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Watch as Matti Buys and Jean-marc Johannes test their Wakeskating and Skateboarding skills against each other in this first ever and original version of Game of S.K.A.T.E. We also interview the athletes about the unique experience.
The basics of Game of S.K.A.T.E: The winner of each round sets the trick for the next round until they bail, then the initiative swaps over. Each time a skater loses a round he accumulates a letter of the word “SKATE”. The first to collect all the letters looses the game. Who will win?
How did the idea of the Game of S.K.A.T.E with a twist come about and what were your thoughts when you first heard about it becoming a reality?
Matti: Well basically Chris Rogers and I were kinda just chatting about a few different ideas that he was amped on when he brought up the idea for a game of skate with Jean-marc. After that I dropped Phiko and Ryan from Red Bull an email with the idea and they loved it so we got the ball rolling.
Jean-marc: Matti first came to me with this Idea, it’s sounded sick but I always thought wakes were strapped in, I asked him about it and he sent me his video. I was all game after that.
Explain the setup and vibe during the filming of this project?
Matti: The set up was done with a Solid Air Cable system, a South African produced 2 tower cable, for me to ride on. Then built in next to the water Jean-marc had a 10 meter platform to do all his flat tricks on. The vibe was amazing, it’s so good to work with a film and photo crew that understand absolutely everything and how each sport works. JM was also super fun to work with and I learnt a lot from him during the project. It was a fun one for sure.
Jean-marc: Honestly, the best thing about this was that I don’t think we knew what to expect until we got going, and realized the potential of it. For me and Matti it was normal for us to skate and wake for a full day. It felt like we were at a normal session.
Matti: Haha, it was kinda weird because the tricks are the same but yet certain ones are tougher/ easier in each discipline. Like JM would ask me if I could do a trick that is relatively easy for him but pretty tough on the water and I would basically be left trying something completely new.
Jean-marc: it was tricky, I really didn’t know if there was any limit to tricks on wake. So I wasn’t sure where I stood going into the game, but as it played out it was crazy to see the similarities between the skateboarding and wakeskating.
What were some of the harder tricks for you to copy and land in the game?
Matti: Double flip was definitely a tough one, I’ve only ever tried it a handful of times so it was weird doing that. Falling on a Front Shuv was pretty school boy on my part [laughs].
Jean-marc: 360 Pop Shuvits. I have always not been able to do this trick and I didn’t know Matti had them on lock. That’s a letter for me.
If the roles were reversed how do you think you would have fared?
Matti: [Laughs] It’s tough to say. I mean I was a skater before I wakeskated so it would be unfair on Jean-marc to expect him to go out and learn everything on a wakeskate straight away.
Jean-marc: I would have lost, for sure. Matti has some mean tricks on a skateboard, whereas I can’t stand up for more than two meters on a wakeskate.
Matti: JM is probably one of the most technical skateboarders I know, the tricks he does are pretty hard to comprehend at times. Apart from that in the game he was super solid and consistent. I enjoyed watching him skate.
Jean-marc: He is really good. It shows greatly in his wakeskating as well. Since there is no limit to tricks on a skateboard, that kind of knowledge is applied to wakeskating takes it to the next level for sure.
What are your 5 main similarities between Wakeskating and Skateboarding?
Matti: Grip tape, Shoes, Flip and Shuv tricks, Board Slides and Noseslides, enjoyed best with a solid crew of buddies to ride with.
Jean-marc: The Tricks, style, control, stance and difficulty.
What other sports would you like to see competing against each other in a similar format?
Matti: Man there are a lot of possibilities and hopefully this opens the door. I don’t think there are to many as similar as wakeskating and skateboarding but I bet there will be a couple coming out after this.
Jean-marc: I immediately thought of BMX and Motocross.
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