36-Year-old northern Californian Dan Sauvageau has been participating in behind the boat sports for more than a decade, but a bum knee and a little bit of fate allowed him to find his passion for not just riding and competing on a wakesurf board, but for teaching others the joys of wakesurfing and helping to build the sport that he loves.
 
WW: I think a good start is to find out how you got into wakesurfing. Can you recall how it all started?
DS: Of course! I had been wakeboarding fairly consistently since about 2004 behind my first boat, a 19.5' Reinel inboard/outboard on Camp Far West Lake and also with my aunt and cousins behind their Centurion direct drive on Lake Sonoma. One day while we were out waking, our other friend met us on the water in his Ski Nautique closed bow. He came up close while we were underway and I immediately noticed the large (for the time) spine wave that was produced by the converging wakes of both boats. We had a kneeboard handy, so I grabbed it and jumped in. The next time we were all out, the same guy with the Nautique brought his surf board and we were able to get up and ride it. So I learned to wakesurf on an ocean board on the wave created by two direct drive ski boats.
 
In 2006, I moved to D.C. for work and didn’t get much riding in until I came back to California in 2009. Then my new wife and I bought our first wake boat, a 2007 Supreme V212, and she bought me my first wake surfboard, a Hyperlite Broadcast, for my birthday that year. I didn't wakesurf much until 2013 when I purchased a Malibu 23 LSV and sacked it out for surfing. That was about the same time my knee exploded doing stupid wakeboarding tricks on Bullard's Bar. When I finally healed from that injury, my knee was too unstable to wakeboard, so I focused on surfing.
 
WW: What is your biggest accomplishment in wakesurfing and your personal life?
DS: I'd have to say that my biggest accomplishment, or at least the biggest highlight, for me in wakesurfing so far was standing atop the podium at last year's West Cost Wakesurf Open surrounded by my beaming wife and kids and the rest of my wakesurf family. That was a very proud day for me.
 
WW: Do you wakesurf during the winter months?
DS: Of course I do, as much as I can. The hardest thing about wakesurfing in the winter is finding a crew that is not bothered by the cold. I usually try to go by the 100 degree rule: If the water temp plus air temp equal 100 degrees or more, it's on.
 
We actually recently had our annual W.E.S.T. New Year Sesh out at The Watersports Farm. I believe the air and water temps were low 40's. The boat house was heated and we had a giant bonfire going all day to quickly warm us up after getting out of the water and BBQ, coffee, cocoa, etc.
 
WW: What would be your ultimate achievement as a wakesurfer?
DS: To see my son or daughter ranked among the best in the world.
 
WW: Can you tell us about W.E.S.T. and what it is?
DS: W.E.S.T. is the acronym for Wake Exposure Sacramento Territory. My good friend and avid wakeboarder, Rob Goldstein (Wake Director), set up W.E.S.T. as a wakeboarding oriented Facebook group where local riders could post meet-ups, ask for and offer help, inform others of local deals and find-a-third/be-a-third. We have grown into a thriving community of wakesports enthusiasts, many of whom, like me, are passionate about spreading our love for wakesports, wake boats and the water.
 
When I joined W.E.S.T. back in April of 2013 there were about 60 of us. Now we are 520 strong and growing almost daily with members across the country. We have wakeboarders, wakesurfers, waterskiers, jetskiers, cable riders, stand up paddlers, pros in all disciplines, boat company CEO's, military members and horse shoers. We have members from all walks of life with fantastic diversity all coming together to share and spread the stoke. We team up with local dealers and national vendors to promote our wake lifestyle and hold amazing events like our New Year's Wake & Surf sesh as I mentioned earlier, Ground Hog Surf Sesh, Hyperlite Demo Days, Wet Wednesdays, Night Surf Sesh and Surf Exposure Weekend.
 
We have three primary points of contact for the group; Rob Goldstein manages all things wakeboarding, Brett Burrows handles cable, I manage the wakesurf activity and Shon Ribera (CreatingRockstars.com) focuses on marketing and pro videography. Anyone with a liking of wakesports can be a member and there are no fees for membership. It helps if you're on Facebook because that's where we post our information for events, meet-ups, gear deals and everything else.
 
WW: Do you sets goals for yourself in regards to learning new tricks?
DS: I'm always trying new tricks. My best days are when it's just me, my wife and two kids out riding. That’s when I'll set goals like, "I'll try this trick five times in a row, then stop until later." Maybe not so much a goal as a plan or training regimen. If I set goals, I'll just keep going until the wife and kids get bored and want to go home. We don’t want that. My wife is my greatest cheerleader and motivator. When I'm back there on the wave and I see her face looking at me through the mirror, I get motivated to push harder. I love hearing her and my kids cheering for me when I land something big.
 
WW: Where do you see wakesurfing in 10 years?
DS: With the abundance of support coming from our industry leaders and manufacturers, the sky is the limit. We should all know better by now than to believe that waves are as good as they're going to be or that all the "big" tricks have been done. With young shredders like Hunter Clement, Parker Payne, the Sos girls, and so many others coming up surrounded by such positive influences, I'm glad I won't be competing against them. I wouldn't stand a chance! The future looks bright and I'm very excited to be a part of it and be bringing my kids up in it.
 
 WW: With all the boat manufacturers creating some amazing boats, do you find it hard to pick a favorite?
DS: I do. They're all my favorite. Some boats are known for their strong, out of the box, surf waves and the manufacturers do a good job marketing to that effect. On the other hand, some boats that haven't been given an emphasis on their surf-ability by the market actually surf very well when time is taken to properly set them up. Think about the pre-surf system boats. I had a 2012 Malibu LSV 23 that I picked up new from Larson Marine mainly to wakeboard behind because that’s what Malibu LSV 23's were known for, whose surf wave would rival most any other new boat on the market today. It took time to figure out the ideal set-up, but when it was dialed, her wave was mackin'! The technology, comfort and craftsmanship going into boats these days is incredible; touch screens, heated seats, articulating tracking fins, non-planing hulls. What will they think of next?
 
WW: If you were a company looking to sponsor a rider, what would you look for in the individual?
DS: My company would be looking for someone real. Someone who is passionate about their sport and truly appreciates the brand they are representing and opportunity to do so. Too often do we overhear sponsored riders badmouthing an aspect of their company or gear or claiming this to be a "throw-away year" because they believe their current gear is flawed. It is supremely important to speak only positively of those who are entrusting you with representing and ultimately proliferating their brand. Nothing is perfect for everyone. As my Mom always said, "You can please some of the people all the time and all the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time."
 
WW: Do you have any tips for those that are looking to try wakesurfing?
DS: Do it! Don't hesitate! Wakesurfers are very open and anxious to introduce new people to the sport. Get plugged into an organization like WestRiders.org where we are always looking for a third, offering friendly advice and have tons of gear to "try-before-you-buy." Don't go out and spend a bunch of money on a new board that your buddy told you about without trying several, and from different shapers/manufacturers. Chances are pretty good you'll only "sorta like it" and won't be driven to get better. It’s magical when a rider finds his or her perfect board. Truly. We have at least one event per month from January through October. All event dates and information are posted on our Facebook page, which is accessible through the website. The way I see it, the more people we get hooked on wakesurfing, the more opportunities we'll have to ride!
 
WW: Wakesurfing has obviously gained a lot of popularity over the years. Where do you think the breakthrough was for the sport becoming really popular amongst the wake community?
DS: I think it started with the popularity of wakeboarding and boat manufacturers seeking hull designs that produced thicker wakes. That’s when engines were moved to the back giving us v-drives that were easy to weight and make waves. Also, and in my case, it probably has to do with wakeboarders being tired of getting beat up behind the boat at 23mph. Then with industry leaders like Centurion and Tige designing boats with surfing as the primary objective boats are now "surf-ready" out of the box eliminating the need to fill thousands of pounds of ballast bags on the seats. New boats make wakesurfing so easy. With the push of a button or the swipe of a touch-screen the boat does everything. You just jump in with your board and say, "Yes please!"
 
WW: What was the best advice you were ever given?
DS: I remember my dad telling me one time just before heading off for the Army, "volunteer for everything." And it's funny because I also distinctly remember a drill sergeant at processing tell me, "Don't volunteer for anything." I listened to my dad and still live by his advice as often as possible. Through volunteering I got to see the most amazing parts of the world, met countless interesting people, was taught skills that pushed me faster up the pay scales than my peers and had many unforgettable adventures. Volunteer for everything.
 
WW: Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?
DS: I actually have a few...
 
1. "Why bitch about the weather." You can't change the weather. One of my favorites and where I attribute my relative calm. Don't bitch about things you can't change.
 
2. "Everything you do is a decision you make." I remind myself of this when I'm about to do something I shouldn't and to take full responsibility of the outcome.
 
3: "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." I saw this on a mouse pad several years ago and it stayed with me. Go for it. Who cares if you fail. At least you know you tried.
 
WW: Where do you draw your inspiration from day to day?
DS: I'm happy to be alive. Not that I've had a near-death experience that shook me up or anything, but I've become addicted to a sport that is made phenomenal by the people practicing it. It makes me happy to share it as much as I can with as many as I can.
 
WW: What do you like to do when you are not wakesurfing?
DS: I like building stuff. Some of my favorite things to do when I'm not wakesurfing is hanging out in the garage with my kids building stuff. We were out there the other night and my son, on his own, took a piece of plywood I had leaning against a wall and drew the outline of a surfboard on it. Then we had the idea to cut it out and decorate it. Now it's hanging in his room as our favorite decoration. We've recently gotten into skateboards together; my son, daughter, and I. I have a long board, he has two "regular" skateboards that we've been tweaking together and she proudly rides her Disney Princesses scooter.
 
WW: Anything else you’d like to share?
DS: I cannot stress the importance of getting involved with a core organization like Wake9.com, who truly introduced me to the wakesurf community, or one like W.E.S.T. Though rapidly growing, our industry is relatively new and organizations like these strive daily to provide a forum of positive influence and growth. My involvement with the wakesurf community and W.E.S.T.'s ability to operate would not be possible without the tremendous and generous support from our local dealers like Superior Boat Repair and Sales, California Marine Sports, NorCal MasterCraft, Hillside Honda Marine and Mello Marine who all and together continue to donate the world's most amazing wake boats to our events giving everyone the opportunity to ride and share their experiences. And Hyperlite Wake Mfg. who keep our quivers full of the latest wakeboards and gear for everyone to try.