Kayle McMillen: Your National Wakeboard Champion

First things first – Lets officially get it straight, how do you pronounce your name?

hahaha, Kayle ~ one syllable rhymes with “whale”-! Is this supposed to guarantee that an announcer with eventually get it right?

You are the 2009 Canadian Champ – Has it sunk in yet and how does it feel?

Not really, it was such a strange season I didn’t even know if I was going to sign up for Nationals until like 3 days before it started. I guess I have been a bit modest about it but my friends have been really supportive and do my bragging for me! I think that the greatest feeling of it all is how supportive all my girl wakeboard friends were. They were stoked that I won and it was nice to have that they all thought I finally got some recognition I had deserved for a while. Truly the competition could have gone any which way and I am sure no one expected me to win -especially me, but I would be lying if I said I’m not stoked!

What were your expectations/goals coming into this event?

Honestly I hurt myself in the end of July and had to miss Wakestock because of it. I had just started riding again a little more than a week before the competition, but really wanted to see my friends and I think it is important for girls to come out to competitions especially Nationals. Even if I didn’t expect a good placing it was important for me to go support and represent the girls. I think this was the first competition I have been in where I didn’t worry about what place I would get in or about what tricks I would land. I think that is what helped me – I was feeling confident about my run and I just went out to ride and have fun on the giant super poppy wake.

The weather was pretty bla the day the Open women rode. Did that effect your pre-game strategy at all?

Yea, I was one of the last riders so I was lucky enough for the girls to let me know what the water was like out there. The first half of the first pass and last half of the second pass were pretty choppy so i tried to get in my tougher tricks in the calmer water. The weather hadn’t been that great all summer either so I guess I had done some more riding in less than perfect conditions this year. You just can’t let the water distract you, you have to go out and cut like you normally would if you want to ride like you normally would. Definitely get some practice in a variety of water conditions, because you never know and it will make you a better overall rider.

SO enough of the event lets focus on YOU! Lets get the Low-down

Where do you live: Etobicoke for now

Age: 23

Sponsors: —– N/A haha

Some other sweet results: I got second at provincals last year but couldn’t make it out to nationals and fifth overall in nationals the year before

How long have you been riding: 11 years I guess but took a break from competitions in the middle there for a while

Favourite Place to ride: doens’t matter where as long as there is calm water and good friends!

Where do you normally ride: Muskoka at Adrenalin Ski and Wakeboard, out of Walkers Pt. Marina

Riding Crew: Usually the Adrenalin Crew, Jeff Mile, Phil Burgess and Dan Ross or with the girls whenever I can, Leslie Sparkes, Erika Langman and Ally Boothroyd

Favourite trick you do: Scarecrow

Favourite trick someone else does: Off axis spins – and Erika has a pretty sweet one

Tricks you really want to stomp the crap out of: off axis 3’s and bat wings

You made National Team for 2009 – that means some sweet perks like free cell phones, a trip to florida and funding to go to an international event. How cool is that? Thoughts?

I really had no idea that the national team got all these perks and I think more girls need to know that and work towards it. I think it is great and every little bit helps. It is expensive to wakeboard and as you get older it gets tougher to do. For me it has been a huge motivator. I had kinda hit a plateau in my riding, but making the national team has gotten me stoked to ride again and learn new things.

What are you plans/goals for next year’s riding season:

I don’t know where I will be next year but I don’t think I’ll be teaching wakeboarding anymore which I have been doing for the past 8 years. It will be a big change but I think it will be good for my riding. I think i will appreciate it again and I will have weekends to ride with new people who push me and I can do a bunch of the throw it down clinics but also have time off to do competitions. It may seem counter active but I think it will help my wakeboarding.

Got your eyes on any favourite sponsors for next year?

I don’t know - a board sponsor would be awesome but if Esso is out there listening they can sponsor me for gas or better yet a boat my glastron doesn’t quite cut it anymore hahaha!

If you could give the lady rippers out there a few words of wisdom what would they be?

Keep pushing!!!! We need more female riders in the sport especially in CANADA. Come out to competitions, there are tons of different divisions and you can meet new people to ride with and motivate you. You can always improve your riding what we really need is girls that love the sport to come out and participate!

Shout outs: Jenn and Corey and Adrenalin Ski and Wakeboard crew for all the great years and riding time, my parents, friends and boyfriend for always supporting me, my lady rippers Ally, Erika and Leslie and anyone else who has taken me for a pull, taught me a trick or motivated me in some way! And of course all the girls out there who love the sport, are pushing the sport or contribute in some way

Read more about Kayle and other female athletes at throwitdown.ca