HE’S wakeboarded all over the world literally, even among icebergs in Antarctica, but Shoal-haven wakeboard star Josh Sanders has now taken his sport to a whole new level.
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Sanders, an acclaimed international wakeboarder, in fact former world champion, along with a team of mates has successfully tackled one of the most dangerous and challenging rides in the world in the Kimberleys.
Facing danger is nothing new for Sanders, he was the first wakeboarder to tackle Tahiti’s legendary Teahupoo break, braved the freezing cold of Antarctica to wake among icebergs, set a world’s record for the world’s longest wakeboard rail ride right here on the Shoalhaven River, but says some of the rides in the Kimberleys were among the most adrenalin driven he has ever undertaken.
Joined by international wakeboarding and wakeskating superstars Parks Bonifay, Brian Grubb and JD Webb the group encountered some of the world’s gnarliest tidal waters and became the first riders to tackle the tight gorges known as the horizontal waterfalls in West Australia’s Kimberley region.
“We are always looking for something different and this definitely changed the terrain of our sport,” he said.
The horizontal waterfalls in West Australia’s Kimberley region are famous for their surging water generated by huge rises and falls in the tide.
“There were so many elements, there were reefs, the falls, it was a buzz,” he said.
“The amount of force is incredible, virtually the whole ocean, 10 metres high, tries to fit through a little 10 metre gap, it’s just amazing.
“The force is so strong that in full tide you can’t get a vessel into it and we were just towed into in, it was like a stationary wave.
“There were just so many elements to the ride it was amazing.
“And there was a danger also from the wildlife – if you fell off there were sharks and crocs around.
“It was one of the most beautiful locations in the world, but also one of the deadliest.
“If you fell off in those falls you would have no hope.”
Sanders was towed through rapid like conditions you would normally find on a wild free flowing river.
He said it was another amazing adventure.
“It was the best and worst trip all at the same time, we encountered some epic conditions, but then often got stranded by the huge change in the tides, and the worst was the constant threat from the wildlife – the crocs in particular you certainly didn’t want to fall off!”
He said the trip organised through Red Bull was something he had been working on for months.
“We planned it for months, just something to take our sport to another level and do something different,” he said.
“We scoped it all out by air and found out that the spring tides were the best, then just went for it in a 10 day boat trip on a luxury 85-foot catamaran The Great Escape.
“It was just amazing – it was definitely all worth it.”
Sanders is off on another adventure this week heading to Africa to introduce his sport over there.
He also has plans for a documentary style show to highlight some of his great adventures at some stage and will return to the Shoalhaven to host another event on the Shoalhaven River in early December.
“We are calling it Flotilla Fest, it’s planned for December 11 it’s not a commercial event, no sponsors, it’s all about getting people back on the river and utilising this wonderful asset that we have.
“We don’t use it enough.
“All you will need is a boat to get there, doesn’t have to be a wake boat, a tinny will do as long as you can get out on the water, we are looking to stage it up river, but we will give you more details closer to the date.
“But it will just be a fun event open to everyone.”
