Emily Copeland-Durham: A Pre-eminent Athletic Female Wakeboarding Champion – Part One

Emily Copeland-Durham of the USA is renowned as an athletic and committed wakeboarding competitor since 1999 who recently won the women’s wakeboarding event at the 2007 Gravity Games H2O in Perth, Australia. Copeland-Durham won her third Gravity Games title, edging out Amber Wing and Melissa Marquadt with a high score at 97.5.

There are three significant hallmarks of Emily’s strides in wakeboarding competition:

  1. There is a purposeful drive for ongoing progress coupled —
  2. with a rigorous workout ritual. It is this steadfastness that results in Emily’s tying for the lead inclusively with Dallas Friday on the 2004 Pro Wakeboard Tour and also —
  3. Her desire to be a good role model to others.

Emily talks about learning tricks, the wakeboard industry and the rider-owned Ronix wakeboard company in this relaxed shoot:

[youtube FXJx4fU4O28]

Her ongoing dedication to the wakeboarding sport compelled her to move from Texas to Orlando to train with other professional wake boarders in 1995.

Marital Status: Married
Participant since: 1997
Resides In: Denver, CO
Birthday: 03/28/1984
Height: 5 ft 9”
Weight: 125 lbs
Occupation: Professional Wakeboarder
Sponsors:Nautiques, Ronix, Jetpilot

Wakeboarding Pro Profiles – 2007 WWA World Women’s Wakeboard Champion – Amber Wing

Australian Amber Wing, born January 2 1983 and 5’2″ in height must have her sights set on world wakeboarding domination. Amber began at age 18 when a friend strapped her in to a wakeboard saying “you gotta try this!” By her own admission – she’s been hooked on wakeboarding ever since and been competing now for 4 years.

Last September Amber competed with the very best of the best: Dallas Friday, Emily Copeland Duran, Melissa Marquett and another Australian star Hayley Smith among other greats. Amber was the only female to hit the fun box then the high rail, executed a whirlie bird and included off axis 5’s, 3’s sliding the rail both ways in her combo. This took Amber to a first-time and extraordinary win over Dallas Friday at 2nd place and Nicola Butler at 3rd place.

It is generally known that Amber is one of the most versatile female riders on the water. With her right stance, she can perform rails, flips, spins and grabs shifting seamlessly from one to the other and seemingly, without effort.

Amber has achieved for the first time what no other female wakeboarder has ever done – accomplishing a 720 with two full spins. Note: a 720 is a spin where the rider does one 720 degree rotation while in the air. Her proud sponsors are Supra, Oakley, Liquid Force, Wing Wetsuits, Pro-tec, and the Wakeboard Camp.

At the Surf Expo in Amber was crowned “2007 Female Wakeboarder of the Year” by the wakeboarding industry. What a proud achievement! Her board: a Liquid Force Cadence 134. Her Rope/Handle Liquid Force Black Widow with 80ft line. Her vest: a Wing Ariel Side Entry.

If there ever was a female Wakeboarding Hall of Fame, Amber would certainly have a prominent place! You GO girl!

You can check out one of the many videos staring Amber Wing below called “Chick Flick”, is also stars – Hayley Smith, World and X-Games Champion Dallas Friday; World and X-Games Champion Emily Copeland-Durham; X-Games Champion Maeghan Major, and counless other Wakeboarding Super Stars!!


[asa]B000MNHNIW[/asa]