I think that a lot of people on the Pro Wakeboard Tour would call Travis a good friend. Not because they hang out with him a lot when we are not on tour or go to his house for Thanksgiving. It’s because Travis is literally holding the steering wheel to every riders career. This is a huge responsibility and one that Travis doesn’t take lightly. He has been driving the PWT for years now and everyone notices if he is not at an event. He is one of the most down to earth humble guys you have been around. He make’s it a lot easier for us to do our jobs when he’s behind the wheel because we know what we are going to get and its the same for every rider. I have known Travis for a long time and been good friends with him for years. He is an awesome ambassador for our sport. From coaching students at his camp to going to boat shows he is a true promoter of wakeboarding. I would like to thanks Travis for all the years of friendship and the countless amount of encouraging words he has given to me throughout the years of competing. Thanks Travis.
You are considered the best wakeboard boat driver in the world. Give us your back ground on how you were able to obtain such a prestige title.
Well, I have literally spent way more days driving a boat than not since I was 10 years old. I grew up water skiing and was fortunate to have trained with some of the best people in the industry since day one, so I always had people teaching me how to do things right from the start. And, I genuinely care that every pull is as good as it can be. I think that is the most important part of driving, just caring about each ride, and doing the best you can. Everyone is going to make mistakes, but I am the first person to admit if the speed was wrong or if I was too far from a rail. I don’t want to the driving to ever be something that the rider has to worry about. So to answer your question…by just trying really hard.
You and Shaun started The Boarding School a few years ago. What has been the best thing about running the camp with Shaun?
He has helped me take myself a bit less seriously. And, I like to keep a pretty tight grip on things which is not always a good thing. I like to think I have had some personal growth in the past 6 years we have been working together. Shaun use to say that some people have a short fuse, but I was like an open flame sitting next to a pile of gun powder. I think I have a fuse now, or maybe I’m just too old to fight back anymore. Who knows? I just think he has helped me become a bit more of a big picture guy.
I know that I have some good stories from traveling on the PWT. Tell us your best on tour story.
One time I walked in on Trevor Hansen, 2 monkeys, and a few people from a local carnival all naked, watching Andy Griffith reruns, and eating salt water taffy. It was pretty weird, but I try not to judge. Honestly, I don’t have anything in particular. The thing I like most about traveling is getting to hang out, have dinner, and really get to talk to guys I don’t get to on a regular basis since all of our lives are so busy. I end up hanging out with guys like you and Kyle more and just a lot of the other riders I wouldn’t get a chance to. I feel like a laugh a lot all weekend long.
You sit in the boat a lot. If you could have unlimited options for what you could have in your boat what would you have in there?
I would definitely have a cooled seat. They have them in a lot of luxury cars, so let’s get one under my butt. The heated seat has been a much welcomed addition the past few years, but it’s hot a lot more often in Florida than its cold. I would like more sun protection as well. I think the biminis should come down on the sides more to keep the sun off of you when it’s low. Other than that, I don’t need a lot. I’m a fairly simple man.
You have had your hands in a lot of projects throughout the years. From helping design product to coaching. What is next for Travis Moye?
I wish I knew. I would like to do more and more with boat design and testing. I really do like messing with new product and seeing it come out in the end. I would love to be able to come up with some new events. I feel like the sport has lost a lot of prestige not being in the X-Games and Gravity Games. So I would love to help bring a bit more spot light to the sport. You know in the Parks Documentary he said that wakeboarding has given him the life he has always dreamed of so he wants to give back to wakeboarding. I feel the same way. I have a great life and a great group of friends because of the sport and would love to give back and try to make it better. Other than that, maybe I’ll open up a frozen yogurt shop. I hear it’s making a comeback.
