Who is Mitch Langfield?
By: Ross Gardner
Mitch Langfield recently took the World Title in the Jr. Pro Men Division at the WWA Wakeboard World Championships held in Orlando, Florida. He did so riding a new board, the Byerly Monarch and had been on the deck for about 2 weeks. Mitch hails from Australia and he rips, but that’s all we know. We caught up with him to get his thoughts on the championship, signing with Byerly Boards and about life in general.
Q: Mitch, who are you and where did you come from?
A: I’m Mitch Langfield, I’m 18 years old, I have a mustache and I’m from Brisbane, Australia.
Q: What’s the Wakeboard scene like at home in Australia?
A: Its small but its growing fast there's new rail parks and what not going up every few months. As far as contests go, Wake Wars is the highest paying event of the Aussie season with a prize pool worth $17,500.
Q: Have you wrapped your head around the World Title, I believe that’s a few of them for you?
A: Yeah I won the WWA worlds in 2007 and also the IWSF worlds later in that year
so I guess that would be 3 now. Stoked!
Q: How has your sweet mustache enhanced your riding?
A: Massively, It was my key to winning worlds this year... Intimidating and it calms
my nerves.
Q: Tell us your influence for these insane wrapped maneuvers you’ve been doing lately?
A: The fact that some people call it gay.... I don't think there is anything gay about grabbing your board the hole way through a trick.
Q: How did the Byerly thing come about and when did you start riding Scott’s boards?
A: Pretty much I was hanging out with Scott after a tour stop and he was saying how he wanted and Aussie rider and I was saying how I wanted a board that didn't snap after a few rail hits so it just fit perfect. A few weeks later he gave me a board to try out and now that’s the board I ride everyday, it’s awesome.
Q: What are your plans for the winter months and what are your plans for next season? Jr. Pro or Pro, where do you plan on competing?
A: What is winter anyway I’m going back home to Australia for the Aussie summer and contest season. I’ll be riding in Pro from now on, I’m exited to see how I go against the big guns next year when I come back in March.
Q: Is there anything in Wakeboarding you haven’t done yet that you want to do, travel, tricks, freeriding, anything?
A: There is a lot I haven't done or seen so I’m just gunna sit back and let wakeboarding be my tour guide
Q: So for next year, what set up will you be rocking?
A: The Monarch behind the boat and the Assault on cable.
Q: Any nicknames we don’t know about?
A: Grommet is the most resent and best one so far the rest never stuck.
Q: What are your top three favorite things about the states vs. down under?
A; 1. I live on a lake here
2. The cable is only 15 minutes away as opposed to an hour back home.
3. Everyone lives really close and it’s really easy to ride.
Q: What are you top three favorite things about down under vs. the states?
A: 1. Steak, Bacon & Cheese pies.
2. Rails are better at my cable back home.
3. My family lives in Australia
4. Sausage Rolls
5. No wandering crack heads (you can take this one out if you want)
Q: What are your influences outside of wakeboarding to keep you shredding?
A: Snowboarding.
Q: If you could be any animal (aquatic or non-aquatic), what would it be?
A: a Lion... its king of the jungle, No one fucks with a lion
Q: Any love you’d like to give?
A: Firstly my parents they are awesome! Then all my sponsors Red Bull , Rip Curl, Dragon and of corse Byerly Boards and finally a big thanks to everyone that has helped me out this year... You know who you are!
Oh Oh also the key to a good mustache is good complement...helps it grow, so thank you Ross Gardner for the consistent complements!
Peace!
Photo: Rodrigo Donoso
Photo: Rodrigo Donoso
