Ponoka's Bailey Rush soared to double gold earlier this month as the first female wakesurfer ever to win world titles in both surf and skim pro divisions two years in a row.
"As an athlete, it's always a goal to defend your title. So it was definitely a really great feeling to be able to do that," she said, adding she also credits her family's constant support over the years as a big contributor to her success.
"Every time something like this happens, it's an overwhelming feeling."
Canadians won five medals at the Competitive Wake Surf Association World Championships (CWSA) in Geneva – three gold, two silver and two athletes in fourth place.
Rush, who also teaches wakesurfing, was thrilled to venture overseas with several of her students, and have the chance to see them not only compete, but in many cases win big-time.
"I'm very proud of them, and how much work they have put into it this season," she said.
"It also really makes me smile to call myself a world champion coach, because Amy Gillespie - one of my students - took home the title of World Champion Amateur Female Skim."
Gillespie, from Glennifer Lake, was joined by other local victors including Morgan Bateman (Gull Lake) who took second place in Outlaw Female Skim; Andrey Gangloff (Sylvan Lake) who landed fourth in Amateur Male Skim, Alek Dutton (Gull Lake) who took fourth in Amateur Male Surf, and Kerry Williams (Lake Koocanusa, B.C.) who won second place in Outlaw Male Skim.
"It was such a good experience, because it was the first time we have had this many Canadians at the worlds in a long time," she said, adding several of her students are jetting off to Hong Kong with her as well.
Meanwhile, Rush dominated the championship scoring 99.5 (out of 100) in 'Surf-style' and 99 in 'Skim-style' to establish herself among the very best overall athletes in one of the world’s fastest growing sports, noted a release.
Meantime, Rush, who teaches in Rimbey, doesn't have much time to take it easy.
She's headed off to Hong Kong shortly for the IWWF World Wakesurf Championships which run Nov. 2-10.
"It's a qualifier for the 2025 World Games, which is really exciting because this is the first time wakesurf has been added to the world games," she explained.
"And so it's a pretty historic opportunity that I am really excited about."
Adding to these amazing times for Rush is the fact she designed her own pro model surf style board with Phase Five.
"It's called the Rush! I was very proud to defend my surf title at the worlds with my board this year. It's been released now, and I can't wait for other wakesurfers to try it."
These days, Rush is doing her best to stay in tip-top condition as the Hong Kong date draws closer. With the Canadian climate, the family's boat was taken out of the water a few weeks ago due to the cooling temperatures, so she can't practice in a conventional sense.
But she has the focus to carry her through.
"I'm visualizing my surf and skim runs and exercising. It's about staying present, while also looking forward to what's to come," she said.
She doesn't stress about the upcoming events.
"There is no point in being anxious about it. It's just levelling with yourself, and telling yourself that if you want it, go get it. You try your best, and you realize your support system around you is really amazing. I'm thankful - always - for my parents being there, too."
The Hong Kong event will take place in the city's Tai Po Waterfront Park.
“Hong Kong is the ideal host for our very first IWWF World Wakesurf Championships, with this sport's discipline being so popular there with good support from the industry and commercial sponsors, not to mention the rest of Asia and other parts of the world," said Jose Antonio Perez Priego, IWWF president..
"The athletes will enjoy the experience of competing in this inaugural event wearing their respective country’s colours and also visiting Hong Kong."
