As of October 15th, German wakeboarder Emely Jones has officially become a WAM athlete. We spoke with her about her sport, her journey, and her plans for the future.
WAM: Hi Emely! It’s great to have you on board. introducing yourself?
Emely: Hi, I’m Emely Jones, I’m 19, and I’m a national wakeboarding athlete. I love travelling, meeting new people, reading, and, of course, staying active. Whether it’s wakeboarding, football, or just going to the gym – all of it makes my heart race.
WAM: How did the partnership with WAM come about?
Emely: I love taking care of myself and my well-being, and that obviously includes my nutrition. That’s why I came to WAM! WAM doesn’t just help me meet my protein needs but also ensures that my body only receives plant-based products, without any added ingredients that could harm me.
WAM: Tell us about your sport. What exactly is wakeboarding?
Emely: For those who haven’t heard of wakeboarding, it’s easy to explain: wakeboarding is like snowboarding, but on water. The only difference is that in wakeboarding, you’re pulled by a large cable system, and you have the chance to hit obstacles (called “features”) or perform air tricks (where you launch yourself off the water and complete a trick in the air).
WAM: Sounds fun!
Emely: For anyone thinking of trying out this cool sport – do it! In my opinion, it’s the coolest sport there is. It gives you a sense of being on holiday, freedom on the water, and a ton of fun, both in the water and on land, with awesome, like-minded people who always make you laugh.
WAM: How did you first get into wakeboarding?
Emely: Good question! It was actually through my dad. He used to wakeboard with his friends behind a boat, so I tried it myself when I was young. And as I said, I was hooked from the start by the pure joy of it.
When I was old enough (10 years), I went to a big cable park for the first time, and since then, I haven’t been able to stop. I’ve been at it for almost ten years now, with lots of ups and downs, but no matter what, I’ve always held onto the joy and passion I feel for this sport.
WAM: During puberty, many girls unfortunately stop playing sports. Did you ever consider quitting?
Emely: Honestly, no. Of course, there were phases where I felt like doing less sport, but I never completely stopped. Quite the opposite – during some phases of my teenage years, it was an important way to balance school stress.
WAM: Studies show that sports have a positive impact on the mental health of girls and young women. Do you agree?
Emely: Absolutely. Many times, when I wasn’t feeling mentally strong, sport was what brought me back to the here and now and gave me mental stability. I’d recommend that every girl and boy find a sport that’s not only fun but also provides a good balance for mental health.
WAM: For professional athletes, it can sometimes be tough to balance social life with training. How do you find that balance?
Emely: It varies. Some days, it’s easy to balance training and social life, but other days it’s really hard. Sometimes training, nutrition, and work take up so much of my day that my social life gets left out. My advice: Yes, training is important, but so is your social life – it’s essential for your well-being. So even on busy days, try to make some time for yourself, even if it’s just a quick call with your parents or best friend.
WAM: What have been the highlights of your career so far?
Emely: German Champion (2019), third in the European Championship (2019), German Vice-Champion (2023), and many titles in both national and international competitions. I also love sharing my passion for the sport and teaching wakeboarding to young people.
WAM: How do you manage the tension before a competition? Do you have any pre-competition routines?
Emely: That’s a great question. Yes, I do have a routine. I start my warm-up in a quiet area (if that’s not possible, I use my AirPods to focus on my exercises). Then, I take a few minutes to visualise my run with all the elements I want to execute. Just before starting, I do a breathing exercise to help me focus on the moment and not jump ahead to my first trick before it’s time. The breathing also lowers my pulse and helps me relax. My tip: take each trick step by step; it helps you stay focused and perform better.
WAM: And after the competition? How do you like to celebrate a win?
Emely: I love celebrating my achievements with family and friends. Sometimes we’ll go out to eat and spend a fun evening at a bar (only non-alcoholic drinks for me!).
WAM: What are your future goals, and what’s next for you?
Emely: A title at the 2025 World Games and the World Championships! I also want to bring more awareness to wakeboarding and inspire others to follow their own paths and believe in their dreams. Up next for me is Bali, starting from November 11, 2024. Bali offers a great training environment for my teammates and me to prepare for the upcoming season.
Emely: I’m looking forward to working with WAM and building something amazing together. For women, my hope is that they feel comfortable in their own skin again and let go of the belief that “they’re not good enough as they are”. Everyone is perfect just as they are!
