Brooke Grassman – Inspiration from across the pond

The WWA Rockstar World Championships wrapped up recently in Indianapolis with Nicola Butler taking the World title for the third time. Nicola has been working tirelessly in the world of women’s wakeboarding for nearly ten years now and has more than earned her stripes and global respect. However, she wasn’t the only rider leaving the contest with an inspiring story. Our attention was drawn to the winner of the amateur Women’s division, Brooke Grassman… a world Champion after only 2 years riding and only her first season competing! For those of you out there with aspirations of being a champion, Brooke is proof that with hard work and dedication, it could happen to anyone. We particularly like this little quote from her facebook page.

“Tell me that I can’t do it. Tell me that I shouldn’t even try. Tell me it’s impossible. Tell me the risk is too high, the challenge too much, or the feat too tough. Tell me that I won’t do it… I WILL !!!”

Here’s what the official report from the event had to say about this emerging star…

The high-flying, water-sports action of the 18th annual Rockstar Energy Drink WWA Wakeboard World Championships, presented by Supra took place in northern Indianapolis, as 13 of its 23 skill-level divisions hit the waters of The Precedent for their final round of action. Among the 13 division winners crowned was 19-year-old Florida native Brooke Grassman, who capped off an impressive rookie season with a world title. Grassman, who only started wakeboarding two years ago in her hometown of Lake Placid, Fla., has taken the 19 - 29 year old Amateur Women’s division by storm in her first year of competition.

“I got into wakeboarding two years ago with a neighbour and we just started to teach ourselves to flip,” said Grassman. “After I started working with my coach, Derek Grasman [no relation], I felt ready to compete this year.” The Florida teen kicked off her amateur wakeboarding career back in April with a win at the Wake Games in Orlando, Fla. “I didn’t know how I would do against the other girls at Wake Games,” said Grassman. “After I won, I wanted to keep going.”

Grassman then entered the 2011 WWA Wakeboard National Championships last month in Minneapolis, Minn. and won that contest, too. Winning the national title earned Grassman an invitation to the WWA Worlds in Indianapolis, where today she capped off her inaugural competition season with a world title.

“I was really nervous today, but once I got on the water, I pretended I was in my own backyard and laid down my run,” said the newly crowned Amateur Women’s division world champion. Grassman had a standup run during today’s finals, which included a Scarecrow, Tantrum, Front Roll and Back Roll to earn her the winning score of 68.33 in her four-woman heat. Now that her competition season is over for the year, Grassman will fly home to begin the Fort Myers Fire Academy on Monday, Aug. 22. “I want to compete again next year in either the Amateur Women or possibly the Pro Women’s division. We’ll have to wait see,” said Grassman.

Check out Nicola Butler’s winning run on our FB page, inspiration for Brooke now!

Sunday 28 August 2011 | Permalink