Max Saia is an up-and-coming young rider in the Orlando scene training with people like Glen Fletcher and Daniel Johnson (who also happens to be in the video below). Max has been spending some time behind the boat with pro riders like Fynn Bullock and Trent Stuckey. Max is one of those kids that basically lives on the water and it shows. He's competing in the Junior Pro division for the first time this year and he's going to be climbing the ranks straight to the pros in the years to come.
 
Daniel Johnson is Max's coach and he's also a local in Orlando. He coaches at O-Town Watersports and you can tell by watching this edit that he knows what he's talking about when it comes to riding.
 
In this feature, we tag along with these two riders on a trip around Florida. We start with some boat riding and then check out the new Raven's Cove Cable Park, formerly known as McCormicks Ski. We finish off the day at Orlando Watersports Complex.
 
Check out the edit and this mini-interview of Max and Daniel!
 
WW: Age?
MS: 13
DJ: 19
 
WW: Years riding?
MS: Three years riding boat and four years riding cable.
DJ: Been riding for 17 years.
 
WW: How did you first get into wakeboarding?
MS: Got into wakeboarding at summer camp at Nona Adventure Park. Then my friend took me on the boat and I was hooked.
DJ: My family was out on the water all the time when I was growing up and I first got up when I was two after I said I wanted to wakeboard like my dad.
 
WW: Favorite grab to see?
MS: Fave grab to see is a snowboard style method.
DJ: Crail
 
WW: Favorite grab to do?
MS: Fave grab to do is either method or Japan.
DJ: Good ol' sw method.
 
WW: Do you prefer spins or flips?
MS: Prefer spins, but love to flip too.
DJ: Flip for show and spin for dough.
 
WW: Cable or boat?
MS: I prefer both cable and boat…I’m a wakeboarder.
DJ: No answer I love both.
 
WW: Favorite lake to ride on?
MS: Fave lake to ride on is my home lake, Lake Conway.
DJ: Minnehaha with the squad.
 
WW: Favorite crew to ride with?
MS: Fave crew is my Royalty Crew.
DJ: Our Royalty crew.
 
WW: What gear do you ride?
MS: Ronix One and Utopia and Ronix RXT/One boots, JetPilot Baller vest.
DJ: Boat setup: Liquid Force 139 Unity Aero with 6x Aero bindings. Cable setup: Liquid Force 152 Butterstick with Peaks.
 
WW: What speed and rope length?
MS: 22.4 mph at 75’.
DJ: I switch up between 75 at 22.4 and 77.5 at 22.5. Right now been riding more 75.
 
WW: What division do you compete in?
MS: I am in the Junior Pro division on boat and cable.
DJ: This is my pro debut year.
 
WW: How do you stay focused and train for the season?
MS: I stay focused in my training by surrounding myself with the best riders in the game that push me and encourage me to grow and get better every time.
DJ: Nothing gets me motivated like riding with friends, pushing each other and going out for a set. Just trying new stuff brings a different vibe.
 
WW: Where do you see yourself in five years?
MS: I’ll be a pro wakeboarder within five years.
DJ: Within five years, I’ll have a pro model and some titles to go along with it, but still want to be coaching and bringing the next up with me.
 
WW: Favorite music to ride and jam to?
MS: I jam out to all music, but 90’s and early 2000’s hip hop is my fave.
DJ: Survival Tactics - Joey Bada$$
 
WW: Favorite post shred meal?
MS: Fave post shred meal is a double bacon cheeseburger.
DJ: Açaí bowl for sure.
 
WW: Ice bath yes or no?
MS: Yes to ice baths.
DJ: Ice bath and cryotherapy all day long.
 
WW: Who do you think is the goat of our sport and why?
MS: Goat of our sport has got to be Danny Harf.
DJ: Can’t really have a Goat convo without someone bringing up Harley.
 
WW: Who do you think is up and coming now that we should keep an eye on in the coming years?
MS: I’m up and coming! But there’s some shredders out there. Shion, Nano, Daniel, Stefano, so many good riders with good style.
DJ: Max Saia, obviously, but Camden Marsden has also been putting down recently.
 
WW: Sponsors?
MS: Ronix, Nautique of Orlando, JetPilot USA, Wake United.
DJ: Liquid Force, Zeal Optics, Billabong, Mom and Dad.
 
WW: Special thanks to anyone?
MS: Special thanks to my parents and my family and friends for making it all possible and pushing me to be my best.
DJ: A lot of people deserve to be here, but gotta say thank you to the Lewis family for everything they’ve done for me over the past few years.