Guinness World Record - Wakeboard marathon 24h - Interview with Igor Deranja

It all began with a joke related to a new extreme sport, little known ... wakeboarding! One day after a ride my girlfriend said "who knows what 's the longest distance ever traveled with the wake ...." and here we are ...

My name is Igor Deranja and I'm a passionate about extreme sports, looking for adrenaline to break the monotony of everyday life has always been something that fascinated me. While my friends were playing football, I jumped from the cliffs, I dived into the depths of the sea or watch the 'horizon to find the' perfect wave.... and now I'm trying to pass again my limits with this Guinness world record ... wakeboarding marathon 24 hours. This will be the longest distance ever traveled in the open sea with a wake board.

The first person who believed in my idea was Mrs. Varna Laco from Cable Centar Krk and after her arrived the others like you.. BoardForce (thanks Nelly), Cable center Poreč, Kirica d.o.o. (which provides the boat for the event), Hip-Notics cable center and Cable Pag. Fitness Center Lovorka gave me the possibility to train as many times that I want and the Croatian water ski federation (HSSV) which are supporting me too. A great support was given to me by Kruna Mode which is the Croatian distributor for O'Neill, they provided me the best O'Neill equipment on market. I am still looking for supporters because the biggest problem is to get the gas for the boat.... that is the main cost of the event!!

We're really giving the best to succeed in our idea but there is still much work and many sacrifices to do ,so that in September 2010 all will be set for the WAKEBOARD MARATHON 24H on which you are all invited to participate live or through www.myspace.com/wakeboardmarathon24h and www.facebook.com/igorderanja

INTERVIEW:
Nelly Mance: Hi Igor, how are you?
Igor Deranja: Fine thanks.... finally home after gym!!
Nelly Mance:How was today?
Igor Deranja:Great, I am still in the mood by yesterdays riding result!!!
Nelly Mance:Why you are impressed with your riding, what so special you made yesterday?
Igor Deranja:I am happy about the development of my project, the Guinness world record attempt " Wakeboard marathon 24h" I had a open sea training where I resisted 2h towed by a boat, we made about 80 km!!!
Nelly Mance: That's so sick but what is the plan for declaring World record?
Igor Deranja: The plan is to make as many km in a period of 24h towed by a boat on the open sea....
Nelly Mance:Do you have any idea how long distance it will be or it is still secret?
Igor Deranja:I am trying to be very careful about declaring any possible distance. I am trying to ride every time more but a lot depends on the weather and sea conditions. A wave of 10 cm, which you can't even see it on the surface can become a big obstacle in a period of 1 hour ride.
Nelly Mance: What about THE DAY? When it will be?
Igor Deranja: Like I said the weather it's a very important factor. My team and I think it will be one of the first days in September, but the final date could be decided only one week before the event. The weather forecast can be precise just from 3 to 5 days so we have to wait.
Nelly Mance: How you came up for this idea?
Igor Deranja: HAHAHA....the idea was given by my crazy girlfriend... one day after a ride she asked me if I know the longer distance that someone made with a wakeboard in one day... and so it started. I think she regrets so much that question now because she sees me just a few hours a week... all my free time in the last 8 months is dedicated to trainings, eating and sleeping!!!
Nelly Mance: But when she sees you she gets turtle belly next to her, so she has to be happy...
Igor Deranja: HAHAHA..... yes but she is jealous too. No, besides jokes, she is helping me so much in this challenge. I couldn't reach so far without her, my Mom and my friends!!!!!!!
Nelly Mance: How your trainings looked like and how they look now?
Igor Deranja: I started to train by my self 8 months ago. The trainings were made in Lovorka gym in Rijeka and at the Cable centers in Krk and in Poreč. Six months ago I started working with my coach Krešimir Kovačević and that made the difference. I got 6 kg of muscles. We started with a program to prepare the body to sustain big weights after we passed to another one for strength which lasted 3 months and now I am working on my endurance. During all this time I had a strict diet too... I am eating everything measured in grams. All this gym work is combined by cable and boat trainings.
Nelly Mance: So how many weight you can push... and what the hell you can eat in grams ;)
Igor Deranja: The maximum weight is not very important for this event but it was a level to pass to get some quality lean body mass. And about the grams... everything is measured from the early morning to the late dinner.... At the beginning it was difficult to measure every gram of food you have to eat but then I get use to it!!!
Nelly Mance: What kind of the food is most important chicken, or vegetable or fruits or all in equal size?
Igor Deranja: They are all important, all of them is an important key for the correct working of the organism. Don't think it's some strange diet I am eating, is normally Meditteranean diet. I am eating pasta, potatoes, all kind of lean meat, fish, vegetables and fruit. Obviously alcohol is not included... and that makes my friends VEEEERY angry!!!
Nelly Mance: I don't doubt... I saw it last weekend. What is the plan after the record with training and eating program?
Igor Deranja: My fortune is that this kind of diet is my normal way of living but I am sure that for a long time there won't be any measurements... The trainings will calm too a little bit.... but no so much... they are fun!!!! I have in plan to go for a nice vacation at Hip-Notics when I am finished with this.... but one thing first... LETS MAKE IT OUT FIRST!!!!!!
Nelly Mance: Maybe you can join me in Sep/Oct after the Worlds... How long you are wakeboarding?
Igor Deranja: Why not!!! It will be a pleasure!! About my wakeboarding the history is pretty short... I am wakeboarding just a few years now but I have lots of years snowboarding behind me and I am a guy who learns fast!!
Nelly Mance: But this is not your first sport?
Igor Deranja: Oh no, in my life I have tried all kinds of extreme sports... I am scuba diving from my 12th birthday, than I've free climbed, ride motorcycles..... a life without adrenalin for me it's boring!!
Nelly Mance: So from all this sports which one is your favorite?
Igor Deranja: Surely all the water sports... when I am in the sea I feel free... there's nothing else... just the sea, Mother Nature and me.... It's a feeling I can't explain but I am sure that every wakeboarder, diver, surfer... can understand me!!
Nelly Mance: I can understand you definitively. Let me know who is supporting your great idea?
Igor Deranja: The first person who believed in my idea was Mrs. Varna Laco from Cable Centar Krk and after her arrived the others like you.. BoardForce (thanks Nelly), Cable center Poreč, Kirica d.o.o. (which provides the boat for the event), Hip-Notics cable center and Cable Pag. Fitness Center Lovorka gave me the possibility to train as many times that I want and the Croatian water ski federation (HSSV)
which are supporting me too. A great support was given to me by Kruna Mode which is the Croatian distributor for O'Neill, they provided me the best O'Neill equipment on market. I am still looking for supporters because the biggest problem is to get the gas for the boat.... that is the main cost of the event!!
Nelly Mance: Hey sponsors, hear this guy, maybe you would like to join in this game... Now lets find out some other details about you... How old are you, where you are coming from, what you do when you are not doing some of those sports?
Igor Deranja: I am from Rijeka (Croatia) and I am 28. I am a member of the Italian minority in Rijeka and I am still studying marketing and publicity in Trieste (Italy). When I'm not doing some sports I spend some time with my family and my dog, a nice labrador retriever 8 month old...
Nelly Mance: So where we can find out more details about you and about wakeboarding marathon in 24 hours?
Igor Deranja: We have 2 pages where daily you can find new stuff about the marathon, wakeboarding, fitness and our sponsors and they are www.myspace.com/wakeboardmarathon24h and www.facebook.com/igorderanja
Nelly Mance: After this all finish, can I hire you for my personal trainer so we can set up female world record
Igor Deranja: Of course!!!!!!!!!! The category still exists.... just go for it Nelly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nelly Mance: See ya this weekend hopefully at Handi tricks Krk! And than some photo shootings and hanging on the cable...
Igor Deranja: Sure... I think this is really a great happening and we should learn a lot from this guys!!!!!!!! They are really the heroes of this sport!!
Nelly Mance: And for the end some words about BoardForce.net
Igor Deranja: The only thing I can say is SUPER...... You really helped me so much and I really suggest it to everyone to take a look at this great site, where you can find always news from all over the world and interesting things about boardsports and travelling!!!!!!! Thake a look... won't regret it!!!
Nelly Mance: Thanks a lot for your nice words
Igor Deranja: Just truth....