After being ranked first in his category in Colombia, Manuel Torres, 7th grade Columbus School student will attend the 2019 IWWF wakeboard international championship held in Abu Dhabi.

Torres qualified for the championship as he participated in four tournaments during the year in Colombia were his total point were summed and was ranked first in his category.  He will be attending this tournament from November nineteenth until the twenty third.

“This has been my greatest accomplishment yet in wakeboarding, and I see it as a great opportunity and experience,” Torres said.

Torres has mixed feelings, being both excited and scared about what is to come. He is preparing for the championship by training all week days except for Mondays for about 20 minutes in club campestre llanogrande. Although he is training for any difficult circumstances he believes his biggest challenge he will face will be getting comfortable and accustomed to the waves and boat. 

“My dream and main goal for this championship is to arrive to the final, get a good place on the podium and learn from this experience, ” Torres said.

Even though Torres has only been practicing wakeboard for two years he has already won a latinamerican championship in Brazil. This is something that amuses his family and motivates them to always support Torres in this hobby even through rough times. This is why his mother, dad and sister will accompany him in the tournament in Dubai. 

“We feel absolutely happy and proud of Manuel and with the great satisfaction of knowing that the passion for what is done, the discipline and perseverance that we have instilled in him today is reflected in his results,” Natalia Gaviria, said. 

The IWWF is organizing the 2019 world wakeboard championship. Which is held in a different place each year, this time Dubai. Both men and women will be competing in ten age group categories, both men and women.  It will be held and organized by Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club which are making an association in this championship with IWWF, ADIMSC, which has been providing different marine competitions since 1993.

As the IWWF said ”Being able to watch, and engage with the world’s top riders will allow the Academy and our students to learn and further develop our knowledge.” 

Supported by his family, Torres is waiting and hoping for the best results in this important challenge and experience with the biggest excitement of representing his country.

”I feel happy and proud of being able to represent my country and hopefully leave its name high,” Torres said.