Sunni
Anne Ball is Canada's top female wakeboarder, and one of the top
boarders in the world. Some of her recent accomplishments include winning Gold at the 2007 Wake Games,
finishing 3rd on the Australian Pro Tour, winning the 06 Open
Women's Canadian Wakeboard title, and taking 2nd at the 2006 Wakestock
Pro Women Expression Session. Read up on what makes Sunni a great
wakeboarder and a vibrant character on the Tour.
SC: Can you give us a little info
about your wakeboarding background?
I started riding in 97 up in Muskoka on Kahshe Lake. It would be me and
my brother riding during the summers. In 98 I started following him to
comps and started competing. One contest led to another. Now I live in
Orlando on Lake Jessamine, but look forward to riding back in Muskoka
this summer.
SC: How would you
describe your riding style? What other sports have influenced you and
your riding?
My riding style: Well, I like going as big as I can. When I am learning
a trick all I really care about is if it looks good or not. Basically I
like grabbing my tricks and taking them as big as possible. I got a lot
of my style from riding with my brother, Austin. There hasn't been
another sport that has influenced my style - unless you can find a
connection between volleyball and wakeboarding - I know I can't.
SC: What is your
favourite trick?
My favourite trick: I have two which I can't decide between. My HS tail
blind 180, landing wrapped, and my batwing which is really more like a
big poked out off axis TS indy. I have the most fun with that cause it
feels different every time.
SC: Every year it
seems there are a few top Pros out with major injuries. How have you
managed to stay healthy over the years?
Well, I actually have a shoulder injury that seems to have stayed with
me since I injured it playing volleyball when I was 16. It dislocates
when it feels like it. It's probably the most frustrating thing ever.
But it has also added to the way I ride and what tricks I have learned.
I make an effort to take care of myself to prevent injuries. I go to
the gym, do pilates, stretch and eat well. One thing I could get better
at is resting and taking some time off. That's not easy for me, but
it's super important....anyways enough about injuries.
SC: Which riders do you enjoy watching & who has influenced you
the most?
At the beginning my brother was my biggest influence. Now down in
Orlando different riders influence me differently. I learn a lot
watching people get back from injuries. Dallas has made an amazing come
back which gets me excited about riding. Josh Sanders, when
I’m down on my riding, will make sure that I know it's ok
just to go out and have fun once in a while instead of pushing myself
too hard. I like watching Jeff Weatherall and Brad Smeele ride (my
house mates at the moment).
SC: Who are your current sponsors & what board/binding setup do
you use?
I ride for O’brien. I ride Daniel Watkins’ board,
the Natural 134, and the girls Zenons. American Granby. My parents
have supported me so much throughout the last 11 years of me doing
this. Straight line. Fox, Dragon and Etnies have kept me clothed and
looking good. Thank you to everyone for the support.
SC: Where is your favourite place to ride?
Right now I'd have to say on Lake Holden with Dallas - as I look out
the window and see my lake blown out. But I love riding in different
new places around the world. I look forward to going back to Australia
this year.
SC: If you could spend a day wakeboarding with anyone
(doesn't have to be a wakeboarder), who would it be?
I want to say someone like Paris Hilton, so I can watch her fall all
over the place, and laugh. I change my mind. I would want to spend a
day with my friend Ants in New Zealand, cause we have way too much fun
together.
SC: What do you like doing when you’re not wakeboarding?
I like to cook, funny huh? Bet you didn't expect to read that. No, but
really, I like to draw. I start to draw something and it almost takes
me into another world. Something unexpected always comes out of my
drawings. I love it.
SC: Where do you see wakeboarding in the next 5 years? Any major
changes, or pretty similar?
Ummm… There's a hard question. I hope we can do something
about how much gas it uses. But that will probably take more than five
years. Hard question. I’m gonna have to think about that one
for a while.
SC: You travel a lot. Where is your favourite contest and your favourite
place to ride?
My favourite contest to ride in is Wakestock. It's the best conditions
of them all. Best wake, best sliders, flattest water, and hell
it’s in my home city of T.O.
SC: What are your goals for this season?
Winning Wake Games set my goals pretty high for this season. Going from
barely making a pro podium last year that was a pretty big surprise. I
can't wait to see how I do for the rest of the season. I want to kill
it.
SC: If you could give one piece of advice to girls out there that want
to make it to the Pros, what would it be?
Stick with it. Ride as much as you can, and have fun getting over those
mental blocks that creep up on you. It makes you feel strong.
SC: Tells us something about Sunni that the wakeboarding population
doesn't know?
I dye my hair when I’m bored ....anxious...
figity..happy...sad ...need a change. Basically I dye it all the time,
and all different colours. Actually, I’m sure everyone
already knows this considering it’s pretty obvious when I
come to each contest with completely different hair from week to week.
SC: Who would you like to thank?
I thanked my sponsors above already. I want to thank everyone who has
ever given me a complement on my riding. It makes such a difference
when people come up to me and tell me how much they like the way I
ride. It's so nice to hear, so I would like to thank everyone who has
seen me ride and come up to me afterwards and let me know how much they
enjoyed it. It means a lot. Also
I would like to thank everyone who takes me out riding, considering I
don't have my own boat in Orlando and always have a place to ride. And
of course, my family.
Quick Questions:
SC: Favorite Band(s)/Artist(s)?
Quick questions yeah right! These are the hardest. To be honest I
listen to the radio, so whatever is on at the time.
SC: Would you rather go on a date with Borat or Brad Pitt?
Brad. Borat seems a little fake (if you know what I mean) he he.
SC: Should Speedos be illegal for guys?
No. Wear whatever you want. If you want to cover as little as possible
that is up to you.
SC: Would you rather stay at a 5 star resort in Fiji or treck through
the Amazon?
Interesting… Treck the Amazon any day. I’d rather
experience where I am to the fullest. And another thing I have trouble
sitting still and the word resort sounds like relax to me and that just
sounds like hard work.
SC: Any Pet Peeves?
Yes. I’m glad you asked. I thought about this just yesterday
coming out of the grocery store. When I have wet hair and putt my
sunglasses on my head and then put them on and they are all fogged up
from the dampness of my hair. Sounds stupid now that I am actually
typing it out, but when it happens to you one day you will remember me.
SC: Any pets?
Nope. Travel tooooo much. Hard enough to take care of myself.
SC: Favorite color?
Right now, white.... right now silver..... right now pink…
you can see how changeable I am.
SC: Favorite food?
Corn chips and salsa (pretty easy to make me happy)
SC: Favorite television show?
Sex and the City. I am waiting till I have 200 bucks lying around so I
can buy the nice big book of all the disks
SC: What is your
favourite trick?
