Posted on May 5, 2009 - by Big Baws

Dan Wakeham’s Final Run

The  Telegraph

Bawbags Snowboard team member and British Olympic Medal hopeful Dan Wakeham has decided enough is enough and he’s hanging up his competition board for good!! “it feels like a weight off my shoulders now and I am looking forward to being able to snowboard for my self again!” Dan told us. Welcome back mate!

Despite several top 10 World Cup finishes Dan has been facing the eternal British funding shortfall. And what with the current economic climate many sponsors have been tightening those already tight purse strings even further. Even to the point that fickle big guns like Nike ACG (Dan’s outerwear sponsor) dropped their ENTIRE team! And when you’re up against the overfunded and supertrained Norwegians and the like that’s an uphill battle before you’ve even strapped in.

“I am not quitting snowboarding,” he continued. “My sponsors are cool with my decision and I will continue to represent them. I’m not going to lose my skills overnight, I’ll still be able to throw down some hammers for a few more years and I plan to still go on photo shoots, trips and events such as the Brits”

Dan has his fingers in plenty of pies nowadays and won’t struggle to keep busy in the industry. But if you dont find him in the skatepark this summer then he might just be in Rehab… “I’m really looking forward to not having meetings with toff skiers at the federation and definitely happy I dont have to get my knob out in front of wierd men who want to watch me piss in a pot for drug testing….. In fact, if I want to I can try crack now!”

“I am looking forward to getting back on snow with no pressure from any one, I will actually be allowed to have fun!”

After all, that’s what we all do it for !!