Shota Tezuka might just be the greatest wakeboarder to ever come out of Japan. His explosive style and fun-loving personality has been turning heads since his first debut in the Junior Men division. Since turning pro, Shota has acquired some pretty solid sponsorships - Red Bull, MasterCraft and Ronix, just to name a few. Now with a killer video part in Prime under his belt, the young gun seems pretty unstoppable. We caught up with him to see what he gets up to in the Japanese winters.
 
WW: Where are you from and how did you first get into wakeboarding?
ST: My dad started wakeboarding with his friends in the ocean behind a Jet Ski, so I tried it there.
 
WW: How did you learn English?
ST: I learned English from all my friends in America.
 
WW: Is it true that you were the face for a 'learn English' commercial in Japan?
ST: Yes. It’s call "Speed Learning" and it is a CD for speaking English.
 
WW: When I think of Japan I think of snowboarding. How popular is wakeboarding there?
ST: It's getting pretty famous in Japan, sometimes on TV and commercials!
 
WW: Where do you ride in Japan?
ST: I ride at the bottom of Mt. Fuji, a lake called Yamanaka, or I go to Tokyo.
 
WW: Is there a big scene there and good crew to ride with or is it just a few?
 ST: Only a few people can do crazy trick. But a lot of people has good style so it is fun to ride with my friends. :)
 
WW: What age did you get your first sponsorship and who was it?
ST: Blala wetsuits was my first sponsor when I was eight years old.
 
WW: Who are your sponsors now?
ST: Red Bull, Oakley, MasterCraft, Ronix, Blala, Cellpur and Evo.
 
WW: What made you first decide to move to Orlando for the summer?
ST: All the best wakeboarder lives in Orlando and it’s the best place to ride.
 
WW: What was your daily routine like?
ST: Wake up, breakfast, wakeboarding, maybe go to cable or playing X-Box, wakeboarding, dinner, sleep.
 
WW: You and Harley are both sponsored by MasterCraft. When you lived with him, did you share a boat or do you both get your own?
ST: We both get own boat. But we also sharing use of the boat.
 
WW: Do you ever want to buy your own house in America and live here full time?
ST: I’m not thinking about live in the U.S. full time, but I wanna buy the house soon for sure!
 
WW: What do you do when you go back to Japan for the winters?
ST: Little wakeboarding and lots of winter training.
 
WW: How do you like riding for Ronix and getting to train out at Lake Ronix?
ST: Ronix boards is the best in the world, especially loves "POP" and Lake Ronix is the best place to hit some rails, for sure!!
 
WW: Do you have a pro model in the works with them?
ST: I'm working on it now!! Can't wait to get it and show everyone.
 
WW: Are there any cables in Japan?
ST: There is only one place.
 
WW: What are your plans for the off-season this year?
ST: Training hard and ready for the new season!
 
WW: What is it like being a part of the Red Bull family, one of the most prestigious sponsors in action sports?
ST: So happy to be in the Red Bull family!! Red Bull help a lot for doing something new all times!! Can't wait to do something crazy things with them!!
 
WW: Where is your favorite place you have traveled to so far?
ST: Cancun for sure!
 
WW: What do you think about MasterCraft not having a Pro Tour anymore?
ST: MC Pro Tour was the best contest, so pretty sad that they doesn't do anymore, but I'm pretty sure they will do another best contest!! So I'm excited about that!
 
WW: What new tricks are on your list for 2015?
ST: Something special….
 
WW: Well, hope you have a great season! Who would you like to thank?
ST: Thank you to my sponsors and to everyone read my interview!! Hope I have a better season this year and show some special things to everyone this year! :)