Parks
Bonifay
United States
·
Wakeboarding
Date of birth | 30 September 1981 |
|---|---|
Place of birth | Winterhaven, Florida, USA |
Age | 44 |
Nationality | United States |
Career start | 1995 |
Disciplines | Wakeboarding Boat |
Pete Bonifay described his son Parks as fearless. He should know. When Parks was just six months old, Pete strapped skis on his son and watched him go.
The son of two show skiers, Bonifay was given the training grounds, tools and mentorship to develop his skills. Not only did he learn to ride big air, but he gleaned more from Pete and Betty Bonifay than just the foundation for a championship career, he gained compassion and the drive to flourish.
At the age of three he was already competing and by the time he was a teenager, wakeboarding was taking off. He believes the sport was made for him. At 14, Bonifay won the inaugural Wakeboard competition in the 1996 X Games – his first of two gold medals. Over eight seasons, he collected five medals and too many titles to count.
In addition to five Pro Tour Championships, Bonifay was named Wakeboarding Magazine Rider of the Year in 2003-2004. One of wakeboarding’s foremost trick innovators, Bonifay set the bar high, introducing a variety of double flips emulated by inspiring wake disciples.
A member of the Wakeboarding Hall of Fame, Bonifay is considered the most influential rider of all time. As he transitions from competitor to wake statesman, Bonifay embodies the mantra that he’d rather ride smart long-term than ride hard short-term. His goal? To ride for another 20 years.