Byerly Catalog

AARON RATHY
AARON RATHY///INTERVIEW 5-28-14
Where you from
AARON: Vancouver Island, Canada - Nanaimo
How old were you when you moved to
Florida
AARON: Seventeen. That was pretty much right when
I turned pro. It was within a year after that.
Do you feel like you have to live in
Florida to be a pro wake boarder
AARON: It was just so much easier. I know I would
have never made it staying in Nanaimo. It was
mainly boat riding back then and you had to go to
Florida, for me anyways.
How’d you get in with Byerly
AARON: When I signed with Hyperlite. Everyone
looks up to him when they’re coming up. He was
like one of the main dudes even back then. He was
always super cool and we didn’t really kick it
that much, but he was always cool on trips and
stuff like that. He is just a cool guy because
of the things he does for kids in the industry.
He’s not like all stuck up and stuff, he’s really
humble and down with the sport. He just wants to
see it grow. He realizes that the new kids are
the ones that are going to grow it.
What other sports do you do
AARON: I skate, surf as much as I can, I used to
snowboard a lot but then living in Florida kind
of put a hold on that.
Who’s supported you along the way
AARON: All my sponsorships are really good. My
parents. They were super cool with me pretty much
dropping out of school and moving to Florida and
pursuing my dreams. I know that it was really
temporary and if it wouldn’t of worked right away
they would have brought me back, but just to let
your kid do that and have that freedom and go for
that experience was really cool. And I mean fuck,
they’ve helped me so much along the way. There’s
no way I’d be doing it without them.
What’s your most memorable moment
you don’t remember
AARON: I’ve only blacked out twice in my life and
once was my 17th birthday and once was my 21st.
It sucks. I think people black out for a reason
and I don’t black out and I feel like it’s a curse
because I remember all the stupid shit that I do.
What’s on your walkman
AARON: Cage the Elephant is one of my favorite new
bands. But I listen to a lot of Jose Gonzalez, a
band called Junip. Mainly classic rock and I guess
you’d call it alternative. I really like acoustic
music. Oh yeah and Elliot Smith, always listening
to him.
Do you play any instruments
AARON: I play the guitar. I haven’t been doing
it very long but it’s pretty much taking over
my life.
What’s your favorite moment this year
AARON: I guess it’s easy to say my favorite moment
was winning rider of the year but that’s just like
something that’s kind of a title. Man... I’ve had
so many of them. It was cool cause like in the last
few years I’ve got to see the younger generations
progress. Like I got to see Dowdy’s double roll
to blind in which he won trick of the year and I
filmed it. There’s just all these cool little moments.
It’s just fun to be a part of. I was like
a part of the growth of the sport in my generation
and it’s just cool to see those younger kids pushing
it. So I had a lot of special moments this year
that pushed me.
What do you see for the future of
wake
AARON: The kids obviously. More park events. I
think there is a real cool movement going on in
Europe right now. Boat riding is not dead, it’s
just expensive. I think the future would be getting
better in the park and better board control
and then when you get the opportunity take it to
the wake. Spend more time and not as much money
at the park and when the time comes you’re better
behind the boat.
What’s your favorite place on earth
AARON: It’s just home. I just want to go home.
Vancouver island is so amazing. I didn’t really
appreciate it growing up, like you know how it is
but now I miss it so much.
Single Married or Other
AARON: Uh... Other I guess Definitely other.
Something you want people to know
about you and your career
AARON: I don’t know... It’s been crazy, been a
really weird roller coaster. It’s been fun for
a long time and I’ve met a lot of great people.
Hopefully it will go on for a lot longer and I
want to move on to something else.
What do you think is next for
AARON RATHY
AARON: I like really enjoy what I’m doing right
now and I realize that barely anyone retires off
of action sports so I’m not really blinded by
that. I’m not really sure yet I’m still thinking
about it. But I’ve been thinking about it a lot
for a long time. Definitely do something I enjoy
over something for money.