Suzan Moule jumped at the chance to do this interview with her very good friend because she knows that Lisa is such an interesting character with so much to share. However, her only concern was that she might fill an entire magazine if she covered how much Lisa has done. suzan met up with Lisa when she returned triumphant from the World Championships at Lake Havasu...

Lisa’s knowledge and understanding of this sport is second to none. Over the years on the jet ski circuit Lisa has gained much in the way of experience and knowledge. Those that know her will tell you she is straight-talking and reliable, a mine of information and selflessly gives much of her time and energy to the sport of jet skiing and everyone that is involved in it, a true team player who really cares. If you are lucky enough to be offered advice from Lisa grab it with both hands as it will be invaluable, and she’s always happy to help. She also happens to be a multi World, European and British Champion who is competitive, talented and determined to achieve her best, which makes Lisa respected throughout the jet ski community.

How did you get involved with jet skiing and how old were you?

My first time on a jet ski was in America when I worked at kid’s camp and the lads I worked with hired a 440, but none of them could ride it so they left the ski on the bank and I jumped on and had ago and I found I could do it straight away. I was 18 years old at the time. I didn’t have another go until I was about 22 year’s old when some girlfriends of mine asked me to go jet skiing with them at Six Hills Jet Ski Centre. That’s how I was introduced to it and from there I met Fred and began enjoying skiing and rode for a couple of years before deciding to start racing.

Do you have any spare time for hobbies and if so what are they?

Jim and I (Lisa’s partner is fellow racer Jim Goodchild) like snow skiing but don’t go often enough now. Actually I used to snow ski com-petitively in slalom competitions and won the Val d’Isere Valentines Ladies GS in 1989. I used to enjoy horseriding, windsurfing, waterskiingand wakeboarding as well. We still go karting sometimes. We keep pretty active and living with the world’s most competitive man means we have to have a go at everything. We are just getting into golf a little now, thanks to your boys Jack and Ian who showed me how it’s done. Then I thrashed everyone. (We all burst out laughing at that point.) But alas, I’m injured now so my golf career is over (Jim says it’s not over, just on hold for a while). Oh, and we have our dog Gracie who has joined the family so we go for lovely long walks with her as well.

Can you remember your first jet ski race?

Yes, it was a Winter Series event at Tallington Lakes and I was 24 years old. There were only two ladies including me in the Beginner’s race so they put all of us ladies together in one race. I holeshotted the ladies British Champion and held her off for about four laps before my nerves kicked in and I went to pieces. But it was enough to make me think I could be good at this. So the next race, I came back, tried again and beat her.

You have had an amazing career and have met so many different people but who has left a lasting impression on you and why?

Mmmm….I would say other than actual racers the person I owe most to in terms of enjoyment would be Yves Van Heers. He was Nicolas Rius’s mentor. He definitely produced the best race series in the world for everyone by organising the European Championship from 1995 right through until 2008. Yves created a fantastic standard in Europe, and without him, his dedication and hard work I don’t think I would have been so involved or wanted to race for as long, because they were truly brilliant events. I really enjoyed my racing then. I think that’s what the sport lacks today. There is no one on that level anymore to drive the sport forward like he did. For example take your son Jack, he really doesn’t have any other options but to go to the World Finals, which I believe could be better.

This is a Moule family interview and Jack’s question is, what has been your favourite ski and why?

Good question Jack. I think I would have to say the Yamaha SuperJet, square nose. That was a turning point for me and my racing. My fa-vourite was a 1994/95, single carb 701 square nose, which I won my first European and World title on. I was completely at one with that ski and it suited me totally.

Am I right in saying that you have nearly twenty years jet skiing under your belt and when was the first time you experienced Havasu?

Yes Suzan you are right. The first time I went to Havasu was in 1991 but I just went to watch and didn’t compete. I was with a group of skiers from Six Hills and I tagged along. That was the reason I started racing, there were so many people there and I was so enthralled by the whole Havasu experience that I definitely knew I wanted to be part of it. It’s so different today.

That was my next question, how different is it today at the World Finals?

Seriously Suzan, it was that one event that made me decide that I wanted to race. It was a massive event and so amazing, with hundreds of spectators that I came home and bought a ski straight away. It is different today.

Why do you think it is so different?

Well, it’s not so much a competition today as al-most anyone can just turn up. In the early days you had to qualify to attend The Worlds by winning, either by being a British Champion or with European success etc.., you had to have already achieved, so it was more elite. Only the very best were allowed to take part. Winning a one-off competition is maybe about luck but to win a British or European title, where you have to prove yourself over a series of rounds, is a lot harder and makes you a worthy contender to go to The Worlds. You had to earn it. Once there, you really had to work hard to get the chance to compete for a world title, with quali-fying rounds. Sometimes you didn’t make it to be in the running for a world title if you didn’t qualify from the heats. If you did make it to the Final, there wasn’t a split course. It was a single holeshot and everybody just raced for the one buoy. Wherever you finished really did mean that’s how good you were. Today, there isn’t the same structure in the sport, which is sad. For me (and Jim) going to Havasu is different now, we have a completely different view. Ultimately it’s a great holiday, we take our skis and really enjoy skiing but maybe not so competitively now. We still love to race but the practise time is equally rewarding. If we win, great but it’s not going to make us millionaires.

So what’s been your sweetest victory?

I won The Bercy Jet Indoor Championship in Paris 2002, which was an indoor event with an incredibly tight course. I raced against absolutely the best in the world. I had watched Jim doing this event before and I knew the set up. Tera Laho and Karine Paturel were there and I beat them and all the other top girls which was nice. Also my first European title in 2005 was a great win and my victory in 2000 with The British Mens Limited, where there were about 25 of us and I was the only lady racing, and I won.(Jim reminds Lisa that she was also pretty pleased with her win in Dubai in 1995.)Oh yes, that one as well. I think 1995 was my best year. I couldn’t do anything wrong and I walked away with $10,000 in Dubai as well.

Can you remember how many titles you have won?

Oh, I don’t think so. Five Europeans? Five Worlds? But I’m not 100 percent sure.

You didn’t even mention your British titles. You’ve obviously won far too many to recollect them all. Where’s your favourite place to ski?

Well, after all is said and done it has still got to be Lake Havasu. It’s such an easy place to ski and practise and we really enjoy going every year. There are so many opportunities there for jet skiing.

Do you still enjoy skiing?

Yes, but to race competitively and to run the JSRA is impossible. It’s so hard to balance them both because they both need so much time and effort. I enjoy the competitions but I like to be prepared.

There have been highs and lows for me, but for me my lowest point, when I didn’t enjoy skiing, was Belgium 2008. I was fiercely disappointed with some of the people I raced with and their behaviour, which really upset me. But you learn to deal with it. Live and learn.

Lisa, what riders do you respect?

Well, I think if you had asked me that question 10 years ago I could have answered it easily. But now is not probably the right time for me to an-swer as I’m not feeling particularly generous with my compliments. Actually, riders I respect are those that give back for free and put something into this sport. I respect fellow competitors that give up their time.

And finally Lisa, is there anything left for you still to achieve?

I would like to compete at The King’s Cup in Thailand as I never have, so it would be nice to find the time for that.

Watch out Thailand....