WSM: Let’s start with our typical interview questions. What’s your name, where are you from, and how long have you been wakesurfing?
Dylan: My name is Dylan Ayala, I’m from Gilbert Arizona and I’ve been wakesurfing for 2 years.
WSM: Prior to wakesurfing, were you doing any other towed water sports?
Dylan: I would occasionally wakeboard!
WSM: You hit the contest scene this year hard. Coming into the season, did you set any goals for yourself? Or, did you come in looking to have a good time and see where you ended up?
Dylan: My goals for this year were to have a perfect season, I wanted to win every competition I entered. So far I have and hope to finish it at worlds!
WSM: Take us through your warm up. When you get up for the first time on any given day, what tricks do you do first?
Dylan: I will usually do a bottom turn an air or Allie oop to warm up when I first get up.
WSM: What as the first trick you learned and how long did it take you to get it?
Dylan: My first trick I was super stoked on was definitely the 360. It took me about a month to learn.
WSM: Style is one of those things that’s hard to define yet easy to spot. In our opinion, you’re becoming known for having some of the best style in the game. More specifically, you’re able to get your body and board into crazy angles when doing airs, and, basically, sending yourself into different zip codes when you bottom turn. Is that something you think about when riding? Or, is that just something that naturally happens?
Dylan: I always try to add as much amplitude as I can on my airs, once you have the amplitude you can work on tweaking them out! I try to think of bottom turns in three steps, I look out past the whitewash from the boat. Once I get to that point I pause for a second to load my self up to Ollie back in. I feel like a lot of people try to bottom turn all in one motion.
WSM: You’re predominantly a surf style rider but do you ever ride skim? Which style did you start out with first?
Dylan: I will occasionally ride skim but I’m super bad at it hahaha. I started out on a surf style board.
WSM: How’d you get into running wax up front instead of EVA traction? Did you start that way or transition at one point from full traction to 1/2 EVA and 1/2 wax?
Dylan: I started out with viskus and nuff grip, I really liked them but I always found my self with my foot off of the grip. I like the full wax because I can land with my feet anywhere on the board.
WSM: When you get to ride back home, who’s usually on the boat with you?
Dylan: A few close friends and photographers/videographers!
WSM: What advice would you give a newcomer to the sport that’s looking to progress and learn new tricks?
Dylan: I’d recommend getting lessons, you will progress much quicker!
WSM: Do you have any sponsors, friends, or family you’d like to thank?
Dylan: Actionwatersports, actionrideco, wakesurfgear, Soulcraft, and stz. My parents, and my friend Talon for always driving.
WSM: Would you like to plug any social media?
Dylan: Instagram-@dylanayala_
