We wanted to catch up with Lior Sofer and Julia Rick, 2018 Open World Champions to ask them some questions and see how they feel about winning this comp multiple times. See what they have to say:

JULIA RICK
First of all, congratulations on another win, you are completely unstoppable lately and we are stoked to see that you’re pushing women’s level to the sky.

Julia, in a few words can you tell us why you started wakeboarding?
I heard about a cable park close to my home – Wasserski Bleibtreusee in Brühl – and so I decided to try it out and completely fell in love! As most of the people already know I’ve played soccer on a professional level. In the beginning, I couldn’t be on the water so often until I stopped playing soccer. In 2013 I started competing professionally in Wakeboarding.

Could you tell us about how your competition went?
My competition went amazing!! I could land both final runs and defended my World Champion title!!

Did you have a good feeling throughout?
Yes, definitely! Qualification and Semi-Final already went well, I managed to qualify for the final in the first place! In the final, I landed both runs and was happy about my performance!

Anything you wished you’ve done differently?
No

How do you rate this victory vs other victories?
It definitely is an important victory because the IWWF Worlds only takes place every two years. Furthermore, I became IWWF World Champion for the 3rd time (2012 Junior, 2016 & 18 Open Ladies)!

Anything you want to tell to whoever is out there dreaming with being cable wakeboarding world champion?
I think the most important thing is that you really love what you do and to be passionate about it! If you really want something and have fun doing it, you will reach your goals fhttps://www.instagram.com/twincable_beckum/or sure!!

@panasonic_de @lumix_de @ronixwakeboards @mysticwake @mysticboarding @bundeswehr @sporthilfe @ironmaxx_nutrition @thanyapuraphuket @twincable_beckum

LIOR SOFER

Congratulations! With this win, you’ve become 3x World Champion (2014, 2016, 2018) which makes you hold the “record” of maximum wins together with Bernard Hinterberger (who won the first ever 3 World Championships in a  row in 2001, 2003 and 2005).

In a few words can you tell us why you started wakeboarding?
We were a group of 10 youngsters in the lake and the twins Omri and Roy just got back from the USA from a family vacation, and they had brought with them a wakeboard. All of us looked at them and how they were riding and we all wanted to try it. They called it snowboarding on the water! And, back then, I had never snowboard before so I wanted to try it and I got hooked.

Could you tell us about how your competition went? Did you have a good feeling throughout? Anything you wished you’ve done differently
My competition went amazing! From the first rounds to finals … Landing all my tricks and I completed all runs, couldn’t ask more than that! My mission was to give a good show to the crowd, judges and to all who watched the live stream and I’m beyond happy that everything worked out…!!!!

I won’t change a thing because all helped me to go to the final and to ride as I rode …

How do you rate this victory vs other victories?
I would rate this winning as my most important win so far… The big difference is the age so, obviously, all the odds were against me. So I’m happy I could give a good show and to still be able to be in shape to ride in the high levels we find nowadays.

Anything you want to tell to whoever is out there dreaming with being cable wakeboarding world champion?
First thing is to enjoy what you do …keep believing in yourself and it will help you to push yourself till you will reach your goals.

I also want to thank my family, my sponsors (@dupwake @ayelet_federation @waxthatofficial @vivida_lifestyle @4boarder @pod_active @laketlv @TNACablePark @wakefamily) and all my friends that supported me and believed all the way.

Yours

Lior sofer