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Jon Kuiperij Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Sports 27 | Friday, September 5, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" Youngster finds wave to success Six-year-old claims national wakeboarding title in first competitive season A Erin said national titles were the last thing on her mind when she and Craig introduced Nikka to the sport. Avid snowboarders, skiers and cyclists, Erin and YouTube video shot last year documents one Craig were simply looking for a leisurely family acof the first times Nikka Kaufman successfully tivity they could involve their daughter in during the pulled herself out of the Lake Ontario water summer. and onto her wakeboard. Nikka finished fourth (last) in her division last year "Good girl! Yay!" Erin Kaufman called out to her at Wakestock, her first competition. daughter, who was five years old at the time. This year, she easily won the novice Nikka held on for more than two 8-under division at Wakestock, the minutes, staying to the far right of the Newbie Girls 8-under crowns in the boat before finally deciding to chalRoots Wake Series and at the provincial lenge the wake. championships, and the junior girls "Look at her still hanging on!" Erin 9-under title at nationals in Bala, Ont. marvelled. "Good girl, you went right Erin attributes Nikka's rapid imthrough that wave!" provement to a competitive and agA year later, it takes a bit more than gressive nature, coaching from Craig, that to surprise Erin and her husband, gymnastics and trampoline training, Craig. and lots of practice. This summer, in her first competitive Much of that practice has taken place season, six-year-old Nikka won divinear the Oakville shoreline, either in sion titles in the Roots Wake Series, at the early mornings or late afternoons Wakestock, at provincials and at naand evenings when the Lake Ontario tionals -- against girls as much as three waters are typically calm -- and quiet. years older. "The lake is so under-utilized," said "From last year to this year, if you Erin. Erin Kaufman were looking at a (line) graph, it's "The sailboaters, sometimes they Mother of wakeboarder Nikka straight up," Erin said. wave, and sometimes they wave and "We're pretty much blown away. It's shake their heads. That's who we're funny -- if you don't have any expectaout there with, the sailboaters and the tions, we find you don't get anything. But if she tries paddleboarders. We'll see the odd boat occasionally, something, she gets it." but it's very rare you see people out there." The water is cold, Erin and Nikka both warn. They Wakeboarding is family activity say they don't go in Lake Ontario without wearing a Ask Nikka Kaufman why she enjoys wakeboarding, full wetsuit. and she doesn't talk about the speed or the jumps or Nikka even remembers wakeboarding one day in a the waves. "It's probably because it's something my whole snowstorm. You have to be a bit nuts to do this sport, it's sugfamily can do," said the Ecole Ste. Marie elementary gested. school student. "While I'm out there, I can hear (my "That's us!" Nikka replies. "That's our family!" parents) cheering. That's one thing I love about it." by Jon Kuiperij Beaver Sports Editor From last year to this year, if you were looking at a (line) graph, it's straight up. Six-year-old Nikka Kaufman won series, provincial and national wakeboarding championships this year, her first full competitive season. | photo submitted A's win two provincial rookie ball titles The youngest players in the Oakville Minor Baseball Association rep system have put in the work, and now the results are starting to show. The A's won provincial AAA titles at both the minor rookie ball (7- and 8-year-olds) and major rookie ball (9-year-olds) levels last weekend, with each club going 6-1 at the Ontario championships in Kitchener. The minor rookie ball A's held their opponents to six runs or less in six of their seven contests, with one of their victories coming by shutout. Oakville's major rookie ball squad was even stingier, posting a shutout of its own and allowing a total of 18 runs in its seven tournament games. Eight of the 12 players on the team won Ontario minor rookie ball AAA gold last season. OMBA vice-president of rep Tony Busseri pointed to strong defensive fundamentals as the reason for the A's success, noting that pitching machines are used at the rookie ball level. "To hold teams to a shutout or a few runs per game is quite a feat," said Busseri, also the head coach of the minor rookie ball A's. "Since there is no pitching, it's even harder to be dominant at rookie ball because it's a level playing field in that respect." Developing core skills like fielding and see Indoor on p.28 The Oakville A's minor rookie ball AAA team. | photo submitted