[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]With the overall lead heading into stop #4, Rapa looks to take his first PWT title.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=\”220\” img_size=\”full\” add_caption=\”yes\” alignment=\”center\”][vc_column_text]Three years ago Australian Nic Rapa was a rookie on the Supra Boats Pro Wakeboard Tour still figuring out sponsorships and how to make it as a professional rider. Fast forward and he now leads the pack heading into the fourth and final stop of the tour looking to win the overall title. For a contest series as acclaimed and competitive as the PWT that is quite a feat, but Nic is trying to treat the next few weeks no differently than any others. With a bag of tricks as deep as any in the game and an uncanny consistency on his board, Nic is poised to be at the top of PWT this year and for many to come. We sat down and asked him how this season has come together and how he\’s feeling about trying to grab that overall title.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=\”221\” img_size=\”full\” add_caption=\”yes\” alignment=\”center\”][vc_column_text]1. You have a firm grip on the overall lead heading into the fourth and final stop of the PWT. Are you feeling more nervous, less nervous or about the same? To be perfectly honest, I\’m feeling the same. I\’m approaching this contest like I would approach any other event: always looking for the W and focusing on controlling what I can control.
2. Looking back, your rise up the ranks as a pro rider has been a pretty incredible one, considering your first year on the PWT was 2016. What have the last few years been like for you? The last few years have been a whirlwind of crazy events and good times. It\’s unreal what I feel I have achieved based on the goals I set for myself, and I can\’t wait to keep it going![/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=\”222\” img_size=\”full\” add_caption=\”yes\” alignment=\”center\”][vc_column_text]3. To be as successful as you\’ve been you have to be incredibly consistent with your riding, and given that you\’re as new to the pro scene as you are, that\’s quite an accomplishment. What do you attribute your consistency to? Hard work on and off the water, and just making sure I am able to do every trick I want to do in any sort of condition!
4. What was your goal coming into the 2018 season and how have you felt so far overall with your riding? My goal was to consistently make the podium and try take the overall Supra Boats PWT title. I am close to achieving what I set out to do and that gets me stoked![/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=\”223\” img_size=\”full\” add_caption=\”yes\” alignment=\”center\”][vc_column_text]5. Are you approaching your training runs any different leading up to August 4th, or sticking with the same routine? Definitely keeping things the same. What I\’ve done has worked, so there is no point changing now.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=\”224\” img_size=\”full\” add_caption=\”yes\” alignment=\”center\”][vc_column_text]6. The level of riding on the PWT continues to progress at an unbelievable rate. How do you stay focused on landing what you have to in order to win, while also thinking about pushing boundaries and doing something a little extra to stand out or seal the deal in the judges\’ eyes? I make a point to think about myself and not the other riders. For me, it comes down to knowing I can do all my tricks, so I just need to treat it like it\’s another ride out there for me. To stand out, I try to go big while keeping everything clean, and really just make sure I do everything to the best of my ability.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=\”225\” img_size=\”full\” add_caption=\”yes\” alignment=\”center\”][vc_column_text]7. Where do you see the riding going in the next couple years? More double flips? 1080′s? Backside 9′s? Rewind variations? I think in the next couple years it will definitely progress in a couple different directions. The guys are going bigger and doing more into the flats, so I think that’s going to play a role. Some guys are able to do some pretty crazy stuff fairly easily now, and it’s nuts to think about how much crazier it’s going to get![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
