The water temperature was 45 degrees when the season began on April 1 but that didn’t stop Tony Gatti from getting all of his gear together, driving to Clinton Lake, hopping in the boat and ripping the waters on his wakeboard.

Gatti, a junior from Lawrence and president of the KU Wakeboard Club, takes the boat out every day but Sunday, and brings anyone who wants to join with him.

“The first day that we came out the wind was so bad people couldn’t sit on the front of the boat without being soaked,” Colby Arnold, a freshman from Topeka, said.

But on Tuesday’s club practice the water had warmed up to 62 degrees and Gatti said the water was “butter.” When water conditions are “butter”, a term wakeboarders use to describe smooth water, it’s the most ideal time to wakeboard. Rough or choppy water conditions make it more difficult to wakeboard and do tricks, he said.

Six people joined Tuesday’s practice, their background in wakeboarding ranging from first-timers to those who have been wakeboarding most of their lives. Gatti, who has been wakeboarding for about five to six years, said it’s not uncommon to teach someone to wakeboard once or twice a week.

“I would say about half our members have never wakeboarded before,” Gatti said. “We are all always learning and falling and no one minds helping out.”

Gatti said he gets the same excitement from someone who gets up for the first time as someone who just landed his or her first flip.

Tayler Glock, a freshman from Liberty, Mo., was the first to jump in Tuesday. After his first fall, Arnold gave Glock some advice.

“Bend your knees a little more then explode like your jumping,” Arnold, who has been wakeboarding since he was about 8 years old, said.

Glock went on a few more runs, then it was time for his roommate, Max Newby, to give wakeboarding his first try. Newby, a freshman from Shawnee, said he was excited and knew he was going to fall a lot, but was ready to go.

Gatti and Arnold helped him put the board on properly and prepped him for his first time out.

“Relax and let your knees come to your chest,” Arnold said.

Gatti told Newby to let the boat pull him up and try not to turn when the board was under water. Gatti said guys tend to have a harder time standing their first time; girls usually can stand right away. It has something to do with their difference in center of gravity, he said.

After about three or four runs, Newby was getting tired from all the attempts to stand up. He came in for the day but said he definitely wants to keep trying. Everyone gave him positive reinforcement and guidance throughout his run; it won’t be his last time in the water.

Tyler Botts, vice president of KU’s Wakeboard Club, said that when a first time rider comes out, the club gives the newbie a few pointers and do what they can to make sure the rookie stands. He said the best advice someone can give to a new rider is just to relax.

“Most people tend to over-think it and try to do too much,” Botts said. “We tell them to let the boat do the work and not to think about turning — your body will turn a direction naturally.”

Botts has been involved with the club for two years and said he likes wakeboarding because he competes against himself and because he’s always trying to get to that next level.

Last up for the day were Arnold and Gatti. The two, who are more experienced wakeboarders, strive to throw various tricks when out on the water.

Both attempted to do what’s called a “double up,” which is when the boat driver makes a wide turn and crosses over the wake his boat just made. Gatti said the trick could get the boarder some extra high air.

“The wakeboarder rides on the inside of the turn and he hits the two wakes as they meet, where the wakes can be up to three times the size of a normal wake,” Gatti said.

Gatti said he loves the atmosphere when wakeboarding when he’s surrounded by beautiful weather, friends and music.

“The wakeboard club is amazing because, for the few hours you’re on the boat, it’s summer again,” Gatti said. “And nothing else is more relaxing than the summer.”

— Edited by Kelly Gibson