Russian athletes combined wakeboarding with the power of the racing KAMAZ. And achieved first tricks in the world at 10-meter height at the speed of 80 kmh.
The star of the Russian wakeboarding Nikita Martyanov and the driver of KAMAZ-master team Anton Shibalov decided to expand the horizon of two extreme kinds of sport. Once Nikita saw the photo of KAMAZ, rushing along a narrow mound in the middle of the water reservoir, and thought: “What if to go behind this crazy truck and make cool tricks?” Thus the future project was born and further suitable location appeared on the territory of Tatneft object Bondyuzhsky mold near Naberezhnye Chelny in Tatarstan. Moreover, Chelny is a native city and a testing field of the legendary truck, center of the racing team. Perfect combination. But this was the easiest part of the project. Then the practical part began.
“The biggest problem was that we tried to imitate towing behind the wakeboard boat. The truck is road-hugging in order to accelerate fast from the start. Initially I thought that I would be able to plan all as if going behind the motorboat: first I would jump from here, then there, that everything would be simple and easy. But here… We did the first test, installed springboard in the dam site, dug in the place where I would like to get, but already on the second double I controlled landing only in 30 cm from stones by the skin of my teeth. Even I, with all my experience, wakeboarding for more than 23 years couldn’t predict a complete real picture,” - tells the wakeboarder. Several times the team had to correct acceleration and speed of the truck, verify position of the springboard, free from stones and expand safe area for landing.
The driver of KAMAZ-master team Anton Shibalov appeared in unusual role for a racer: “For us wakeboarding is a new experience. KAMAZ is a high-powered vehicle and you need to be absolutely careful. First of all, you think how not to make a jerk. Nikita has a huge arm and leg load. And by a sharp driving you can easily damage his joints. Therefore, I tried to start and speed up smoothly, and get the needed speed. Fortunately, possibilities of our truck allow to do it. The process was complicated by the fact that the maximum I could see being in the cab was the moment we started moving and in the mirrors Nikita, jumping over the mole during his trick. It frightens: I just hoped the run-in and speed would be enough to over jump this area of the road. As if I don’t pick up enough speed, agreed with him, he would get onto a stony mound and it will be absolutely my mistake.”
Before the wakeboard and the truck found the common ground, they had to make several trial drives. They had to take into account plenty of factors: acceleration of the truck, Nikita’s jump angle, the speed of jumping over the mound. Even strength and direction of wind are important. In such trick kind of sports as snowboarding, moto freestyle and others, a rider lands on the inclined plane, that softens the touchdown. In case with wakeboarding, an athlete lands on the water plain surface. With my body I need to reduce the whole speed, which I generate from the acceleration to landing in. First I touch the water with the board tail, then knees and also you need to squat very-very low. The number of such trials is very limited. In short, my chiropractor won’t thank me”, - shares the sportsman with his impressions.
The main aim of the project is to do the trick on the wakeboard with the KAMAZ drafting – is achieved, even with a record. Jump in 26 meters at the speed of 80 kmh and the height of 10 meters with landing to the “flat surface” on the wakeboard had never been done by anyone. The revelation was that KAMAZ, usually rushing from the start to the race can be smooth and careful, as a wakeboard boat.
“Emotions are certainly enormous because I have never tried such drafting in my life. Going after KAMAZ arises storm of emotions. You are totally in tow with this huge crazy truck. And my mega-jump “for all money”. I have never seen someone to do the same on the wakeboard!” - told Nikita Martyanov.
KAMAZ-master team thanks Tatneft PJSC and NGSU “Prikamneft” for cooperation and help with the project implementation.
