keeps you busy when you’re not riding?

AP: Hanging out with friends and family

 

AP: Any good nicknames?

AP: Some of the boys call me Prattdawg

 

A: Who is your favorite cable rider to watch?

AP: Mitch Langfield

 

A: Your sister, Kayleigh, started The Wakeboard Foundation. What’s that all about?

AP: The Wakeboard Foundation is a charity that enriches the lives of children with cancer through events that involve some of wakeboarding’s top pros. It’s a really cool thing to see and help out with.

 

A: What is your favorite wakeboard video?

AP: All or Nothing

 

A: In terms of your riding, do you have any specific goals for the next couple years?

AP: Winning contests is ideal and everyone including myself wants to win contests, but I want to push the sport in a new way and really establish myself as a rider within the sport.

 

A: Who would you like to thank?

AP: I would like to thank my parents, without their support I wouldn’t be where I am today. I would also like to thank my sister. She has been a huge role model for me all my life and has been like a second mom to me. Also, a big thanks to the guys at CBK Watersports in Kingsport, TN and Ronix.