Bru’s bruising love for riding wakes
HE’S suffered head knocks, cut knees and bruised arms, but Haydon Bru’s passion for wakeboarding is so strong he can remember the moment he fell in love with it.
Despite following his family into the extreme water sport, the Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School Year 9 student admits it wasn’t love at first sight.
“I was five when I started and I didn’t really like it that much,” the 14-year-old said.
“But I went to a wakeboarding competition and saw what they were doing and from that point on I said ‘that’s what I want to do’.
“They were just doing flips and hitting ramps and having heaps of fun so I thought I’d love to do that some day.”
After three seasons competing seriously, Bru claimed the Australian under-14 title at The Spit earlier this year, booking a spot at Canada’s WWA World Championships in August.
It’s been a somewhat rocky road to this point, with the Clear Island Waters resident copping his share of injuries along the way – his worst a tumble that resulted in his chin collecting his leg. “It was that hard that it split my knee open and knocked me out – I’ve been knocked out three times now,” he said.
Bru, a regular on the microphone commentating his local competitions, has been nominated for a Bulletin Junior Sports Star (Individual) award.
To submit your nominations for the categories of junior sports star (individual), junior sports star (team), young sporting spirit (individual), young sporting spirit (team) or service to sport, go online and visit our website – goldcoastbulletin.com.au.