Wakeboard Champion David O’Caoimh Opens Up About His Phenomenal Sport

 

David O’Caoimh

Photo Credit: Paul Johnston – Wakeboarder —Paul Johnston — at Xtreme Gene Wakeboard and Waterski.

David O’Caoimh (you say it like David O’ Queeve) just turned 23 late last year. He has already accomplished many things. A frequent winner in the World Cup Championships, he usually wakes up early in the morning.He devotes the rest of the day to his wakeboarding. This also involves him teaching enthusiastic first timers learning the tricks. It ends with him uploading the day’s events on his YouTube channel, thus inspiring thousands of youths all over the world.

He loves interacting with his students and fans.

“I love doing what I love, which is mostly wakeboarding!! But I also love having the craic with the lads, cars, and going for a bounce on the trampoline!”

It is a great pleasure to have an interview with him. This was done when he was in Dubai and it’s just a spur- of -the -moment decision when I realised we have been chatting through social media that time. If you haven’t yet, do add him :

https://twitter.com/DavidOCaoimh

http://instagram.com/davidocaoimh

• What got you into wakeboarding?

My parents used to do a lot of windsurfing up on a lake in Cavan. I was young at the time so never really got into it. Then our neighbour got a speed boat and so I used to go waterskiing on weekends with him (this is when I was about 5 haha) and then I did that for about 5 years. Then when I was 10 I discovered wakeboarding…. and boom! I’ve been hooked since!

• Is it popular in Ireland?

It’s growing massively here in Ireland! We have had an increase in parks and wakeboard clubs opening around the country, and this is awesome as it brings new people to the sport. It’s actually amazing to see all the fresh faces at the parks and also at the grassroots competitions! The awareness has gotten to a new level. Nobody used to know what Wakeboarding was in Ireland 5 years ago. Now most people do. Particularly the younger generations!

• What are the benefits of wakeboarding?

The benefits are insane. Mentally and physically no matter what age, or level you’re at. After your first time wakeboarding, you’ll find muscles you never you knew had, and they will be sore! haha But good sore! It’s amazing fitness and it’s brilliant as you don’t notice yourself doing the exercise like you would in a gym. It’s very easy to motivate yourself.

Mentally, like any sport it’s phenomenal. It really makes you focus, but the best thing it does, is it often gives you the sense of achievement from progress. Like when you land something new you really are buzzing with pride and joy, and I think that’s a good feeling to have for anyone and everyone!

• What’s your advice to someone who hasn’t done this but who is planning to get into the sport?

I guess my biggest advice to someone who is thinking of getting into the sport is; ‘DO IT!!’. Like it really is amazing. Obviously I’m going to say that, but it’s funny, I’ve been teaching a few ‘first timers’ lately, and they are genuinely shocked at how much they enjoy it. I will personally guarantee you, no matter how old, young, small or tall you are, you will walk away with a big fat smile on your face! So my advice, is do it, and go from there!

• You’ve won many awards since 2011! You are quite famous. What’s the advantage of having your name up there among the top athletes of the world?

Hahah, thank you! Yeah it’s been a crazy few years and I’m grateful for every single one of them. There’s a lot of great advantages, but theres one that really sticks out, and that is ‘Opportunity’. I was in school and then college until mid 2013, and then I guess I was in a position where I would just about be able to go full time into the sport that I love. I know if things hadn’t have gone well for the 2 years before hand that I would have never have had the opportunity to do this. So I guess that’s the biggest advantage! 

• You are in Dubai right? How do you prepare physically and mentally for your hectic schedules?

Yes, I’m in Dubai right now, it’s an incredible place! haha it’s difficult to prepare! I mean it’s difficult and easy at the same time. Difficult because it’s hard to maintain a good diet when traveling, as well as it actually takes it’s toll on how often you can train. In July or August I could be going to 3 competition, in 3 different countries, in 3 weeks. Which by the time you travel doesn’t leave much time to train. So I just try and train as hard and as well as I can when I am home and have the time!

It’s also easy though. Like travelling is really great, if I wasn’t doing what I’m doing, I’d probably be saving up all my money from my job to go on holidays. So it’s actually a good thing! haha.

• What are your memorable experiences being there?

My most memorable experience in Dubai?! I’m going to have to go with the culture! It’s way different. Very similar to the ‘American Dream’, but at the same time very multi-cultured. It’s weird. But I’ve enjoyed taking it all in and meeting people from all over the world working here in various industries!

That, and also, I think I’ve realised here that I actually enjoy coaching! haha. It sounds crazy but I never used to do much coaching, probably because I was a shy child, but I’m really enjoying it here and it’s made me want to do more of it!

• What’s next after Dubai?

I come home from Dubai late Saturday (9th April). I’ll maybe chill a bit on Sunday with my friends and family, and then that week I’m going to just go back to normal, wakeboarding everyday at home and eating home cooked meals! hahah. I am also very very close to launching a new online coaching site (DOCWAKE) so I’ll be working hard to get that up by mid April! Then I have a few bits and bobs around the country before I head to Spain at the beginning of May!  

• Your message to enthusiasts/subscribers of your YouTube channel?

My message to my subscribers and followers. I guess I’ve never thought of that…. I don’t really preach anything or have a direct message to them. I hope they see how I don’t take everything too seriously and just enjoy myself with my friends doing what I love. I hope that they take a bit of that and apply it to themselves and their own lives, as well as maybe just being fit, healthy and happy! Lately I try to do tutorial videos for wakeboarding so that they can feel that progression feeling because for me that’s the best feeling in the world!

Photo by  Luke Lee Photography at Xtreme Gene Wakeboard and Waterski

The Power of the Brain!

Call it whatever you want :a beautiful instrument or a weapon. Our brain is fascinating as it is literally who we are. I had this fantastic discussion with my friend Paula who shares my interests in brain Science and wellness. She is a synth-pop artist from England. I was telling her about my new hobby which is learning how to ride a bike.

“Your brain is forming new neural pathways re: learning to use a bike.

Learning new skills, although hard at first, is vital for your brain health and function so stick with it.

I watched a program about “How to stay Young” on the BBC these last 2 weeks, a documentary, and they said by age 70% on average humans have lost 20% of their brain capacity as our brain mass shrinks as part of the ageing process.

So keep doing new stuff basically!!! 

New skills, also walking increases the size of the hippocampus so going for longish walks is key too.

Below are two videos she shared with me. So enjoy. Always take care of your brain and your body. If you do that then they will take care of you too! I have learned that learning new skill is vital to our creativity.”- Paula.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWyRUYMQ7ws

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0HB7b_BtVY

Totally Inspiring:Mike Trees and Tri4Japan

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A post shared by Mike Trees (@run.nrg)

Mike Trees has an Instagram account you should follow. With almost 20k followers and growing, his posts are liked by many people around the world. That includes me who stumbled upon his inspiring photos. And this is because of my growing devotion to fitness since I started last summer. As a kid I was teased for looking thin and awkward. My stamina was low and running made me feel like fainting. Now I feel that improvement and I can do many things because I don’t get tired easily.

But I know I have a looong way to go before I can be like Mike Trees. His bio says :

Mike Trees has been running since 1970’s but turned to multi-sport racing in the 80’s and became a professional triathlete competing in Asia during the 1990’s. He won the Japanese long distance and Olympic distance triathlon championships, as well as winning both British and Japanese national duathlon championships. His highest world ranking at duathlon was 2nd, which he achieved in 2002, after which he retired from professional racing. In 2012, Mike won both the ITU Sprint Triathlon and Aquathlon World championships (V50- 54) in Auckland, New Zealand, and he successfully defended his Aquathlon World title in Hyde Park London, in 2013- Source http://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=4851

He is the chairman of Tri4Japan. In March of 2011, Japan is hit by a disater worse than WWII.

“My Japanese wife Rieko and I lived in Japan for many years and have family and friends there.

On Friday 11th March 2011, we watched in horror when the earthquake and tsunami hit Eastern Japan.

We instantly knew we had to do something. One of the port towns called Kamaishi was literally washed away in front of our eyes…”

Quoting from his interview with Slowitch:

“We want to help people suffering in Kamaishi, as well as those affected all over Japan. However, we are just two people, with limited resources and limited time. But rather than watch in vain and prey, we put a stake in the ground and said “now is the time to act.” The earthquake and Tsunami we saw hit Kamaishi was the catalyst for our call to action.

Triathlon is all we know. I have been involved in triathlon for 25 years. It is not only our livelihood and our hobby, but a way of life. Although we say Tri4Japan, we want to include all sports; swim, bike run, endurance and sprint, individual and team. The true essence of our mission is that all people from all sports around the world come together and TRY FOR JAPAN. But in reality, the only area where we may exert a small amount of influence is the world of triathlon.”

Mike Trees have proven that the world of sports can inspire and help lives. I know it has done something for me. I have been overcoming depression since 2013 and I know that in order for me to go on, I must find a light at the end of the tunnel. I need to change my life and that also involved changing the landscapes of my mind and heart. And it has been my thread out of the labyrinth, and it continues to do so because when something so big happens it somehow changes you inside and out.

Follow his instagram account and share whatever saves you or inspires you. https://www.instagram.com/miketrees.nrg/

David O’Caoimh Amazing Wakeboarder

I followed his Facebook posts and then added him via Snapchat. I realize he’s a cool fella as he takes the time to reply when you post questions. His videos go beyond the technicalities of wakeboarding. He is also telling us what it is like to be his age(early 20s) and to be able to go to places that a lot of people would love to be. But never do.

For those who are new to the sport,Wakeboarding involves riding a wakeboard over the surface of a body of water.The rider is usually towed behind a motorboat, typically at speeds of 30–40 km/h (18-25 mph), depending on the board size, rider’s weight, type of tricks, and rider’s comfort.

It is fun to watch people do this. David O’Caoimh is from Ireland and he also loves to teach wakeboarding to those who are interested. he travels around the world. His last Vlog was shot in Spain. Now just finished uploading his latest episode in Dubai.

Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidocaoimh/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidwakeoca…

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidOCaoimh

Snapchat – Username: davidocaoimh