Kirby's School of Wake

Kirby’s School of Wake began in 2008 after Pro Wakeboarder, Kirby Liesmann’s first offseason from living in Orlando. Kirby began wakeboarding at the age of seven, began competing at age 14, rode Jr. Pro in 2006, and has been riding in the Pro division since 2010. His passion for teaching is rooted in his past experience at the “school of hard knocks”. In Kirby’s early wakeboard years, he was uncoached and fearlessly pursuing new tricks on his own. This resulted in trying tricks he was fundamentally unprepared to learn and taking many hard falls. “There were a few falls that could have led me to quitting,” he stated. Because of this, Kirby’s passion is to help riders at all levels progress in a fundamentally correct and safe manner.

Kirby’s School of Wake has been rapidly growing since 2008. Kirby has spent many hours training and shadowing with the best professional wakeboarding coaches in the industry throughout his career. This experience has equipped him to create a specialized program for students of all riding levels. Kirby’s coaching style is relaxed, but very attentive to the fundamentals to ensure long-term success. He has developed many simple drills in order to adjust and improve rider’s techniques. “My theory is that if I can get a student to feel the proper form, either through a simulation on the back of the boat or an on-water drill, they are going to grasp the concept much quicker in the application of the trick they are learning,” Kirby explained. Lessons have also allowed Kirby’s School of Wake to build impactful relationships with families and students opening doors of opportunity to speak truth into the lives of students and to encourage them to achieve their goals. “Honestly, it is the best part about what we do,” Kirby commented.

The blessing of God, support of family and friends, the skills, the training, the hard work, and the prompting, mentoring, and guidance of skilled business professors have all helped to create the business we know and love today. Kirby expressed that any success Kirby’s School of Wake experiences comes from the blessing of God: “I strive to honor Him in all areas of the business and He fully provides our needs and great ideas. I once heard someone say that there is a difference between a good idea and a God idea, and we at Kirby’s School of Wake are pursuing the Lord in search of those God ideas.” Kirby’s School of Wake is constantly working to build and refine the program to accommodate more students and to create the most fun, positive learning experience for water sports enthusiasts at the Lake of the Ozarks.