Jodi Grassman

Where did you grow up and how long have you been wakesurfing?
Growing up, my family had a weekend lake house in Lake Placid, Florida. We moved there permanently about 12 years ago, and I first saw wakesurfing and decided to learn just about six years ago.

What motivated you to start competing professionally? I competed my first season in 2013 as an amateur and placed first at Worlds. My second season, I competed in one event as an outlaw and decided to move up to pro in the next event. I could have stayed in outlaw being so new to the sport but I thought the only way I could grow as an athlete, physically and mentally, was to push myself. You picked up a board sponsor early on in your career, did that help with your confidence to get to where you are today? I actually knew Drew Danielo before I knew what wakesurfing was. He worked at a surf shop where my family used to live on the west coast, and we shopped there quite a bit. So when we met again in the wakesurf world, things kind of came full circle, and being offered a spot on the Phase 5 team was a perfect fit.

You’re a 4x World Champion and a 4x Female Wakesurfer of the Year. What’s your secret?
I’m very lucky to live in Florida where I can ride year-round. I train hard off the water as well as on it , but I think strength, balance training and stretching is incredibly important and a staple for my riding ability. Mindset is key too. Loving what you do makes it so much easier to be better at it.

Do you have any pre-competition rituals? Like meditating or listening to music to get pumped up? No, I do not. I actually do the complete opposite. I try to keep the same mindset as if I were at home riding. I don’t stretch, meditate or have headphones in before I do a set at home so why switch it up at a contest? I love to walk around talking to people and keeping my mind off my run. That’s when I’m most relaxed and have the most fun.

What do you do in the off-season (if you have one) to stay in shape and on your competitive game? Do you work with any coaches? I can ride all year round but during the time I’m not traveling as much, I exercise a lot more. Currently I don’t have any coaches. I train myself. I love meeting new people during the off season whether it be at boat shows or coaching and seeing them at competitions later.

Give us a rundown on your boat set-up. What you ride behind, how you weight it and preferred wave shape. With my sponsor, Nautique Boats, I ride behind a G21 and absolutely love a steep and hard wave! I weight it with stock ballast with two extra 450-lb. sacs in the rear lockers, NSS at 0, NCRS at 5 and my speed is 11.5 mph.

Given you are a 4x World Champion, what has been the biggest accomplishment of your career? I think being noticed for my authenticity is probably my biggest accomplishment. I’m the first female to land multiple tricks, and I have a different riding style compared to most. I am absolutely blessed to be able to do what I love, do what I love WELL, and to be able to meet so many incredible people along the way.

What do you love about wakesurfing? I love the community of wakesurfing. The joy it brings to people whether it be hanging out with friends and family or learning a new trick you’ve been working on. I love being able to work with Wake for Warriors, make a difference whether it’s big or small, getting people on the water and having a good time.

Who has been your biggest inspiration throughout your career thus far? I’d imagine you can think of many people who have grown the sport into what it is today. My favorites are the ones who don’t care too much about 1st, 2nd or 3rd place. Representing the sport as a fun, enjoyable time and supporting whoever and however in anyway no matter what it takes.

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