Phillip Soven
Having turned professional at the tender age of 11 wakeboarder Phillip Soven can already boast 10 years of experience. At just 21, the Florida native has won nearly every contest he’s competed in and made history as the first rider to win the Pro Tour title, the King of Wake crown and the WWA World Series in the same year. Achieving things that competitors double his age could only dream of, Phillip is showing no signs of stopping. He chats to IDOL about being fearless, competing against his brother and what he wants to do before he dies.


HOW DID YOU GET RECOGNIZED AS FEARLESS WAKEBOARDER?
A fearless wakeboarder huh? To be honest I really don't know how to answer that. I guess it must have something to do with the fact that I have the mindset of always going for it all. I am not happy with second place so I will always go for the win and risk it all rather than play it safe for an easy podium spot.


WHAT IS THE STORY WITH YOUR NICKNAME 'THE ICEMAN'?
Well mostly it has to do with the announcers on tour having too much time on their hands! Just kidding. I am pretty sure, and again I am just guessing from what I hear, I am always focused and I never crush under pressure. In fact I do better under pressure and I don't ever get rattled.


ALSO YOUR BROTHER, BOB SOVEN, IS A PRO WAKEBOARDER, DO YOU SEE HIM AS COMPETITION AS WELL OR DID YOU HELP HIM OUT AS A GOOD BIG BROTHER?
It's a little bit of both. He and I ride together and train at home all year long and at the contest we will help each other with our runs. At the end of the day only one of us can come out on top so there is definitely some competitiveness and it is "what we do" but when its all said and done I guess you could consider us teammates that compete with and against each other.


WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE SPORT BEFORE YOU DISCOVERED WAKEBOARDING?
I grew up playing sports so its hard to pick one. I played Baseball, Basketball, Hockey, Motocross, Skateboarding, Snowboarding (when I had a chance to get out on the mountain.), and a little bit of - I hate to admit it - but I did the whole inline skating thing, in my defence it was cool back then. Anyway if I guess I would have to say Baseball just because I played it for so many years. I still ride motocross pretty regularly during the off-season and get out the rink and play some pickup games of Hockey.


WHAT ENCOURAGES YOU TO FURTHER AND GIVE YOUR BEST?
I always want more. As soon as I achieve something I celebrate and say "Awesome I did it...What's next?"


SOME OF YOUR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS ARE FROM COMPETITIONS LIKE THE KING OF WAKE, AND THE PRO WAKEBOARD. TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT SO FAR.
There have been so many of them every accomplishment is a stepping stone to the next one. Having the first ever undefeated Pro Tour season was a big one for me. But my third King of Wake title this year has had the most impact because of just how competitive and difficult it was to get. This year on tour the smallest mistake could have cost me the title.


WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN?
"No one mentions the guy who did just enough to get by...But the guy who risked it all and came out on top will be remembered forever."


IF YOU WERE TO DISCOVER YOURSELF IN A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU WOULD DO?
Probably try to figure out what happened the night before must have been one hell of a party!


SOMETHING YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT.
My iPhone.


WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS TIME?
Hopefully (knock on wood) still competing and at the top of the ranks in 5 years I will still only be 26. After I am done wakeboarding though I am really interested in starting my own company but that's all I am going to tell you about that you'll just have to wait and see.


WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE DYING?
Visit space, also take a ride in a Blue Angels jet (see question 14)


WHO IS THE PERSON YOU HAVE LEARNT THE MOST AND WHY?
My dad. Although throughout my childhood and career there have been literally 100s maybe 1,000s of people that have impacted me and shaped what I am today.


WHO/WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE IN YOUR NEXT LIFE?
ME. I have been given an amazing life and to ever ask for anything more in this or a next life is just selfish. For now I'm just gonna keep living this one....or maybe a fighter pilot because let’s be honest what's more bad ass than a fighter pilot...

Interview by Katre Laan 
Intro & edited by Emma Hurwitz

Published in IDOL magazine online version:
http://idolmag.co.uk/art-culture-interview/phillip-soven