30/08/2015
Charlie's wake-ing up!!
Ever wondered what the Tignes Spirit crew get up to in the summer? Workshop Manager Charlie has been busy in the wake park the past few months...
Those of you who have rented or bought ski or snowboard equipment from us at Tignes Spirit will most likely have met the lovely Charlie, mainly known for his charming good looks, tight as you like tame-dogs and terrible taste in music!
Recently, he's been spreading the wakeboard love at his new WMSki school in the Cotswolds...
What have you been up to for the summer?
I've been riding quite a lot this summer, as well as working of course! The kids on our team are getting too good, so we need to try and keep up! We've done some filming with our local snow/wake/skate shop ATB too which was fun. The edit Harry did came out really good.
They've also just built a new trampoline place in Swindon which is so sick! That's the main reason why I can't afford to do anything for the rest of the month!
Tell us about your wakeboard school!
The school's called WMSKI and I've been working here for about four years now. When I first started working here we were a full sized five-tower cable. We had to move lakes two years ago because of housing developments being built around the lake. With the move we had to downsize to a two-tower system (System 2.0) which changed the whole business model really.
Although a lot of our customers weren't the biggest fans of the new system, I think it's been a blessing in disguise. Due to the new location at the Cotswold Country Park and Beach, we've managed to attract a lot of people who would never have seen or heard of wakeboarding. The learning process is much easier for beginners as it's a very gentle start compared to the five-tower system. However, we are in the process of getting our full sized cable up and running again, so eventually we'll have the two systems running side by side.
Sunset flippin'
How did you get into wakeboarding?
I was on holiday up in Abersoch when I was about 11. There used to be a festival called Wakestock there every year and they used to do a big air contest on the beach. I saw these guys doing mad stuff of the kickers going upside down and stuff. I went straight to my mum and asked her if I could try it! I did it a few times a year until I was about 19 when I ecided that I wanted to try and have a career in it somehow.
Do you have any influences to your wakeboarding?
I watch a lot of wake and snow videos for inspiration. I like to watch people like Torstein, Halldor and anything Yawgoons do on snow. Tyler Chorlton was one the the biggest inspirations for me. The first time I saw him do a tame dog off a rail I just had to learn it. I like tame dogs!!
Wake-wise people like Nico von Lerchenfeld, Felix Georgii are my favourites to watch. They're both sick snowboarders as well so I reckon that helps.
Do you think your wakeboard skills have transferred over in to your snowboarding?
I definitely think they've both helped each other. I learnt to ride switch properly on a wakeboard, then next time I went snowboarding I could ride switch!! Hitting rails all day on a wakeboard also helped me not to brick myself when hitting them on a snowboard!
What was your best repair job at Tignes Spirit?
Best repair job was pretty much rebuilding the nose of Jul's (minority) board. Those boys love a good repair job!! Go on my instagram charliemarshall90 to see. Hands of a bloody surgeon!
Which brands represent snow and wake the way you see them?
Charlie flippin out!
In snow, brands Airblaster and Signal are pretty cool. They're not too serious in their approach to things and I think their products look pretty badass as well.
In wake, companys like Unit who make rails are doing really cool stuff for progression in the sport. They make crazy rails that are a dream to have at your park, especially as maintenance is minimal!!
I also like the style of brands like Double Up, Humanoid, Follow. They're more free-ride orientated which I like as it's more about having fun and not getting that next podium. I'm rubbish at contests so I call myself a free-rider!
What was the best thing that happened in your time living in Tignes??!
My best memories of Tignes are the after the busy weekend, on a Sunday night, getting loose with the Tignes Spirit crew, and being part of the Moose Fiends (undefeated champs) at the Moose Noodle competitions. I love the general awesomeness of the whole place!
Charlie will be at the WMSKI all winter, teaching newbies and coaching advanced wakeboarders. Fancy giving it a go? Give him a shout!!
