Interview of San Im

Do you know San Im?

Have you seen how he rides? You can easily meet him in Thai Wake Park.

San Im in Philippines IWWF Worlds

First I want to make clear to everybody; San is first name and Im is surname.

So many people are mixing these.))

Originally San is from South Korea.

I have met San in Thai Wake Park many times, but also in IWWF Worlds in Philippines.

San is 15 years old, but riding like men and acting everywhere like real adult gentleman. It’s great to meet this kind young man, who has child-cared so well. Parents have done good work and should be proud.

I got small interview from San, when we met last time in TWP January 2013. Here it is:

Where and when did you start to ride by wakeboard?

I started 5 years ago in South Korea riding by boat. Now the last 2½ years in cable mostly in TWP.

What do your parents are thinking about your wakeboarding?

They support and are happy when I can do what I like.

San thinking nose press on the starting dock...

You are still studying?

Yes 2^nd year in high school in Bangkok.

What would be your favorite job?

Prowakeboarder

Who was your idol in wakeboarding in the beginning?

Lior Sofer

...then making the nose press!!

San has lived in South Korea and Thailand, would you like to travel more for wakeboarding and especially to where?

Sure I would like to travel and especially to Australia. Favorite place for riding is Republic in Philippines.

Have you ever ridden in cold water with wet-suit?

Yes in South Korea, it was February a few years ago and by boat.

With whom you like to ride the most?

 Aaron Gunn from Australia

What is your favorite trick?

S-Mob 5 with nose-grab

S-Mob 5  in IWWF Worlds

What is your opinion, which are your hardest tricks at the moment, what you have landed?

From kicker: TS FR 1260

Air-trick: Inside (switch) railey back side 315

Sliders: Transfers 450 degrees

What kinds of tricks you are working with at the moment?

Different Mob 7’s and I want to develop on sliders.

Do you have some tricks what you were working, training and repeating long and many times before success?

Yes just railey was for me difficult and long process. At the moment it is Moby Dick 5.))

(Can you believe that to make railey was difficult and long process to San?? So everybody who are still working with railey, don't give up it will work someday and lot of other tricks too)

When you are training new trick and you have some bad crashes, do you try immediately again?

If it’s bad crash I leave it for a moment and try it only later.

Do you have any other methods, how do you train new tricks etc…?

I’m training sometimes in trampoline and swimming. (San Im has not trainer.)

Do you like contest and what is your opinion about Olympic Games?

I like to compete and Olympic Games are good thing; the future of wakeboarding. I want it to Olympics.

Why did you decided to participate open men (pro) category in IWWF Worlds in Philippines? By the way San Im was 3^rd!!

I’m not thinking winning in contests, I just want to ride with the bests and learn from them.

What direction cable wakeboarding is going, what is your opinion with flat, kickers and obstacles?

There will stay air-tricks, kickers and sliders in good combination.

What about boars etc… what kind of developing you think there will be?

Nowadays there are flex boards and hard boards; I believe those will go more together.

I mean flex boards will be harder and stiffer.

Also about fins if you have good canals on the base you don’t need them, but if base of the board is totally flat you probably need them.

What about fashion in wakeboarding do you see some trends or what will be with shorts, vests etc…?

Everything must be just something what supports your riding. There are different kinds of bodies etc… and everybody needs different kinds of vests, helmets and shorts. You should decide yourself what supports your riding and feels good.

Sponsors of San Im are still open and we wanted to skip that question!

There are maybe many girls who would like to know, what kind of girls you like?

So do you like Asian or European girls?

I think maybe European….))

Is it necessary that your future girlfriend should wakeboard also?

I think she should, because I’m training a lot and I wouldn't have time to be with her, if she wouldn't wakeboard.

Thank you San for interview!

Did you see that sponsor question is still open; I believe in future there will be big fight, which team and brands will get him?

Interesting to follow up what will happen, but for sure San will be one of the big names in cable-wakeboarding.