SCHOOLBOY MAKES SPLASH ON INTERNET
Clip of Max, 12, piping while surfing gets hits across the globe
A SCHOOLBOY has become an internet sensation after a clip of him playing the bagpipes while wakesurfing went viral online.
Max Rae’s version of Scotland the Brave, played while riding in the wake of a boat, has been viewed online more than 19,000 times in a week.
Max has been using a wakeboard since he was four and has been taking part in wakesurfing for two years.
He took up the pipes three years ago and trying out both his hobbies at once was a natural step.
The 12-year-old, from Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, is a regular at a Dundee watersports centre and is a member of his school pipe band.
He said: “I love piping and wakesurfing so it seemed like a great idea to try to do them both at the same time. I had loads of fun doing it. It was pretty cool.”
The video was filmed during a visit to LBD Wake School in Surrey.
Max’s dad John, a photographer, said: “We bought a set of inexpensive pipes as there was no way we were putting Max’s good pipes anywhere near the water.
“They don’t sound as tuneful but they did the job. He made it look easy but it required considerable skill to do both at the same time.
“We’ve checked the best we can and can’t find anyone playing the bagpipes and wakesurfing, so this is first.
“Since the video went up we’ve had lots of messages from people saying the video is great and really makes them smile.”