Waves of success

May 19, 2008 01:00 pm

— By Philip Navarrette
reporter@trcle.com

At first glance, Marcus Cain of Cleburne looks like any other Smith Middle School student. But most people don’t know that when he’s not in school, Marcus has harnessed a hobby that lets him fly high and shred the waves, all under corporate sponsorship.

No laughing matter
Marcus, a premier wakeboarder for the past three years, was recently honored May 2 with a sponsorship from Malibu Boats and its North Texas dealer, Waterski America.
“They said they wanted to sponsor me, and I laughed because I thought it was a joke,” Marcus said. “But it wasn’t.”
Now Marcus is tasting what it’s like to have the backing of a corporation as he takes part in his hobby.
“We think it’s fantastic,” said Waterski America representative Tim Cvar. “He’s a great young man, and he shows a lot of potential. He’s the kind of guy we’re looking for as far as sponsorships go.”
Under the sponsorship, Marcus is given a sticker package and clothing in return for attending wakeboarding competitions and positively promoting the company — with a few other particulars, Cvar said.
“It’s based on more than just wakeboarding,” Cvar said. “He has to excel at wake boarding, but his grades have to be up, too. We start him with some hats and stickers, and if he does what he needs to do, he’ll get some equipment with the next step.”
Marcus, who is the son of Scott and Chris Cain of Cleburne, said when the shock of the sponsorship had worn off, he was excited and felt good about it.
“It’s all thanks to my dad and my friends,” he said.

Family affair
Marcus, who turns 13 today, started in wakeboarding because of his father, Scott.
“I grew up on Lake Pat, and water sports has always been in our family,” Scott said.
“He started wakeboarding and asked me if I wanted to give it a try, and I said ‘Yes, I would,’” Marcus said.
After that, Marcus grew better and better at it, Scott said.
“We’re extremely proud of him,” he said.
Marcus also enjoys football and soccer, but his heart lies in wakeboarding, he said.

Riding the waves of success
Marcus takes his sport seriously, training all year long and attending camps as far away as Florida.
During winter months, when frigid waters make for an unfriendly wakeboarding experience, Marcus practices rope tricks and spins in his family’s garage, and uses a long board and snowboard to work on his carving.
Wakeboarding looks like fun and games, but it can be difficult to do, Marcus said, especially when you’re trying to fly through the air, grab your board and land perfectly while being pulled by a speed boat.
Taking falls is the hardest part of his sport, Marcus said.
“It feels like hitting concrete while you’re going really fast,” he said.
Marcus has endured a minor concussion and been bloodied from wipeouts on the water.
“He’s been knocked silly a few times,” Scott said.
Still, Marcus’ drive and spirit keep him going and he continues to find success at competitions.

Honor among friends
Wakeboarding competitions themselves are sort of a strange affair, Scott said.
Instead of being out for blood during a contest, wakeboarders are all very supportive of each other, he said.
“The nice thing about wakeboarding is that it is competitive at these competitions, but at the same time you’ll have all the competitors cheering each other on and encouraging each other,” Scott said. “It’s a very close-knit community.”
Having the support of his friends and competitors while on the water helps Marcus with his confidence, he said, and lets him be successful.
“All of your competitors are on the dock cheering you on,” he said. “It’s really cool. I love to ride with my friends. We’re always trying to cheer each other on and push each other to be better.”

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