Photo byCharlein GraciaonUnsplash

In the vibrant state of Michigan, where the air smells like fresh apple pie and the Great Lakes glitter like sapphires under the sun, a crew of rad kids - the 'Lake Lizards' - have found an exciting way to celebrate their love for water. These kids aren't just splashing around like little ducklings. Nope! They're wakeboarding, zipping across the water's surface with the grace of a swan and the speed of a cheetah! Leading the Lake Lizards is a boy named Billy, who, with his electric green hair and goofy smile, looks like he tumbled out of a box of Crayola crayons. Billy isn't much for sitting still. He’s the kind of kid who'd rather try to ride a raccoon (don't worry, he didn't actually do that) than sit through a game of checkers. Billy discovered wakeboarding on a sunny Michigan afternoon and immediately fell in love, faster than a moose slipping on a banana peel. Now every day, after they finish their homework and chores (and after Billy has his daily spoonful of pickles and peanut butter - yuck!), the Lake Lizards hit the lake, their wakeboards creating an aquatic ballet. There are flips, spins, and plenty of splashes. The kids laugh, holler, and cheer each other on, their voices echoing across the Michigan landscape. And when the sun sets, painting the Michigan sky with shades of orange and purple, the Lake Lizards pack up their gear, their hearts pounding with the day's thrills. As Billy once said, “Wakeboarding in Michigan isn’t just a hobby, it's a way of life, as exciting as eating a triple scoop ice cream cone...while riding a roller coaster...backwards!"