Eric Sund
Date of Birth: May 11, 1980
-foreword by Greg Young-
Eric Sund has the deepest voice of anyone I’ve ever met. If I hooked my voicebox to a 15” sub, I would still sound like an adolescent girl compared to him. But a deep, masculine set of pipes isn’t the only thing he has going for him...he’s also a great rider and a helluva guy.
I met Eric sometime in 2001 or 2002, when a handful of us started the wakeboard club up at Western Washington University. We rode together a bit in Bellingham,WA and in the spring of 2003 we both flew down with the team to Panama City Beach, Florida to compete in the Collegiate National Championships. Our team took 3rd that year, and our prize was the unlimited use of a new Malibu boat for a year. The day after the contest ended, we all hitched a ride on Charley Patterson’s tour bus and cruised in style across the state of Florida. Everyone else on the team was a seasoned veteran in professional wakeboarding compared to Eric and I who I think were both pretty awestruck at the fact that we’d just won a boat and were cruising down the road in a custom tour bus. That day still stands out as one of the highlights of my wakeboarding ‘career’ and I remember talking with Eric about it later, I know it was for him too.
Since our college days, when Eric was my boss at a boardshop in Bellingham, he’s since moved down to manage Koppert Lake in the tiny town of Winlock, WA. Eric has been an integral part of turning that lake into a legit destination to ride and hit rails. He’s had a hand in designing some of the rails, and he’s also become an immensely talented rail rider. It’s also been fun to watch as Eric’s met his wife, bought a house, and started a family with the addition of a daughter. Every time I talk to him and ask him how he’s doing, he immediately starts talking about his wife and daughter. He’s a good friend, talented rider, family man, gentleman, and scholar.
Q & A
Favorite Color:
Brackish
Favorite Animal:
Emu
Favorite Travel Destination:
The Chehalis Wal-Mart
I’ve been Wakeboarding Since I Was:
Wearing hammer pants
Favorite Part of Wakeboarding:
Strapping on the board and visualizing all the awesome tricks I am going to stomp during my ride.
Least Favorite Part of Wakeboarding:
Failing miserably to do what I visualize!
Favorite Subject In School:
History
Least Favorite Subject in School:
Accounting
Other Hobbies:
Snowboarding, Surfing, Photography
Worst Injury You’ve Ever Had:
Broken Ribs
My Perfect Day Would Look Like:
Getting to the mountain early on a bluebird day with 10+ inches of new snow. Riding till my legs burn so bad I can barely stand up, coming home and playing with my daughter all evening then rocking her to sleep, then relaxing with my wife on the couch with a good micro before crashing out.
Top 5 Favorite Movies:
The original Batman, Point Break, The Departed, The Hangover, Breakin’
Most Played Bands on My iPOD:
Pearl Jam, The Roots
Best Job You’ve Ever Had:
Teaching wakeboarding
Worst Job You’ve Ever Had:
Delivering newspapers
10 Words That Best Describe You:
Father, Husband, Northwest Rider, Hard-working, Fun-loving, Hairy, Sheppard
I’d Like To Thank:
My Wife, Daughter, Mom, Dad, Active Water Sports, Northwest Riders, Mother Earth
