On January 26th, 2013, the world and the wakeboarding community lost a very special person, Cianne Naji. Cianne was born with Cystic Fibrosis, an extremely unfair lung disease with a life expectancy of 35. Although she had this crippling disease, you would have never known. Ci lived life to the fullest, pushed boundaries, and was always the most fun and lively person around. During her short 21 years, Ci accomplished so much, more than most people do. She had drive and perseverance, and when she wanted to do something, she did it. Her love of wakeboarding brought her to Orlando in 2007, where her passion for the sport was deepened. Ci was an Irish National Champion and ranked top 10 in the world 2009-2011. When Ci’s disease worsened and she had to quit wakeboarding, she turned to her love for art. Ci was a talented artist, so she decided to start her own line of apparel and shoes, Breathe Boardwear, for girls who shared her passion for boardsports. Cianne was a true inspiration, and through Breathe, her legacy will live on.
Fellow wakeboarder and good friend, Nicola Butler, has been working with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Orlando, her sponsors, and other board companies to set up a raffle in memory of Ci. All proceeds will go towards finding a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. A minimum donation of $10 will give you the chance to win some pretty cool stuff. CWB, Ronix, Liquid Force, and O’Brien have all donated complete setups that will be up for grabs, as well as a Voda Trampboard, BOOM headphone packages, and various product from Oakley and Breathe Boardwear. Winners will be selected March 17th, 2013. Click here to donate in honor of a truly amazing person.
Cianne’s Memoir by Nicola Butler
