Road to Recovery

Dallas Friday is undoubtedly the dominant force in women's wakeboarding. With a list of victories a mile long, she's used to having things go her way, so the broken femur she suffered at the last World Cup event of 2006 was a hell of a surprise. Four months later, she strapped into a board and tested her leg on the water for the first time since the accident, still facing a long, arduous recovery. However, no matter what difficulties she encounters, the fact that she indeed will recover and return to competition is certain. The discipline she developed as a gymnast prior to her wakeboarding career has given her a single-minded determination to accomplish whatever goal she sets for herself. Not only will she be back, she'll be back on top.

What did you think when you felt your leg break?
The first thought in my head was, "Oh my gosh, am I going to be able to walk again?" Then I thought, "Oh, I just snapped my femur." It took me a second to realize it. A good friend of mine who is a wake skater had snapped his femur, so it was good to know another rider that it had happened to. He came back and won the wake skate pro tour. The doctors told me that it's usually eight months to a year until you're back to doing the same thing. Once I heard that, the amount of time they told me didn't matter, it was just a relief knowing that I could do it. I was like, "Okay, you say eight months, I'll say six."

What did you do to pass the time while recovering?
Honestly, not a lot, because I was on crutches for three months. A lot of physio and doctor's appointments, magazines, TV, laying out—I got a good tan! It was frustrating, because wakeboarding is my whole world. To not be able to do it was the worst feeling ever.

Were you thinking about tricks?
Totally. [I've been] watching contests and seeing people ride on the lake all day—there are a few pro riders who live on the same lake I do. I'm definitely motivated to get everything back, then work on all the stuff that I never really took the time to do. I've had so much time to think about where I want my riding to be.

How has your time back in the water been so far?
It's different every time I go out; I have my ups and downs. I got really frustrated about a month ago for a month straight. I was at a point where I didn't even like wakeboarding anymore; I was over it. My knee would swell up, my hip would ache, and I couldn't ride for three days. It was really frustrating. I've gotten over that stage; I think any athlete that goes through a major injury goes through that. You just have to push through it. I've been having really good rides lately, so it was worth that month of going through tough times.

Do you think this is the hardest challenge you've faced in your wake career?
Yeah, I do. I don't look back and try to figure out why it happened, I just try to look forward and thrive off of seeing the girls this summer—going to a contest and not being able to compete is so motivating. It's frustrating, but it's more motivation to make sure I stick to my rehab schedule and really focus on staying healthy. I want to come back strong because I know I can.

Do you think the injury will affect your approach to the contest scene?
People say, "Once your legs heal, it'll be 100% mental," but I've never been like that. I know what I'm capable of. I'm not going to be intimidated by injuries, or by thinking, "What if my femur snaps again?" You can't live life like that. That's what makes an athlete an athlete—going for it all the way. You can't second-guess yourself; most of the time, that's when injuries happen. I have a strong mind, I'm focused, I'm determined. Some athletes need to think about it, but I don't.

Do you think you would have been as successful in wake without your gymnastics experience?
No. Gymnastics disciplines you. You're flexible. You're strong. You like competition. You want to be the best you can be. In gymnastics, you're never good enough; you can always be better. So I look at everything that way. I'd say it's 70% the way I was brought up in the competition mindset, and the rest is physical. To be a winner, you have to want it. You see so many athletes do it just because it's a free ride—you're getting paid, you get to travel around… But if you really want it, you'll push harder and harder, and you'll end up being happy with yourself, happy with your life. You feel accomplished.

What drew you to wakeboarding?
When I stopped doing gymnastics, my two older brothers were into wakeboarding. I was getting ready to turn 13, they were two and three years older, and they had their cute friends out on the boat. I wanted to hang out with my bros, be just like them, and try to show them up. That drew me into it, and then I got out there and absolutely loved it. I kept wanting to learn new things. It was never like I wanted to be a pro wakeboarder; it just fell into place.

Where does your motivation come from?
A lot of it is me—I'm pretty hard on myself. I think that's why I got so frustrated recently with my injury, since I couldn't do what I wanted to do. A lot of guys motivate me. My coach, Glenn Fletcher [motivates me]. I get more motivation from people saying, "Oh, you could do that way better." I thrive off of that. In gymnastics, your coach will yell at you until you just start crying. Then you come back wanting to throw it right back in their face and prove them wrong. It’s kind of weird.

What have been some of your greatest experiences through wakeboarding?
I'd probably say meeting lots of people—all of my friends are wakeboarders. Learning about life and money and travel. The fans. I think wakeboarding has helped me appreciate that I'm so fortunate to be doing what I'm doing. To be so thankful for everything I have in life, and how things can get taken right away from you. It's made me realize what I have, what I can do, and to not take it for granted.

So seriously, how big is your trophy case?
(Laughs) I don't even know if I want you to print this. Almost all of them are in my mom's house in a closet. I have some of the recent ones, but I just don't have a room to put them up in right now. Eventually, I'd like to have them in an office. One day…

Any one award, trophy, or accomplishment you're most proud of?
I'd definitely say my ESPY. Everyone grabs it and says, "This is so cool!" It's such a big accomplishment for me, because it's something no other wakeboarder has even been nominated for. It makes me feel that all the hard work paid off. That's the most important one, and probably always will be.

How long do you think you'll wakeboard competitively?
I'm hoping [to compete] as long as I can and as long as I'm healthy and having fun with it. Another ten years?

Is there anything else you want to achieve with wakeboarding?
This might sound too competitive, but I've always wanted to have a season where I've won every contest, and every year, I lose one. I think last year, I lost two, but before that, I only lost one for like three years [in a row]. I've always wanted to have a clean sweep, so until I do that, you won't see me retire.

What about your goals for this year?
That's a hard one. I honestly don't know right now. I definitely want to come back and win the first event I compete in, to prove that this injury didn't phase me, and prove to my sponsors and fans that I do love the sport that much, and I'm going to work my butt off to get right back where I was and more. I want to come back strong.