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My nephew, Justin Waney!

Senior Athlete of the Month: Justin Waney

Senior runningback Justin Waney ran for 241 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a 81 yard score in Clairemont's New Stadium Home Opener against Orange Glenn.

October 24, 2011 • David Pradel, Sports Editor  
Filed under Sports, Top Stories

]Senior running back and line-backer Justin Waney is one of the top football players at CHS. His power, tenacity on the gridiron and his cool, relaxed personality have made him a role model. He a top student too. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 210 pounds, number forty-two Justin Waney is capable of playing on both sides of the field. Justin Waney has been chosen for The Arrow’s first Senior Athlete of the Month.

The Arrow decided to interview Justin about his plans for the future. According to college scouts Waney is a top player to watch for this season in San Diego.  He also looks to continue his success in college.

Not only does Waney play varsity football, he also plays varsity baseball. From freshman year he has maintained a 4.2 cumulative GPA. If he isn’t on the playing field, you can probably catch him on the San Diego beaches surfing and hanging out with his friends.

 

ARROW: How long have you been playing football? When did you figure out that you could be successful in playing this sport?

JW: I have been playing football for about nine years, and I first realized that I could succeed when I was attracting the interest from high school coaches at a junior player development camp when I was in eighth grade.

ARROW: In the four years playing HS football, what has been your favorite memory?

JW: My favorite memory was definitely our overnight weekend camp at SDSU my sophomore year.  We were very mischievous.

ARROW: Do you favor football more than baseball? Any other sports you tried out for?

JW: I love both baseball and football the same. Freshman year I played soccer, and it was a ton of fun. I was too used to running through people from football, so that got me into a little bit of trouble.

ARROW: Why do you play both runningback and linebacker? What do you like about playing both offense and defense?

JW: I like playing both sides of the ball because I grew up playing defense, and I fell in love with it. And then since coming to this school I’ve  played offense too.  I’ve fallen in love with that.  I couldn’t pick which one I like more, so I’ve  kept playing both.

ARROW: You’re a top football prospect  in San Diego. From freshman year to senior year, how have you changed to the player you are now?

JW: I’ve gotten a lot more experienced in the past  four years of school, because I’ve had great coaching.  I used to try and juke and dance when I ran, but I have finally accepted what coaches have always told me to do; get vertical and take a straight path to the end zone.

ARROW: What’s the best thing about playing high school football?

JW: The bond that you make with your teammates.  After spending a lot of time together, we turn into a family and we look out for each other.   Everyone on the team would go out of their way to help me out.

ARROW: What goes through your head when you are about to receive the handoff? Do you get nervous?

JW: Nothing really, instincts just take over.  When you start to think too much, that is when you start to make mistakes.

ARROW: From seeing you play multiple times, you are a power running back and hitter. Where does that come from? The aggression? The power? What’s pushing you to give 100% on the field?

JW: Hahah I don’t know, I just like hitting people.

ARROW: When you are running with the ball and a defender is coming right at you. Do you think about how you are going to break away from him, or is it reaction? What’s the feeling?

JW: It’s just reaction.  Of course it hurts a little bit running people over, but the feeling you get after makes it worth it.

ARROW: What has been your most memorable touchdown? Why?

JW: Probably the 82 yard run I had at our stadium in the opener against Orange Glen.  It was my first one ever on the new field, and it was the longest one I have ever had.

ARROW: What has been the hardest hit you have ever received?

JW: Probably against Coronado my freshman year.  They had this really good safety, and I had grown a little cocky from running over a lot of freshman kids. I came in kind of high thinking that I would easily run over him.  He speared me and stuck his helmet right into my stomach and took the air right out of me.  I thought I would never breathe again.  Ever since then, I’ve stopped underestimating people.

ARROW: What are your plans after high school? What do you want to major in?

JW: I want play football at a prestigious four- year university and probably major in business.

ARROW: We’re heard that you have been recruited by Stanford. Anything you can say about that?

JW: Yes, I’m talking to a few colleges right now, like Harvard, Dartmouth, Princeton, West Point, Air Force and Stanford. But  I’m not really sure where I am going to go yet, just trying to keep all my options open.

ARROW: If you were to choose one word to describe your four years at CHS. What would it be?

JW: Unforgettable…I will never forget the time I have spent at Clairemont.

ARROW: Any moments you will cherish?

JW: I’ll miss those summer two-a-days when we practically lived at Clairemont, all the ice baths, pranks, food and music made it an amazing time.

ARROW: Tell us about your family:

JW: My family has always been there for me, taking me to all the college camps, buying me whatever equipment I’ve needed. They are great and I would be lost without them!

ARROW: Your family is from is of Indian descent, and it’s not everyday we see good American football players from India extraction?

JW: I think it’s pretty cool, I don’t think there are many Indian professionals or college players.

ARROW: Any shout outs for teammates/friends?

JW: A shout out to all my lineman for blocking for me! I Love you guys! I just want to say thank you to all my family and friends for everything they have done for me.

ARROW: What’s the best advice you have ever received?

JW: Don’t Think, Just Run!!! -Fritz

Tags: Athlete, chs, David, Justin, month, of, Pradel, Senior, sports, the, Waney

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Another Trapeze Video With The GoPro Camera

This is the last of my trapeze videos from September, 2011.  In this one, I play with head-band camera shots.  I took video while flying and catching and combined them so you can see what it looks like flying to and being caught by me.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you: Catch and Return a Flying Trapeze Film by Kevin Six

 

Wake Surfing Video With Actual Wake Surfing

The people have spoken and, while The Wake Surfing Film of the Century is, well, the wake surfing film of the century, some have wanted to see actual wake surfing in their wake surfing film.

This odd request has not gone un-heeded.  So now I give you The Second Best Wake Surfing Film of the Century -or- The Wake Surfing Film of the Century With Wake Surfing In It

 

The Wake Surfing Film of the Century

I don't need to say more.

But I will.

This film was an honor and a triumph to make. it took blood, swet, tears and a whole lotta love to produce.  Many thanks to my beloved wife, Jennie, the crew and the people of Scandia Minnesota who had a festival just for me, which they call Taco Days -- and which I call Kevin Six Presents Taco Days but that's a film to be released at a later date. 

Tonight, we bring you the wake surfing film of the century.  A little film I like to call:

The Wake Surfing Film of the Century

 

Cast:

Kevin Six..........................Kevin Six

Jennie Olson Six.................Jennie Olson Six

Sherri Mann......................Sherri Mann

Shawn Klancke...................Shawn Klancke

Katrina Nord......................Katrina Nord

Kiki Mann.........................A midget who looks just like her (no child labor laws broken)

Rusty and Tinkerbell............Themselves

 

Crew

Director, producer, writer and all around cool guy.........Kevin Six

Camera....................Kevin Six, Jennie Olson Six, Katrina Nord

Boat Drivers..............................Shawn Klancke, Sherri Mann

Water Safety.........................Shawn Klancke and Sherri Mann

Stunt coordinator.............................................Kevin Six

Executive Producer........................................Chuck Mann

Special Thanks to: The lovely people of Scandia Minnesota, the Embrace Adrenaline Trapeze Club, the Marine on St. Croix water patrol who totally pulled us over, MasterCraft Boats, GoPro cameras, Shane Foss who surfs very well but not on video and Kali Mann who... Kali, where were you?

Arrogant Little Shits

I see them in cars all day, every day.  Arrogant little shits.  They don't look left -- where I and all of the oncoming traffic is... well, coming on.  Arrogant litle shits.

They leapfrog around me while entrering the freeway, even though I've got my signal on and, in some cases, pulling out to pass.  Arrogant little shits.  Don't they know there are 7 billion others?

Then, two days ago.  Arrogant litle shit runs me over.  In the ocean, not on the freway, lucky me.  Took an eight foot surfboard and its hundred pound rider upside the left side of my neck and head.

"I didn't see you," said the arrogant little shit.  I couldn't see straignt.  Was it anger or because I'd rove roughshod over by an arrogant little shit?

Pretty sore today.  The left shoulder doesn't work right.  My friend says the arrogant little shit was talking shit about me in the parking lot after I left the beach.

Trying not to let it get to me.

Two Swings

I was honored to be the guest of Embrace Adrenaline Trapeze Club in Scandia, MN.  While there, I got to try out my new wearable GoPro camera.  Various people wore the head-band-cam and we came up with some great shots.  In the two shots captured in the video below, I learned a lot about head placement because, while flying with two experienced and graceful flyers frrom Embrace Adrenaline, the head-band-cam was first worn by the flyer on my left and then by me.  That explains the two views but I have a theory that explains it.  WAtch this video and read on for my take on what you saw...

 

OK.  So the tall and graceful Katrina wore the camera for the first swing and, as you can see, she got a pretty good shot of our legs and feet.  Swinging with another flyer is a good way to learn more about timing and placement by matching the swing.  Usually people come away from this exercise with a better understanding of where to put their hips, legs and feet, and when to do it.  Katrina certainly did!

Poor Sherri Mann was the second flyer and, while I can attest to her skill and strength, you never get to see her legs and feet.  The reason?  First let's look at the similarities:

Both swings were double swings with me on the right and and experienced flyer on the left (Katrina on the first one and Sherri on the second).  The other fact is that Katrina wore the camera on the first swing and I wore it on the second.

The reason you can't see Sherri's feet on the second swing has nothing to do with where she put them but, rather, where I put my head (and the camera attached to it) durring the swing.  By looking up while bringing my legs forward, I was able to bring my hips up higher and achieve a better force out.  You just can't see it from that angle because my head is leading my hips, legs and feet.

So, a bad video exercise but a great way to understand how head placement determines where our feet end up in a swing...

Surfing Don'ts

Just a quick video reminder to all your surf instructors out there on what NOT to do when teaching a kid to surf.  We did this little video on the GoPro at La Jolla Shores beach.  Watch and learn!

 

A little sick to my stomach

Anciant Tahatians considered Teahupoo the tail of a giant serpant who lived under the ocean.  If ths tail is 25+ feet, can you imagine the size of the rest of it?  This video was taken in the water, which is not simple but made easier by the fact that the wave, no matter its size, breaks in the exact same place every time.  Sort of like big scarry magic...

 

What it's like getting a surf lesson from me...

Here is one video with all the highlights:

 

And here's one with all the not-so-cool stuff:

 

Stand-Up Paddle Boarding: So that's what all the fuss is...

I rode stand-up paddle board on Friday, July 8 at 6:13 p.m.  This will probably be the exact date and time I got hooked.  It was pretty cool.

 

Well, it got to be pretty cool.  At first, it's a right pain in the ass.  And arms, and knees, and ankles, and now, six hours later, my back hurts a treat.

After an hour-and-a-half, I'd been on exactly four waves.  They were all towards the end.  The first ten,  not so much.  I think I invented three or four new ways to fall off a board. 

But, damn it's fun.  First, you get out there so fast!  You do if you tak nice long strokes.  If you take short strokes with the paddle, you go in a circle.  Long strokes!

Second, you need to orient yourself away from the wave you want to take.  If the wave is going right, I need to set up like I'm going left and, by paddling on my left side, I'll turn the board right into the wave.

You can catch a wave far sooner than people on mere longboards -- and the smart ones get out of your way.  I had to give an annoying little kid two or three wave just to get him out of the way of... well, me.

Steering a 1953 Cadillac is easier than steering a Stand-Up Paddle Board or at least the one I was on.  I won't say it's long but we put a 7' 6" board on it and had to search to find it.  This thing was long, thick and heavy.  Steering lives or dies by the fin (yes, one fin).  And it was more like a slinkey than a fin.

So, if you're going to do it, remember: three fins; feet paralel, until you catch the wave; you'll catch the wave before you know it; yell "get out of the way"; repeat.

I'm trying a smaller fiberglass one next time.  Soon!  Tomorrow? 

Well, soon.