Fun in the Sun with KWHS Wakeboarding Club

Fun in the Sun with KWHS Wakeboarding Club

BY PARIS CRONE

KONK LIFE STUDENT WRITER

Out of the many clubs at Key West High School, there is one in particular that stands out among the rest for fun in the sun: wakeboard club. Shannon Perkins, who is currently an art teacher at Key West High School, first started the club.

Perkins explains why she was inspired to start this club around ten years ago, “Because I love wakeboarding, and I want to share it with my students.” About twenty members are in the club, and Perkins notes that it is the perfect amount.

Students who are interested in wakeboarding enjoy this club because it consists of just about everything to do with wakeboarding. Perkins explains that they go to Orlando or Miami as a whole and “ride the cables,” so to speak. She also adds, “It’s quite neat

because they can make personal goals, and when they’ve reached that goal they can go on to the next one. Every time we ride, they set personal goals, and at the end, we say if we met our personal goals. No matter how good or beginner they are, they can still make a goal and reach it.”

This club helps students be more well-rounded people because it gives them the inspiration to try new things and keep trying when they fail at first. Not only is this club fun for students, Perkins herself enjoys wakeboarding with them as well.

The club wakeboards throughout the year. Savannah Crone, a previous member of the club, states, “We would go to wakeboard parks and wakeboard. The club was filled with enthusiastic people, and we would have the time of our lives.” Current member Nelson Sawyer adds, “We get to learn new things and experience something we don’t usually get to do.” Clearly, this club is very well-liked with those involved. Crone says she “loved every minute” she spent with the club.

Everything about this club screams fun. “I never saw someone not having fun. The club acted as if they were family. The club actually introduced me to people I am still friends with today,” Crone explains. Wakeboarding itself is a great sport, especially for the Keys, but when you add the comradery the club promotes among students, it becomes invaluable.

To keep this club going strong, the wakeboard members raise money to travel by having candy gram fundraisers at school. Perkins explains that the club is “always glad to have donations,” and that the community can participate in their fundraisers to help support the club as well. If you would like more information, or to support the wakeboard club at Key West High School, contact Shannon Perkins at [email protected].

Caption:

Key West High School wakeboard club member Nelson Sawyer trying to keep himself up as the waves push him back on a recent trip to Homestead to “ride the cables” with sponsor Shannon Perkins.

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]