When people think of surfing, West Texas isn’t exactly a location that comes to mind, but for Wylie senior Jimmy Stearns, it’s where catching waves became a reality. Jimmy’s grandparents have a lake house on Lake Coleman, which is located about 45 miles southeast of Abilene. Summer after summer, he spends time with family and friends at the lake, building his wakesurfing skills and much more.
Awaking the Ride
“I’m pretty sure he was on a tube with me before he could walk,” added Diane Stearns, Jimmy’s mom. “He learned to wakeboard, but his obsession got real when he was introduced to wakesurfing when he was about ten years old.”
“Wakesurfing is when you surf behind the boat. You start in the water with the rope in your hand and your feet on the board,” said Jimmy. When the driver starts the boat, you stand up on your board. When the wave forms all the way and you gain your balance, you throw the rope and ride the waves hands free.”
He noted that making the switch from wakeboarding to wakesurfing came with some changes, like the rope length dropping from 75 ft to 15 ft making the athlete closer in proximity to the boat, and a change in speed and overall action of the rider.
“The boat speed is half the speed and wakesurfing is more relaxing,” he said.
According to si.com, wakesurfing dates back to the 1950s, but resurfaced in the 1990s thanks to boat and surfboard manufacturers developing boats and boards that produced a better wake and ride. Then in the mid 2000s the watersport gained traction in the world of competitive sports with the first World Wake Surfing Competition in 2011.
A Beau and His Board
“I’ve always been on a boat – a baby with a life vest on,” said Jimmy with a smile. “It’s where I am most relaxed. Me and whoever is on the boat. Me and the wave and nothing to worry about.”
He’s wakesurfed in waters surrounding Grand Cayman but competes mainly in West Texas lakes including Possum Kingdom, Brownwood, Lubbock and San Angelo, and of course his happy place Lake Coleman.
“It’s special just because that’s where I’m from and Coleman just feels like my home turf,” said Jimmy.
As the watersport evolves, it’s diverged into two distinct styles – skim style and surf style. Jimmy hopes to ride both well, but favors skimming. He said skimming has a slicker board with minimal or no fins making it easier to complete turns whereas the wake surfboards have two to three fins and makes catching air more easily attainable.
“He has now competed in multiple competitions and has met people from all over the world. Literally, people travel from Japan to compete in Lubbock, Texas,” said Diane.
His most recent competition, the Wake the Desert Competition in San Angelo, also usually draws professional competitors from around the world. This year, despite the smaller turnout, Jimmy enjoyed surfing and being in an environment that fosters good vibes, friendships and fun.
“The culture is full of really nice people. It feels like everyone knows each other. Everyone roots for each other at these competitions and is just looking for a good time all the time,” he said.
Catching Connections
Jimmy has been competing for a little over seven years, and during this time, he has built not only mad skills on the water but lifelong friendships, a business and future goals.
“I’ve even got to meet some famous pro surfers along the way,” said Jimmy. “It’s just cool that a while ago I was looking up to them, and now they’re some of my really good friends.”
Some of these pros have even supported Jimmy’s lake lifestyle company named “Throw the Rope” that offers trendy merchandise promoting the watersport, which he started as part of his Intro to Business class at Wylie High School his freshman year. Selling merchandise is definitely a goal, but promoting the watersport is part of that.
“He gives hats to any nonprofit/silent auction/raffle as a way to give back to the community that has supported him. He also loves introducing the sport to anyone who wants to try it. Teachers who have been extra supportive include Mrs. Jenkins, Mr. Boyd (Entrepreneurship), Coach Breaux (Purple Dog Company), Coach Martin (Baseball) and all the teachers, principals and staff that have purchased hats and cheered him on,” said Diane.
Between “pop up” tents at competitions, his online store and local business support, Jimmy stays super busy; he even has his own mowing business, mowing Monday-Thursday and leaving three day weekends open for the rest.
Recently, Jimmy had the opportunity to collaborate with Abilene-based Tigé Boats as a model/surfer for their 2026 marketing materials. From the sounds of it, Jimmy isn’t planning to slow down even with it being his senior year. With graduation in May of 2026, he hopes to wakesurf at the next level as well as continue to help grow the sport.
“Yeah, I hope to compete in college. I would like to go to a college with a wakesurfing team like Tech or Texas State. I’ve sponsored both schools in the past and would love to be a part of their wakesurfing team and continue to compete,” said Jimmy. “I plan to keep selling merch as long as I can. Even if it’s my side hustle I work on while I have a main hustle doing something else.”