Aljihayem started wakeboarding in the summer of 2004. Before he even knew whether or not he had the ability to wakeboard he bought a board. Within the first year of wakeboarding he purchased a boat and began the Kuwait Wakeboard Team. And since this time has continued to support the riders and the team.
Why did you start wakeboarding? Saw it on T.V. early “2004” and bought a board for the summer to give the sport a try. The following year I bought a boat. I have been involved in gymnastics since I was a child and wakeboarding seemed to stem from two activities I love and am passionate about; gymnastics and water.
Do you have an idol? Who? Why? Or Who is your favorite rider? Philip Soven is my favorite rider because of his style, tricks and abilities as a rider. Darin Shapiro is my Idol because of his aggressive riding style.
Personal Goals: To become a professional rider and be within the top 5 riders in the World Cup Competitions.
To develop wakeboarding within the region
What is your current wakeboard and why? Watson by Liquid Force, 130cm. My other board broke and Watson was available here in Kuwait. It is the best board I have tried so far. Prior to this board I had a Lyman by Liquid Force, 135cm. It was the latest board available here in Kuwait. I thought I would give it a try. After 3 months of tricks and increasing skill challenges the board split and I bought the “Watson.”
What was your first wakeboard (if different from the one now)? My first board was a beginner board which was a CWB, 142cm. This board was too big for my height and weight. At the time I picked this board because it was the cheapest. This board was broken by the propeller of the boat. I purchased this board because I was inexperienced in wakeboarding and was unsure of how to pick a board.
Favorite time of day (week and year) to board: Around 3:00pm just before sunset in the summer when the beach is not too crowded (weekday)
How often do you practice (when, where and how)? Not less than 4 times a week from June to September, this training has become a yearly ritual. When I am lucky I train more. The winter or cooler seasons I trampoline train.
Current tricks:
- Basic Tricks: switch, jumps, wake to wake jumps, grabs
- Grabs: mute, tail, nose, Indy, melan, Indy shifty, slob, stalefish
- 180’: front / blind, with grabs(many versions), back roll, Air Raley
- Back roll / Heelside Roll to Revert / Toeside with grab / Toeside back roll / 360’ backside, frontside / Air Raley( superman ) / Heelside Air Krypt / Whirlybird / Suicide / Tantrum /Tantrum with Indy grab / Off-axis 180’ / Tootsie Roll / KGB / Hoochie Glide / Toeside 540’
Hardest trick thus far: KGB it is a combination of a 360’ turn, with a back roll.
What is the best method of wakeboarding for you? Glassy water, wakeboarding behind a boat specifically designed for wakeboarding full of my friends cheering me on with any rope, anytime of the day and on any board.
Current titles:
- “Best Team Award” at the 2008 Annual Arab Slalom and Wakeboard Championship
- Participant in “Kuwait’s First X-treme Water Show in 2006”
- 2009 “UAE Wakeboard Tour Stop #1, 1st Place,” “UAE Wakeboard Tour Stop #2, 1st Place,” “UAE Wakeboard Tour Stop #3, 1st Place, UAE Wakeboard Tour Stop #4, 1st Place, Overall 1st Place in Men’s division”
- Quiksilver 40th Anniversary Wakefest & 2009 Hong Kong Open Wakeboard Championships- 5th Place
- World Games 2009, Taiwan- 13th Place
- 2009 Asian Championships, Korea- 8th Place
- 2009 Asian Championships, Korea- Overall Team ranked 6th
- Participated in World Cup Korea
Other interested activities: Soccer, watching UFC, trampoline, watching Wakeboard clips or videos, listening to music
