Sam Light
BIOGRAPHY:
Name: Sam Light
DOB: 13/05/90
Hometown: Hayling Island
Country: England
Sponsors: NaishInternational, O'Neill
Website: www.samlight.co.uk
2009/10 RESULTS:
British Champion, 2ndTriple S Slicks, 1st White air slider, 1st Marseille Freestyle Cup, 13th PKRAThailand
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: I havealways wanted to be British Champ. The highlights are just living the lifestyleI get to live.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS:
http://vimeo.com/10587178
http://vimeo.com/8945262
INTERVIEW:
Q:
What has been the biggest highlight of the past 12 months for you?
A:
That's a good question. I have had some amazing trips and experiences so it's
really hard to pick just one highlight. Getting an invite and then coming 2nd
in the freestyle at the Triple S was pretty big for me - it's one of the
biggest events of the year if not the biggest and I was happy just to be there.
I didn't expect 2nd!
Q:
What's the best thing about riding for a living?
A:
You get to do what you love doing and get paid for it! What more could anyone
want, it's the perfect lifestyle. I get to travel, meet new people and push my
riding to new levels. I love coming home and getting a reality check. All my
friends are always complaining about having to work or trying to go away but
not having the time or the money. It's then I realize how lucky I am.
Q:
Who do you enjoy riding with the most, and why?
A:
There are a lot of good English kiters that are good friends, and when we ride
together we push each other so much. I was in Australia with some really good mates
over the winter, there was such a good vibe on the water so the standard of
riding went through the roof. Its always good to ride with the locals at my
home beach because they taught me to kite so I have a lot of good memories from
there.
Q:
Other than home, where is your favorite place to ride, and why?
A:
Western Australia, because it has perfect conditions. And then there's Kite
beach in Maui. It's pretty much the birth place of freestyle kiteboarding and
when it's on, it's on! Brazil is also really fun as it just seems too easy to
learn tricks there for some reason.
Q:
What are your main goals and plans for the next 12 months?
A:
To get to some new destinations that people haven't really kited at much that
are really good, like small islands in the Caribbean. I also want to log some
sick photos and video. And then there's the defense of my British title, and my
goal of taking over the world!
Q:
How do you see your sport evolving in the next few years?
A:
Kiteboarding is so young and so versatile, it literally has no restrains unlike
other sports. Personally, I want to push the wakestyle freestyle aspect in
bindings as I think it could be huge and become as big as skateboarding or
snowboarding. I know the racing is going to be big and get into the Olympics,
which will also be great for the sport but maybe not its image. That said, I
think we'll see more and more out-of-industry sponsors getting involved in a
sport with no boundaries. Put simply, I think we're going to see some cool
stuff.
Q:
Have you got any plans to film a new video part, and if yes, with which film
company?
A:
Yeah, I have some things in the pipework as we speak. I'm off to America in 2
weeks to start filming, and then heading straight out to Turks and Caicos
Islands in the Caribbean to finish it off and release it this coming Autumn. As
far as the film company goes, I'm not sure yet. I've got a few options but I
really want to make sure I get the right guy to make it epic!
Q:
What do you do for fun when you are not riding?
A:
I like having a break from kiting every now and again as it is full on at
times. I never want it to become a chore so if I have a bit of time off then I
get really motivated to go out and bust again. I play golf quite a lot, it's
fun but frustrating! I also go wakeboard loads when I'm home as it helps my
kiting tenfold!
Q:
What achievement are you most proud of so far in your career?
A:
Being where I am now. If you asked me a few years ago if I thought I'd be doing
what I'm doing now there's no way I would have believed you. So to get this far
and be able to do some of the things I do is good enough for me! I think I have
'made it'.
Q:
If you didn't ride for a living, what would you have liked to be doing now for
an occupation?
A:
I wish I could tell you! I'd probably be going to university and studying some
random subject. I'm so glad I didn't because I have had some really good
opportunities and met some really cool people.
Q:
What trick do you enjoy the most?
A:
Crow Mobe Nose Grab in warm butter flat water.